Britain's foreign minister meets Chinese counterpart at Asean, World News
British foreign minister David Lammy said on Friday (July 11) that he met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the Southeast Asian block Asean's summit in Malaysia.
They discussed bilateral issues and areas where there is disagreement which including the ongoing detention of jailed Hong Kong activist and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, according to a post on Lammy's X account.
[[nid:719289]] ASEANBritainchinaminister
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Taiwan deploys advanced US rocket systems in annual drills
TAICHUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan's military began deploying one of its newest and most precise strike weapons on Saturday (Jul 12) as part of intensifying drills meant to showcase the island's determination to resist any Chinese invasion. Two armoured trucks with HIMARS - High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems - were seen manoeuvring around the city of Taichung near Taiwan's central coast on the fourth of 10 days of its most comprehensive annual Han Kuang exercises yet. Fire simulation and some live-fire drills are expected next week as more air force planes and naval ships become involved. In a wartime scenario, said Colonel Chen Lian-jia, a military spokesperson, it would be vital to conceal HIMARS from enemy aerial reconnaissance, satellites "or even enemy operatives behind our lines" until the order to fire was given. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has intensified military pressure around the island over the last five years, staging a string of intense war games and daily naval and air force patrols around the territory. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, with President Lai Ching-te saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. China's defence ministry said this week the Han Kuang drills were "nothing but a bluff" while its foreign ministry said its opposition to US-Taiwan military ties was "consistent and very firm". Regional military attaches say the HIMARS deployment in a warlike exercise will be closely watched, given that they have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces. Australia has also purchased the Lockheed Martin systems. Taiwan took delivery last year of the first 11 of 29 HIMARS units, testing them for the first time in May. With a range of about 300 km, the weapons could strike coastal targets in China's southern province of Fujian on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese military analysts say the weapon would be used with its locally developed Thunderbolt 2000 launchers so Chinese forces could be targeted as they left port or attempted to land on Taiwan's coast. A Thunderbolt unit was also seen in a park near the HIMARS units. Senior Taiwanese military officials say the Han Kuang drills are unscripted and designed to replicate full combat conditions, starting with simulated enemy attacks on communications and command systems, leading to a full-blown invasion scenario. The drills aim to show China and the international community, including Taiwan's key weapons supplier the US, that Taiwan is determined to defend itself against any Chinese attack or invasion, the officials say.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
China, Asean to submit upgraded free trade deal to leaders in October, says China's Wang Yi
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing and Asean have agreed on a five-year plan that specifies collaboration in over 40 fields. China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have agreed to submit a pact upgrading their free trade areas to their leaders for approval in October, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 12. Negotiations about the so-called 3.0 version of the free trade zone started in November 2022 and completed in May, seeking to cover areas such as the digital economy, green economy and supply chain connectivity. China and Asean also agreed on a five-year action plan that specifies collaboration between the two sides in over 40 fields in the coming years, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing Mr Wang's comments after attending the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on July 11 . Mr Wang also said the two sides agreed to strive to complete consultations in 2026 on a code of conduct in the South China Sea - a set of guidelines aiming to manage disputes in the region, where Beijing and several Asean members have overlapping maritime claims. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
China, ASEAN to submit upgraded free trade deal to leaders in October, says China's foreign minister
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to the media as he walks between meetings during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting and related meetings at the Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, 2025. MANDEL NGAN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SHANGHAI - China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to submit a pact upgrading their free trade areas to their leaders for approval in October, according to China's foreign minister Wang Yi on Saturday. Negotiations about the so-called 3.0 version of the free trade zone started in November 2022 and completed in May, seeking to cover areas such as the digital economy, green economy and supply chain connectivity. China and ASEAN also agreed on a five-year action plan that specifies collaboration between the two sides in over 40 fields in the coming years, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing Wang's comments after attending the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Wang also said the two sides agreed to strive to complete consultations next year on a code of conduct in the South China Sea - a set of guidelines aiming to manage disputes in the region, where Beijing and several ASEAN members have overlapping maritime claims. REUTERS
