US President Donald Trump invited his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte to Washington in a “friendly” call in which the leaders discussed the “threat” of North Korea, the White House said. The announcement comes amid rising tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs following its latest test-fire, as well international criticism of Duterte’s drug crackdown that … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte failed to condemn China’s push to control most of the disputed South China Sea on Sunday after hosting a regional summit, handing Beijing a political victory. Duterte released a chairman’s statement a day after hosting the one-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ meeting that ignored an international ruling, championed … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Southeast Asian leaders Saturday they were facing a “massive” illegal drug menace that could destroy their societies, as he called for a united response. Duterte, who has faced international condemnation for his own crackdown on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives, also insisted that outsiders should not interfere in … Read more
Southeast Asian leaders are meeting in the Philippines for a day-long meeting where tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the South China Sea are expected to be high on the agenda. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was expected on Saturday to urge North Korea to “immediately cease all actions that violate … Read more
The Philippines’ police chief has defended the detention of a dozen people inside a closet-sized secret cell in a case that raised further alarm about abuses under President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs. The government’s human rights commission discovered a dozen men and women packed into the tiny cell behind a wooden cabinet during … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte faced pushback on Saturday at a regional summit in his efforts to weaken Southeast Asian resistance to Chinese expansionism in the contested South China Sea, diplomats said. Duterte was due to release a chairman’s statement at the end of the one-day Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) leaders meeting that ignored an … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is on Saturday set to weaken Southeast Asian resistance to Chinese expansionism in the contested South China Sea as he hosts a regional summit, diplomats said. Duterte is expected to release a chairman’s statement at the end of the one-day Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) leaders meeting that ignores an international … Read more
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed the critical importance the regional market of ECOWAS represents to the development of West Africa, stating that “it has to be a very fundamental objective of all of our peoples and governments in the region.” According to President Akufo-Addo, with West Africa’s population set to hit 500 million … Read more
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stressed the critical importance the regional market of ECOWAS represents to the development of West Africa, stating that “it has to be a very fundamental objective of all of our peoples and governments in the region.” According to President Akufo-Addo, with West Africa’s population set … Read more
Southeast Asian countries are to express ‘grave concern’ over North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches despite Kim Jong Un’s appeal for the region to join forces and fend off a ‘nuclear holocaust’. In a rare move, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho wrote to the ASEAN bloc’s secretary general appealing for backing … Read more
Southeast Asian countries on Friday expressed “grave concern” over North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches, despite Pyongyang’s appeal for support in its tense standoff with the United States. In a rare move, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho wrote to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations appealing for backing in its … Read more
Southeast Asian countries will express “grave concern” over North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests and ballistic missile launches, despite Pyongyang’s appeal for support, according to a draft statement due to be released Friday. In a rare move, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho wrote to the ASEAN regional bloc’s secretary general appealing for backing in its … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hosts Southeast Asian leaders this week, and there is much interest in how the popular politician who boasts about not being a statesman will handle the event. Many Filipinos love Duterte, 72, for his man-of-the people habits, such as eating food with his hands, wearing casual clothes even in formal situations … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war is part of a worrying assault on human rights and democracy across Southeast Asia, activists said as regional leaders gathered in Manila on Friday. Duterte has been condemned in the West for the crackdown, which has claimed thousands of lives since he took power last year, but he … Read more
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday there was no point protesting Chinese artificial island building in disputed areas of the South China Sea because it could not be stopped. Duterte made the comments on the eve of him hosting a two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and he confirmed he would not use … Read more
North Korea has appealed to Southeast Asian countries for support in its row with the United States to prevent what it warned could be a “nuclear holocaust”, according to a letter obtained by AFP. In the letter to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ secretary general, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho warned the situation … Read more
Southeast Asian leaders will express concern this week about an “escalation of activities” in the South China Sea but avoid directly criticising China, according to the draft of a summit statement. The statement, set to be released on Saturday at the end of a two-day leaders’ meeting in Manila, reflects Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts … Read more
Firebrand Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to enjoy much-wanted foreign support for his deadly drug war when he hosts Southeast Asian leaders at a Manila summit this week, observers say. Duterte’s unpredictable foreign policy is also expected to be in focus at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) event, with confusion surrounding his … Read more
Donald Trump will attend a series of key summits in Asia in November, his vice president said Thursday, adding it was a sign of America’s ‘unwavering commitment’ to the region. The U. S. president will go to the US-ASEAN and East Asia meetings in the Philippines, as well as a gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic … Read more
Donald Trump will attend a series of key summits in Asia in November, his vice president said Thursday, adding it was a sign of America’s “unwavering commitment” to the region. The US president will go to the US-ASEAN and East Asia meetings in the Philippines, as well as a gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation … Read more