Reuters Asia Top

By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) -A possible impending visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea could deepen military ties between the two countries in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, officials of South Korea and the United States warned on Friday. South Korea’s vice foreign minister, Kim Hong-kyun, in an …

South Korea, US sound alarm over North Korea-Russia ties ahead of Putin visit Read More »

By Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) – China’s “provocative” actions around Taiwan, Japan and in the South China Sea run the risk of an accident that could unintentionally spark a broader conflict, Washington’s top diplomat in Taipei said on Friday. Sandra Oudkirk, the outgoing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and de facto U.S. …

Senior US diplomat warns of risks of accidental conflict sparked by China’s moves Read More »

HANOI (Reuters) -Vietnam’s Finance Ministry has proposed to hike a special consumption tax on alcoholic drinks to 100% by 2030, the ministry said, a move that may further hurt the country’s beverage industry. Under the draft proposal which is pending lawmakers’ approval, the special consumption tax on beer and strong liquor will be raised to …

Vietnam plans raising special consumption tax on alcoholic drinks to 100% by 2030 Read More »

By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea’s consumer safety agency said on Friday that nearly a third of tested products, including children’s toys, sold on foreign e-commerce platforms AliExpress, Temu and Qoo10 did not meet domestic safety standards. The world’s fourth-largest e-commerce market has increased regulatory scrutiny on foreign shopping platforms, with Alibaba’s AliExpress and …

S.Korea watchdog faults 3 foreign e-commerce sites for sale of unsafe products Read More »

KYIV (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that China would not sell weapons to Russia during a phone conversation between the two men, Zelenskiy said on Thursday. Zelenskiy was speaking at a joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Italy. He did not specify …

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says China’s Xi told him he will not sell any weapons to Russia Read More »

(Reuters) – Ukraine and Japan on Thursday signed a 10-year security agreement on the sidelines of the G7 summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Ukraine, more than two years since it was invaded by Russia, has signed 15 other similar agreements pledging long-term support from its allies including Britain, France and Germany. “In 2024, Japan will …

Ukraine, Japan sign 10-year term security agreement Read More »

HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam’s newly elected president To Lam on Thursday called for a strengthening of ties with the United States, the government said. Vietnam has been seeking to boost relations with Washington as part of its “bamboo diplomacy” as it tries to navigate rising global disputes and maintain economic growth. In a meeting on …

Vietnam president in meeting with US ambassador calls for stronger defence, economic ties Read More »