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☆ China, Solomon Islands sign policing pact in upgrade of ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Flags of Solomon Islands and China flutter near the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, China July 11, 2023. "In just four years, the relationship between China and the Solomon Islands has developed rapidly, and we can now say that it is very fruitful," Li told Sogavare. The official added that the U.S. was committed to a strong relationship with the region and strengthening longstanding bonds with the people of Solomon Islands. Xi told Sogavare China supports more of its firms investing in the Solomon Islands and will continue to provide economic and technical assistance "without political strings attached". Chinese telecoms giant Huawei is already building a cellular network in the Solomon Islands, financed by a $66 million Chinese EXIM bank loan.

Persons: Florence Lo, Xi, Manasseh Sogavare, Premier Li Qiang, Sogavare, Solomon, Li, Washington, China's, Xi Jinping, Ethan Wang, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Kirsty Needham, David Brunnstrom, Himani Sarkar, Robert Birsel, Mark Heinrich, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Solomon Islands, Beijing, BEIJING, Premier, U.S . National Security Council, China's, Xinhua, Huawei, Pacific Games, Thomson Locations: of Solomon Islands, China, Beijing, Florence, Taiwan, Solomon Islands, Pacific, United States, Australia, U.S, Solomon, Japan, Britain, Honiara, Sydney, Washington

REUTERS/Kim... Read moreLONDON/WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - When it comes to taking stock of global emissions, there's an elephant in the room: the world's armed forces. NATO, the 31-country Western security alliance, for example, told Reuters it has created a methodology for its members to report their military emissions. And Washington sent U.S. Army and Navy representatives to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt last year, the first time a Pentagon delegation has attended the global climate summit. Ukraine's environment ministry spokesperson said it supports the efforts and would seek backing from governments at COP28 for more transparent military emissions reporting. In the meantime, global military emissions will remain poorly understood, said Stuart Parkinson, executive director of the group Scientists for Global Responsibility.

Persons: Kim, Queen Mary, Axel Michaelowa, Meredith Berger, Neta Crawford, Deborah Burton, Lennard, Klerk, James Appathurai, Markus Ruelke, Stuart Parkinson, Sarah McFarlane, Valerie Volcovici, Sabine Siebold, Richard Valdmanis, David Clarke Organizations: REUTERS, Observatory, United Arab Emirates, UNFCCC, COP28, NATO, Reuters, Washington, U.S . Army, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, The, U.S . Defence Logistics Agency, U.S . Department of Defense, Oxford University, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, Scientists, Global, Thomson Locations: South Korea, U.S, Pocheon, WASHINGTON, Kyoto, Paris, Lancaster, Oxford, Dubai, UAE, Zealand, Britain, Germany, Egypt, The U.S, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Singapore, Switzerland, Syria, COP28, Berlin

☆ Potential Taiwan conflict will hit these 3 countries the hardest, EIU report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

EIU defines a conflict as a "full-conflict scenario, involving direct military participation by China, Taiwan and the U.S." and based on the presumption of an escalation by China. To be clear, the EIU assesses the risk of a direct Chinese military assault on Taiwan as "very unlikely." The EIU also named a few "severely exposed markets": Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong. In addition, both Malaysia and Vietnam would be exposed to a potential conflict with China if cross-strait hostilities spilled over and ignited a conflict in the South China Sea. The EIU said a conflict will cut off Taiwan's foundries, and at best, air and maritime links will be disrupted.

Persons: Ceng Shou Yi, Xi Jinping Organizations: Getty, Nurphoto, Economist Intelligence Unit, Nationalist, Taipei Representative, CNBC, Producers Locations: China, Taipei, Japan, Canada, India, Beijing, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan Strait, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China . Hong Kong, British, South China, South, United Kingdom, United States, Canberra, Asia

☆ India downplays SCO Summit but Putin and Xi may not be complaining
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Last year, the world watched closely as China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi of India and other world leaders within a Moscow-friendly group gathered in the Uzbek city of Samarkand for a high-profile, two-day summit. World leaders pose for a photo during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022. It remains unknown how tight a grip Putin now has on power in Moscow, and although he attended last year’s SCO summit, he has rarely left Russia since his invasion of Ukraine. Face-to-face meetings, however, can also provide opportunity for world leaders to talk out sensitive issues or push on points of contention that may be handled less delicately in a virtual setting. Given their respective ties with Moscow, both China and India have received pressure from the West to limit their relations or even push Putin toward peace.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Xi, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Putin –, Putin, Modi –, –, Modi, ”, Manoj Joshi, India didn’t, Murat Kula, what’s, Wagner, Steve Tsang, It’s, “, Moritz Rudolf, Paul Tsai, Tsang, Putin “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, “, Observer Research, Anadolu Agency, Getty, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Moscow, Paul Tsai China Center of, Yale Law School, Central, Soviet, Ukraine Locations: Hong Kong, India, Moscow, Uzbek, Samarkand, Ukraine, Eurasia, Russia, China, New Delhi, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, –, Iran, Washington, ”, Europe, Beijing, Belarus, Central Asia, Soviet Union

Putin used his moment to speak at the one-day summit to give his answer to that question. That event stretched over two in-person days in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and featured a number of sideline meetings between attending leaders. India announced last month that its leaders’ summit would be held virtually, without specifying why. At last year’s SCO summit, Modi told Putin in “today’s era is not an era of war.”And India has its own friction with neighboring China. In May, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became the most senior-level official to visit India in seven years, when he joined a SCO foreign ministers meeting.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Putin, Wagner, ”, ” Putin, China’s Xi, Belarus ’ Alexander Lukashenko, Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, ” Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, Xi, ” Xi, Biden, “, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Indian, India, China’s Foreign Ministry, India’s Ministry, External, CNN, Pakistani, Belarus Locations: Hong Kong, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, spreadheaded, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Eurasia, Tuesday’s, Iran, Beijing, Samarkand, New Delhi, Pacific, ”

Putin spoke to Modi in a call last week to discuss the aftermath of the quashed mercenary mutiny. The summit on Tuesday will also see Modi sharing the virtual stage with Xi for the first time since November when the two leaders were present for the G20 summit in Indonesia. It will also bring Modi face to face online with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif, 10 months after they both attended the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. New Delhi announced last month that the summit will be held virtually, without providing any justification. SCO member nations are expected to discuss Afghanistan, terrorism, regional security, climate change and digital inclusion, among other topics.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Putin, Modi, Uzbekistan Modi, Xi, Biden, Shehbaz Sharif, Krishn Kaushik, William Maclean Organizations: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Belarus, China’s, SCO, Indian, U.S, Foreign, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, Iran, China, Russia, Soviet, Pakistan, Eurasia, Belarus, Moscow, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, New Delhi, Indonesia, Uzbekistan . New Delhi, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Goa, Kashmir

☆ Putin expected to meet Xi and Modi at SCO Summit following Wagner insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —All eyes will be on Vladimir Putin this week, with the Russian president expected to make his first appearance on the world stage since the Wagner insurrection threatened his steel grip on power. In the brief, chaotic insurrection, Wagner – a private mercenary group led by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – took control of key military facilities in two Russian cities. Participants of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. By contrast, Putin managed to end the Wagner insurrection before it reached the capital, without bloodshed. Modi made headlines at last year’s in-person SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, when he told Putin that now is not the time for war, appearing to directly rebuff the invasion.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Putin, Wagner –, Yevgeny Prigozhin –, Prigozhin, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi –, –, they’re, ”, Derek Grossman, Grossman, ” Grossman, Murat Kula, “, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Matsuda, ” Matsuda, “ Xi Jinping, Alexander Korolev, That’s, won’t, Korolev, India’s Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, RAND’s Grossman, India’s Organizations: CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Kremlin, RAND Corporation, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russia, NATO, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Tokyo, “ Russia, China –, Kazakhstan, University of New Locations: Russian, Beijing, Moscow, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, US, Russia, China, Samarkand, Central Asia, Iran, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, University of New South Wales, Australia, India, Washington, Indian, Goa, Delhi

☆ Chinese military delegation visited UK, France - ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, July 1 (Reuters) - A Chinese military delegation visited the Britain and France from June 24 to Saturday to discuss the development of bilateral defence relations, China's Ministry of Defence said on Saturday. The delegation of the People's Liberation Army's defence strategy consultation exchanged in-depth views on international and regional security issues of common concern, and enhanced mutual understanding and trust, the ministry said in a statement. Reporting by Beijing News Room; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: William Mallard Organizations: China's Ministry of Defence, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Britain, France

☆ Shocked by the speed of the Wagner revolt, Russia's neighbors want to beef up NATO's eastern flank
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Petras Malukas | Afp | Getty ImagesThe fallout of the Wagner Group's short-lived armed rebellion has raised the alarm among Europe's Baltic countries. Speaking alongside his counterparts from Latvia and Estonia on Tuesday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that the speed of the Wagner uprising underscored the strategic importance of strengthening NATO's eastern flank. Germany has offered to send around 4,000 troops to Lithuania on a permanent basis to bolster NATO's eastern flank. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year had already fueled concerns about the regional security of the Baltic region. Regional security concernsLatvia Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics described the Wagner rebellion as an example of "one evil fighting another evil."

Persons: Griffin, Silvestras, Petras Malukas, Wagner, Vladimir Putin's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Landsbergis, Malukas, Catherine Colonna, Jens Stoltenberg, Russia's, Mario Bikarski, Federica Reccia, Edgars Rinkevics, Rinkevics, Wagner Group's, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Gavriil Grigorov Organizations: Afp, Getty, Belarusian, Lithuanian, NATO, French, European Union, Economist Intelligence Unit, CNBC, Latvia, AFP Locations: Lithuanian, Pabrade, Lithuania, Baltic, Moscow, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Paris, Belarus, Estonian, Germany, Vilnius, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian

☆ Ambitious plans for US-India technology sharing face hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Standing in the way are strict U.S. rules governing export of defense technology, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs, has stressed the need to break down barriers to technology sharing with allies and partners, including India. But one congressional aide said efforts to speed technology sharing with India would face "an uphill battle" both in the U.S. Congress and at the U.S. State Department, where officials have a specific obligation to protect U.S. technology. "There are concerns about (technology sharing) in the Australia context and there would be more concerns in the India context," he said. Rick Rossow, an India expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said approval processes for advanced defense technology transfer were "onerous but not impossible."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Biden, Ely Ratner, Democrat Mark Warner, Republican John Cornyn, Bill Greenwalt, Greenwalt, ITAR, Rick Rossow, David Brunnstrom, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Deepa Babington Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, United, Indian, General Electric Co, Center, New, New American Security, TECH, U.S . Senate India Caucus, Democrat, Republican, U.S . Congress, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, GE, State Department, U.S . Missile Technology Control, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, India, New Delhi, Asia, U.S, Britain, Australia, New American, Russia, Ukraine, Delhi

☆ Canada, Dominican Republic reach agreement over Haitian crisis response
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, June 21 (Reuters) - Canada and the Dominican Republic have agreed that Canada will coordinate assistance for Haiti by boosting staff at its embassies in Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo, the countries said in a joint statement on Wednesday. "Canada and the Dominican Republic have solid bilateral relations and are long standing partners including on regional security matters," the joint statement said. Both countries agree that the Haiti crisis requires enhanced international cooperation, humanitarian, and security assistance, the statement said. "We will enhance coordination in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Canada and other locations as required including through increased presence at the Canadian embassies in Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo," the countries said in the statement. The Dominican Republic has strained relations with Haiti, with which it shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

Persons: Santo Domingo, Melanie Joly, Roberto Alvarez, Ariel Henry, Steve Scherer, Ismail Shakil, Chris Reese, Sandra Maler Organizations: OTTAWA, Canada's, Dominican, Haitian, United, Thomson Locations: Canada, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Port, Dominican, Hispaniola, Santo, United States, Ottawa

NEW DELHI, June 20 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for the U.S. on Tuesday on a state visit that has been projected as a milestone in ties between the two countries that would deepen and diversify their partnership. Modi has been to the U.S. five times since becoming prime minister in 2014 but the June 21-24 trip will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit. Washington sees India as a vital partner in its efforts to push back against China's expanding influence worldwide. Modi's visit comes amid differences in the positions of Washington and New Delhi over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The world has full confidence that India’s top-most priority is peace," he said in the interview published on Tuesday.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Joe Biden's, Elon Musk, Tesla, Vinay Kwatra, Twitter's, Jack Dorsey, Lavanya Ahire, YP Rajesh, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Indian, U.S, Reuters, Twitter, Wall Street, Wall Street Journal, Security Council, YP, Thomson Locations: DELHI, U.S, Washington and New Delhi, India, Washington, United States, New Delhi, Ukraine, Moscow, United Nations, BENGALURU

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2021. Washington also wants to wean India away from its traditional defence partner Russia. Though Modi has made several previous visits to the United States, this will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit, just the third of Biden's presidency and third by any Indian leader. "It’s a milestone in our relationship...It is a very significant visit, very important visit," India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Monday. Modi will also meet American CEOs and lead an International Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Modi, Vinay Kwatra, Kwatra, General, Ely Ratner, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Raja Mohan, Krishn Kaushik, Sarita Chaganti Singh, David Brunnstrom Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, . Congress, JET, General Electric, U.S ., Defense, Pacific Affairs, UN, Asia Society Policy, Rajesh, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, DELHI, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Washington and New Delhi, Pacific . Washington, Russia, New Delhi, Moscow, Ukraine, West, China, Cooperation, New York, U.S, Asia, NEW DELHI

☆ Saudi Arabia urges improved maritime security in Gulf as ties with Iran resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 17 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia wants enhanced maritime security in the crucial Gulf region as part of its rapprochement with long-time rival Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday. The kingdom broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran in retaliation for Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. Iran has recently been trying to mend its strained ties with several Gulf Arab states. Saudi Arabia's rapprochement with Iran has left Israel largely alone as it has sought to isolate Iran diplomatically. The United Arab Emirates, which was the first Gulf Arab country to sign a normalisation agreement with Israel in 2020, resumed formal relations with Iran last year.

Persons: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Prince Faisal, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Ebrahim Raisi, Amirabdollahian, Hatem Maher, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Mark Heinrich, Louise Heavens, Mike Harrison Organizations: Foreign, United, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Gulf, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Tehran, Saudi, Hormuz, United States, Israel, United Arab, Arab, Bahrain, Morocco, UAE, Cairo, Riyadh, Dubai

☆ U.S., Japan, Philippines discuss South China sea, North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - The national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines on Friday discussed regional security issues and ways to strengthen the trilateral alliance, they said in a joint statement. It was the first meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his counterparts, Akiba Takeo of Japan and Eduardo Ano of the Philippines. "The three (advisers) discussed a wide range of regional security challenges, including with respect to the South China Sea and the East China Sea, as well as North Korea. In addition, they reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the joint statement said. Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Akiba Takeo, Eduardo Ano, Susan Heavey, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: White House, Thomson Locations: United States, Japan, Philippines, South, East China, North Korea, Taiwan Strait

☆ Analysis: Poland is a key Western ally. But its government keeps testing the limits of democracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A clear sign that Poland was still a key ally – despite accusations that its government is undermining democracy and the rule of law. Law and Justice has so far struggled to take a decisive lead over the opposition Civic Platform grouping. Then on Wednesday, the European Commission announced it was suing Poland over a new law that sets up a special commission tasked with investigating Russian influence in Polish politics. The Commission said the law violates the principle of democracy and could be used to silence opposition. Law and Justice has justified the law by saying the dependence on Russian gas has hurt Poland’s interests.

Persons: Joe Biden, –, it’s, ” Aleks, Biden, ”, Agnieszka Kubal, “, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Andrzej Duda, ” Kubal, Szczerbiak, you’re Organizations: CNN, NATO, Russia, University of Sussex, Law, Justice, of Slavonic, East European Studies, University College London, Ukrainian, European Commission, US State Department, Gazprom, EU Locations: Poland, Ukraine, Warsaw, United States, Germany, Russia

Concluding his visit on Thursday, Secretary of State Blinken told reporters he raised human rights issues with Saudi officials and "made clear that progress on human rights strengthens our relationship." "Human rights are always on the agenda of the United States - that’s who we are," he said during a news conference. But some rights advocates argue the golf deal shows the administration has chosen geopolitics over human rights. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says scores of human rights activists and dissidents are in prison or on trial in Saudi Arabia and that the repression "spiked" following Biden's visit last year. The list included prominent cleric Salman al-Odah, children of former spy chief Saad al-Jabri, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

Persons: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, LIV, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Biden, Seth Binder, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Sarah Yager, Salman al, Saad al, Mohammed al, Abdulrahman, Saad Ibrahim Almadi, Tess McEnery, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, Arshad Mohammed, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Saudi Crown, Al, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, North, MbS, PGA, East Democracy, Biden, Rights Watch, Saudi Foreign, U.S, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, REUTERS RIYADH, WASHINGTON, U.S, Riyadh, Washington, United States, Yemen, New York, China, Israel, OPEC, Russia, Florida

[1/5] Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jeddah in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia June 7, 2023. Amer Hilabi/Pool via REUTERSJEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had an "open, candid" conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the early hours of Wednesday about a wide range of bilateral issues, a U.S. official said. Blinken and the crown prince, known as MbS, met for an hour and forty minutes, a U.S. official said, covering topics including Israel, the conflict in Yemen, unrest in Sudan as well as human rights. In April, Saudi Arabia restored ties with Iran, a regional rival and Israel's arch-foe. MbS and Blinken also discussed Yemen and potential ways to resolve remaining issues, while Blinken thanked the crown prince for the kingdom's role in pushing for a ceasefire in Sudan and helping evacuate U.S. citizens.

Persons: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Antony Blinken, Amer Hilabi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed, Blinken's, Donald Trump, Jonathan Fulton, Fulton, Blinken, Humeyra Pamuk, Aziz El Yaakoubi, El, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Potter Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Crown, REUTERS, Saudi Crown, U.S, MbS, United, New York Times, Saudi, However U.S, Atlantic Council, Washington, ., normalising Saudi, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, REUTERS JEDDAH, Iran, Washington, Riyadh, United States, Arabia, OPEC, Israel, Yemen, Sudan, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, However, China, Arab, Beijing, Saudi

☆ Blinken heads to Saudi Arabia amid strained ties, Israel normalization in mind
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on May 7. Speaking at the pro-Israel lobby group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday, Blinken said Washington had "a real national security interest" in advocating for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, but cautioned that it will not happen quickly. "[Blinken should explain] why Chinese interests do not align with Saudi Arabia, and why closer relations in a strategic way inhibit closer relations with Washington," Goldberg said. U.S. citizens and residents with family members detained in Saudi Arabia called on Blinken in a letter on Tuesday to press Saudi officials for an immediate release of their relatives. The list included prominent cleric Salman al-Odah, children of former spy chief Saad al-Jabri, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani and aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jake Sullivan, Blinken, Washington, Richard Goldberg, Goldberg, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed, Jamal Khashoggi, Biden, Bashar al, Assad, Salman al, Saad al, Mohammed al, Abdulrahman, Arshad Mohammed, Simon Lewis, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Leslie Adler, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Saudi, White House, diplomat's, Israel, American Israel Public Affairs, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, MbS, Arab, U.S, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Iran, Jeddah, U.S, Israel, Saudi, Washington, Syria

☆ US Navy releases video of Chinese warship's 'unsafe interaction' near Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, June 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy has released a video of what it called an "unsafe interaction" in the Taiwan Strait, in which a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer in the sensitive waterway that separates democratically governed Taiwan from China. In the video, released by the U.S. Navy late Sunday, a Chinese warship can clearly be seen sailing across the path of the Chung-Hoon in calm waters. On Saturday night, China's military rebuked the United States and Canada for "deliberately provoking risk" with the rare joint sailing. [1/2] Chinese warship Luyang III sails near the U.S. destroyer USS Chung-Hoon, as seen from the deck of U.S. destroyer, in the Taiwan Strait, June 3, 2023, in this screen grab from a handout video. Beijing has been stepping up military and political pressure to try to force Taiwan to accept its sovereignty, including staging regular manoeuvres near the island.

Persons: Chung, Hoon, Luyang, Ben Blanchard, Martin Pollard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S . Navy, Information, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan Strait, U.S, Taiwan, China, The U.S, Montreal, United States, Canada, Taipei, Beijing, Chinese, South

☆ U.S. and China trade barbs at top security summit as Taiwan Strait tensions simmer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

On Saturday, when Austin took to the stage at the summit where global defense leaders gathered, he called out China for refusing to engage in military dialogue. China believes that a major country should behave like one," Li said Sunday in a translation provided by summit organizers. China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and regards any foreign presence near the island as a form of interference in its domestic affairs. China's Minister for National Defense, General Li Shangfu, delivers his plenary session Sunday at the 20th Asia Security Summit in Singapore, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue. Calls for dialogueYet, even as the U.S. and China defense chiefs talked past each other, so-called middle powers such as Australia urged the two feuding powers to reestablish dialogue.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Lloyd Austin, Austin, China's Li, Li, Defense Lloyd Austin, Roslan Rahman, Philippines —, General Li Shangfu, Anthony Albanese Organizations: American, Defense, China's Defense, Afp, Getty, Pacific Command, Delegates, China's, National Defense, 20th Asia Security Summit, Australian Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Beijing, China, U.S, Taiwan, People's Republic of China, South China, Asia, Pacific, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, France

☆ China leads tech race, highlighting need for AUKUS sharing, says think-tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. leads quantum computing - the next generation of computers expected to solve once unsolvable problems and enable faster communication. Quantum sensors could be used in threat detection for defence, ASPI said. The combined strength of AUKUS nations made them competitive with China in half of the technologies, it said. The transfer of nuclear-powered submarine technology -- an area where the U.S. holds a capability edge over China -- to Australia is the highest-profile AUKUS project. The legislative proposals are "necessary steps for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines program," Conroy said in a statement.

Persons: Read, ASPI, for Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Conroy, Joe Biden, Kirsty Needham, William Maclean Organizations: National Congress, Communist Party of, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, China, for Defence Industry, U.S . Congress, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: Communist Party of China, SYDNEY, China, Australia, Britain, U.S, Beijing, Russia, Germany, Baltic, The U.S, Moscow, . Virginia, Virginia, Sydney

☆ NATO member Turkey to send troops to Kosovo amid unrest in the north
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ISTANBUL, June 3 (Reuters) - Turkey plans to send commandos to Kosovo on Sunday and Monday in response to a NATO request to join the alliance's KFOR peacekeeping force following unrest in the north of the country, the Turkish defence ministry said. In a statement on Saturday, the ministry called for restraint and constructive dialogue to resolve a crisis that it said could harm regional security and stability. "Our assigned unit (a commando battalion) is planned to be deployed to ... Kosovo on June 4-5," the ministry said. In violence on Monday, 30 peacekeepers and 52 Serbs who protested against the installation of the mayors were injured. The violence prompted NATO to announce it would send additional troops on top of 700 already on their way to the Balkan country to boost its 4,000 strong mission.

Persons: Ezgi Erkoyun, Giles Elgood Organizations: NATO, alliance's KFOR, U.S, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, Turkey, Kosovo, Turkish, ., Kosovo's, Pristina

☆ US, Canadian navies stage rare joint mission through Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI, June 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, the U.S. Navy said, in a rare joint mission in the sensitive waterway at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington over Chinese-claimed Taiwan. "Chung-Hoon and Montreal's bilateral transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific," it said in a statement. While U.S. warships transit the strait around once a month, it is unusual for them to do so with those of other U.S. allies. The mission took place as the U.S. and Chinese defence chiefs were attending a major regional security summit in Singapore. The last such publicly revealed U.S.-Canadian mission in the narrow strait took place in September.

Persons: Chung, Defense Lloyd Austin, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy's, Fleet, Defense, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, U.S, Canadian, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Washington, Taiwan, The U.S, Montreal, United States, Singapore, China, South China, Taipei

☆ U.S.-China ties weigh on security summit as defense chiefs meet in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Regional concerns were underscored recently with the Pentagon saying that a Chinese fighter jet made an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" against an American reconnaissance plane in the South China Sea late last week. Under President Xi Jinping's leadership, China has grown more hawkish on the global stage, particularly in its historic claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea. "What you are seeing is the emergence of a regional security architecture," said Thompson of the LKY School. "The region is really coming together with a common interest in regional security and stability." Singapore is Austin's second stop on a whirlwind tour that will also take him to Japan, India and France.

Persons: Li, Xi Jinping's, We're, Chin, Hao Huang, Wang Wenbin, Huang, What's, Anthony Albanese, Thompson, Li —, Donald Trump, Austin, Joe Biden Organizations: Yale, NUS College, CNBC, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Australian, LKY, Pentagon, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Observers Locations: Austin, American, South, China, Taiwan, South China, Asia, Pacific, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Beijing, Korea, France, U.S

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