On August 14, US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea told Japan’s Nikkei that the US is in talks with its Asian allies to deploy midrange missiles to counter „the immediate threat“ of China’s nuclear arsenal. This week, Esper will head to Hawaii, Palau and Guam. In Guam, he is set to meet his Japanese counterpart. He will likely put pressure on Japan and talk about the deployment of midrange missiles.
Archiv: Asia-Pacific region
US Secretary of Defense to make ‚historic visit‘ to Palau
„It is not only good for the (US) military to use for their exercise and training but can be used by Palau as well to boost its economy and tourism.“
Chile picks Japan’s trans-Pacific cable route in snub to China
Japan’s route beat out a pitch by China that would have made Shanghai the final landing point. This decision comes amid a U.S. pressure campaign to keep China out of global telecommunication projects.
US preps for Pacific conflict with Wake Island expansion
Just last year, B-2 Spirits used the airfield for the first time as a forward re-arming and refueling point, with their sorties beginning at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, not Guam.
India may show greater willingness to resist Chinese assertiveness in Indo-Pacific: CRS report
India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military maneuvering in the region, which is a large swathe of land and sea stretching all the way from the west coast of the US to the shores of east Africa…
Thus, Prime Minister Modi has articulated a vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, and India has engaged Russia, Japan, Australia, and other Indo-Pacific countries as potential balancers of China’s influence while remaining wary of joining any nascent security architectures that could antagonise Beijing, the CRS said.
Japan’s Abe prioritizes economy, urges debate on Constitution in policy speech
„Let us fulfill our responsibility as Diet members to the people,“ Abe told the session, with reference to the politically and socially divisive issue of changing Japan’s pacifist charter for the first time since World War II.
China’s research vessel returns to Qingdao after completing Arctic expedition
They also conducted marine surveys in the eastern Bering Sea and the northern Pacific Ocean, expanding China’s exploration of the Arctic and beyond.
U.S. seeks to renew Pacific islands security pact to foil China
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday negotiations have begun with three Pacific island nations to renew a national security agreement that would help Washington counter growing Chinese influence in the region.
Australia won’t host U.S. missiles, prime minister says
During the talks, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper spoke of hopes to deploy missiles in the Asia-Pacific region in coming months following Washington’s withdrawal from a landmark arms control treaty last week.
U.S. Ends Cold War Missile Treaty, With Aim of Countering China
But the new missiles are unlikely to be deployed to counter the treaty’s other nuclear power, Russia, which the United States has said for years was in violation of the accord. Instead, the first deployments are likely to be intended to counter China, which has amassed an imposing missile arsenal and is now seen as a much more formidable long-term strategic rival than Russia.
Australia to create new Pacific military unit in bid to woo the region
Australia, which has pledged A$3 billion ($2.11 billion) in cheap loans and grants in a bid to arrest its slide in influence, has pledged to work with the United States, Japan and New Zealand to provide electricity to 70% of the PNG population by 2030.
Deutschlands Partner-Sultanat
Deutschland intensiviert seit Jahren seine Beziehungen zu dem aktuell heftig kritisierten Sultanat Brunei. Brunei stößt international auf Protest, seit Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah angekündigt hat, die Todesstrafe für außerehelichen Geschlechtsverkehr und für Homosexualität einzuführen. Das entsprechende Gesetz ist am heutigen Mittwoch in Kraft getreten. Die Hohe Kommissarin der Vereinten Nationen für Menschenrechte, Michelle Bachelet, hat es als „grausam und unmenschlich“ verurteilt.
U.S., China agree to Asia defense rules to avoid air clashes
U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis and seven other regional military chiefs, including China’s General Wei Fenghe, gave broad endorsement to the rules in Singapore on Saturday, during an meeting hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The non-binding guidelines had been formally adopted a day earlier by defense ministers from ASEAN’s 10 member nations.
Nasdaq Expands Hong Kong Presence with Data Center Connections
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced that it is establishing connectivity to three data centers in Hong Kong to increase its service to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region through a Nasdaq Point of Presence (POP), helping to provide more efficient, cost-effective access to Nasdaq financial data in the region.
Canadians feeling more connected to Asia Pacific region than a few years ago: poll
But while Canadians seem to be increasingly recognizing the economic importance of large Asian economies like China and India, the poll results also show most respondents want Canada to uphold its own values on the environment, labour standards, democracy and human rights when doing business with Asia.
Picture A Revitalized Asia-Pacific Region … Thanks To North Korea
North Korea’s integration into the global economy could have a profound impact on regional development and growth
Peaceful North Korea can expand India’s Act East markets: Observers
„India has stepped up its focus on East Asia as well as ASEAN and any addition of an emerging market like North Korea will be most beneficial for the country’s expanding export-oriented industries,“ said a trade source.
India’s Act East Policy, that was introduced by the Modi government, focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region.