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BANGKOK (Reuters) – Myanmar’s junta likely cannot to defeat the rebels fighting its rule and should restore democracy after seizing power last year, a senior U.S. diplomat said. “It’s hard to see today how they could realistically think they can win,” said Derek Chollet, the State Department counsellor. “They’re losing territory. Their military is taking …

Myanmar junta can’t beat rebels, should restore democracy – U.S. diplomat Read More »

By Joe Brock SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Fiji’s defence minister said on Sunday that climate change posed the biggest security threat in the Asia-Pacific region, a shift in tone at a defence summit that has been dominated by the war in Ukraine and disputes between China and the United States. The low-lying Pacific islands, which include …

Fiji says climate change, not conflict, is Asia’s biggest security threat Read More »

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said on Sunday that he agreed with his Chinese counterpart to promote dialogue and exchanges. Japan warned against China’s attempts to change the status quo in the South and East China Sea, and said peace and security of the Taiwan Strait was important not only to Japan …

Japan, China agree to boost defence dialogue – Japan defence minister Read More »

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan does not want to close the door to China and is willing to engage in the spirit of goodwill, but on an equal basis and without political preconditions, Premier Su Tseng-chang said on Sunday. Relations between Taipei and Beijing, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, are at their …

Taiwan says it’s willing to engage with China, doesn’t want to close door Read More »

(Reuters) – China has made “impressive progress” in developing new nuclear weapons, but will only use them for self-defence, and never use them first, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. In response to a question about reports last year on construction of more than 100 new nuclear missile …

Chinese defence minister says country’s nuclear arsenal ‘for self-defence’ Read More »

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup said on Sunday that his country would enhance its defence capabilities and work closely with the United States and Japan to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat. Lee, speaking at an Asian security meeting in Singapore, said the situation on the Korean peninsula posed a global …

South Korea says it will boost defence capacity to counter North Korean threat Read More »

By Jack Kim and Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea promoted its key nuclear negotiator to foreign minister, state media said on Saturday, as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to his ruling party that he would use “power for power” to fight threats to the country’s sovereignty. Choe Son Hui, long a key member of …

N.Korea’s Kim vows ‘power to power’ military; promotes nuclear envoy Read More »

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Manoeuvres by China and Russia have sharpened security concerns in East Asia, Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said in unusually strong comments on Saturday, adding that Japan was on the front lines as neighbours tried to upend international norms. “Japan is surrounded by actors that possess, or are developing, nuclear weapons, and …

Japan’s defence minister slams nuclear neighbours who ‘ignore rules’ Read More »