Asia (except ME & Indian SC)

BEIJING, September 18. /TASS/: China’s armed forces have conducted a military exercise in the Taiwan Strait area following the passage of a US missile destroyer, Spokesperson for Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Shi Yi said on Saturday.

According to the spokesperson, on September 17, the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted a military exercise in the air and at sea in territory southwest of Taiwan. Combat ships, early warning aircraft and bombers were involved in the drills.

MANILA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Families of people killed in the Philippines' war on drugs are hopeful that a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity approved by judges from the International Criminal Court earlier this week will result in justice for the victims.

Rights groups say Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte incited deadly violence and accuse police of murdering unarmed suspects on a massive scale as part of the anti-narcotics campaign launched in 2016.

TOKYO, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Two of the candidates vying to become Japan's next prime minister denied on Saturday they had toned down their positions on nuclear energy and gender issues to attract conservative backing in a tight ruling party leadership election this month.

The winner of the Sept. 29 contest to lead the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is almost certain to succeed Yoshihide Suga as the country's next premier because the party has a majority in the lower house.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has boasted of barging uninvited into a video conference call hosted by his political opponents.

An enthusiastic user of social media, Hun Sen said Friday he intruded into the Zoom call to warn his opponents that he and his spies were keeping a close eye on them.

DUSHANBE (Tajikistan), Sep 17 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Friday on the sidelines of SCO Council of Heads of State in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe and discussed China-Pakistan bilateral relations, economic corridor and regional situation.

Terming Pakistan and China as ‘iron brothers’ and strategic partners, the prime minister conveyed cordial greetings for Chinese President Xi and Premier Li.

He appreciated China’s support for assisting Pakistan’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

DUSHANBE, September 17. /TASS/: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s activity is very crucial for countering common threats as well as recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in his address to the SCO heads of state participating in the Dushanbe summit.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (NNN-Bernama) — ASEAN Energy Ministers expressed commitment to strengthen energy security and intensify energy transition towards low carbon energy in the region during the recently concluded 39th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) hosted virtually by Brunei.

Participating ministers agreed to adopt the Bandar Seri Begawan Joint Declaration of the 39th AMEM on Energy Security and Energy Transition which reaffirmed ASEAN Member States’ shared commitment and collective responsibility in the pursuit of energy security and transitions.

HONG KONG, Sept 17 (Reuters) - As Beijing seeks to tighten its grip over Hong Kong, it has a new mandate for the city's powerful property tycoons: pour resources and influence into backing Beijing's interests, and help solve a potentially destabilising housing shortage.

Chinese officials delivered the message in closed meetings this year amid broader efforts to bring the city to heel under a sweeping national security law and make it more "patriotic," according to three major developers and a Hong Kong government adviser familiar with the talks.

DUSHANBE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas.

During their meeting in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, Wang said that China has always been handling the China-India boundary issue with a positive attitude.

BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday urged the United States and Australia to stop interfering in China's internal affairs and making waves in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a statement after Australia-U.S. ministerial consultations that expressed concern over the South China Sea, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.