Shangri-La Dialogue drama: The vital issues that deserve a bigger spotlight
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, some tell-tale signs from the cramped media centre give away what will be the main story. When keyboard clattering intensifies and people crowd around screens, you know the alerts are going to fly. But when the nattering pipes up, you know there's little interest in whatever is emerging from the sideline sessions.
News veterans of this security summit know the drill and the headlines were predictable. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's barbs aimed at China fired off the main round of headlines. Then hours later, with high-level Chinese representation absent, the remarks of Beijing's delegation leader, Rear-Admiral Hu Gangfeng, in a plenary session provided the next round.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Japan's Ishiba stresses his resolve to stay and avoid political vacuum
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Mr Ishiba apologised for the historic defeat that the LDP suffered in the July 20 election. TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated his resolve to stay on to avoid creating a political vacuum and to ensure that a trade deal with the US is fully implemented. 'I intend to fulfill my responsibility so as to never create a political vacuum for the nation and its people,' Mr Ishiba said July 28 at the start of a rare meeting in which the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) lawmakers have gathered to assess the reasons for the party's recent election setback. The meeting, which started around 3.30pm local time, will give those in the party who seek a change at the top an opportunity to directly challenge Mr Ishiba over his leadership. In his remarks, Mr Ishiba apologised for the historic defeat that the LDP suffered in the July 20 election, and he said he wants to do his best to ensure the recent trade deal with the US is fully implemented. LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama, speaking at the same venue, said he'll finish analysing the election's results in August and decide at that time how best to hold himself accountable. On July 27, Mr Ishiba signalled he intends to stay in office even after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the Upper House of Parliament in the election. 'I intend to devote myself to the people and the future of the country,' he said in an interview with national broadcaster NHK. He added he wanted to ensure the successful implementation of the recently announced US-Japan trade deal. New opinion polls show support for Mr Ishiba's administration remains low, although surveys also suggest the public sees few good alternatives to the current prime minister. Polls in the Mainichi and Asahi newspapers published on July 27 both showed approval ratings of 29 per cent for Mr Ishiba's government. The Asahi poll also found that 41 per cent of respondents thought Mr Ishiba should stand down, while 47 per cent thought that wasn't necessary. The same survey showed that 81 per cent of respondents thought the LDP's defeat was due to party-wide issues rather than the prime minister's leadership. Mr Ishiba has also found support on social media and in small public gatherings outside the prime minister's office from members of the public calling for him to stay on. Nonetheless, party members have been calling for someone to take responsibility for the July 20 election setback, which substantially weakened Mr Ishiba's position. For the first time since 1955, a leader from the storied Japanese party now has to govern the country without a majority in either of the legislative bodies. Former foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi called for a leadership change within the LDP on his YouTube channel over the weekend. The party needs a 'fresh start with a new leader,' he said. While pressure mounted on Mr Ishiba last week, the premier received good news in the form of a surprise trade deal with the US that carried relatively favourable terms for Japan, including the lowering of across-the-board tariffs to 15 per cent from 25 per cent. The deal doesn't appear to have given Mr Ishiba a significant boost in popularity. BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Hunger must never be ‘weapon of war': UN chief
Find out what's new on ST website and app. UN chief Antonio Guterres urged the international community to reject hunger as a weapon of war. ADDIS ABABA - United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged the international community on July 28 to reject hunger as a weapon of war. UN agencies have been warning of life-threatening hunger in Gaza as aid supplies dried up, and international pressure has been building for a ceasefire to allow a massive relief operation. Israel's government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, furiously denies that it is using hunger as a weapon of war, and instead accuses the aid agencies of failing to pick up and distribute aid delivered to Gaza's border crossing points. 'Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains, and humanitarian aid. Conflict continues to spread hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond,' Mr Guterres told a UN conference in Ethiopia by video. 'Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war,' the UN chief added said. In the Gaza Strip, the war-shattered Palestinian territory is gripped by dire humanitarian conditions created by 21 months of war and made worse by Israel's total blockade of aid from March to May. Since the easing of the blockade, the levels of aid reaching Gaza have been far below what aid groups say is needed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Asia Cambodia says immediate ceasefire is purpose of talks; Thailand questions its sincerity Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning On July 27, as Israel began a 'tactical pause' in the fighting to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis, the World Health Organisation warned that malnutrition was reaching 'alarming levels.' Sudan is 'the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered', Mr Othman Belbeisi, the regional director of UN's IOM migration agency, told reporters last week. Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people. AFP
Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump and Starmer to meet in Scotland with trade and Gaza on agenda
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Mr Starmer (right) had hoped to negotiate a drop in US steel and aluminium tariffs as part of the talks. EDINBURGH/TURNBERRY, Scotland - US President Donald Trump will host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in western Scotland on July 28 for talks ranging from their recent bilateral trade deal to the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza, the two governments said. Mr Trump, riding high after announcing a huge trade agreement with the European Union late on July 27, said he expected Mr Starmer would also be pleased. 'The prime minister of the UK, while he's not involved in this, will be very happy because you know, there's a certain unity that's been brought there, too,' Mr Trump said. 'He's going to be very happy to see what we did.' UK wants to discuss steel tariffs Mr Starmer had hoped to negotiate a drop in US steel and aluminium tariffs as part of the talks, but Mr Trump on July 28 ruled out any changes in the 50 per cent steel and aluminium duties for the EU, and has said the trade deal with Britain is 'concluded'. British business and trade minister Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC the talks with Mr Trump offered Britain a good chance to advance its arguments, but he did not expect announcements on the issue on July 28. Mr Trump and Mr Starmer were expected to meet at noon local time at Mr Trump's luxury golf resort in Turnberry, on Scotland's west coast, before travelling on together later to a second sprawling estate owned by Mr Trump in the east, near Aberdeen. Hundreds of police officers were guarding the perimeter of the Turnberry course and the beach that flanks it, with a helicopter hovering overhead, although there was no sign of protesters outside the course. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Asia Cambodia says immediate ceasefire is purpose of talks; Thailand questions its sincerity Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning Singapore Singapore lion dance troupe retains title at Genting World championship Mr Starmer was arriving from Switzerland, where England on July 27 won the women's European soccer championship final. Casting a shadow over their visit has been the deepening crisis in the war-torn Gaza enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world. British cabinet recalled Mr Starmer has recalled his ministers from their summer recess for a cabinet meeting, a government source said on July 28, most likely to discuss the situation in Gaza as pressure grows at home and abroad to recognise a Palestinian state. On July 25, he said Britain would recognise a Palestinian state only as part of a negotiated peace deal, disappointing many in his Labour Party who want him to follow France in taking swifter action. Mr Trump on July 25 dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognise a Palestinian state , an intention that also drew strong condemnation from Israel, after similar moves from Spain, Norway and Ireland in 2024. Mr Trump said that while the US would increase its aid to Gaza, it wanted others to join the effort. Ukraine was also on the agenda for talks with Mr Starmer. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks , according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave, with aid groups warning of mass hunger. The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials. It has reduced much of the enclave to ruins and displaced nearly the entire population of over 2 million. REUTERS
