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☆ Charts show a stark difference in the human cost of Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over the years
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Joanna Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

An aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City on Oct. 11, 2023. Israel also suffered tremendous losses, with Oct. 7 described as "the deadliest day for Jews since the holocaust." There have been five major military conflicts between Israel and Hamas since the Jewish state unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. "Typically speaking, year on and year on, the number of Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli forces exceeds Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians, several times over," H.A. The data collated by CNBC shows that more than 18,600 Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been killed in conflicts with Israel since 2008.

Persons: Yahya Hassouna, that's, Hellyer, Paul Scham, CNBC it's, Daniel Byman, Scham, Israel doesn't Organizations: AFP, Getty, Hamas, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, West Bank, UN, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, CNBC, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Health Ministry, Royal United Services Institute for Defence, Security, University of Maryland, Middle East Institute, Washington , D.C, IDF, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Hellyer Carnegie Endowment Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Israel, OCHA, Palestinian, Jihad, Hamas, Washington ,, Egypt

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s highest court on Wednesday upheld a controversial media law that mandates prison terms for people deemed to be spreading “disinformation,” rejecting the main opposition party’s request for its annulment. It was approved in parliament a year ago with the votes of legislators from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party and its nationalist allies, heightening concerns over media freedoms and free speech in the country. The main opposition party had petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking its annulment, arguing that the law would be used to further silence government critics by cracking down on social media and independent reporting. Freedom of expression and media freedoms have declined dramatically in Turkey over the years. Currently, 19 journalists or media sector workers are behind bars, according to the Journalists’ Union of Turkey.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s, Tolga Sardan, Erdogan Organizations: —, Anadolu Agency, Borders, Journalists ’ Union of Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, Journalists ’ Union of Turkey

Brazil's Federal Police said in a statement they arrested two people, who they did not name, on terrorism charges in Sao Paulo. They also carried out search and seizure warrants in Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Minas Gerais states. Mossad thanked Brazilian security services for their role in helping to thwart the attack. Mossad said the "terrorist cell ... was operated by Hezbollah in order to carry out an attack on Israeli and Jewish targets in Brazil." Since the Oct. 7 attack, Hezbollah has been engaging Israeli forces along the border, in the deadliest escalation since it fought a war with Israel in 2006.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ricardo Berkiensztat, Jair Bolsonaro, Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Gabriel Stargardter, Steven Grattan, Lisandra, James Mackenzie, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: RIO DE, Hezbollah, Brazil's Federal Police, Islamic State, U.S . FBI, U.S . Treasury, Triple, Federal Police, Reuters, Jewish Federation of, State of, Iran's, Guards, Thomson Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Iran, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Minas Gerais, Lebanon, al Qaeda, Argentina, Paraguay, Israel, Gaza, State, State of Sao Paulo, Britain, Canada, Germany, Honduras, United States, U.S, Gulf, Jerusalem

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed Israel on Friday for a humanitarian pause in Gaza to provide relief to Palestinian civilians as worries of a wider Middle East war mount. Asked Friday what his message was to Americans in Gaza, Biden told reporters at the White House, "They'll be coming home." He did not respond to a question about whether he could contain a wider war. Nasrallah said the fighting along the border was weakening Israel and "deterring the enemy" by drawing resources away from Gaza. Biden has also called for justice for Palestinian civilians – and recently, under political pressure from his own Democratic Party, called for the humanitarian pause.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Israel, “, ” Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Hassan Nasrallah, ”, ” Nasrallah, Nasrallah, – Organizations: Hamas, State Department, White, International, Hezbollah, Democratic Party Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, United States, East, Lebanon, Israel’s

☆ Middle East conflict: China's role is to help avert a conflagration, says ex-Chinese military officer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMiddle East conflict: China's role is to help avert a conflagration, says ex-Chinese military officerZhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy and a retired officer of the People's Liberation Army, says it's "not to stop Israel's retaliation, which is not possible."

Persons: Zhou Bo Organizations: Tsinghua University's Center for International Security, People's Liberation Army

☆ Russia may be using upgraded bombs in Ukraine that can crush bunkers 66ft underground
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia deployed upgraded glide bombs on eastern Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War noted. The bombs are upgraded versions of the FAB-250, FAB-500, and FAB-1500, named after their respective weights in kilograms. FAB bombs are a Soviet design, and variants without upgraded guidance have been seen deployed in Ukraine before. FAB-500-type aircraft bombs found by Ukrainian forces on the 10th day of Russian attacks on Ukraine in Chernihiv, Ukraine on March 5, 2022. Russia pummeled Ukraine with 40 glide bombs in just one night in early October in the eastern Kherson region, he said.

Persons: —, STRINGER, Oleksiy Melnyk, Melnyk, Hans Petter Midttun Organizations: Institute for, Service, FAB, OF, Washington Post, Centre of Defence, Euromaidan Press, Russia pummeled Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, Mariupol, Ukrainian, Chernihiv, OF UKRAINE, Kyiv, Russia pummeled Ukraine, Kherson

☆ China and Russia take aim at US at Chinese military forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Chinese and Russian military chiefs targeted the United States for criticism at a security forum in Beijing on Monday, even as China's second-most-senior military commander vowed to boost defence ties with Washington. Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu warned the West that its involvement in the Ukraine war created grave danger. China's defence minister delivered the keynote speech in previous years. China and the U.S. have had no high-level military-to-military communications since the Washington-sanctioned former Chinese defence minister, Li Shangfu, was appointed in March. It is not yet known whether the U.S. team will meet separately with Chinese military officials.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping, Zhang, Li Shangfu, Li, Cynthia Xanthi, Joe Biden, Wang Yi, Biden, Yew Lun Tian, Lidia Kelly, Laurie Chen, Greg Torode, Gerry Doyle, Tom Hogue Organizations: Washington, Beijing Xiangshan, Russia's, TASS, China's, Military Commission, Communist, U.S, Reuters, Defense, U.S ., Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, Beijing, Ukraine, Russia, China, Taiwan, South China, Washington, U.S, Cynthia Xanthi Carras, Singapore, Laos, Mongolia, Belarus, East Timor, Myanmar, Sydney

Noticeably missing from the line-up was China’s own defense minister. China would continue to “deepen strategic coordination” with Russia’s military, and it was willing, Zhang added, to develop China-US military relations. Security coordination between China and Russia has tightened in recent years amid rising tensions between each with the US and its allies. The security forum also comes as the US and China are attempting to navigate their contentious relationship that includes frictions over Taiwan and Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea. Its officials have declined American outreach for high level meetings, in what was widely seen as a protest against sanctions Washington placed on former defense minister Li in 2018, prior to his time as defense minister, for weapons purchases from Russia.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Li Shangfu, Xi Jinping, –, Zhang Youxia, ” Zhang, Xi’s, ”, Zhang, Russia’s Shoigu, Shoigu, ” Shoigu, Vladimir Putin, Xi, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Li, Wu Qian, ” Wu Organizations: CNN, Russian, Communist Party, Central Military, Global Security, Beijing, Washington, US, Xanthi, Defense Locations: China, Beijing, Moscow, United States, US, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, South, Taiwan, Palestine, Asia, Pacific, South China, Xanthi Carras

☆ China kickstarts Xiangshan Forum in absence of defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Yew Lun Tian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China's biggest annual show of military diplomacy, started on Sunday although the Asian power is still missing a defence minister, who typically hosts this event. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is listed in the forum's agenda as the first guest speaker at Monday's opening ceremony. This year's forum takes place at an awkward time for China when it is without a defence minister, whose main role is to engage with foreign militaries. On Tuesday, Beijing sacked its defence minister Li Shangfu but did not name a replacement. Chinese military leaders more senior than the defence minister have filled in for Li.

Persons: Xi, Sergei Shoigu, Li Shangfu, Li, Zhang Youxia, Weidong, Zhao Yufei, Wendin Smith, Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen, Philip Blenkinsop Organizations: Beijing Xiangshan, Russian, Xanthi, China, Defense, Reuters, Xinhua, NATO, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, United States, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Xanthi Carras, Li, State, Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam, Singapore, France, Brussels

☆ China Kickstarts Xiangshan Forum in Absence of Defence Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Yew Lun TianBEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China's biggest annual show of military diplomacy, started on Sunday although the Asian power is still missing a defence minister, who typically hosts this event. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is listed in the forum's agenda as the first guest speaker at Monday's opening ceremony. This year's forum takes place at an awkward time for China when it is without a defence minister, whose main role is to engage with foreign militaries. On Tuesday, Beijing sacked its defence minister Li Shangfu but did not name a replacement. Chinese military leaders more senior than the defence minister have filled in for Li.

Persons: Lun Tian, Xi, Sergei Shoigu, Li Shangfu, Li, Zhang Youxia, Weidong, Zhao Yufei, Wendin Smith, Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen, Philip Blenkinsop Organizations: Beijing Xiangshan, Russian, Xanthi, China, Defense, Reuters, Xinhua, NATO Locations: Lun Tian BEIJING, Beijing, China, United States, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Xanthi Carras, Li, State, Laos, Mongolia, Vietnam, Singapore, France, Brussels

☆ Opinion | A Plan to Defeat Hamas and Avoid a Bloodbath
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Bret Stephens | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas’s master plan, as Bennett sees it, is roughly as follows: Provoke, via its gruesome massacres on Oct. 7, a massive Israeli ground invasion. Already, nearly 800,000 Gazans have fled from north to south, despite efforts by Hamas to keep them in place. “They’re asking for fuel not for their citizens but for their tunnels,” which are used exclusively by Hamas fighters and their allies. “I don’t want to get into a Viet Cong-type war of tunnels,” Bennett says. But the question isn’t whether Bennett’s plan is perfect or if there are gaps to fill.

Persons: Bennett, Khan Younis, They’re, ” Bennett, “, ”, Yasir Arafat, Biden, There’s, David Petraeus Organizations: Force, Israel, Hamas, West Bank, ISIS, Palestinian Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Viet, Iraq, Syria, Algeria, Qatar, Beirut, Lebanon, Tunisia, Kosovo

According to the United Nations, there are now some 5.9 million Palestinian refugees worldwide, most of them descendants of that 1948 generation of exiles. The struggle of the Palestinians is felt especially keenly in Jordan, where more than half of the population is either Palestinian or of Palestinian descent – including more than two million Palestinian refugees. But that passion for the Palestinian cause resonates across the Arab world that is home to more than 450 million people. Young people from across the Arab world have chanted the very same rallying cries their parents and grandparents chanted before them. Leon Neal/Getty Images“For much of the Arab world, the question of Palestine represents the last colonized Arab people trying to gain their freedom,” said H.A.

Persons: Hussein, Abdel, Munim Dababsheh, Israel, Hatem Moussa, Gazans, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Abdel Fattah el, Sisi, ”, Dababsheh, won’t, “, Mustafa Hamarneh, ” Hamarneh, CNN’s Clarissa Ward, Rahma Zein, Leon Neal, Ahmed El, Saied, Alya, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Meir Kahane, Ben Gvir’s, Ayala Nimrodi, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Hellyer, Hanya, ” CNN’s Claudia Otto, Aqeel Najim Organizations: Jordan CNN —, United Nations, Camp, West Bank, Israel, European Union, Israel Defense Forces, Press, UNRWA, Tel Aviv University, Sunday, Getty, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute, Hamas, Finance, National, CNN Locations: Amman, Jordan, Jabal Al, Jordanian, Palestine, America, ”, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Deir al, Palestinian, reoccupying Gaza, Rafah, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Iran, Young, Tel Aviv, London, Baghdad, Huwara

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is welcomed in the Indo-Pacific region and needs to update its approach to have stronger presence there to counter China's influence, said the top American diplomat to Tokyo. “The region wants all of America, not just part of America, economically, militarily, diplomatically, politically,” Emanuel said. “Because they know, an untethered China is a real risk to them, and they need America, all of America, its presence." In August, President Joe Biden formed a trilateral partnership with Japan and South Korea in Camp David over shared security challenges posed by North Korea and China. At the Asia Society Policy Institute, Emanuel called the partnership “a seismic shift in the plates in the Indo-Pacific".

Persons: Rahm Emanuel, ” Emanuel, Daniel Russel, Wang Yi, ” Wang, Joe Biden, Camp David, Emanuel, “, ”, Russel Organizations: WASHINGTON, Asia Society Policy, U.S, East China, Washington, China, North, Asia Society Policy Institute Locations: United States, American, Tokyo, New York, U.S, Japan, China, America, South, East, Taiwan, Beijing, South Korea, Qingdao, Camp, North Korea

☆ Unlikely Israel will launch ground attack on Gaza during Biden's visit, says expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUnlikely Israel will launch ground attack on Gaza during Biden's visit, says expertH.A. Hellyer, international security studies expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Royal United Services Institute, discusses U.S. President Biden's visit to the Middle East in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Persons: H.A, Biden's Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Trump’s turn against Israel offers stark reminder of what his diplomacy looks like
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

“With President Trump back in office, Israel, and everyone else, will be safe again!” he said. Trump’s original grievance-based analysis reflects a transactional, unorthodox approach to foreign policy that often prioritizes his own personal goals over a standard understanding of the national interest. Trump’s comments were not the first time he has appeared to seek a political benefit from his foreign policy and his positions on Israel especially. They also show Trump’s quintessential contempt for the rules of politics, foreign policy and even basic human decency, which explain why he horrifies many Americans and foreign governments. “He’s simply not expressing, and his imitators in his primary, are not expressing the same muscular American foreign policy that we lived out every day,” Pence said on a local New Hampshire radio.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, he’d, they’d, Netanyahu, Qasem Soleimani, –, he’s, “, Chris Christie, ” Christie, ”, Israel ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu –, Critics, Netanyahu Trump, America’s, ” Trump, Trump’s, nobody’s, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin –, Putin, Israel, Soleimani, “ I’ll, Bibi Netanyahu, pounced, Ron DeSantis, “ Now’s, Donald Trump, ” DeSantis, Mike Pence, Pence, “ He’s, ” Pence Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Republican, Trump, GOP, New, New Jersey Gov, “, Fox News, Ukraine –, Putin, ABC News, Florida Gov Locations: Israel, American, Iraq, Lebanese, New Jersey, Gaza, Iran, Islamic Republic, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, U.S, Florida, Korean, Ukraine, Helsinki, Russia, Lago, Australian, New Hampshire

☆ Exclusive: Combat veteran is likely replacement for China's missing defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

China's defence ministry and State Council information office did not respond to requests for comment. If his departure is confirmed, Li will be the second senior minister to lose his job in recent months. Qin Gang was removed as foreign minister in July, one month after he was last seen in public. U.S. defence officials have long wanted to reestablish routine communications with counterparts directly involved in command decisions. Qin was made foreign minister in Dec. 2022 and Li became defence minister in March.

Persons: Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Liu Zhenli, Liu, Li Shangfu, Li, Qin Gang, Qin, Nancy Pelosi, Xi Jinping, Xi, James Char, Lloyd Austin, Alexander Neill, Willy Lam, Chang Dingqiu, Katerina Ang, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Political Consultative, REUTERS, Rights, Defence, Reuters, Russia, Joint Staff Department of, Central Military Commission, State, U.S . Department of Defense, ., CMC, Xiangshan, National, Committee, Communist Party's, U.S, Pentagon, People's, Army, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Washington, PUBLIC, National Defence, Joint Staff Department, Pacific Forum, Jamestown Foundation, Xinhua, Air Force, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, U.S, Taipei, ., Singapore, Honolulu, Vietnam

☆ It’s early days — but Israel is likely to be in this for the long haul, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIt’s early days — but Israel is likely to be in this for the long haul, expert saysNomi Bar-Yaacov, an associate fellow at the International Security Programme at Chatham House, discusses the implications of Hamas' attack on Israel.

Persons: Nomi Organizations: International Security, Chatham House Locations: Israel, Chatham

In that case, Britain accused Russia of an assassination attempt on its soil and expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country. For its part, the U.S. expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closure of Russia's consulate in Seattle in solidarity with its British ally. If asked by Canada to expel a large number of Indian diplomats, these officials said, the U.S. would have little choice but to comply. This week, India told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, ramping up the confrontation. Trudeau and other Canadian officials, including Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, have hinted that Canada won't take reciprocal measures.

Persons: —, Biden, Justin Trudeau's, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Sergei Skripal, Trudeau, “ I’m, we're, ”, Danny Russel, Barack Obama’s, Modi, Melanie Joly Organizations: WASHINGTON, Publicly, Canadian, U.S, NATO, Asia Society Policy Locations: Canada, India, U.S, Vancouver, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Pacific, United States, Ukraine, China, Australia, Japan, Salisbury, England, Britain, Seattle, St . Petersburg, Indian, British, New York, New Zealand, New Delhi, Washington

☆ After two failed attempts in the past year, Japan could be next in line to land on the moon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

An H2-A rocket carrying a small lunar surface probe and other objects lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture on September 7, 2023. Last month, Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched a lunar exploration spacecraft from its Tanegashima Space Center. Japan also discarded efforts to land its Omotenashi spacecraft on the moon in November after failing to stabilize communication. Japan's success this time around could be a leap for space exploration more broadly. "It shows that they are learning from their mistakes — a very important aspect of space exploration," said Behar, who is also Phillip and Sarah Gotlieb Memorial Chair at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology.

Persons: Kari Bingen, Bingen, Smart Lander, SLIM, Ehud Behar, Norman, Helen Asher, Behar, Phillip, Sarah Gotlieb, We've Organizations: Press, Afp, Getty, Japan, Aerospace Security, International Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, SpaceX, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Anadolu Agency, Helen Asher Space Research, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Artemis Accords, Artemis, Capital, Nurphoto Locations: Tanegashima, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, Cape Canaveral , Florida, India, China, U.S, Bingen, South, Shanghai

CNN —Concerns over Kenya’s human rights record have cast a shadow over a UN decision that gave Kenya the go ahead to lead an armed multinational force to Haiti amid brutal gang violence in the Caribbean country. For a year, the multinational force, comprising 1,000 Kenya police personnel is expected to combat criminal gangs responsible for a wave of killings, kidnappings and rape in Haiti. But human rights groups argue that Kenya’s history of human rights abuses must be evaluated. On Tuesday, Amnesty International Kenya urged UN member states, human rights organizations and citizens to thoroughly examine the “human rights and humanitarian implications” of deploying an armed multinational force to Haiti. What stake does Kenya have to be able to take those chances in a terrain that is foreign and dangerous?

Persons: Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, “, ”, ” Ruto, Herman Manyora, Ruto’s, ” Manyora, Manyora Organizations: CNN, UN, Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya National Civil Society Center, Kenya Police Service, Citizen Digital, Kenyan, UNSC, United Nations General Assembly, Union, Biden, US, University of Nairobi Locations: Kenya, Haiti, Caribbean, East, ”, African, Nairobi

☆ Russian Black Sea Fleet commander was killed in Crimea missile strike, Ukraine says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Alexander Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Vice-Admiral Viktor Sokolov attends a ceremony marking 240th anniversary of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea May 13, 2023. Ukraine said Monday it has killed the commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in a missile strike on the naval headquarters in occupied Crimea. Ukraine's intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, told Voice of America on Saturday that at least nine people were killed and 16 others wounded as a result of Kyiv's attack on the Black Sea Fleet on Friday. Its port is the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, which has been used to launch attacks deep into Ukraine. From 2020 he headed a prestigious military academy, before taking command of the Black Sea Fleet last year.

Persons: Viktor Sokolov, Sokolov, James Stavridis, Kyrylo Budanov, Alexander Romanchuk, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Daryna Mayer Organizations: Sea Fleet, NBC, Special Operations Forces, Black, NBC News, NATO, Twitter, America, Fleet, Tactical Missile Systems, Crimea, Northern, Associated Press Locations: Russian, Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, Kyiv, Crimean, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine's Crimea, U.S, Moskva, Pacific

But it was a key topic of Vietnamese-U.S. official talks in Hanoi, New York and Washington over the past month. A major U.S.-Vietnam arms deal could aggravate China, Vietnam's larger neighbor, which is wary of Western efforts to box in Beijing. A long-simmering territorial dispute between Vietnam and China is heating up in the South China Sea and explains why Vietnam is looking to build up maritime defenses. Earlier this month, Vietnam upgraded Washington to Hanoi's highest diplomatic status, alongside China and Russia, when U.S. President Joe Biden visited the country. Nonetheless, Vietnam is also actively in talks with Moscow over a new arms supply deal that could trigger U.S. sanctions, Reuters has reported.

Persons: Biden, Jeffrey Ordaniel, Ordaniel, Joe Biden, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Francesco Guarascio, Mike Stone, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S, White, Tokyo International University, Pacific Forum, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Vietnam, China, Russia, Washington, Hanoi, American, Beijing, Hanoi , New York, Russian, U.S, South, Philippines, Taiwan, United States, South Korea, India, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Turbulence in China’s top ranks raises questions about Xi Jinping’s rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Defense Minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for three weeks, sparking speculation he is under investigation. Both Li and Qin serve among China’s five state councillors, a senior position in the cabinet that outranks a regular minister. Li also sits on the Central Military Commission, a powerful body headed by Xi that commands the armed forces. China's Defence Minister Li Shangfu gives a speech during the Moscow Conference on International Security on August 15. Last week, as speculation mounted over the whereabouts of the defense minister, Xi called for unity and stability within the military during an inspection in China’s northeast.

Persons: China’s, Li Shangfu, Weeks, Qin Gang, Xi, Li, Qin, outranks, “ What’s, ”, Drew Thompson, Xi Jinping, James Char, Lloyd Austin, Alexander Nemenov, Xi’s, Deng Yuwen, ” Rahm Emanuel, Agatha Christie’s, “, –, Craig Singleton, General Zhang Youxia, Zhang, He’s, Thompson, they’re, ” Thompson, Mao Zedong, Char, …, ” Char, Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Defense, Foreign, Central Military Commission, People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, Wall Street Journal, Communist Party, National University of Singapore, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Belarus ’, US, Singapore’s Navy, China's, Conference, International Security, Getty, Twitter, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Washington DC, Development Department, Rocket Force, Equipment Development Department Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Washington, Beijing, Singapore, Moscow, Belarus, Minsk, AFP, Japan, Soviet, Sichuan, “

☆ Explainer-China's Military Hierarchy Under Spotlight After Defence Minister Disappears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Greg Torode and Yew Lun TianHONG KONG (Reuters) - The disappearance of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu highlights the opaque and complex nature of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), diplomats and analysts say. In the Chinese system, the Minister of National Defence is seen as significantly less powerful than the U.S. defence secretary and many international equivalents. HOW DOES THE CHINESE MILITARY SYSTEM OPERATE? When the forum was last held in-person in 2019, more than 530 defence and military officials and scholars attended, including defence ministers from 23 countries. The Chinese defence minister would typically give the keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations.

Persons: Greg Torode, Li Shangfu, Li, Xi Jinping, technocrat, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Zhang Youxia, Tian, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Defence, People's Liberation Army, PLA, of National Defence, Central Military Commission, Communist Party, Strategic, Force, . Defence, White House, Foreign, Austin, CMC, Diplomats, China Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, ., Singapore, Malta, China

HONG KONG, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The disappearance of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu highlights the opaque and complex nature of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), diplomats and analysts say. In the Chinese system, the Minister of National Defence is seen as significantly less powerful than the U.S. defence secretary and many international equivalents. HOW DOES THE CHINESE MILITARY SYSTEM OPERATE? When the forum was last held in-person in 2019, more than 530 defence and military officials and scholars attended, including defence ministers from 23 countries. The Chinese defence minister would typically give the keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Xi Jinping, technocrat, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Zhang Youxia, Greg Torode, Tian, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defence, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Reuters, of National Defence, Central Military Commission, Communist Party, Strategic, Force, . Defence, White House, Foreign, Austin, CMC, Diplomats, China, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, ., Singapore, Malta, China

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