South China Sea

The two talked about trade, Taiwan and areas for potential cooperation ahead of Xi’s Washington trip, says Rubio

Houthi blockade risks a second chokehold on global oil supplies in the Red Sea

The shoal is one of Asia’s most contested maritime ⁠sites, and claimed by both ​the Philippines and China

Renewed Iran war tensions raise uncertainty in a region grappling to manage tensions and conflicts of its own

China dismissed the statement and reiterated the country’s sovereignty claims

Manila’s goal is to conclude the long-delayed South China Sea Code of Conduct in 2026

Manila says said it viewed the sanctions as an ‘unfriendly act that further complicates bilateral relations’

Even with the Iran crisis possibly winding down, its continuing human and economic cost will remain in focus

It would allow Washington to maximise surveillance and reconnaissance using Indonesian waters and territory