Reuters Asia Top

MANILA (Reuters) – More than 17,000 Philippine and U.S. soldiers began their largest ever joint military drills on Tuesday, as ties between the long-term allies warm over shared concerns about China’s assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. The expanded annual exercises underscore improved defence ties under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after his predecessor scaled back drills …

Philippines, U.S. begin joint troop exercises amid regional tensions Read More »

HONG KONG (Reuters) – A top financial official from Hong Kong is set to visit Britain in April in the first ministerial-level visit by an official of the Chinese-ruled territory in more than three years, the government said on Tuesday. The move follows the “Hello Hong Kong” promotion campaign kicked off in March to woo …

Hong Kong finance official to make first visit to Britain in three years Read More »

By David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Washington and Manila will need to discuss what the U.S. may do with its access to certain military bases in the Philippines, Filipino Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said on Monday. The Philippines last week identified four more military bases that the U.S. may access amid shared …

Discussion needed on how US can use Philippines bases – foreign minister Read More »

By Gul Yousafzai QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) -Four people were killed and 15 injured in a bombing targeting a police vehicle in a marketplace in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, a hospital official said. In a successive attack, a station house officer (SHO) was targeted in a roadside blast in Quetta. Police said …

Four killed in blast targeting police vehicle in Pakistan’s Quetta Read More »

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron has caused a stir by saying Europe has no interest in accelerating the conflict in Taiwan and should become a “third pole” independent of both Washington and Beijing. Political actors on both sides of the Atlantic criticised the president’s position as being too accommodating of China, just as …

Macron criticised for saying Europe should take independent stance on Taiwan Read More »

By Sakura Murakami TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan stressed on Monday the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait during a meeting of senior Japanese and Chinese officials after Beijing held three days of war games around the island. The talks, focusing on concerns over disputed waters in the East China Sea, came as China was ending …

Japan urges peace in Taiwan Strait as Beijing simulates attack Read More »

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuters) – High pollution levels in Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai and surrounding provinces are keeping tourists away and alarming locals, with the government on Monday urging residents to avoid outdoor activities. For several weeks last month the city was at the top of air quality information platform IQAir’s global chart …

Pollution choking Thailand’s north hits tourism, worries public Read More »