China joins massive Asian trade deal, a symbolic step to set standards without the U.S.

posted in: Far East, News

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement was signed yesterday, promising to set trading standards for 10 Southeast Asian countries plus China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan. The deal is a strategic, but mostly symbolic win for China. … Read More

China is leading a 15-nation pact that would create the world’s biggest trade deal. The US isn’t in it.

posted in: News, World News

Joern Pollex/Getty Images Global trade is marching on with or without the US. Next year, the world’s biggest free trade deal could be signed. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) would be made up of 15 countries. The US and … Read More

Taiwan Wants Strong U.S. Defense to Make Invasion ‘Painful’ As China Conflict Fears Grow

Taiwan has long looked to the United States for protection from the massive forces of the Chinese mainland 100 miles to the west. Now Taipei is calling for robust defense ties with Washington amid growing concerns of potential conflict as … Read More

Pence takes the new U.S. Asia strategy on the road

posted in: Far East, News

Vice President Pence in Kalispell, Mont., on Nov. 5. (Justin Franz/Flathead Beacon/AP) More than a dozen Pacific nations will convene in the capital of Papua New Guinea next week, where Vice President Pence will lay out the next phase of … Read More

North Korea threats at ‘unprecedented, critical’ level, Japan official says

posted in: Far East, News

Bolton: Time running out to deal with North Korea threat Amb. John Bolton, Fox News contributor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, says the rogue nation is getting closer to having the U.S. over a barrel. The threat … Read More