Category: The United States

Taiwan Says Price Tag for US Anti-Submarine Helicopters Is Too High

Taiwan may cancel its plan to acquire anti-submarine warfare helicopters from the United States because the price was “too high,” its defense minister said Thursday. Defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told parliament that the deal to buy 12 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters is likely to be terminated because the cost was “beyond our capability,” Focus Taiwan reported….


US to ‘Respond Accordingly’ If Solomon Islands-China Pact Permits Military Base

The United States has warned the Solomon Islands’ leadership that it would “respond accordingly” if a military installation on the Pacific Islands nation is allowed under the terms of the Solomon Islands-China security pact. The White House stated Friday that a high-level U.S. delegation has met with the Solomon Islands’ leadership in Honiara and raised…


US Raises Concern as Solomon Islands Officially Ink ‘Vague Deals’ With China

The United States raised concern Tuesday over the “vague deals” signed between the Solomon Islands and China, citing the “unspecified nature” of the agreement. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced Wednesday that his government has formally signed the security pact with China based on “a sovereign decision” to broaden its security cooperation with more…


US Raises Concern as Solomon Islands Officially Ink ‘Vague’ Security Deal With China

The United States raised concern Tuesday over the “vague deals” signed between the Solomon Islands and China, citing the “unspecified nature” of the agreement. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced Wednesday that his government has formally signed the security pact with China based on “a sovereign decision” to broaden its security cooperation with more…


US Raises Concern as Solomon Islands Officially Signs ‘Vague’ Security Deal With China

The United States is raising concern over the “vague deal” signed between the Solomon Islands and China, citing the “unspecified nature” of the agreement. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced on April 20 that his government has formally signed a security pact with China based on “a sovereign decision” to broaden its security cooperation with…


US Envoy to Sri Lanka Calls for Full Probe Into Fatal Police Shooting

The U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka on Tuesday called for a “full and transparent investigation” into the police shooting of unarmed protesters in the central town of Rambukkana, which killed at least one person. One person was killed and 24 others, including eight police officers, were injured after clashes broke out between protesters and police…


Japan, US Conduct Aegis Destroyer Joint Drill Amid North Korea’s Nuclear Threats

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) said Friday that its destroyer equipped with the Aegis air defense system joined a two-day drill with the U.S. destroyers amid North Korea’s nuclear threats. MSDF said that its destroyer Kongo, equipped with Standard Missile-3 interceptors, conducted ballistic missile information-sharing training with the destroyer USS Spruance and the cruiser USS…


US Aircraft Carrier Enters Sea of Japan Amid North Korea’s Nuclear Threats

A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier group is conducting operations in the Sea of Japan, officials said Tuesday, amid fears of new missile launches by North Korea in anticipation of Pyongyang’s upcoming national event. U.S. officials claimed that the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is conducting operations with the Japanese forces in the Sea of Japan,…


US Arrests Yakuza Leader and 3 Thai Men Over Alleged Narcotics and Weapons Trafficking

U.S. authorities have arrested a leader of a Japanese crime syndicate—also known as Yakuza—and three Thai men for drug trafficking and trying to acquire U.S.-made weaponry for “unstable nations,” the Justice Department said Thursday. Yakuza leader Takeshi Ebisawa and his Thai national affiliates, Sompak Rukrasaranee, Somphob Singhasiri, and Suksan Jullanan, were arrested in Manhattan on…


US Approves $95 Million Potential Arms Sale to Taiwan for Air Defense Support

The United States has approved a possible $95 million sale of military equipment, training, and other items to Taiwan to boost the self-ruled island’s air defenses, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA) said it had delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale, which was requested by…