Japan PM Ishiba faces uncertain future after historic election loss
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner Komeito secured 47 seats, short of the 50 seats it needed to ensure a majority in the 248-seat Upper House.
It is the first time the LDP has lost a majority in both houses of parliament. Follow live updates:
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump may travel to China to meet Xi in ‘not-too-distant future'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. US President Donald Trump (centre) was speaking on July 22, during a White House meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left). WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said on July 22 that he may visit China soon for a landmark trip to address simmering trade and security tensions between the superpower rivals. 'President Xi has invited me to China, and we'll probably be doing that in the not-too-distant future,' Mr Trump told reporters in the White House's Oval Office. 'A little bit out, but not too distant. And I've been invited by a lot of people, and we'll make those decisions pretty soon.' Mr Trump and Mr Xi's aides have discussed a potential meeting between the leaders during a trip by the US president to Asia later this year, Reuters has reported, citing two people familiar with the plans. While plans for a meeting have not been finalised, discussions on both sides of the Pacific have included a possible Trump stopover around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea or talks on the sidelines of the Oct 30-Nov 1 event, the people said. Another possible trip would be for a Sept 3 Beijing ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, which Russian President Vladimir Putin also plans to attend. Meetings between Mr Trump and Mr Xi or Mr Putin would be the first face-to-face encounters between the men since Mr Trump's inauguration on Jan 20 for his second term in office. The White House and the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry have declined to comment on the Reuters report. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving Global rivals Mr Trump made the comment about meeting Mr Xi during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, a key Pacific ally who Mr Trump said he had nudged away from China. 'The country was maybe tilting toward China for a period of time, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly,' Mr Trump said. Mr Trump added: 'I don't mind if he gets along with China because we're getting along with China very well.' Mr Marcos, who took office in 2022, has for years sought US support as his country's maritime disputes worsen with China. Manila has sought to avoid direct confrontation with its larger neighbour, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory. The US and the Philippines have a seven-decade-old collective defence treaty, potentially implicating Washington in a clash between China and the Philippines. Washington sees Beijing as its key strategic rival globally. Upon taking office, Mr Trump launched a tit-for-tat tariff war with China that has upended global trade and supply chains. Other points of friction between the countries include China's support for Russia, the illicit opioid trade, China's growing pressure on Taiwan and exit bans on some American residents. In recent weeks, Mr Trump has sought to lower tensions, describing his personal relations with Mr Xi as healthy. A 2019 photo shows US President Donald Trump meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at a G-20 leaders summit in Japan. PHOTO: REUTERS Mr Trump has sought to impose tariffs on virtually all foreign goods, including both China and US allies in Asia like the Philippines. He says this will stimulate domestic manufacturing, but critics say many consumer goods will become more expensive for Americans. The president has called for a universal base tariff rate of 10 per cent on goods imported from all countries, with higher rates for some. Imports from China have the highest tariff rate of 55 per cent. Mr Trump has set a deadline of Aug 12 for the US and China to reach a durable tariff agreement. REUTERS
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump may travel to China to meet Xi in 'not-too-distant future'
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he may visit China soon for a landmark trip to address simmering trade and security tensions between the superpower rivals. "President Xi has invited me to China, and we'll probably be doing that in the not-too-distant future," Trump told reporters in the White House's Oval Office. "A little bit out, but not too distant. And I've been invited by a lot of people, and we'll make those decisions pretty soon." Trump and Xi's aides have discussed a potential meeting between the leaders during a trip by the U.S. president to Asia later this year, Reuters has reported, citing two people familiar with the plans. While plans for a meeting have not been finalized, discussions on both sides of the Pacific have included a possible Trump stopover around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea or talks on the sidelines of the October 30-November 1 event, the people said. Another possible trip would be for a September 3 Beijing ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, which Russian President Vladimir Putin also plans to attend. Meetings between Trump and Xi or Putin would be the first face-to-face encounters between the men since Trump's inauguration on January 20 for his second term in office. The White House and the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry have declined to comment on the Reuters report. GLOBAL RIVALS Trump made the comment about meeting Xi during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a key Pacific ally who Trump said he had nudged away from China. "The country was maybe tilting toward China for a period of time, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly," Trump said. Trump added: "I don't mind if he gets along with China because we're getting along with China very well." Marcos, who took office in 2022, has for years sought U.S. support as his country's maritime disputes worsen with China. Manila has sought to avoid direct confrontation with its larger neighbor, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory. The U.S. and the Philippines have a seven-decade-old collective defense treaty, potentially implicating Washington in a clash between China and the Philippines. Washington sees Beijing as its key strategic rival globally. Upon taking office, Trump launched a tit-for-tat tariff war with China that has upended global trade and supply chains. Other points of friction between the countries include China's support for Russia, the illicit opioid trade, China's growing pressure on Taiwan and exit bans on some American residents. In recent weeks, Trump has sought to lower tensions, describing his personal relations with Xi as healthy. Trump has sought to impose tariffs on virtually all foreign goods, including both China and U.S. allies in Asia like the Philippines. He says this will stimulate domestic manufacturing, but critics say many consumer goods will become more expensive for Americans. The president has called for a universal base tariff rate of 10% on goods imported from all countries, with higher rates for some. Imports from China have the highest tariff rate of 55%. Trump has set a deadline of August 12 for the U.S. and China to reach a durable tariff agreement. REUTERS
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Trump says may visit China to meet Xi ‘in the not-too-distant future'
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Jul 22) that he may travel to China soon for talks with President Xi Jinping, signalling a potential breakthrough amid ongoing trade and geopolitical tensions between the two powers. 'President Xi has invited me to China, and we'll probably be doing that in the not-too-distant future,' Trump told reporters at the White House during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 'It's a little bit out, but not too distant,' he added. 'I've been invited by a lot of people, and we'll make those decisions pretty soon.' TRIP POSSIBLY TIED TO ASIA SUMMITS Plans have yet to be finalised, but aides from both countries have discussed the possibility of Trump visiting China as part of a broader trip to Asia later this year, sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters. One option being considered is for the meeting to occur during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea from Oct 30 to Nov 1, or on the sidelines of that event. Another possibility is a trip to Beijing on Sep 3, for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, an event Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend. The White House and Chinese government have declined to comment on earlier reports about the potential meeting. TRADE DEADLINE LOOMS Trump's remark came as he touted his administration's success in 'moving Marcos away from China,' even as he acknowledged it was fine for countries to maintain relations with Beijing. The US president has eased rhetoric in recent weeks and paused new rounds of tariffs, in a bid to stabilise the fraught US-China relationship. But his administration continues to press Beijing over longstanding concerns including overcapacity in manufacturing, regional security, and fentanyl-related exports. Trump has proposed a 10 per cent universal base tariff on all imports and imposed higher rates on specific countries, including a 55 per cent tariff on goods from China. He has set an Aug 12 deadline for the US and China to reach a lasting tariff agreement. POINTS OF FRICTION In addition to trade, US-China relations remain strained over Beijing's support for Russia, imposition of exit bans on some American residents, and growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
