TAIPEI, April 23 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s minister in charge of the coast guard has made a rare visit to a Taiwan-controlled island in the South China Sea for exercises, including practising the armed boarding of a suspicious ship. Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, and Taiwan has control of…
BEIJING, April 21 (Reuters) – China on Tuesday implied energy assistance for the Philippines could be tied to Manila holding military drills with the U.S. and other allies, as its top newspaper showed Beijing’s readiness to leverage its reserves in diplomatic disputes. In an editorial headlined “The Philippines should create conditions for deepening cooperation,” the ruling…
TOKYO, April 21 (Reuters) – Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons. The move aimed at strengthening Japan’s defence industrial base marks another step away from pacifist restraints that have shaped…
MANILA, April 20 (Reuters) – Philippine and U.S. forces will carry out maritime strike drills on a remote Philippine island near Taiwan during annual exercises that started on Monday, which Manila’s military chief said would test their readiness under “real‑world conditions”. The April 20 to May 8 exercises known as “Balikatan”, or “shoulder-to-shoulder”, will be…
Hong Kong-headquartered Toys ‘R’ Us Asia has pivoted to an experience-focused format and smaller stores in the city following an expansion programme that sought to increase its outlets as it navigates the changing retail landscape. The group planned to close the year with 20 stores in Hong Kong, representing a 40 per cent rise from…
Heavy rain failed to put a dampener on the hopes of punters trying their luck on Hong Kong’s Mark Six lottery on Saturday, with the estimated first prize of HK$80 million in an Easter snowball draw. According to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as Saturday night’s draw will carry a snowball of HK$63 million (US$8…
March 28 (Reuters) – When U.S. President Donald Trump’s signature appears on $100 bills in June, it will end 165 years of the U.S. Treasurer signing banknotes and place Trump among a small band of sitting global leaders, most heads of developing economies, whose autographs or images have graced their currencies. Banknotes around the world…
MANILA, March 27 (Reuters) – The Philippines and France have signed a visiting forces agreement that would allow them to conduct joint military training in each other’s territory, as Manila expands defence ties amid rising tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and French Minister for the Armed Forces…
MANILA, March 27 (Reuters) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that the ASEAN Leaders’ summit will go ahead in May, but will be shortened to a “bare-bones” programme that focuses on addressing issues like fuel supplies, food prices and migrant workers. Marcos said he has consulted with his counterparts in the regional…
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy has confirmed that an armed Chinese corvette engaged its fire control radar against a Philippine frigate this month, marking the latest escalation between the two nations in contested areas in the South China Sea. The guided missile frigate BRP Miguel Malvar was conducting a routine sovereignty patrol near Sabina…