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Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Won't spare those who threaten…': Pete Hegseth vows to ‘crush' China's aggression in Indo-Pacific
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a clear warning to Beijing at the ASEAN multilateral meeting. Calling out 'Communist Chinese aggression,' Hegseth vowed that the U.S. will stand firm with its allies in the Indo-Pacific and push back with peace through strength. Show more Show less
Chicago Tribune
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daniel DePetris: Asia is getting shortchanged as the US keeps its focus elsewhere
How committed is President Donald Trump's administration to preserving a stable balance of power in Asia? If you go by the rhetoric and the policy documents released thus far, the answer is clear: very. Trump's national security team, from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's top policy official, is stocked with people who can be described as certified China hawks. All three are extremely concerned about Beijing's ongoing military modernization — China already has the largest navy in the world and the biggest missile stockpile in Asia. And China has a heightened propensity for risk and a man in Xi Jinping who seems to relish getting into altercations with U.S. allies in the region's disputed waterways. The so-called median line separating Chinese and Taiwanese airspace, which used to be respected as a de facto boundary, is increasingly irrelevant in the eyes of China's People's Liberation Army. Washington, of course, knows all of this and has responded with barbed words. During a trip to Japan in March, Hegseth stated that 'America and Japan stand firmly together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the Communist Chinese.' A day before that speech, Hegseth and his counterpart from the Philippines agreed to schedule more bilateral military exercises with the aim of boosting Manila's capacity to resist China's gray zone activities. The Pentagon's interim policy guidance cites deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the self-governed island that Beijing claims, as one of its top objectives. And in an April memorandum, Hegseth supplemented that guidance by pressing the U.S. Army to reorganize and refit itself with one big mission in mind: 'deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region.' Yet take a deeper look, and it becomes clearer that the Trump administration's actions haven't synced with its words. The first four months of Trump's second term have instead been drowned out by the kinds of rapid-fire crises that often distract from longer-term priorities. In the Middle East, a region Trump has consistently railed about, the United States channeled additional military hardware into a seven-week war against the Houthis in Yemen to bolster its deterrent against Iran as nuclear talks continue to progress. Six B-2 long-range bombers, a third of the Air Force's B-2 fleet, were deployed to the Diego Garcia air base in the Indian Ocean. Additional fighter aircraft were sent to the Persian Gulf. The Defense Department ordered the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group to stay in the region past its deployment date, and it redeployed another aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, to the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific. A Patriot air defense battalion was also shifted from Asia to the Middle East, which required 73 flights to pull off. The U.S. air war against the Houthis, meanwhile, was happening at such a frenetic pace that U.S. military officers responsible for Asia were alarmed about a shortage of precision-guided munitions, which Washington would need for a potential conflict with China. Although the air campaign against the Houthis stopped after Trump arrived at a ceasefire deal with the Yemeni rebel group in early May, there hasn't been much of a change in the U.S. force posture to date. The B-2s on Diego Garcia have been replaced with B-52s. And while one aircraft carrier, the USS Truman, is now in the Mediterranean serving Washington's operations in Europe, another, the USS Nimitz, is traveling from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, possibly on its way to the Persian Gulf. It's not only the Pentagon's resources that are being affected. Washington's diplomatic energy these days is focused less on Asia and more on the Middle East and Europe — or more specifically, on Iran, Gaza and Ukraine. All three of these problem sets require extraordinary amounts of time and preparation to manage, let alone resolve. On Ukraine, Trump has preferred to get involved himself, calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders in an attempt to make progress on ending Europe's most destructive war in eight decades. Thus far, success has been elusive; while Ukrainian and Russian officials met this month for the first time in more than three years, no concrete outcomes were reached outside of a large prisoner exchange. Despite European frustration with Putin's maximalist demands, Trump still doesn't want to throw in the towel and give up on a diplomatic endeavor he campaigned on. The diplomacy on Gaza is even less hopeful for Trump than the diplomacy on Ukraine. The war in the Palestinian enclave is heading into its 20th month, with Israel and Hamas no closer to ending the fighting today than they were when it started. In fact, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated outright that ending the war is not going to happen until Hamas disarms and moves out of Gaza, two conditions the Palestinian terrorist group views as surrender terms. Trump is perturbed by the lack of movement but is nevertheless still ordering his envoy Steve Witkoff to continue his efforts. The talks with Iran, meanwhile, continue at a steady clip. The fifth round of diplomacy talks ended May 23, with both sides cautiously optimistic that a final end product could be achieved. But we are nowhere near an agreement, which means U.S. officials have more work to do. Through it all, Asia is getting the short end of the stick. The United States is still the world's primary superpower, but that doesn't make it superman. No country has endless resources. Sacrifices need to be made. Expending energy on one region will inevitably mean withdrawing energy from another. And right now, regardless of what Hegseth and Rubio may say, U.S. policy in Asia is the sacrificial lamb.
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Carney Says He Called Trump ‘Transformational' for His Stance on China
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he believes U.S. President Donald Trump has been 'transformational' in his role for the way he has dealt with China. After leading an election campaign focused on criticism of Trump, Carney praised the U.S. president when the two met at the White House on May 6. 'You're a transformational president,' Carney said at the beginning of the meeting after thanking Trump 'above all' for his leadership. In speaking to reporters in Ottawa on May 21, Carney was asked to explain in what way Trump has brought positive transformation. 'Well, for a number of years, he's been clearer on risks involving geopolitical competition from China,' Carney said in French. He added the president had changed the United States' geo-strategic policy towards China during his first term, and said it had been carried through by the Biden administration. Trump 'is clear on existing risks in a number of areas around the world,' Carney said, adding Trump has 'clarity' on China. Related Stories 5/22/2025 5/22/2025 'Starting from his first presidency, [he had] clarity about geopolitical and economic competition from China,' Carney said. 'He's right about that. There's been a reaction to that that has changed aspects of the game, and there are other there are other aspects like that,' he added, without elaborating. While Trump has sought to have a good relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, he has made it clear that he intends to address trade imbalances with China and counter other practices impacting U.S. prosperity and security. Trump The Trump administration also aims to rebuild its industrial base, saying U.S. companies have left to other jurisdictions, such as China, to benefit from free trade. 'There's something called the 'China shock,' which has gutted our manufacturing sector,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Trade is not the only concern, as China continues to make advances in military development. At his first address to NATO members in February, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said his country faces a 'peer competitor in the Communist Chinese, with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo Pacific.' Hegseth said the U.S. priority is to deter war with China. Carney also identified China as a threat on May 21 when taking questions about Canada's interest in joining Trump's 'Golden Dome' project, a new air defence system to counter advanced missile and drone threats. 'Is it a good idea for Canada? Yes, it's a good idea to have protection against missiles,' Carney said. 'There are threats now coming from North Korea, China. There are genuine threats facing Canada.' During the party leaders' debate in April, Carney had Carney faced some China-related controversies during the election campaign, including for rejecting calls to drop a Liberal candidate who had suggested his rival, a Hong Kong democracy activist, should be brought to the Chinese consulate to collect the bounty on his head. The elections security task force also warned during the election campaign that Beijing was seeking to influence Chinese-Canadians on Carney by way of an information operation. One of the messages being promoted by the operation was that Carney would improve relations with China. Chandra Philip contributed to this report.
Japan Today
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Philippines, U.S. launch joint military drills
US and Philippine soldiers salute during the national anthems at the opening ceremony of the Balikatan annual joint military exercise By Pam CASTRO The Philippine and U.S. militaries on Monday kicked off three weeks of joint exercises that will simulate a "full-scale battle scenario", as the two allies seek to deter Beijing's ambitions in the disputed South China Sea. As many as 17,000 personnel are expected to take part in the annual "Balikatan", or "shoulder to shoulder" drills, which for the first time will include an integrated air and missile defense simulation, to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos. Sophisticated U.S. weapons including the NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan. "We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defense treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so," U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said at Monday's opening ceremony in Manila. "Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity," he said, without specifying a common threat. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added that the 40th Balikatan exercises would reinforce the country's ability to address "contemporary security challenges". The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea. It has steadily deepened defense cooperation with treaty ally the United States since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China's sweeping claims to the crucial waterway. During a recent visit to Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was "doubling down" on the alliance. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country -- considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said in late March. In response to the drills, Beijing accused Manila of "collusion with countries outside the region". The exercises "undermine regional strategic stability", said foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. "This has already aroused strong aversion and opposition from regional countries," he said. Last year's Balikatan featured tests of the U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system. The Philippine Army subsequently said it was planning to acquire the Typhon, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race". On Monday, Glynn said the Typhon system would again be present, along with the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, a short-range platform specializing in knocking out drones. The Philippines' Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner said last month that Manila was seeking to upgrade its arsenal, with more missile systems, warships and fighter jets. On April 2, the United States said it had approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in long-coveted F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase". A week later, the Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with "advanced weapons and radar systems" acquired in a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries. China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has vowed to bring it under Beijing's control one day. Given the Philippines' proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila's cooperation would be crucial in the event of any U.S. conflict with China. On April 1, as Chinese ships and warplanes surrounded the self-ruled island in a simulated blockade, Brawner said his country would "inevitably" be involved should the democracy be invaded. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives U.S. forces access to nine bases in the Philippines. Asked about Taiwan on Monday, Lorenzo said Balikatan could potentially "help deter" a conflict over the island. Both the U.S. and Philippine militaries, however, stressed that this year's war games would not address a potential Chinese invasion. Besides the United States, countries including Australia and Japan are sending smaller contingents to Balikatan. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Shared adversity', new weapons as Philippine, US forces launch 'Balikatan'
The Philippine and US militaries on Monday kicked off three weeks of joint exercises that will simulate a "full-scale battle scenario", as the two allies seek to deter to Beijing's ambitions in the disputed South China Sea. Around 17,000 troops are expected to take part in the annual "Balikatan", or "shoulder to shoulder" drills, which for the first time will include an integrated air and missile defence simulation to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos. Sophisticated US weapons including the "highly mobile" NMESIS anti-ship missile system will also be deployed, including near a crucial chokepoint in the waters separating the northern Philippines from self-ruled Taiwan. "We will demonstrate not just our will to uphold our mutual defence treaty in existence since 1951 but our matchless capability to do so," US Marine Corps Lieutenant General James Glynn said Monday at the Balikatan opening ceremony in Manila. "Nothing builds bonds more quickly than shared adversity," he added, without specifying a common threat. Philippines Major General Francisco Lorenzo added the exercises would reinforce the country's ability to address "contemporary security challenges". The Philippines has been engaged in months of confrontations with Beijing over disputed areas of the South China Sea. It has steadily deepened defence cooperation with treaty ally the United States since Marcos took office in 2022 and began pushing back on China's sweeping claims to the crucial waterway. During a recent visit to Manila, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was "doubling down" on the alliance. "Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country -- considering the threats from the Communist Chinese," he said in late March. While the bulk of visiting forces involved in Balikatan will be from the United States, countries including Australia and Japan are sending smaller contingents. - 'More missile systems' - Last year's Balikatan featured tests of the US Typhon mid-range missile system, which was left behind following the exercises. The Philippine Army subsequently said it was planning to acquire the Typhon, sparking warnings from China of a regional "arms race". Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner last month said the Philippines was indeed looking to upgrade its arsenal. "We are looking at acquiring more missile systems to complete the integration of our air and missile defence," he told New Delhi's Raisina Dialogue, adding more warships and fighter jets were also being sought. On April 2, the United States said it had approved the possible sale of $5.58 billion in long-coveted F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, though Manila said the deal was "still in the negotiation phase". A week later, the Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with "advanced weapons and radar systems" acquired in a deal with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries. - 'Inevitably' involved - Given the Philippines' proximity to Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Manila's cooperation would be crucial in the event of any US conflict with China. On April 1, as Chinese ships and warplanes surrounded the self-ruled island in a simulated blockade, Brawner said his country would "inevitably" be involved should the democracy be invaded. China considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has vowed to one day bring it under its control. While Manila later said Brawner's comments were primarily referencing efforts to retrieve Filipino workers in Taiwan, its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with Washington gives US forces access to nine bases in the country. Two of those are located in Luzon's northernmost Cagayan province, which will host live-fire drills during Balikatan this year. pam-cwl/rjm
