Asian Insider: Blinken takes aim at China during Asia tour | Hamas leader’s assassination raises stakes
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United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the midst of a marathon 11-day swing through Asia and it is apparent that one of his top priorities is to shore up alliances in the region in order to counter China.
In Japan, Blinken met the other Quad foreign ministers where they vowed to strengthen maritime cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. He then visited the Philippines where he announced that Washington would give Manila US$500 million to boost the latter’s military capabilities. Walter Sim and Mara Cepeda report.
During Blinken’s visit to Singapore, Clement Tan and Varun Karthik report on how he reiterated his confidence that the US will stay engaged with the world, regardless of who becomes the next president.
Turning our attention to the Middle East, Jonathan Eyal looks at how the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh not only diminishes the prospects of a ceasefire in the current Gaza war, but also heightens the dangers of a much wider regional conflict.
As Indonesia gears up for several major national events including independence day and the inauguration of a new president, security analysts tell Hariz Baharudin that such occasions could translate into elevated terror risk levels.
Last but not least, Rohini Mohan looks at how the ready availability of power and land is among the main factors for a spike in the number of new data centres in India. However, various issues including water shortage, a lack of talent and red tape might throw a spanner in the works.
Quad foreign ministers take aim at China
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