The Chinese ambassador said the ‘Japanese people will be dragged into the fire’ if they continue to support Taiwan’s independence, similar to comments he made last year.
Claims that the alleged deal was already in place before Duterte’s term are meant to shift the blame to former leader Benigno Aquino III, observers say.
Vice-Admiral Alberto Carlos admits talking to a Chinese military attaché on ways to reduce maritime tensions, but insists he has ‘not compromised’ the country’s territorial integrity.
Actress Kangana Ranaut, who is running for political office, faced a hostile rally earlier this week and was heckled with chants of “go back”.
A Chinese think tank says Vietnam has reclaimed more land in the Spratly Islands over the past three years than in the previous 40 years.
The phasing out of diesel subsidies is expected to save Malaysia hundreds of millions of US dollars annually.
‘Foreign interference’ narrative, a bid to deflect France’s responsibility for the crisis and insult to the Kanak people’s long struggle for independence, analysts note.
The Chinese coastguard earlier said it would detain any foreign nationals for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea.
In a televised interview, Guo revealed that she was an abandoned child of a man who was a Chinese citizen and a domestic helper.
Tehran has stressed political continuity, even as analysts caution that a ‘harsh struggle’ is expected in the race to become Iran’s next president.
Analysts say Beijing’s claims about an alleged deal on the South China Sea are likely a form of psychological manipulation aimed at breaking the Philippines’ resolve.
While Raisi’s death is unlikely to affect foreign policy, Iran lacks charismatic candidates to succeed him and eventually Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, experts say.
Talks on a deal have been ongoing since 2022 but appear to have stalled amid a succession of UK prime ministers and the ruling Conservative Party’s electoral malaise.
Southeast Asia welcomes India’s presence ‘with open arms’, New Delhi-based observers say – though there’s always a risk such military posturing could provoke an aggressive Chinese response.
Philippine lawmakers and officials are protesting against a new policy allowing China’s coastguard to detain suspects from next month.
Seoul should pay to refurbish some of the US’ old ‘regime killer’ nuclear bombs, a US defence analyst says – as confidence wavers in Washington’s commitment to defend South Korea.
Critics say the Philippine president’s new rights ‘super body’ is superfluous – and an attempt to ‘deodorise his administration’s odious human rights record’.
Such a scenario is unlikely, observers say, noting it could be a gambit by new PM Lawrence Wong to make voters go for the safe option of returning the PAP to power.
Weavers in Varanasi say the rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric has so far caused no bad blood since the sari business thrives on interdependency.
The US, Australia and India are among Israel’s long-time allies that have objected to the mounting casualties and escalation in the Gaza war.
India’s PM denies his ruling Hindu-nationalist party wants a two-thirds parliamentary majority to strip the word ‘secular’ from the constitution. The opposition aren’t so sure.