Associated Press – France and the Philippines to start talks on a `visiting forces agreement,’ French envoy says

France and the Philippines will begin talks next month on a defense pact that would allow troops from each country to hold exercises in the other’s territory, the French ambassador said Thursday.

Associated Press – Antony Blinken meets with China’s President Xi as US, China spar over bilateral and global issues

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials, stressing the importance of “responsibly managing” the differences between the United States and China as the two sides butted heads over a number of contentious bilateral, regional and global issues.

The Diplomat – Why the Japan-US WMD in Space Resolution Was Critical

A proposed United Nations Security Council resolution on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in outer space failed a few days ago.

Reuters – The glitch in Japan’s plans to bolster U.S. defence

Reuters – ‘Negative’ factors building in U.S.-China ties, foreign minister Wang tells Blinken

The United States is suppressing China’s development, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday during talks with his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken who is on a visit to Beijing aimed at resolving trade and policy differences between the superpowers.

The Diplomat – Pursuing Rapprochement Between China, Japan, and South Korea

In November 2023, when the foreign ministers of China, Japan, and South Korea finally met after a four-year hiatus in trilateral cooperation, hopes were high for the long-awaited Northeast Asia rapprochement.