3 d. ago Vietnam ramps up expansion of South China Sea outposts: think tank

Vietnam has continued to expand land reclamation on its occupied features in the South China Sea, with military-related construction of new ports and airstrips, according to a Chinese think tank. Citing satellite images, the Beijing-based South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said on Friday that the Southeast Asian nation had reclaimed nearly 0.78 sq km (0.3 square miles) of land on 11 features in the contested Spratly Islands, known as the Nansha Islands in China, over the past six...

Events

5 d. ago Will Sri Lanka and China push for FTA or just engage in economic diplomacy?

A long-delayed free-trade agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and China appears to be back on the agenda, even as analysts warn that the crisis-hit South Asian nation is not expected to benefit much from it for years after its implementation. Sri Lanka’s officials are cautiously optimistic the FTA could help narrow the country’s huge trade deficit with China. First proposed in 2014, talks between both sides for an FTA have been on hold for the past six years because Sri Lanka did not agree to some...

Economics

1 week ago Can Asean become a top economy despite Trump’s tariffs and internal hurdles?

Members of the Asean bloc have laid out an ambitious plan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045, but analysts warn the region must first overcome deep-rooted trade barriers, domestic implementation woes and a shifting global trade order. Released on Tuesday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, the five-year strategy to achieve the economic goal aims to boost regional integration and better address complex issues. “Carrying on with business as...

Politics

1 week ago Will Southeast Asian nations pick sides between the US and China?

Will Southeast Asian nations pick sides between the US and China?  Al Jazeera

Politics

1 week ago Gulf states, China take centre stage at summit of Southeast Asian nations

Gulf states, China take centre stage at summit of Southeast Asian nations  Al Jazeera

Politics

1 week ago ‘Asian alliance’: how China is forging a new power centre amid the trade war

China is pushing to forge a powerful new economic bloc with countries across Southeast Asia and the Middle East to counteract rising US protectionism, with some analysts suggesting a prototype for an “Asian Union” may be taking shape. Premier Li Qiang attended the opening of a new forum bringing together leaders from China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday, where he remarked that the current global tensions offered an...

Events

1 week ago China, Asean, Gulf states deliver ‘elaborate’ message on economic, energy ties

China, Southeast Asian nations and six Gulf states have pledged to foster closer cooperation with a strong emphasis on economic integration and energy collaboration, marking a milestone in enhancing tripartite alignment to tackle regional and global challenges. In a comprehensive joint statement, leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China reaffirmed their commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system and economic...

Economics

2 w. ago Malaysia’s Anwar urges Asean not to ‘sacrifice’ member states over US tariffs

Asean members must avoid undercutting their neighbours while negotiating on the tariff issue with the US, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned on Tuesday, as the bloc ended a summit with the economic threat of Washington’s levies dominating discussions. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) met over two days in Kuala Lumpur to discuss its next steps to address the “reciprocal” tariffs that US President Donald Trump had paused until early July. Asean leaders also...

Events

2 w. ago China’s Li Qiang calls for ‘vibrant economic circle’ with Asean, Gulf states

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday urged Asean and Gulf state leaders to increase cooperation with Beijing, his call coming at a time when China is seeking to strengthen global economic ties amid intractable trade tensions with the US. Addressing the inaugural summit involving China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Li said that the three sides could create a “vibrant economic circle” through deeper exchanges to benefit each nation as well as...

Economics

3 w. ago Asean, Gulf leaders to meet in Malaysia as region seeks new investment lifeline

Malaysia to host summit with Gulf Cooperation Council next week as Southeast Asian nations hope for new funding to offset US tariff shocks.

Politics

3 w. ago Cambodia starts selling durians to China, vying to rival Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia

The Southeast Asian nation sees juicy opportunities in the vast Chinese durian market, but first it will need to win over picky consumers.

Politics

3 w. ago Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art repatriates ancient silk manuscript to China

Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art repatriates ancient silk manuscript to China  The Art Newspaper

Politics