TAIPEI (BLOOMBERG) – From the South China Sea to the Himalayas, Beijing has shown a willingness to seize on perceived missteps by its rivals to tighten its grip over disputed territory. That’s now playing out around Taiwan. In recent days, the People’s Liberation Army has sought to establish a new status quo on Taiwan with […]
Tag: south
In first visit to China, South Korean foreign minister seeks to reassure Beijing
SEOUL (REUTERS) – South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin is set for his first visit to China on Monday (Aug 8) as President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government seeks to reassure Beijing about their relationship despite Seoul’s stronger ties with the US and tensions over Taiwan. Mr Park is scheduled for a three-day stay in the eastern port city […]
South Korea is scouting out the moon, with more missions to come
SEOUL (NYTIMES) – South Korea set off for the moon on Thursday (Aug 4). But it doesn’t want to stop there. “We are also considering using the moon as an outpost for space exploration,” Mr Kwon Hyun Joon, director-general of space and nuclear energy at South Korea’s Ministry of Science, said in a written response […]
North Korea denounces Pelosi for deterrence talks during South Korea visit
SEOUL (REUTERS) – North Korea denounced US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Saturday (Aug 6) for supporting deterrence against North Korea during her visit to South Korea this week. Mrs Pelosi and her South Korean counterpart, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, vowed on Thursday to achieve North Korean denuclearisation during her stop in […]
S. Africa’s Ramaphosa on knife edge as crises spur leadership race
President of ruling African National Congress and South Africa President Ramaphosa addresses the 6th National Policy Conference in Johannesburg on July 29, 2022. (AP PHOTO) JOHANNESBURG – South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa is beset by crises that have cast doubt on his presidency and left him vulnerable to a leadership challenge as his party begins the […]
South Korea launches first lunar orbiter
SEOUL (AFP) – South Korea’s first-ever lunar orbiter was launched from the US on Thursday (Aug 4) on a year-long mission to observe the Moon, live video showed, with a payload including a new disruption-tolerant network for sending data from space. Danuri – a portmanteau of the Korean words for “Moon” and “enjoy” – was […]
South Korea leader Yoon Suk-yeol snubs Pelosi over holiday, adding to his woes
SEOUL (BLOOMBERG) – After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi captivated the world’s attention with a groundbreaking trip to Taiwan, she received far less fanfare on her next stop. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has seen his approval rating drop to near historic depths just three months after taking office, didn’t see it necessary to […]
Pelosi vows support to denuclearise North Korea, plans to visit Korea border
SEOUL (REUTERS) – US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her South Korean counterpart vowed on Thursday (Aug 4) to support efforts to maintain a strong deterrence against North Korea and achieve its denuclearisation. A joint statement was issued after Mrs Pelosi met South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo in Seoul, during which they […]
Pelosi’s roundabout flight to Taiwan shows China’s long reach
TAIPEI (BLOOMBERG) – The path of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s US military plane en route to Taiwan was notable for how carefully it avoided the South China Sea. The closely watched trip was one of the most controversial official US visits in recent memory, and the flight path underscored a remarkable degree of caution as […]
On South Korean TV, (lovingly) airing families’ dirty laundry
SEOUL (NYTIMES) – Appointment day was finally here. The parents had waited for a month to see the renowned psychiatrist in South Korea about their child’s issues. They entered the room, the doctor arrived, and the door closed. Then the teleprompters turned on, the cameras started rolling, and the producer shouted, “Action!” So began the […]
US aircraft carrier enters South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions
SINGAPORE (BLOOMBERG) – A United States aircraft carrier and strike group have entered the South China Sea as part of what the 7th Fleet said was a scheduled operation amid rising tensions with China over a potential Taiwan visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier, made its […]
North Korea warns of second Korean War on armistice anniversary
SEOUL (BLOOMBERG) – North Korea used the anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting on the peninsula 69 years ago to warn of a “second Korean War,” blaming the US and South Korea for inflaming hostilities. “The joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which are being carried out with a thick […]
US helicopters hold first live-fire drills in South Korea since 2019
SEOUL (REUTERS) – US Army Apache attack helicopters based in South Korea are holding live-fire drills with rockets and guns for the first time since 2019, as the allies step up military exercises amid tension with North Korea. Training resumed at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex just south of the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) […]
Time to take precautions against monkeypox: The Daily Star
DHAKA (THE DAILY STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – We are deeply concerned by the potential outbreak of another global pandemic after the World Health Organisation (WHO), on Saturday (July 23), sounded its highest alarm in relation to the monkeypox viral disease, declaring it a global health emergency. Although a committee of experts voted 9-6 against sounding […]
China says South China Sea not a ‘fighting arena’ for major powers
BEIJING (REUTERS) – China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday (July 25) that the South China Sea is not a “safari park” for countries outside the region or a “fighting arena” for major powers to compete in. The South China Sea issue should be handled by countries in the region themselves, Wang said. He […]
South Korea’s first homegrown fighter jet completes test flight
SEOUL (REUTERS) – South Korea’s domestically developed fighter jet successfully completed its first test flight on Tuesday (July 19), a defence agency said, amid a push to replace ageing military jets in the face of nuclear and missile threats from neighbouring North Korea. The next-generation aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in a project […]
South Korea, Japan foreign ministers meet to tackle historical disputes
SEOUL (REUTERS) – South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin began a meeting in Tokyo on Monday (July 18) with his Japanese counterpart, carrying a message of reconciliation in hopes that the neighbours can overcome historical disputes and repair strained ties with Japan. Ties have been fraught for years over the bitter legacy of Japan’s occupation of […]
US Treasury’s Yellen to meet South Korea’s Yoon on final leg of Asia trip
NUSA DUA, Indonesia (REUTERS) – US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and other senior officials in Seoul on Tuesday (July 19) as she wraps up her first visit as secretary to the Indo-Pacific region, the Treasury Department said. During her meetings in Seoul, Ms Yellen will continue to […]
US Navy ship again sails near disputed South China Sea islands
BEIJING (REUTERS) – A US Navy destroyer sailed near the disputed Spratly Islands on Saturday (July 16), the US Navy said, its second such “freedom of navigation” operation in a week in the South China Sea. On Wednesday, China’s military said it had “driven away” the same ship, the USS Benfold, when it sailed near […]
South Korea seeks to kickstart talks to resolve historical feuds with Japan
SEOUL (REUTERS) – South Korea hopes a high-level visit to Tokyo next week will kickstart talks aimed at a breakthrough in historical disputes despite concerns the death of former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe could disrupt efforts to mend ties, Seoul officials said. Relations between the two North Asian US allies have been strained over disputes […]