Reuters Asia Top

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday discussed the need to maintain open lines of communication between the two countries, the State Department said on Friday. Blinken told Wang the United States is committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and highlighted the implications …

Blinken, China’s Wang discussed need for open lines of communication -U.S. statement Read More »

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been given medical clearance to return to prison after completing rehabilitative treatment at a Kuala Lumpur hospital, the health ministry said on Friday. Najib, 69, started a 12-year prison sentence on Aug. 23 after Malaysia’s top court upheld a graft and money laundering conviction …

Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib given medical all-clear to return to prison Read More »

By Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO (Reuters) – Japan, one of Sri Lanka’s main creditors, will back the South Asian nation as it seeks to negotiate debt restructuring, Tokyo’s envoy to the country said on Friday. Reaching an agreement with creditors is key to Sri Lanka securing a $2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund …

Japan to support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring negotiations Read More »

By Josh Smith BUSAN, South Korea (Reuters) -A U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Friday for the first time in about four years, set to join other military vessels in a show of force intended to send a message to North Korea. USS Ronald Reagan and ships from its accompanying strike group docked …

U.S. aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as warning to North Read More »

By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) – A Chinese blockade of Taiwan or the seizure of an offshore island would be considered an act of war and Taiwan would not surrender, a senior Taiwanese security official told Reuters using unusually strong and direct language. While Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and others in her …

China blockade would be act of war, Taiwan would not surrender, official says Read More »

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A Malaysian high court acquitted a former deputy prime minister of 40 bribery charges, saying the prosecution had failed to provide enough evidence, state news agency Bernama reported on Friday. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was one of many high-ranking officials, including ex-premier Najib Razak, charged with corruption in 2018 when the United …

Former Malaysia deputy prime minister acquitted of graft charges – media Read More »