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☆ Philippines Says It Removed Chinese Barrier That Blocked Fishing Boats
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Eric Nagourney | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Faced with China’s determination to exert control over a vast area of the South China Sea far from its mainland, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday that it had taken matters into its own hands, taking down a Chinese barrier that had kept Filipino fishing boats at bay. The Coast Guard released video of a diver cutting through the ropes that kept the barriers in place at the Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by both the Philippines and China. “The barrier posed a hazard to navigation, a clear violation of international law,” the Philippines said in a statement. “It also hinders the conduct of fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk.”With tensions already rising in the South China Sea, it was unclear how Beijing might respond. But China has made clear its intent to militarize the waters through which one-third of global ocean trade passes.

Organizations: Philippine Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Scarborough Locations: South China, Philippines, China, Beijing

☆ Philippines to remove barrier placed by China in South China Sea - national security advisor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Coast Guard boats close to the floating barrier are pictured on September 20, 2023, near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on September 24, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Philippines condemns China floating barrier near disputed shoalPhilippines says barrier violates Filipinos' fishing rightsMANILA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The Philippines will take "all appropriate actions to cause the removal of barriers" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the country's national security advisor said on Monday. "We condemn the installation of floating barriers by Chinese coast guard," national security adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement. China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Tarriela said that according to Filipino fishermen, the Chinese coast guard usually installs such barriers when they monitor a large number of fishermen in the area, then remove it later.

Persons: Eduardo Año, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Enrico dela Cruz, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Scarborough, South China, Philippines, China, MANILA, People's Republic of China, Manila, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Beijing, Philippine, Bajo, Masinloc

☆ China says it took 'necessary measures' to drive away Philippine vessel in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Sept 25 (Reuters) - China's coast guard took necessary measures in accordance with law to block and drive away a Philippine vessel in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the comments after the Philippines on Sunday accused China of installing a "floating barrier" in part of the Scarborough Shoal, saying it prevented Filipinos from entering and fishing in the area. China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Beijing seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and forced fishermen from the Philippines to travel further for smaller catches. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Wenbin, Muralikumar Organizations: Sunday, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Philippine, South China, Philippines, China, Scarborough, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Beijing

☆ Philippines condemns Chinese 'floating barrier' in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Chinese Coast Guard boats close to the floating barrier are pictured on September 20, 2023, near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on September 24, 2023. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The Philippines on Sunday accused China's coast guard of installing a "floating barrier" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying it prevented Filipinos from entering and fishing in the area. The barrier blocking fishermen from the shoal was depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities", he said. China claims 90% of the South China Sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. Three Chinese coast guard rigid-hull inflatable boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier when the Philippine vessel arrived, he said.

Persons: China's, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Rodrigo Duterte, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Enrico Dela Cruz, William Mallard Organizations: Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, of Fisheries, Resources, Thomson Locations: Scarborough, South China, Rights MANILA, Philippines, Manila, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Beijing, Philippine, Bajo, Masinloc

CNN —The Philippines on Sunday condemned the Chinese coast guard for installing what it called a “floating barrier” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying that it prevented Filipino boats from entering and fishing in the area. In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the floating barrier was discovered by Philippine vessels during a routine maritime patrol on Friday and measured around 300 meters (984 feet). Tarriela shared photos of the alleged floating barrier and claimed three Chinese coast guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat had installed the floating barrier following the arrival of a Philippine government vessel in the area. The Philippine coast guard shared footage earlier this week of vast patches of broken and bleached coral, prompting officials to accuse China of massive destruction in the area. The shoal, which China calls Huangyandao, is one of a number of disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which is home to various territorial disputes.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, ” Tarriela, ”, Mao Ning Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Twitter, of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Philippines, South China, Philippine, China, Bajo de Masinloc, Rozul, Masinloc, Scarborough, Luzon

☆ Malaysia PM says China gave reassurance after map stirred South China Sea dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attends the 26th ASEAN-China Summit at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 6, 2023. Malaysia and several other Southeast Asian countries have rejected the map. Anwar said Malaysia remained concerned over escalating tensions as China sought to assert its sovereignty claims over Taiwan, adding that both parties needed to avoid "unnecessary provocations" that can affect the region. Anwar also addressed doubts raised over his commitment to democratic reforms, after his government dropped corruption cases against key allies, filed sedition charges against opposition leaders, and increased scrutiny of Malaysia's LGBTQ community. "I wouldn't defend that actually, they were as you say, excesses, but... there is a consensus in the country, they do not accept (LGBTQ rights)," Anwar said.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Yasuyoshi, Anwar, Li Qiang, Li, Christiane Amanpour, Malaysia's, Swatch's, Rozanna Latiff, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Malaysia's, China, ASEAN Summit, Malaysia, CNN, Swatch, Thomson Locations: ASEAN, Jakarta, Indonesia, KUALA LUMPUR, China, South China, Beijing, Malaysia, Taiwan

☆ Malaysia PM Says China Gave Reassurance After Map Stirred South China Sea Dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said China had given an assurance that it would continue to negotiate with Southeast Asian countries over disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea, and avoid actions that risked escalation. Malaysia and several other Southeast Asian countries have rejected the map. Anwar said Malaysia remained concerned over escalating tensions as China sought to assert its sovereignty claims over Taiwan, adding that both parties needed to avoid "unnecessary provocations" that can affect the region. He reiterated that Malaysia would not accept LGBTQ rights but said that the community should not be harassed, and he spoke out against his government's move to ban Swatch watches celebrating the Pride movement. "I wouldn't defend that actually, they were as you say, excesses, but... there is a consensus in the country, they do not accept (LGBTQ rights)," Anwar said.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Li Qiang, Li, Christiane Amanpour, Malaysia's, Swatch's, Rozanna Latiff, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Reuters, Malaysia, CNN, Swatch Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, China, South China, Beijing, Malaysia, Taiwan

This is what it looks like when a Chinese naval vessel bears down on your fishing boat. We know because we were there. This boat was carrying Times journalists off the island of Palawan, in the Philippines, looking at how China was imposing its territorial ambitions on the South China Sea. An international court says China has no claim to these waters. The Chinese navy boat guarding Mischief Reef said differently.

Locations: Palawan, Philippines, China

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

Houses at the Redhill Peninsula, a luxurious residential estate in the Tai Tam area of Hong Kong, on September 13. She was referring to the Hong Kong International School, one of the most prestigious in town. Flooded roads after heavy rains in Hong Kong on September 8. Typhoon Saola, which barreled through Hong Kong on September 1, was the strongest to hit the city in five years. Scientists say climate change will make such weather events only more frequent and some are urging Hong Kong to rethink its rain mitigation strategy.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Feng Shui, –, Benny Chan, Chris Lau, ”, Tyrone Siu, Saola, Haikui, Hong Kong, Leung, ” Leung, Mai, Ray Su, Su, wouldn’t, John Lee, Chan, ” Chan, “, Chan Kim Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, South China, Hong Kong Institute of Architects, CNN, Redhill, Porsche, Rover, Ferrari, Hong Kong International School, RTHK, University of Hong, Hong Kong’s Buildings Department, Liber Research Locations: Hong Kong, South, tycoons, Redhill, Tai Tam, Malibu, Los Angeles, “, Hong, University of Hong Kong

☆ South China Sea: Philippines accuses Chinese maritime militia of destroying coral reefs near Palawan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Philippine Coast Guard/FacebookTarriela said between August 9 and September 11, the coast guard monitored 33 Chinese vessels within the vicinity of Rozul Reef and around 15 Chinese ships near Escoda Shoal. The UP Marine Science Institute found vibrant corals in the Rozul (Iroquios) Reef in the South China Sea in May 2021. At least two foreign ambassadors in Manila have expressed alarm over reports of destruction of marine resources in the South China Sea. The grounded Philippine navy ship Sierra Madre, which Manila uses to stake its territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, as pictured on April 23, 2023. Under current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the country’s National Security Team began to publicize its findings about what was actually happening in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea more regularly, Powell said.

Persons: Jay Tarriela, ” Tarriela, Facebook Tarriela, Tarriela, Mao Ning, “, ”, Gerry Arances, Arances, Ray Powell, SeaLight, Powell, Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, Rodrigo Duterte, Shoal, Ted Aljibe, Thomas Shoal, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Organizations: CNN, Philippine Coast Guard, Chinese Maritime Militia, Facebook, Philippine, Spratly Islands, Philippine coastguard, University of, Philippines Marine Science Institute, country’s National Security Council, Scientific, UP Marine Science Institute, Marine Science, CNN Philippines, Center for Energy, coastguard, National Security, Stanford University, The, United, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Asia, Transparency Initiative, BRP, BRP Sierra Madre, National Security Team, West Philippine, South China Locations: South, Philippines, China, Sabina, South China, Palawan, Beijing, Philippine, Rozul, Escoda Shoal, ” Beijing, China’s, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, West Philippine, United States, Indonesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Manila, Sierra, Spratly, AFP, BRP Sierra, Sierra Madre, West

☆ Philippines weighing legal options against China over coral reef 'destruction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Neil Jerome Morales | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANILA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing an attempt to "create political drama". The Philippines foreign ministry late on Thursday said it was awaiting assessments from various agencies of the extent of environmental damage in Iroquois Reef in the Spratly islands and would be guided by solicitor general Menardo Guevarra. Any move to pursue arbitration would be highly controversial after the Philippines' landmark 2016 victory in a case against China that concluded Beijing's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea had no basis under international law. Iroquois Reef is close to the Reed Bank, where the Philippines hopes to one day access gas reserves, a plan complicated by China's claim to the area. Coral in the South China Sea has been used for limestone and construction materials, traditional medicines and even souvenirs and jewelry.

Persons: Menardo, Guevarra, Mao Ning, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty Organizations: China, Department of Foreign Affairs, South China, Reed Bank, Thomson Locations: MANILA, Philippines, South China, Beijing, Spratly, Hague, China, South, Manila, Vietnam, Malaysia

☆ U.S. revives Cold War submarine spy program to counter China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +21 min

The original network of fixed spy cables, which lie in secret locations on the ocean floor, was designed to spy on Soviet submarines seven decades ago, the three people said. China, meanwhile, is working on its own maritime spy program, known as the Great Underwater Wall, two U.S. Navy sources told Reuters. Sense of urgencyAmerica’s underwater espionage program was launched in the 1950s with a submarine detection system known as the Sound Surveillance System. The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Surveillance System The United States is expanding and upgrading its anti-submarine surveillance capabilities as tensions rise with China. Japan also operates a fleet of three ocean surveillance ships, fitted with U.S. SURTASS cables, the two U.S. Navy sources said.

Persons: Captain Stephany Moore, Richard Seif, Moore, Seif, ”, Tim Hawkins, Mariana Trench, Brent Sadler, We're, Sadler, ” Jon Nelson, Phillip Sawyer, Sawyer, United States –, SOSUS, SubCom, Stephen Askins, Lockheed Martin, Chuck Fralick, Leidos, ” Fralick, Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Saildrone, Joe Brock, Mohammad Kawoosa, Simon Scarr, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Marla Dickerson Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy, Undersea Surveillance Command, Undersea Surveillance, United, Submarine Force U.S . Pacific Fleet, Reuters, U.S . 5th Fleet, U.S, Pacific, China Academy of Sciences, China’s Ministry of Defense, Foreign, China Naval, U.S . Naval Forces Korea, The Heritage Foundation, Department of Defense, Naval Air Station Whidbey, Processing, Undersea, Undersea Warfare, Naval Postgraduate School, Taiwan, Ships, Titan, Navy’s, CS, U.S . Department of Defense, Lockheed, U.S . State Department, An Australian Defense, Self, Defense Force, Leidos Locations: Seattle, U.S, Whidbey, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Australia, Pacific, South China, Mariana, Yap, Federated States, Micronesia, Guam, Russian, Ukraine, Washington . U.S, Washington, Soviet Union, Washington State, Virginia Beach , Virginia, Monterey , California, Japan, India, States, London, Taiwan Strait, Virginia, San Francisco

☆ Philippines Weighs Legal Options Against China Over Coral Reef 'Destruction'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Neil Jerome MoralesMANILA (Reuters) -The Philippines is exploring legal options against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, an allegation rejected by Beijing as an attempt to "create political drama". The Philippines is studying the possibility of filing a second legal case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, Guevarra said on Friday. Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea. China, which has refused to recognise the 2016 ruling and has chafed at repeated mention of the case by Western powers, denied the latest claims of destruction of coral reefs. Coral in the South China Sea has been used for limestone and construction materials, traditional medicines and even souvenirs and jewellery.

Persons: Neil Jerome Morales MANILA, General Menardo Guevarra, Guevarra, China's, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Mao Ning, Neil Jerome Morales, Martin Petty, Christopher Cushing Organizations: China, Reuters, South China, West, Department of Foreign Affairs, Reed Bank Locations: Philippines, South China, Beijing, Spratly, Hague, West Philippine, Manila, South, China, Vietnam, Malaysia

☆ IISS discusses ASEAN's joint military drills in the South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | 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 EmailASEAN's first joint military drills in South China Sea signal relevance as strategic player: AnalystLynn Kuok, senior fellow for Asia-Pacific security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, discusses ASEAN's first joint military exercises in the South China Sea this week amid concerns over Beijing.

Persons: Lynn Kuok Organizations: International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: South China, Asia, Pacific, Beijing

☆ ASEAN kicks off its first-ever joint military drills in Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Yuddy Cahya Budiman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indonesian soldiers attend the opening ceremony of a joint-military drills ASEAN Solidarity Exercise at Batu Ampar port on Batam island, Indonesia, September 19, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Teguh Prihatna/ via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBATAM, Indonesia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Units from the countries of ASEAN began their first ever joint military drills in Indonesia's South Natuna Sea amid rising geopolitical tensions between major powers and protests against China's activities in the South China Sea. The training is more about social activities," Yudo Margono, Indonesia's military chief, told reporters after the opening ceremony on the Indonesian island of Batam on Tuesday. The exercises were originally set to take place in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, which are also claimed by Beijing. ASEAN has been discussing a Code of Conduct on the South China Sea for more than twenty years with little progress to date.

Persons: Antara, Ferdinand Marcos, Indonesia's Margono, Ananda Teresia, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: ASEAN, REUTERS Acquire, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East, ASEAN Summit, Thomson Locations: Batu Ampar, Indonesia, South Natuna, South China, East Timor, Indonesian, Batam, Beijing, The Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Jakarta, Philippine, Philippines, ASEAN

☆ Australia boosts maritime surveillance with drones, aircraft upgrades
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft takes off from Perth International Airport, April 16, 2014. REUTERS/Greg Wood/Pool/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Australia will spend A$1.5 billion ($966 million) to boost maritime surveillance of its northern approaches, buying more long range drone aircraft and upgrading Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The fleet of 14 Boeing (BA.N) P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft will have anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike and intelligence collection capabilities upgraded, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said in a statement on Tuesday. The Triton will provide long-range surveillance of Australia's maritime region, the statement said. Conroy said the Poseidon aircraft upgrades will strengthen the protection of Australian "maritime interests".

Persons: Greg Wood, Defence Industry Pat Conroy, , Conroy, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: U.S . Navy, Perth International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Boeing, Poseidon Maritime Patrol, Defence Industry, Northrop Grumman, Triton, United States Navy, Defence, U.S, Australian Poseidon, United Nations Security, Thomson Locations: Australia, Australia's Northern Territory, Asia, South Australia, United States, Pacific, China, Australian, South China, North Korea

China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing was “strongly dissatisfied” with Baerbock’s comments and “firmly opposes” them. “The remarks made by Germany are extremely absurd, seriously infringe on China’s political dignity, and are an open political provocation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on Monday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry often leaves out content it deems sensitive from the transcripts of its regular briefings. In June, US President Joe Biden also referred to Xi as a “dictator,” sparking a fierce backlash from Beijing. As a result of this and China’s political decisions, we need to change our approach to China,” the paper said.

Persons: Xi, ”, Berlin’s, Annalena Baerbock, “, Putin, Germany’s, Patricia Flor, Mao Ning, Xi –, Joe Biden, Jiang Zemin, Mike Wallace, Jiang, Deng Xiaoping, Mao Zedong’s, Angela Merkel, Baerbock Organizations: CNN, Fox News, China’s, Ministry, Chinese Foreign Ministry, CBS, South China, Germany’s Greens Locations: China, Germany, United States, Ukraine, Beijing, Berlin, Moscow, Taiwan, South, “ China, Australian

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry on Monday urged China to stop "destructive, unilateral action" after reporting a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island, warning such behaviour could lead to a sharp increase in tensions. The ministry said that since Sunday it had spotted 103 Chinese military aircraft over the sea, a number it called a "recent high". Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are the common responsibilities of all parties in the region, it added. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan's defence ministry noted last week that July to September is traditionally the busiest season for Chinese military drills along the coast.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Communist, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan Strait, Philippines, Beijing, South

Newly installed Foreign Minister Qin Gang vanished with scant explanation in July, the same month as an abrupt shake-up of the military's elite Rocket Force, which oversees China's nuclear arsenal. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. PROXIMITY ISN'T PATRONAGERegarding Defence Minister Li's disappearance and investigation, a ministry spokeswoman told reporters on Friday she was not aware of the situation. With corruption long permeating China's military and state institutions, some analysts and diplomats believe Xi's anti-graft crackdowns mark political purges across the Communist Party. If Li's fate "reflects Xi's increasingly inward focus, it is not good for those of us who want greater openness and lines of communications with China's military," said one Asian diplomat.

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Xi Jinping's, Li Shangfu, Qin Gang, Drew Thompson, Thompson, Li's, Li, Helena Legarda, Alexander Neill, Zhang Youxia, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Ja Ian Chong, Chong, Greg Torode, Martin Quin Pollard, William Mallard Organizations: Rights, Reuters, Foreign, Rocket Force, Pentagon, National University of Singapore, State Council and Defence Ministry, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Communist Party, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Hawaii's, Military Commission, Washington, U.S . Defence, Pacific ., East, South China Seas, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, India, China, Russia, Belarus, Beijing, Jakarta, Berlin, Singapore, Washington, Asia, Pacific, Taiwan, South, East China, South China, Hong Kong

BEIJING (AP) — China and Zambia upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership on Friday, the latest move by America's chief global rival to forge deeper ties with the Global South. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Zambian counterpart announced the agreement shortly after Xi had exchanged cordial words with another visitor, the new prime minister of Cambodia. China has in turn won access to natural resources and diplomatic support from many Global South countries on contentious votes at the U.N. and from Cambodia in China’s territorial disputes with other Southeast Asian nations in the South China Sea. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet made China his first official foreign visit after succeeding his father, Hun Sen, who ruled Cambodia for 40 years and cultivated his country's close relationship with China. Xi told Hun Manet that his father had made historic contributions to bilateral ties.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, ” Xi, Hakainde Hichilema, Hichilema, Nicolás Maduro, ”, Edward Chan, South Africa —, Hun Manet, Hun Sen, Hun, Alfred Wu, National University of Singapore's Lee, “, Wanqing Chen Organizations: BEIJING, Global, Zambian, Australian National University, “, United Arab, Initiative, Cambodian, U.S, Ream Naval Base, National University of Singapore's, National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, Associated Press Locations: China, Zambia, Cambodia, Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, U.S, Zambian, Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, South China, Cambodian, Beijing, ASEAN

☆ Cambodia’s new Prime Minister Hun Manet heads to close ally China for his first official trip abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet headed to Beijing on Thursday on his first official trip abroad since taking office last month in a demonstration of his country's warm relations with China, its closest political and economic ally. He is expected to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other officials on the three-day trip, according to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry. Cambodia is a key Chinese diplomatic partner and supporter in regional and international forums. It helps dampen criticism of Beijing within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, several of whose members are engaged in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. More than 40% of Cambodia's $10 billion in foreign debt is owed to China.

Persons: Hun Manet, Xi Jinping Organizations: Cambodian, Foreign Ministry, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Beijing, China, Cambodia, South China, Phnom Penh

☆ UK government under pressure to take tougher line on China amid spying allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss called for the government to formally designate China as a threat to the UK. Florence Lo/APUnder the radarBut back to the question at hand: should the events of the past few days affect the UK’s official policy? Despite the arrests, observers believe it is unlikely there will be a sea-change in the UK government’s policy on China. The allegations that China is spying on the UK, in the very heart of Britain’s democracy, is of course a very real concern. But it will not be a surprise to the government, which has baked it into British foreign policy.

Persons: Tom Tugendhat, Tugendhat, Rishi Sunak, Premier Li Qiang, ”, Sunak’s, Liz Truss, Iain Duncan Smith, UK’s, Oliver Dowden, James, Han Zheng, Florence Lo, —, Peter Ricketts, “, doesn’t, ” Ricketts, Christopher Furlong Organizations: London CNN, Sunday Times, Conservative, CNN, Premier, Embassy, Metropolitan Police, Conservative Party, of, People, parliament’s Intelligence, Security, British National Security, Getty, Russia, Diplomats Locations: China, Beijing, New Delhi, London, gossiping, Europe, Hong Kong, South China, Taiwan, Westminster

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said it spotted 28 Chinese air force planes in its air defence zone on Wednesday morning, part of what Taipei calls regular harassment by Beijing amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan's defence ministry said that beginning at around 6 a.m. (2200 GMT Tuesday), Chinese warplanes, including J-10 fighters, had flown into the southwestern corner of the island's air defence identification zone, or ADIZ. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan's forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own air force planes and activating air defence systems, the ministry added, using the normal phrasing for its response to such Chinese incursions. A Chinese naval formation led by the Shandong entered the western Pacific for training, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Monday.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Christopher Cushing, Christian Schmollinger, Michael Perry, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Taipei, Self, Defense Force, Pacific, Reuters, U.S . Navy, U.S, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, China, Shandong, Pacific, Miyako, Japan, Miyako Strait, United States, Philippines, Borneo, U.S, Canadian, India, South China, Tokyo

☆ US Says Hanoi Ties Upgrade Is Not a 'Cold War' Move Against China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

HANOI (Reuters) - The United States' move to upgrade relation with Hanoi is not a Cold War move against China, a U.S. National Security Council official said on Wednesday. Vietnam and the United States on Sunday upgraded their relationship to the highest diplomatic status during a visit to Hanoi by U.S. President Joe Biden. On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called on the U.S. to "abandon hegemony and Cold War thinking," in her response to the Vietnam-U.S. relation upgrade. "We demand that the United States, when dealing with relations with Asian countries, must respect the common aspiration of regional countries for stability, cooperation, and development, abide by the basic norms of international relations," Ning said. Vietnam and China have for years been embroiled in a dispute over the potentially energy-rich stretch of water, called the East Sea by Vietnam.

Persons: Mira Rapp, Hooper, Joe Biden, Mao Ning, Ning, Rapp, Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Lincoln Organizations: United, U.S . National Security, National Security, Sunday Locations: HANOI, United States, Hanoi, China, U.S, Vietnam, Sea

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