Reuters reports that China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has visited South Korea, and met with South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, and foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha.
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Category: In the news
Taiwan to build new fleet of eight domestically-developed submarines in US-backed project
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has announced on that Taiwan will build a new fleet of submarines aimed at countering China’s military power in the region.
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Japan and China hold high-level dialogue on East China Sea tensions, trade and Covid-19
The first high-level dialogue between China and Japan since Yoshihide Suga succeeded Shinzo Abe as Japan’s Prime Minister in September have taken place in Tpkyo, with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi discussing maritime tensions over disputed islands in the East China Sea, trade and the Covid-19 pandemic response.
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US withdrawal from Open Skies Treaty: undermining military mutual trust and transparency, says China
The United States has officially withdrawn from the Open Skies treaty, with effect 22 November 2020, blaming the withdrawal on Russia’s transgression of the Treaty.
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Japan, Australia agree security pact amid fears over disputed South China Sea
Japan and Australia reached a new agreement on defence cooperation on Tuesday [17 November 2020]. The agreement, agreed in-principle by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, allows Japanese and Australian troops to visit each other’s countries and conduct training and joint operations.
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US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, Iraq: NATO chief warns Islamic State militants could regroup
Although not unexpected, the timing of the decision to withdraw all but 2,500 US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq by mid January 2021 has been criticised by NATO allies and senior Republican lawmakers.
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Russia’s President Putin approves new naval facility in Sudan
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Monday [16 November 2020] approved the creation of a Russian naval facility in Sudan capable of mooring nuclear-powered surface vessels, clearing the way for Moscow’s first substantial military foothold in Africa since the period of the former Soviet Union.
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Mike Pompeo urges working together to address Turkey, Donald Trump considers a strike on Iran
In Paris on Monday,16 November 2020, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US administration and Europe need to work jointly on addressing recent “aggressive” actions led by Turkey – before continuing his 7-country tour, landing in Istanbul on Monday night. In Washington, a US official confirmed that last week US President Trump considered a strike on Iran’s main nuclear facility.
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Biden says US should align with other democracies to set global trade rules to counter China’s influence
On Monday [16 November 2020], US President-elect Joe Biden said that the United States needed to negotiate with allies to set global trading rules to counter China’s growing influence – but declined to say whether the US would join the 15-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, the new trade pact that includes China, which was signed in Hanoi on Sunday [15 November 2020].
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What happens now the RCEP trade deal has been signed?
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP) agreement: Fifteen Asia-Pacific economies have signed what could become the world’s largest free trade agreement, covering nearly a third of the global population and about 30% of its global gross domestic product.
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Australia hopes Asia-Pacific trade deal will improve ties with China
Australia hopes the trade deal about to be signed by 15 Asia-Pacific economies will help improve Australia’s strained relations with China. Australia’s Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said that the trade pact offers a platform that can lead to a positive change in relations. “The ball is very much in China’s court to come to the table for that dialogue,” he is reported to have said.
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US-China relations: Busy week as US maintains pressure on China and seeks to solidify regional relationships
Even in what are almost certainly its last weeks, there is no sign yet that the Trump administration will lessen its efforts to make a lasting mark on relations between China and the US and its Asia-Pacific partners and allies.
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Rumours of Xi Jinping – Li Keqiang leadership swap in ‘China reset’ strategy (Forbes)
Forbes reports (with careful caveats) that there are rumours that China’s President Xi and Premier Li might “do a Putin and Medvedev, and switch spots on the roster” in a move which would be presented internationally as a ‘China reset’.
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Landmines cleared from Falkland Islands 38 years after conflict
Reuters reports that the final landmines on the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic have been cleared, Britain said on Tuesday [10 November 2020], nearly 40 years after they were laid by Argentine forces when they seized the British territory.
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Asia-pacific trade deal covering 29% of world’s GDP expected to be signed shortly
It is reported that the world’s largest trade pact involving 15 countries in the Asia Pacific – which account for 29% of global gross domestic product – is expected to be signed during a virtual leaders summit to be held on 15 November 2020.
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US State Department approves sale of MQ-9 SeaGuardian drones to Taiwan
The US State Department is reported to have approved a potential sale to Taiwan of four MQ-9 SeaGuardian drones in a deal valued US $600 million, another sale of weapons to Taiwan that will be seen as provocative by China.
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India, US, Japan and Australia begin Exercise Malabar naval drills
Reuters reports that on 2 November “India, the United States, Japan and Australia began their largest joint naval exercises in over a decade”, “seen as part of efforts to balance China’s vast military and economic power in the region”.
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Chinese, US military chiefs hold crisis communication amid heightened South China Sea tensions
It is reported that officials from China and the US held a video conference meeting about crisis communication on 28-29 October, amid amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. According to Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper denied a media report suggesting the US was “studying” a plan to attack Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea using an MQ-9 drone.
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US rejects widely preferred candidate, throwing WTO leadership race into confusion
The United States is reported to have rejected Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy for director-general of the World Trade Organization. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is said to have secured wide cross-regional support for her candidacy. The US continues to support the candidacy of South Korea’s trade minister Yoo Myung-hee.
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US and India sign Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation As anticipated, the United States and India have today [27 October 2020] signed an agreement for the sharing of sensitive satellite data during a biannual “2+2” security dialogue in New Delhi. According to Indian defence sources, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) on Geospatial Cooperation will provide India with access to a range of topographical, nautical and aeronautical data necessary for more accurate use of missiles
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