An attempt to stabilise East Asia amid the Taiwan strait crisis and North Korean belligerence was made on May 27 through S Korea-Japan-China leadership summit in Seoul after over four years. Both Japan and S Korea tried to impress upon China to rein in North Korea, which has plans to launch space rocket. This summit happened as Japan has spotted Chinese ships sailing near disputed islands in the East China Sea for a record 158 consecutive days. Meanwhile, Beijing is stepping up efforts to scare Taiwan with reports of Beijing preparing an armada of ferries and civilian vessels to invade Taiwan. This forced Taiwan’s new president to state that he is ready to work with China to reduce threat. In changes being undertaken in China outspoken diplomat Hua Chunying, who has been heading the Chinese foreign ministry’s press department, has been promoted to vice-minister. In S China Sea region, China-Phillipines ties continue to be tense. In Indonesia, the current President after his tenure ends in October, can get into a mentorship role.
Japan, South Korea, China to pursue North Korea denuclearization: Kishida
Kyodo News | 27th May 2024
Japan confirmed with South Korea and China the importance of North Korean denuclearization at a trilateral summit on Monday (may 27), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, hours after Pyongyang announced a plan to launch a satellite-carrying rocket. But a joint statement issued after the meeting of the three leaders did not mention their commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” as agreed at the previous summit in December 2019 in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. At a joint press announcement with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang following the gathering in Seoul, Kishida said that stability on the Korean Peninsula is in the “common interest” of the three Asian countries.
South China Morning Post | 26th May 2024
Trade and Taiwan were the highlights as Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with the leaders of Japan and South Korea in Seoul on Sunday, a day ahead of their first trilateral summit in more than four years. China and Japan agreed to launch a new round of high-level economic dialogue as Li held his first official meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday afternoon, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.
China preparing armada of ferries to invade Taiwan
The Telegraph | 27th May 2024
China is preparing an armada of ferries and civilian vessels to invade Taiwan as Beijing steps up its pressure campaign against the island nation.
Taiwan’s President says wants to work with China after drills
NCA | 26th May 2024
Taiwan’s new president said Sunday (May 26) he was still ready to work with China, despite this week’s military drills around the self-ruled island. Three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in, Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan in drills that China said were a test of its ability to seize the island.
(LEAD) N. Korea notifies Japan of plan to launch satellite before June 4: Kyodo
Yonhap | 27th May 2024
North Korea has notified Japan of a plan to launch a space rocket carrying a satellite between Monday (May 27) and midnight of June 3, Kyodo News reported, citing Japan’s coast guard. The notice on the eight-day window came as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are set to hold a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Monday, where evolving North Korean threats are likely to figure prominently. It designated three areas where debris will fall — two west of the Korean Peninsula and the other east of the Philippines’ island of Luzon, according to the news outlet.
Japan spots Chinese ships near disputed isles for record 158 days
The Strait Times | 27th May 2024
Japan has spotted Chinese ships sailing near disputed islands in the East China Sea for a record 158 consecutive days, Tokyo’s top government spokesman said on May 27. On May 27, Japan’s coast guard observed four China Maritime Police Bureau vessels sailing in the “contiguous” zone adjacent to Japan’s territorial sea near the island chain.
China’s outspoken foreign ministry press department chief Hua Chunying promoted to vice-minister
South China Morning Post | 27th May 2024
Outspoken diplomat Hua Chunying, who has been heading the Chinese foreign ministry’s press department, has been promoted to vice-minister, Beijing announced on Monday. After her promotion Hua, 54, who has been a foreign ministry spokeswoman since 2012, is the youngest of the five foreign vice-ministers and the only woman among them.
South China Morning Post | 27th May 2024
China’s deployment of its largest coastguard vessel to the South China Sea is seen by analysts as an effort to enforce its new anti-trespassing policy that could heighten the risk of conflict with the Philippines and regional tensions. The 165-metre Chinese coastguard vessel with bow number 5901, nicknamed “The Monster”, was seen on Friday 93km (50 nautical miles) off the Scarborough Shoal, a highly contested maritime feature, accompanied by another 102-metre long coastguard ship. Beijing refers to the shoal as Huangyan Island while Manila has named it Panatag Shoal.
Philippines protests China’s annual fishing ban
Philstar.com | 27th May 2024
The Philippines has protested China’s imposition of a unilateral four-month long fishing ban in the South China Sea, its foreign ministry said on Monday. The annual imposition of a fishing ban raises tensions in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry said, calling on Beijing to “cease and desist” from “illegal actions” that violate the Philippines‘ sovereignty and sovereign rights. China imposes an annual fishing ban on South China Sea waters and the Philippines routinely opposes it. This year’s ban is expected to last until September.
Jokowi’s political future still open to possibilities
Jakarta Post | 25th May 2024
While President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has parted way with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), his political future looks promising as some political parties that have supported president-elect Prabowo Subianto have hinted at the possibility of him becoming party chair or holding a strategic party role after leaving office in October.
