US-China Summit Coming Up, Hamas Threatens to Repeat Attacks on Israel, US Secretary of State Travels to Asia

Myanmar's military lost control of a strategic town bordering China, Singapore called for a de-escalation of tensions in the East Sea, China closely followed US and Canadian warships in the Taiwan Strait, Egypt helped evacuate 7,000 people from Gaza... are some notable world news in the past 24 hours.

South Korean and Australian troops conduct joint exercises in waters off the eastern port city of Ulsan, 299 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on November 2, 2023. (Source: Yonhap)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

Asia Pacific

*South Korea, Australia conduct joint naval drills: The South Korean Navy announced on November 2 that it and Australia are conducting joint naval drills in waters east of the Korean Peninsula to enhance combat capabilities and interaction.

The joint exercise began on October 31 and will run until November 3 off Ulsan, 299 kilometers southeast of Seoul, with six South Korean naval vessels, maritime surveillance helicopters and military helicopters taking part. Australia is mobilizing the Anzac-class frigate Toowoomba, an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and maritime patrol aircraft to participate in the exercise. This is the ninth bilateral exercise between the South Korean and Australian navies. (Yonhap)

*6.1 magnitude earthquake shakes central Philippines: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a 6.1 magnitude offshore earthquake shook Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines at 2:50 p.m. local time on November 2. There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The quake was also felt in neighboring areas, including the provinces of Northern Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte. The Philippines is prone to seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire." (Xinhua)

*Cambodia, China strengthen military cooperation: Cambodia News Agency (AKP) reported that at the meeting on October 31 in Beijing between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Seiha and Senior Lieutenant General He Weidong - Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, the two sides pledged to strengthen military cooperation for development and progress.

Mr. Tea Seiha reaffirmed that bilateral military cooperation, especially joint exercises such as “Golden Dragon” and “Peace Angel,” have contributed to enhancing the capabilities of the Royal Cambodian Army. Meanwhile, General Ha Ve Dong emphasized that since the friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted in the minds of the people of both countries, it is an important task for China and Cambodia to promote military cooperation to a new level. (AKP)

Myanmar military loses control of strategic town bordering China: On the evening of November 1, Myanmar military government spokesman Zaw Min Tun issued a statement admitting that the country's military had lost control of the strategic northern town of Chinshwehaw along the border with China after several days of clashes with three ethnic minority armed groups.

Earlier in the day, the Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) - calling themselves the Three Brothers Alliance - said they had seized key road sections leading to China, Myanmar's largest trading partner, since the start of the offensive.

Myanmar's military is facing a serious challenge in its efforts to regain control of northern Shan State, after three armed groups joined forces and launched an offensive to seize military targets in the area bordering China. Shan is home to oil and gas pipelines supplying China and a planned multibillion-dollar railway as part of Beijing's massive Belt and Road global infrastructure project. (AFP/DW)

*China closely monitors US, Canadian warships in Taiwan Strait: The Chinese military said on November 2 that it monitored and tracked the movement of US and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait on November 1. China said it remains on high alert to “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty as well as regional peace and stability.”

Earlier in the day, the 7th Fleet announced that the US Navy destroyer USS Rafael Peralta and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa passed through the Taiwan Strait on November 1. (Reuters)

*Japan, US hold live-fire drill: The Mainichi newspaper reported on November 2 that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) and the US Marine Corps held a live-fire drill at the Hijudai training ground in Oita Prefecture on October 29. The drill site simulated defense operations on one of Japan's remote islands.

According to the Japan Western Command and other sources, about 3,000 GSDF soldiers and 1,100 US Marines participated in the Hijudai exercise. GSDF V-22 Osprey transport aircraft also participated in the exercise but were not deployed on October 29.

Hijudai is part of the GSDF-US Marine Corps “Resolute Dragon” 2023 exercise, which will be held mainly in Japan’s Kyushu and Okinawa regions from October 14 to 31. This is also the first time that Japan’s largest bilateral exercise has been conducted in the Kyushu and southwestern Nansei Islands regions. (Kyodo News)

*Singapore calls on relevant parties to cool down tensions in the East Sea: Speaking to reporters in Beijing (China) on November 1, Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said relevant parties need to cool down tensions in the East Sea, after a series of incidents between China and the Philippines heated up the persistent territorial dispute in this strategic sea.

“The South China Sea may be a cause, a driver of conflict, but it is not a difficult issue to solve if there is political will, because essentially you are competing for resources,” the Singaporean defense minister argued.

Minister Ng Eng Hen concluded his four-day visit to Beijing on November 1, after attending the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and meeting with top military officials.

Over the past few months, there have been several incidents at sea between Beijing and Manila around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Analysts have warned of the risk of clashes due to miscalculation. (Straitstimes)

*Philippines accuses China of encroaching on its sovereign waters: The Philippine Foreign Ministry on November 2 accused China of encroaching on its waters following the incident at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea earlier this week. The Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said: “It is China that is encroaching on Philippine waters.”

On October 30, the Chinese military said a Philippine military vessel had “illegally entered” waters near Scarborough Shoal - a charge Manila has strongly denied. (Reuters)

Middle East - Africa

*Hamas threatens to repeat surprise attack on Israel: A source from the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) announced on November 2 that senior Hamas leader in Lebanon, Mr. Ghazi Hamad, declared that he would attack many times to "eliminate Israel from the region".

“We must teach Israel a lesson and we will do it again and again. The Al Aqsa Flood Operation was only the first time and there will be a second, third and fourth time. We have the determination to fight,” he declared.

Mr. Hamad also admitted that the Palestinians had paid a price for the Israeli counterattack, but affirmed that they were “ready to pay the price” because they were “honored” by the Arabs as “martyrs.” (Reuters)

*Egypt helps evacuate 7,000 foreigners from Gaza Strip: The Egyptian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on November 2 affirming that the country will assist in evacuating "about 7,000" foreign citizens and dual nationals from the Gaza Strip amid the escalating conflict.

During a meeting with foreign diplomats, Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ismail Khairat also confirmed that Cairo is ready to “facilitate the reception and evacuation of foreign nationals from Gaza through the Rafah crossing,” adding that “the number is around 7,000” representing “more than 60” nationalities. (AFP)

*UAE and Jordan sign $6 billion deal: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan on November 1 signed a $6 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote investment and development projects between the two countries.

Relations between the UAE and Jordan have been steadily developing over the past 50 years. Agreements and MoUs on cooperation in various fields have been signed between the two countries, covering the fields of defense, economy and investment.

The UAE and Jordan share similar positions on Arab, Islamic and humanitarian issues and are significant contributors to Jordan's development. The UAE's Abu Dhabi Fund for Development plays a key role in funding development initiatives and numerous infrastructure projects in Jordan. Non-oil trade between the two countries is expected to reach AED 16.5 billion (USD 4.5 billion) in 2022. (VNA)

*Russia concerned about US development of biological laboratories in Africa: Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Head of the Secretariat of the “Russia-Africa Partnership Forum” Oleg Ozerov expressed concern about the possibility that the US could expand the geographical scope of the network of biological laboratories in Africa and feared that Africans would not know about the results of research carried out in their countries.

Earlier, the Commander of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, accused the United States of transferring its dual-use biological research to Africa. According to him, similar activities are taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. (Sputnik)

America

*Russia asks US to lift blockade of Cuba: Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Russian Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya said Moscow has asked the US to immediately and unconditionally lift the economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba.

Russia's call comes as the UN General Assembly is studying a draft annual resolution opposing Washington's economic, trade and financial blockade against Havana.

Russia stressed: “Together with the vast majority of members of the world community, we demand the immediate and unconditional lifting of the US economic, trade and financial blockade against Cuba. We agree with the provisions of the draft resolution of the General Assembly proposed by Havana.” (TASS)

*The White House confirms the upcoming US-China summit: The White House announced on October 31 that US President Joe Biden will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping this month on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco.

“Intense competition means intense diplomacy. Our policy and how we approach China has not changed,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, declining to provide details on President Biden’s agenda.

*US Secretary of State to travel to Asia: The US State Department announced that from November 3, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel with a dense and impactful agenda on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, then travel to Asia.

In Israel, Mr. Blinken will emphasize US support for Israel, both in terms of its right to self-defense and in the $14 billion in aid that is awaiting congressional approval. In the West Bank, the US diplomat will press Israel to curb violence by soldiers and Jewish settlers against Palestinians.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will then visit Japan, South Korea and India. During the visit, Secretary Blinken will "advance collaborative efforts to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, connected and resilient," according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

On his first stop in Tokyo, Mr. Blinken is expected to attend the 2023 Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers' Meeting. After visiting the two Northeast Asian countries, the US Secretary of State will travel to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 ministerial dialogue with the participation of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Reuters)

Europe:

President Putin warns the West will impose more sanctions on Russia: President Vladimir Putin warned on November 1 that the West will step up sanctions against Russia, and that Moscow should be prepared for sabotage of critical infrastructure.

President Putin assessed that the Russian economy is developing steadily despite pressure from the West. He noted that Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) in the first nine months of 2023 grew by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, while wages increased by 7.5% in real terms and the unemployment rate remained low at 3%.

However, President Putin also warned that the West could use tougher sanctions, citing proposals by some Western politicians to ban the export of screwdrivers, syringes and other items to Russia.

The Russian leader also expressed concern about potential sabotage against critical infrastructure, such as pipelines, power plants or communications networks. (Xinhua)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-211-thuong-dinh-my-trung-sap-dien-ra-hamas-doa-lap-lai-tan-cong-vao-israel-ngoai-truong-my-cong-du-chau-a-248483.html