News Story: McCain Calls for Australia's Allegiance

Sen. John McCain
(Image: Wiki Commons)

U.S. Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, asked an audience in Australia: Why are we allies?

“The answer transcends narrow materialism,” he said. “The animating purpose of our alliance is that we are free societies, founded by immigrants and pioneers, who put our faith in the rule of law and who believe that our destinies are inseparable from the character of the broader world order.

“We believe that when the strong trample the rights and independence of the weak with impunity, then our liberty and our sovereignty are at risk.

“We believe that when all peoples cannot sail the seas, and fly the skies, and engage in commerce freely, then our prosperity will suffer.

“We believe that when the balance of power in the world favors those bent on injustice, and aggression, and conquest, then the peace we cherish will not last.

“These are values that time does not diminish. These are ideas that truly are worth the fighting for. This is why we are allies—and why we must remain so.”

McCain was speaking at the State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia on Tuesday at the invitation of the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

He said he understood that many are questioning whether America is still committed to these values. “Other American allies have similar doubts these days. And this is understandable.

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News Story: Myanmar inks 33 agreements with ethnic armed groups

Hanoi (VNA) – The Government of Myanmar and ethnic armed groups signed a total of 33 agreements after the second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference was wrapped up in May 29.

Lieut. General Yar Pyae, vice chairman of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), described the peace talks as very productive. 

“We are very pleased because we have never had results in previous talks. We have agreed on 37 points, which is a progress,” he said.

State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi urged the participants to make more steps in future talks.

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News Story: Malaysia calls for people’s efforts to fight IS

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on May 30 called for efforts of Malaysian people to join the fight against the self-claimed Islamic State (IS).

Zahid stressed that fighting against IS is not only the responsibility of the government, but also of the civilians, by providing information on IS for authorised agencies.

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News Story: Philippines likely to become new IS stronghold in Asia

Hanoi (VNA) – It is feared that southern Philippines is fast becoming a centre of extremist groups in Asia, as evidenced by dozens of foreign gunmen joining hands with local IS militants to fight security forces in the region last week.

According to intelligence sources of the Philippines, among 400-500 gunmen that occupied Marawi city in Mindanao island since May 23, some 40 came from other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, India and Morocco. Eight out of 33 militants killed during the first four days of the Marawi clash were foreigners. 

Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities believed that among 38 Indonesian nationals came to southern Philippines to join IS-related groups, about 22 gunmen were fighting in Marawi.

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News Story: Thailand - Bomb found in Bangkok downtown

Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand’s media reported that the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) force on May 30 found a pipe bomb near the exit No 1 of the metro station near the Thailand Cultural Centre in Bangkok. 

A taxi driver informed the police of Huai Khwang district about a suspicious object inside a black nylon bag near the metro station. 

EOD experts confirmed it is a self-made explosive device. Photos carried by the media show the bomb had been deactivated. 

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News Story: Vietnam, Myanmar hold seventh political consultation

Nay Pyi Taw (VNA) – The Foreign Ministries of Vietnam and Myanmar held their seventh political consultation in the Myanmar capital city of Nay Pyi Taw on May 29. 

The Vietnamese delegation to the function was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy while the Myanmar delegation was headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Kyaw Tin. 

The two sides briefed each other on the respective situations, reviewed their cooperation, and discussed measures and orientations to push up the traditional friendship between the two countries and the two ministries.  

They commented on the fruitful relationship and bilaterally and multilaterally close coordination, at regional and international forums. 

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News Story: Top (Vietnam) military officer receives Myanmar army delegation

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Lt. Gen. Pham Hong Huong welcomed a delegation of the Directorate of Signals of Myanmar army in Hanoi on May 30.

Lt. Gen. Pham Hong Huong underlined the importance of communication to the armed forces’ operation and affirmed that Vietnam intends to promote international cooperation in the field.

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News Story: US senator calls for joint exercises to challenge 'bully' China

Sen. John McCain
(Image: Wiki Commons)

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — An American senator suggested that United States-led multilateral exercises could be a good way to push back against Beijing's excessive claims in the disputed South China Sea.

"If the Chinese are able to prevent us from exercising freedom of navigation then I think that has a profound consequences for the entire region," Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) said in a speech in Sydney.

McCain, chair of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, stressed that China's vast territorial claims have no basis in international law.

"The challenge is that as China has grown wealthier and stronger, it seems to be acting more and more like a bully," McCain said.

McCain's remarks in Australia comes days before delegates from the US and China are scheduled to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue or the 16th Asia Security Summit in Singapore.

The US senator noted that Australia has become entangled in a strategic competition between America and China.

The senator, however, did not directly urge Australia to take part in freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.

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News Story: Maute attack planned long before Marawi raid, says military

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — Materials recovered by the military in Marawi City revealed that the attack of the Maute terror group had been planned even before the government forces' operation to arrest Abu Sayyaf subleader Isnilon Hapilon.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año earlier said that the fighting in Marawi broke out when troops attacked a hideout of Hapilon.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said that the military has recovered high-powered firearms and materials that can be used to construct improvised explosive devices in the area.

"The place has also been revealing so many voluminous materials of plans that are indicating that many of these activities prior to our entry to the area have been planned long ago," Padilla said in a telephone interview with ANC's Headstart Wednesday morning.

The military is yet to assess and study the recovered materials in the area, Padilla said.

"Indeed there was planning that was involved even prior to our entry to arrest Hapilon... when we got information that he was holed up in the area," the military spokesman said.

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News Story: Japan urges China to do more to pressure North Korea

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan on Tuesday urged China to exert greater pressure on North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile development, saying Beijing's role in getting Pyongyang to abandon those efforts was "crucially important."

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said that during talks in Tokyo he urged Chinese foreign policy adviser Yang Jiechi to have China play a greater role in dealing with Pyongyang.

"Right now it is important to step up pressure on North Korea. For that purpose, China's role is crucially important, and I strongly urged China to play a more active role," Kishida told reporters after the talks. "We agreed to cooperate more closely on the North Korean problem."

The talks come one day after North Korea conducted a missile test for the third straight week. The missile fell in waters about 200 nautical miles off Japan's western coast, within the Japanese-claimed Exclusive Economic Zone.

Read the full story at The Mainichi