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Jesse Johnson
A China Coast Guard ship blocks the direction of a Philippine Coast Guard ship conducting a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed at a grounded warship in the South China Sea on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 7, 2023
Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships come within meter of colliding
The close call came Wednesday near Second Thomas Shoal, about 200 kilometers off the Philippine coast, as Manila was carrying out a resupply mission.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, last November.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 7, 2023
Biden says meeting with Xi in November is a 'possibility'
Washington and Beijing are edging closer to setting up a Biden-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco from Nov. 16-17.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Defense Minister Minoru Kihara to the Pentagon in Washington on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 5, 2023
Japan expedites purchase of Tomahawks as security concerns grow
In light of the increasingly challenging Asian security environment, Japan will acquire the cruise missiles a year earlier than initially planned.
A man walks past a television showing a news broadcast featuring a photo of U.S. soldier Travis King, who ran across the border into North Korea while part of a tour group visiting the Demilitarized Zone on South Korea's border, in Seoul, on Aug. 16.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 28, 2023
U.S. soldier in American custody after release from North Korea
U.S. Army soldier Travis King was released by Pyongyang more than two months after he sprinted across the border from the South in July.
A Philippine Coast Guard member cuts a rope connecting a floating barrier that was installed near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, in this undated photo released late Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 26, 2023
Philippines removes floating barrier in South China Sea
Manila said Tuesday said it had conducted “a special operation” to remove a 300-meter floating barrier installed by China.
Anti-war demonstrators mark the 78th anniversary of the United States' 1945 atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima with a march and protest in New York's Times Square on Aug. 6.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 26, 2023
Nuclear specter rises as world marks day for eliminating weapons
The goal of ridding the world of nukes appears more distant than ever as the U.S., Russia and China ramp up activity at their test sites.
China Coast Guard and other vessels install a floating barrier in a flash point area of the contested South China Sea, just 230 kilometers from the Philippine coast on Friday, in this image posted to X on Sunday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 24, 2023
Philippines condemns Beijing's 'floating barrier' in South China Sea
Manila has condemned the China Coast Guard’s move to install a floating barrier in a flash point area just 230 kilometers from the Philippine coast.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Monday in New York.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 19, 2023
Japan’s new top diplomat makes international debut
On the sidelines to the U.N. General Assembly sidelines, new Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa gets off to a quick start.
A Taiwanese pilot runs toward an F-16V fighter jet for an evening take off as part of a combat readiness mission at the airbase in Hualien, Taiwan, in August last year.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 18, 2023
Taiwan detects 'recent high' 103 Chinese warplanes near island
The incident happened hours after China's top envoy told the U.S. national security adviser that Taiwan is "the first red line that must not be crossed."
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 18, 2023
Top Biden official and Chinese diplomat hold 'constructive' talks
The talks come ahead of an anticipated November meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at an APEC summit.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu after receiving a gift at their luncheon during Kim's visit to the port of Vladivostok, Russia, on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 17, 2023
North Korea's Kim talks up defense ties as Russia trip concludes
Both countries hinted at the “strategic importance” of bilateral ties during Kim's visit — despite U.S. warnings against any arms deals.
Minoru Kihara
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 17, 2023
New Japan defense chief 'very concerned' about Chinese military moves
Minoru Kihara called trilateral cooperation with South Korea and the U.S. “the cornerstone” of Tokyo’s response to the regional security concerns.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and other officials, inspects a Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missile put on display at the Knevichi aerodrome near Vladivostok, Russia, on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 16, 2023
North Korea's Kim gets close-up look at Russian hypersonic missiles
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was given a close-up look at Russia's powerful Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and a tour of one of its a warships.
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu (far left) attends the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 15, 2023
Missing Chinese defense chief signals turmoil in Xi's government
Washington has reportedly concluded that Li Shangfu, who took up his post in March, has been stripped of his responsibilities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Сosmodrome in Russia's far eastern Amur region on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 13, 2023
At talks, Putin tells Kim Russia could help North Korea build satellites
Kim Jong Un met Russian President Vladimir Putin amid warnings by the U.S. against a possible arms deal that the two leaders were reportedly seeking.
New Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is seen in formal attire to attend an attestation ceremony after a Cabinet reshuffle in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 13, 2023
In Kishida's Cabinet reshuffle, two changes stand out
It will be the first time in 20 years that a woman has been foreign minister, while the new defense chief arrives amid dramatic shifts in defense posture.
Passengers wait for their train in front of a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile, at the main railway station in Seoul in July.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 13, 2023
North Korea fires off two ballistic missiles as Kim visits Russia
Both missiles appeared to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its coast.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves as he departs by train from Pyongyang for a visit to Russia in this image released Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 12, 2023
North Korea's Kim arrives in Russia for talks with Putin
Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia aboard his luxury armored train Tuesday, with a possible arms deal likely at the top of the meeting's agenda.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the central report conference at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the country, in this image released Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 11, 2023
North Korea's Kim to visit Russia for talks with Putin
Kim is likely to discuss possible arms deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war in Ukraine burns through Moscow’s weapons stocks.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 9, 2023
Japan top diplomat makes first visit to Ukraine since war's start
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi met with a number of high-ranking officials in Kyiv, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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