Iran-US conflict raises concerns for Philippines in South China Sea: ‘distracted America'
Advertisement
Later on Tuesday, US President
Donald Trump claimed that
Israel and Iran have worked out a 'complete and total ceasefire'. But Iran's foreign minister said there would be no cessation of hostilities unless Israel stopped its attacks while Israel said hours after Trump's announcement that Iran had launched missiles towards it.
Though the US remains rhetorically committed to the Indo-Pacific as its 'priority theatre', experts caution that it is not immune to strategic overstretch.
Tankers at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal on Monday. It is the only natural deep-sea port in the Middle East and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes. Photo: AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
an hour ago
- RTHK
Hang Seng Index shows relief bump over ceasefire
Hang Seng Index shows relief bump over ceasefire The Hang Seng Index ended the day up 487.94 points, or 2.06 percent, at 24,177.07. File photo: RTHK Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stocks rose on Tuesday, joining a broader rally across Asia, as global risk appetite improved following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the day with solid gains of 487.94 points, or 2.06 percent, at 24,177.07, the biggest single-day gain in over five weeks. Tech firms and car makers led gains in Hong Kong, with the Hang Seng Automobile Index adding over 3 percent and the Hang Seng Tech Index climbing 2.1 percent. On the mainland, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended up 1.15 percent at 3,420.57 while the Shenzhen Component Index closed 1.68 percent higher at 10,217.63. Combined turnover at these two indices stood at 1.41 trillion yuan, up from 1.12 trillion yuan on the previous trading day. Shares in the solid-state battery, robotics and gaming sectors led gains while those related to oil and gas, shipping and precious metals were among the biggest losers. The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 2.3 percent to close at 2,064.13. Markets reacted positively to the news that Trump announced a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region. Risk sentiment in China markets probably won't get much worse from here, and further dips on Middle East tensions might signal a new round of buying opportunities, analysts at Bank of China (International) Securities said in a note. In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, closed at 38,790.56, up 436.47 points, or 1.14 percent, from the previous trading day as investor sentiment was lifted after news that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, easing geopolitical concerns. The broader Topix index also rebounded, rising 20.17 points, or 0.73 percent, to 2,781.35. (Reuters/Xinhua)
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Why blocking the Strait of Hormuz is a recipe for disaster
US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in mid-June have pushed Middle East security to a dangerous new precipice. In response, Tehran's intention to retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz , a chokepoint for around a third of global seaborne oil, has further placed international law and the world economy in the line of fire. With commercial vessels reportedly beginning to divert, the critical question is not just whether Iran can disrupt traffic, but whether it will implement a complete blockade. A careful examination of the legal framework, strategic considerations and economic realities suggests that, although the risk of miscalculation is high, a sustained closure of the strait remains an unlikely and counterproductive option for Tehran. From the perspective of international law, Iran's hands are largely tied. In principle, the Strait of Hormuz should be governed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). This convention establishes the right of 'transit passage', which guarantees all ships and aircraft continuous and expeditious passage. Crucially, Unclos states this right 'shall not be impeded' or suspended by coastal states. While Iran has signed but not ratified Unclos, the transit passage regime is accepted as customary international law, binding on all nations. Even under the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, one of four treaties agreed on at the first UN Conference on the Law of the Sea in 1958 and which has since been replaced by the 1982 law, straits used for international navigation are subject to a non-suspendable right of innocent passage. Tehran may attempt to justify a blockade under Article 51 of the UN Charter, claiming self-defence in response to the air strikes. However, this argument is unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny. The principles of necessity and proportionality are central to the right of self-defence. A blanket closure of the strait would inflict disproportionate harm on neutral third countries, including energy-hungry economies in Asia and Europe – arguably making it an illegal act of collective punishment as opposed to a legitimate act of self-defence. According to international humanitarian law, self-defence measures must not unduly harm third parties.
The Standard
3 hours ago
- The Standard
Trump says US interest rates should be at least two to three points lower
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as Jerome Powell, his nominee to become chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, speaks at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 2, 2017. (Reuters)
