Asia leaders tiptoe around South China Sea tensions
Asian leaders play down tensions over the South China Sea, but Beijing voices frustration with countries outside the region “interfering” in tussles over the strategic waterway.
64 Search results for ""South China Sea""
ASEAN Foreign Affairs Lead Story News
Philippines releases South China Sea photos ahead of ASEAN-China meeting
The Philippines’ Defence Ministry releases pictures showing Chinese boats near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, just hours before an ASEAN meeting with China’s premier at a summit in Laos.
ASEAN to steer clear of South China Sea issue
Southeast Asian leaders are set to avoid references to a recent arbitration ruling that undermined China’s claims to the South China Sea.
ASEAN deadlocked on South China Sea statement
Southeast Asian nations fail to agree on maritime disputes in the South China Sea after Cambodia blocks any mention to an international court ruling against Beijing in their statement.
ASEAN International Lead Story News
US launches quiet diplomacy to ease South China Sea tensions
“This is a blanket call for quiet, not some attempt to rally the region against China, which would play into a false narrative that the US is leading a coalition to contain China,” a US official said.
ASEAN International Lead Story News
Burma weighs in on South China Sea decision
Burma’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges restraint after an international tribunal decides unanimously in favour of the Philippines in a dispute over territory in the South China Sea.
South China Sea dispute on table at ASEAN, China meet
Representatives of China and ASEAN are to meet in Rangoon on 30- 31 March to discuss implementation of the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC),[…]
ASEAN Lead Story News Politics Video
South China Sea dispute dominates ASEAN Summit in Naypyidaw
ASEAN Summit drew to a close on Sunday with several member countries expressing satisfaction with the outcome of talks regarding the fragile South China Sea dispute.
South China Sea tensions overshadow ASEAN summit
Southeast Asian heads of state are working to establish a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea as tensions sidetrack the 24th ASEAN Summit in Burma’s capital, Naypyidaw. Without[…]
BRIEF – South China Sea on ASEAN agenda
Senior officials from Vietnam and the Philippines said that they plan to raise the issue of China’s “provocative” behaviour in the South China Sea during the ASEAN summit, Kyodo News[…]
ASEAN International Relations Lead Story News
Burma to be one focus of ASEAN summit but little progress expected
Southeast Asian leaders will focus on trade wars, the crisis in Burma and security tensions in the disputed South China Sea at a summit this weekend, but it’s highly unlikely there will be any headline-grabbing progress on the issues.
ASEAN International Relations Lead Story News
Australia to raise rights concerns with Burma, Cambodia at ASEAN summit
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she will raise human rights concerns with Burmese and Cambodian leaders during a three-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that begins in Sydney on Friday.
Foreign Affairs Lead Story News
China boosts defence spending, rattling its neighbours’ nerves
China on Monday unveiled its largest defence spending increase in three years, setting an 8.1 percent growth target this year, fuelling an ambitious military modernisation programme and making its neighbours nervous.
Interview Lead Story News Rakhine
Thai head of Rakhine advisory body: ‘Suu Kyi still represents hope’
Former Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, head of the Advisory Board to the Committee for Implementation of the Recommendations on Rakhine State, discusses the challenges of his new role.
India plans closer Southeast Asia maritime ties to counter China
India is gathering leaders of ASEAN for a summit on Thursday to promote maritime security in a region dominated by China, officials and diplomats said.
ASEAN Human Rights International Relations Lead Story News
Human rights skirted at ASEAN summit as Trump rounds off Asia tour
Leaders of Asian nations meeting in Manila on Monday skirted around the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims triggered by Burma’s military crackdown, disappointing human rights groups who were hoping for a tough stand on the humanitarian crisis.
ASEAN Lead Story News Rohingya
Malaysia stands up for Rohingya
Malaysia disavows a statement issued by ASEAN chair, the Philippines, as misrepresenting “the reality” of an exodus of 430,000 ethnic Rohingya from Burma.
Economy International Relations Lead Story News
ASEAN economies get a lift from China. Later, they may get the bill
China is ploughing money into Southeast Asia, but as welcome as all this economic activity is to the region, it could also present political problems, as countries confront China over issues such as its claims in the South China Sea.
US secretary of state urges ASEAN to cut North Korea funding, minimise ties
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Thursday to do more to help cut funding streams for North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and to minimise diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.
International Relations Lead Story News
Suu Kyi to skip Washington summit of SE Asian foreign ministers
Aung San Suu Kyi has declined an invitation to meet US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington this week alongside top diplomats from Southeast Asia, citing other commitments, Burmese officials said on Tuesday.
Dawei Development Lead Story News
Dawei left high and dry by mining firms
Located in southeastern Burma by the Andaman Sea, Dawei, or Tavoy, is set to be a strategic channel for connecting with trade partners around the South China Sea.
US to send most senior officer to Thailand since 2014 coup
The highest ranking US officer to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup will attend the Cobra Gold military exercise next month in what the Thai army hailed on Wednesday as a sign of improving relations.
Arakan ASEAN International Relations Lead Story News Rohingya
Thai FM defends Suu Kyi’s handling of Rohingya woes
Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, has spoken for the first time in defence of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is increasingly being accused worldwide of ignoring the plight of Burma’s Muslim minority in Arakan State.
Human Rights Human Trafficking Lead Story News
Burma down, Thailand up on US human trafficking list
Burma now ranks with Uzbekistan, Sudan and Haiti at the bottom of a list of nations criticised by the US government for failing to do enough to end human trafficking.
Human Rights Human Trafficking Lead Story News
US to downgrade Burma in human trafficking report
The US State Department plans to downgrade Burma in its annual report on human trafficking because of the country’s continuing failure to end abusive practices.
Environment International Lead Story News
China to release more water to alleviate Southeast Asia drought
The release began on 11 April and will continue until the “low water period” is over, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
Mekong nations square off with narco-traffickers
The Burma-Laos border is mostly unguarded. The terrain is rugged and hostile, where the drug trade flourishes in lawless enclaves on both sides of the river.
Obama wraps up US-ASEAN summit in California
Obama, who leaves office next year, has championed a foreign policy pivot to Asia during his presidency and is determined to present the United States as a Pacific power.
Obama, Southeast Asia leaders eye China and trade at California summit
President Barack Obama gathered with leaders from Southeast Asia on Monday to strengthen trade ties and form a common stance over the South China Sea in a summit that the White House hopes will solidify U.S. influence in the region.
Crime Human Trafficking Lead Story News
Obama accused of putting trade before trafficking victims
U.S. lawmakers and rights groups allege that the Obama Administration ignored Malaysia’s abuse of trafficking victims to secure a trade deal.
