Asia security council opens in Singapore
Defense officials from Asia, the United States and Europe have opened a major security forum in Singapore.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is attending, but his Chinese counterpart skipped the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue, which started on Friday.
Hegseth met with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles ahead of the forum's opening. Marles said in a social media post that they discussed their "unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific," among other topics.
Hegseth is scheduled to meet the delegates of the participating countries, including Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen.
He is also set to deliver a speech on Saturday. Analysts will be keenly watching what he says about how the Trump administration will tackle security challenges in Asia, such as those involving Taiwan and the South China Sea, where Beijing has been stepping up pressure.
China's defense minister attended the past four conferences, but not this one. The country instead sent a delegation from its military academy. It also canceled a speech by its representative slated for Sunday, which is seen as an unusual step.
Experts say Beijing may have wanted to avoid discussions on security issues, on which the two countries are far apart, amid uncertainties over tariff negotiations with Washington.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
4 hours ago
- NHK
Japan's Imperial family prays for souls of war dead in Okinawa
Japan's Emperor and Empress, along with their daughter, have offered condolences to the souls of people who died in the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa during World War Two. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko visited the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum in the Peace Memorial Park in Itoman City on Wednesday. This is the couple's second visit to Okinawa since the Emperor ascended the throne, and the first for the Princess. This year marks 80 years since a fierce ground battle took place in the prefecture toward the end of the war. Itoman was the site of the final fighting in the Battle of Okinawa. After arriving at the mausoleum, the Imperial family prayed in front of the charnel house, which holds the remains of more than 180,000 people, and then laid a bouquet of flowers. The three next moved to the Cornerstone of Peace where the names of over 240,000 who died in the battle are engraved. They were briefed about those whose names were newly inscribed this year. The Imperial family then visited the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum where they read accounts of survivors of the battle. At the mausoleum, the Emperor, Empress and Princess spoke to a number of relatives of the war dead. Afterwards, one of them, Arakaki Ikuo said he told the Imperial family that he lost three family members in the battle. He told them that he remembers being held by his grandmother, and that he still grieves over the loss. He said he asked them to help achieve world peace. Arakaki said it was great honor that he was offered words of encouragement by Princess Aiko who wished him good health and prosperity. Another relative, Chinen Yukichi said he told the Imperial family that his father and elder brother died in the war and his mother had become a widow at the age of 36. He said the Imperial family acknowledged the difficulties he experienced, and that he felt encouraged by their words. Chinen said it is difficult to convey the reality of the war to younger people, but he said he will do his best.
NHK
4 hours ago
- NHK
US looks to entice Japan with Alaska LNG project
The US wants Asian nations to invest in an Alaska LNG pipeline. An expert says they should shop around as competing projects are under consideration throughout North America.
NHK
4 hours ago
- NHK
Armed anti-junta groups in Myanmar extend ceasefire to June 30
Armed ethnic minority groups in Myanmar have announced the extension of a temporary ceasefire. They said the truce will be continued until June 30 to prioritize earthquake recovery efforts. The move comes after a similar announcement from the ruling military days ago. Both sides declared a temporary ceasefire days after a major earthquake rocked central Myanmar in March. The military says the quake has left more than 3,700 people dead and over 5,000 injured. Three armed ethnic minority groups including the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said on Monday that they would extend the ceasefire. The announcement cited ongoing rescue and clearance operations. Heavy rainfall has caused more damage including collapsed structures. It remains unclear whether the truce will hold, as fighting appears to be continuing. Local media outlets report that there were military air and artillery strikes last month in northwestern Sagaing Region and western Rakhine State.
