Showing 1 - 10 of 10
US Navy trainers preparing for a worldwide war
News, Peter Apps, Published on 28/08/2023
» As the US aircraft carrier Dwight D Eisenhower sat moored for maintenance last week in its home port of Norfolk, Virginia, many of her crew were below decks, engaged in training for a simulated conflict in the North Atlantic.
Can US-China relations be saved?
News, Peter Apps, Published on 21/11/2018
» At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting on Saturday afternoon, Chinese diplomats arrived unexpectedly at the Foreign Ministry of host Papua New Guinea. Angry at Papua New Guinea's support for American wording in the meeting's final communiqué, they only left after police were called, Australian and other media reported.
China's plans to reshape the world
News, Peter Apps, Published on 10/08/2018
» Ten years ago on Wednesday, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics showcased a fast-growing, economically powerful China with unmistakable ambitions to be a major global player. Just a few days ago, the Chinese authorities demolished the studio of artist Ai Weiwei, designer of the Games' iconic "bird's nest" stadium and now an exiled dissident in Germany.
The unsettling behaviour of 'The Donald' at summits
News, Peter Apps, Published on 18/07/2018
» In the end, Donald Trump's post-summit press conference with Vladimir Putin produced fewer surprises than many feared. In contrast to the US president's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, there was no announcement to blindside regional allies such as a suspension of military exercises. Like the first part of Mr Trump's trip to Europe, however, the outcome of the Helsinki meeting will outrage his critics, play well with his domestic political base and unsettle European nations. Indeed, that may well have been its purpose.
A reality check on Korea nuke talks
News, Peter Apps, Published on 24/05/2018
» When US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in first agreed to meet in Washington on Tuesday, they seemed to genuinely believe they might be on the brink of a major rapprochement with the North. Now, there are concerns over whether the much-touted summit between Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un scheduled for Singapore on June 12 will happen at all.
What a nuke deal with Kim Jong-un might look like
News, Peter Apps, Published on 26/04/2018
» For much of the last few decades, powerful speakers on the South Korean border have blasted propaganda to nearby North Koreans, everything from Korean pop songs to news about the number of cars in the affluent South. On Monday, they stopped -- the latest step in a high-stakes diplomatic dance.
Why Kim Jong-un wanted a diplomatic offensive
News, Peter Apps, Published on 12/01/2018
» Last year Kim Jong-un shocked the world with the unexpected speed of his nuclear missile development, his brutal crackdown on apparent rivals and suspicions that he ordered the assassination of his half-brother with a chemical nerve agent. This year, the North Korean leader is opening January with a diplomatic offensive -- but that doesn't mean a change of strategy.
From Trump to Europe crises, what to watch in 2018
News, Peter Apps, Published on 29/12/2017
» Professional forecasters like to say that making predictions is difficult, particularly about the future. As we reach the end of 2017, however, here are some of the key themes -- and questions -- that look set to shape global events next year.
Syria, NK a fine balancing act for US
News, Peter Apps, Published on 14/04/2017
» If there were ever any doubt that US President Donald Trump's strike against Syria was also intended to send a message to Pyongyang, the deployment this weekend of a US carrier strike group towards the Korean Peninsula should have cleared it up.
Kim knows exactly what he's doing
News, Peter Apps, Published on 10/03/2017
» With a suspected role in the assassination of his estranged half-brother and a string of increasingly aggressive missile tests, the North Korean leader appears to be testing the patience not just of Washington but also his key ally, China. It's a high-stakes game that may push the region into the worst conflict it has ever seen. Kim Jong-un's actions have a ruthless internal logic, however, and while he has a plan, there is no sign that anyone has a coherent strategy for stopping him.