LATEST NEWS & VIEWS
China, US defence chiefs hold first talks in almost 18 months amid tensions over South China Sea, Taiwan
By W.G. Dunlop US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun via video teleconference Tuesday, in the first substantive talks between the superpowers’ defense chiefs in nearly 18 months. The United States has been working to strengthen defense cooperation with its allies in the Asia-Pacific region to counter China’s growing influence…
Beijing slams US-Japan-Philippines summit, saying South China Sea actions ‘lawful’
Beijing on Friday criticised the United States, Japan and the Philippines and defended its actions in the South China Sea as “lawful” after US President Joe Biden hosted a trilateral meeting in Washington. Biden on Thursday pledged to defend the Philippines from any attack in the South China Sea at the White House summit, which…
COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS
Despite a strong performance in 2020, Taiwan faces a challenging new year
Unlike most of the world, Taiwan had a good 2020. It contained Covid-19 for most of the year, is expected to see GDP growth of over two per cent, and enjoyed several diplomatic successes. However, the threat of China still looms large and the inauguration of a new American president has raised concerns over whether…
Hongkongers have glimpsed the future under Carrie Lam – and it’s pretty scary
With a legislature devoid of opposition, a population cowed by national security legislation and a tone-deaf chief executive operating in a made-in-China protective bubble, a much clearer picture of Hong Kong’s future is emerging — and it’s pretty scary. The most audacious component of this unwanted promised land is the government’s Lantau Tomorrow Vision, which…
FEATURES
Feature: After ‘high seas pursuit’, Sea Shepherd urges Beijing to prosecute illegal fishing fleet
With mountains of plastic gill nets strewn across its aft deck, the M/Y Steve Irwin could be a long-distance trawler at first sight. But the catch for this camouflage-coated ship anchored off northeastern Lantau are the fishing trawlers themselves. The nets it carries are the confiscated weapons of the illegal fishers they have foiled; more spoils of war…
