Boats at a dive site off Sipadan, an island over which Malaysia and Indonesia once had rival claims. Photo: Shutterstock

    Why are South China Sea disputes hard to resolve? Power ‘asymmetry’, Malaysian expert says

    An inherent “asymmetry” of power poses a challenge to resolving South China Sea disputes via the quiet diplomacy traditionally favoured by Southeast Asian nations, a leading Malaysian security expert has said. Chinese analysts said Beijing supported the “Asean way” too, so long as sovereignty claims were resolved bilaterally. They also warned against external interference and…

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    US Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. Photo: Chicago Tribune/TNS

      Hegseth’s G2 description for US-China relations is ‘deeply problematic’, lawmaker says

      US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s designation of Washington-Beijing ties as “G2” carries a “deeply problematic” meaning that sidelines United States’ allies and partners in the region, a US lawmaker has stated in a letter. “This term carries deeply problematic connotations of depicting the United States and PRC [the People’s Republic of China] as coequal and…

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      Explained: Why Congressional Republicans are gunning for Trump ally Pete Hegseth

      Explained: Why Republicans are gunning for Trump ally Pete Hegseth | World News

      How Republicans are coming after Pete HegsethPete Hegseth entered Donald Trump’s second administration as one of its most trusted loyalists — a Fox News star turned defence secretary who promised to bring ideological clarity, forceful military action and a Trump-first worldview to the Pentagon. Ten months later, the Republican establishment that backed him is now…

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      Diplomatic Rift? Why UK Has Halted Sharing Intelligence with US | US News

      Diplomatic Rift? Why UK Has Halted Sharing Intelligence with US | US News

      US has launched lethal strikes against boats in the Carribean in September, killing 76 people. The United Kingdom has stopped sharing intelligence with the United States about suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, amid concerns that the information could be used to support US military strikes that London believes are unlawful, the CNN has reported….

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