Internazionale

Rubio reassures Asian allies theyre not being abandoned as top diplomats meet

The Diplomatic Insight

Rubio, Wang Yi Discuss Regional Issues at ASEAN Forum

Malay Mail

Survey: China returns as South-east Asias preferred superpower as fears grow over Trumps policies

Hudson Institute

JapanIndia Strategic Evolution in the Indo-Pacific

US State Department

Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States

The Associated Press

Southeast Asias top diplomats hold security talks in Manila as US-Iran fighting rages

Reuters

Southeast Asia hosts security gathering amid Middle East turmoil

Dar Holds Talks with Russian, Bangladeshi Counterparts at ASEAN Forum

Al Jazeera

Top US and Russian diplomats discuss Ukraine war in Manila

Al-Monitor

Rubio reassures Asian allies they're not being abandoned as top diplomats meet

Rubio says US, China must ‘work through’ big differences at ASEAN meeting

The Washington Times

Southeast Asias top diplomats hold security talks in Manila as U.S.-Iran fighting rages

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

ASEAN hosts security talks in Manila

Newcastle Herald

ASEAN hosts security gathering amid Middle East turmoil

Barnaby Lo

The Express Tribune

ASEAN foreign ministers open Manila meeting amid global uncertainty, regional security challenges

The Jakarta Post

ASEAN top diplomats meet, voice 'serious concern' over Middle East hostilities

Donald Trump

Tsai Ing-wen

CSIS

Marco Rubio

Ian Bremmer

Michael McCaul

Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan

Bonnie S. Glaser

Mark Milley

Charles Glaser

Denny Roy

Mike Studeman

Oriana Skylar Mastro

Henry Olsen

Lyle Goldstein

Bates Gill

Minghao Zhao

Metaculus

Joseph Wu

Jessica Chen Weiss

Global Guardian

FischerKing

CounterPoint Global

Kerry Brown

Adithia Kusno

Palmer Luckey

Ely Ratner

Philip Davidson

"China has zero interest to invade Taiwan and has never threatened to invade Taiwan."

“I think we’ll be just fine with China. China doesn’t want to do that [invade Taiwan].”

"There's no indications or warnings of anything imminent [China attacking Taiwan] at this time."

a P.L.A. takeover of Taiwan is not inevitable nor, perhaps, even likely in the next few years."

"I wouldn't say war is likely in the next few years, but I wouldn't say it's unlikely over the next couple of decades."

"I think they (the Chinese) have intention, but absolutely I think we can get to the end of this decade without them committing major aggression against Taiwan."

"[T]here might indeed be some greater willingness by Beijing to coerce (or even invade) Taiwan during a Trump administration."

"An invasion of Taiwan could happen within this decade."

"Global Guardian thinks that the window for conflict or a blockade is now open, with that window most likely remaining open between 2024 and 2028."

"The idea is that anything we are working on, anything that we are investing in, needs to be built with the assumption that sometime in 2027, China is going to move on Taiwan."

“Taiwan is clearly one of [China's] ambitions before that and I think the threat is manifest during this decade — in fact, in the next six years.”

Will China Invade Taiwan by 2030?

Foreign ministers from Asia, Europe and North America gathered in Manila for the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum, with the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz topping the agenda for the 11-nation bloc, whose combined GDP of roughly $3.8 trillion is heavily reliant on Middle East oil.

Foreign ministers from Asia, Europe and North America gathered in Manila for the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum, with the war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz topping the agenda for the 11-nation bloc, whose combined GDP of roughly $3.8 trillion is heavily reliant on Middle East oil.

ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to fighting in the Middle East and the full and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming that states must resolve differences peacefully and respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

ASEAN foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to fighting in the Middle East and the full and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming that states must resolve differences peacefully and respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN gathering on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing to prepare for a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN gathering on Wednesday, with both sides agreeing to prepare for a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in September.

Two separate incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred during the Manila meetings. On Monday, a Filipino sailor was struck on the head with a wooden baton at the Second Thomas Shoal, and on Thursday China's coast guard used water cannon on a Philippine fisheries vessel near Scarborough Shoal.

Two separate incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred during the Manila meetings. On Monday, a Filipino sailor was struck on the head with a wooden baton at the Second Thomas Shoal, and on Thursday China's coast guard used water cannon on a Philippine fisheries vessel near Scarborough Shoal.

Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the forum for just under an hour to discuss the Ukraine war. Russia's foreign ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness for a diplomatic settlement, while Rubio said Washington was prepared to play a constructive role in ending the conflict.

Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the forum for just under an hour to discuss the Ukraine war. Russia's foreign ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness for a diplomatic settlement, while Rubio said Washington was prepared to play a constructive role in ending the conflict.

On the sidelines of the forum, Rubio joined foreign ministers from India, Japan and Australia for a Quad meeting, reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro opened the meetings urging member states to pursue collective action amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

On the sidelines of the forum, Rubio joined foreign ministers from India, Japan and Australia for a Quad meeting, reaffirming commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro opened the meetings urging member states to pursue collective action amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

Internazionale #

The Diplomatic Insight #

Malay Mail #

Hudson Institute #

US State Department #

The Associated Press #

Reuters #

Al Jazeera #

Al-Monitor #

Al Jazeera #4686

The Washington Times #

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette #

Newcastle Herald #

The Express Tribune #

The Jakarta Post #

Iran has no legal right to control the Strait of Hormuz, and letting that stand would set a catastrophic precedent for international waterways everywhere. Freedom of navigation is the backbone of global trade, and a rogue regime holding 20 percent of the world's energy supply hostage cannot go unanswered. The U.S. is committed to diplomacy, but commitments must be kept — and when they aren't, there will be consequences.

Iran has no legal right to control the Strait of Hormuz, and letting that stand would set a catastrophic precedent for international waterways everywhere. Freedom of navigation is the backbone of global trade, and a rogue regime holding 20 percent of the world's energy supply hostage cannot go unanswered. The U.S. is committed to diplomacy, but commitments must be kept — and when they aren't, there will be consequences.

U.S. military aggression in the Middle East is fueling real economic pain across Southeast Asia, with energy shortages and price hikes hitting Malaysia and Thailand hard after the Strait of Hormuz closure. Pessimism about U.S. relations in the region has nearly doubled, and ASEAN nations are increasingly turning toward China and pushing for strategic autonomy. Threatening sovereignty under the banner of freedom of navigation isn't leadership — it's exactly why trust in Washington keeps eroding.

U.S. military aggression in the Middle East is fueling real economic pain across Southeast Asia, with energy shortages and price hikes hitting Malaysia and Thailand hard after the Strait of Hormuz closure. Pessimism about U.S. relations in the region has nearly doubled, and ASEAN nations are increasingly turning toward China and pushing for strategic autonomy. Threatening sovereignty under the banner of freedom of navigation isn't leadership — it's exactly why trust in Washington keeps eroding.

The Iran War

The US-China Conflict

ASEAN Talks: Diplomacy Amid Middle East, Asia Tensions

Asia

Politics

United States of America

Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz isn't just a Middle East problem — it's a global economic lifeline, and letting Iran control that waterway sets a dangerous precedent for every international shipping lane, including in Southeast Asia. The U.S. is putting real money behind its commitments, with $2.5 billion in strategic investments and $1.5 billion through the Development Finance Corporation to strengthen ASEAN partnerships. Diplomacy remains on the table, but only if Iran actually keeps its word.

Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz isn't just a Middle East problem — it's a global economic lifeline, and letting Iran control that waterway sets a dangerous precedent for every international shipping lane, including in Southeast Asia. The U.S. is putting real money behind its commitments, with $2.5 billion in strategic investments and $1.5 billion through the Development Finance Corporation to strengthen ASEAN partnerships. Diplomacy remains on the table, but only if Iran actually keeps its word.

ASEAN nations are growing deeply skeptical of U.S. leadership, with pessimism about American relations nearly doubling and 52 percent of regional respondents now preferring China over the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already triggered energy shortages and price hikes across Malaysia and Thailand, making the human cost of U.S.-Iran conflict impossible to ignore. Threatening sovereignty and sidelining international law are exactly why trust in Washington keeps eroding across Southeast Asia.

ASEAN nations are growing deeply skeptical of U.S. leadership, with pessimism about American relations nearly doubling and 52 percent of regional respondents now preferring China over the U.S. The Strait of Hormuz closure has already triggered energy shortages and price hikes across Malaysia and Thailand, making the human cost of U.S.-Iran conflict impossible to ignore. Threatening sovereignty and sidelining international law are exactly why trust in Washington keeps eroding across Southeast Asia.

ASEAN Talks: Diplomacy Amid Middle East, Asia Tensions

ASEAN Talks: Diplomacy Amid Middle East, Asia Tensions

The Spin

The Controversies

Global

Trump

Milley

Glaser

Glaser

Ratner

Goldstein

Rubio

Guardian

Luckey

Davidson

Go Deeper

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

ASEAN Talks: Diplomacy Amid Middle East, Asia Tensions

ASEAN Talks: Diplomacy Amid Middle East, Asia Tensions

The Spin

The Controversies

Global

Trump

Milley

Glaser

Glaser

Ratner

Goldstein

Rubio

Guardian

Luckey

Davidson

Go Deeper

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters