Japan, North Korea to hold direct talks on abductions in breakthrough
After two rounds of historic warm-up talks in March and June — in China and Sweden, respectively — Japan and North Korea have agreed conduct official direct talks on (more…)
U.S., Philippines hold readiness training near Chinese-claimed isle
About 1,000 U.S. and Philippine troops are holding a joint naval exercise off the coast of the Philippine main island of Luzon but only 80 nautical miles away from (more…)
Greece allows China to operate at its largest port for 35 years
China last week signed a series of lucrative contracts with Greece, worth $4.5 billion, including one granting China the right to operate the port of Piraeus for 35 years. (more…)
China overtaking U.S. as Gulf states’ top economic partner
ABU DHABI — China and the Gulf Cooperation Council have pledged to form a strategic alliance. Officials said Beijing planned to significantly increase investment in the six-member GCC. They (more…)
China plans building spree on Southeast Asian islands
On June 14, China announced that it had begun to construct a school on Woody Island which is known as Yongxingdao in China, and Phu Lam Island in Vietnam. (more…)
Vietnam sentences two for damaging businesses during anti-China riot
Two Vietnamese men were sentenced to 6 and 5 months imprisonment for mistakenly damaging Taiwanese business properties during the May 14 anti-China riots across the nation. The protests were (more…)
Seoul to deliver warship to Manila to boost defenses against China
In yet another sign of China’s deepening isolation among its neighbors, South Korea has announced that it will deliver a corvette warship to the Philippine navy. The Pohang-class corvette (more…)
Russia writes off North Korean debt, launching its own Asia pivot
The Kremlin recently announced that it would forgive a huge debt owed to Moscow by North Korea. The debt, totaling close to $11 billion, dates back for the most (more…)
China’s state media applauds ‘heroic’ ramming of Vietnam vessel
A ramming incident between a Chinese and a Vietnamese maritime vessel on June 1 highlighted the escalation of violence in the South China Sea between the two communist countries (more…)