Dutch frigate, HNLMS Evertsen’s voyage so far as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21); will arrive in Singapore on 10 October 2021

The Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen will arrive in Singapore tomorrow (10 October 2021) in their first deployment of a Royal Dutch Navy vessel to the region under the Indo-Pacific Guidelines, announced by Netherland in late 2020. HNLMS Evertsen is part of the Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) deployment led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth, the…

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[ Intelligencer ] U.S. Troops Have Reportedly Been in Taiwan for Over a Year

According to the Wall Street Journal, a small contingent American troops have been deployed in Taiwan for over a year, involving a special-operations unit of around two dozen and supporting Marines. U.S. officials told the Journal that the troops are working with local maritime forces on training missions involving small boats. DPA Notes: Curious that USA would actually…

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[ Forbes ] It’s Official: After A 75-Year Gap, The Japanese Navy Has An Aircraft Carrier

On Sunday, a pair of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B jump jets from the Japan-based Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 landed on, then launched from, the Japanese carrier JS Izumo. The proof-of-concept comes just months after the 813-foot Izumo, which the Japanese built as a helicopter carrier, completed the first of two rounds of modification—so far costing around…

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[ Nikkei ] U.S. set to resume trade talks with China

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is expected to speak to Chinese vice premier Liu He by telephone over the next few days, calling on China to respect the “phase one” trade agreement it signed with Washington under former President Donald Trump. The U.S. also plans to resurrect partial exemptions on punitive tariffs to help curb the impact of…

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[ SCMP ] North Korea open to closer ties with Seoul, formal end to Korean war is ‘admirable idea’: Kim Yo-jong

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, says the North is open to “constructive discussion” to mend fences with South Korea if Seoul drops its “hostile attitude” toward Pyongyang. Speaking on Friday, she also welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s recent call to declare an end to the Korean war as an “interesting and admirable idea”,…

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[ NYT ] Furious Over Sub Deal, France Recalls Ambassadors to U.S. and Australia

Calling American and Australian behavior “unacceptable between allies and partners,” France announced on Friday that it was recalling its ambassadors to both countries in protest over President Biden’s decision to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. It was the first time in the history of the long alliance between France and the United States, dating back…

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[ Sky News ] China says AUKUS submarine deal ‘highly irresponsible’ and ‘intensifies the arms race’

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian condemned the move and said: “The US, the UK and Australia’s cooperation in nuclear submarines severely damages regional peace and stability, intensifies the arms race, and jeopardises the international efforts in promoting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. “The US and UK’s action of exporting highly sensitive nuclear…

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