. 24/7 Space News .
SUPERPOWERS
Hanoi demands Beijing withdraw missiles from disputed islands
by Staff Writers
Hanoi (AFP) May 9, 2018

Hanoi has demanded Beijing remove military equipment from contested islands in the South China Sea, saying reported missile installations are a "serious violation" of Vietnam's sovereignty.

The warning follows a report from US network CNBC last week that China had installed anti-ship and air-to-air defences on the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by Vietnam.

China did not confirm the new military equipment but last week affirmed its right to build defence facilities in the South China Sea, of which it claims the majority.

Hanoi called Beijing's latest moves a threat to peace and asserted Vietnam's historical and legal rights to the Spratly Islands, which it calls the Truong Sa islands.

"Vietnam... asserts that all militarisation activities, including the arrangement of missiles on Truong Sa islands seriously violates Vietnam's sovereignty," Vietnam's foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said in a statement late Tuesday.

"Vietnam requests China... not to militarise (and) withdraw military equipment that were illegally deployed on structures under Vietnam's sovereignty," the statement added.

Vietnam and China have long sparred over their competing claims in the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits.

Washington warned last week that Beijing would face "consequences" over its militarisation of the disputed waterway.

But Beijing defended its "peaceful construction" in the Spratly archipelago as necessary to protect its own sovereignty and security.

Though the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims in the sea, Vietnam has remained the most vocal opponent to Beijing's build up in the sea.

Tensions reached a fever pitch in 2014 when Beijing moved an oil rig into a part of the sea claimed by Hanoi, sparking violent protests in Vietnam.

In Japan-China ties, ibis outreach but no panda diplomacy
Tokyo (AFP) May 9, 2018 - China has famously used its cuddly panda bears as a diplomatic tool, but to mark warming ties with Japan it is offering a distinctly more angular gift: two crested ibises.

To some, the bird might not appear much of a looker: it has a bright red face with a long narrow beak that curves downward, and its eponymous crest resembles the wispy white mullet of an ageing rocker.

But after Japan's last wild crested ibis died in 2003, rendering the species extinct in its homeland, the country has looked abroad to reintroduce the fowl.

Visiting Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang is expected to sign a deal to deliver a pair of the birds when he meets with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe later on Wednesday.

They will be the first ibis offerings from China in years, after Beijing began helping reintroduce the species to Japan with several donations over a decade ago.

Japan is now home to several hundred crested ibises, descended from just a handful of gifts, but environmentalists fear that the population's undiverse heritage may leave it vulnerable to disease.

The crested ibis has a storied history in Japan, appearing in artwork and literature going back centuries, and it was once so common it was even considered a pest.

But it was heavily hunted for its white feathers and its meat, and even its designation as a protected species failed to stop development that wiped out its natural habitats.

While the feathered gifts have garnered plenty of local media attention and will be warmly welcomed by conservationists, Japan will be missing out on a more iconic Chinese diplomatic gift.

Local media reported that Japan was hoping Beijing would loan it several giant pandas for zoos in Kobe and Sendai, but an agreement was apparently not reached in time for Li's visit.


Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


SUPERPOWERS
Britain backs French plan for European defence force: minister
Sofia (AFP) May 5, 2018
Britain is backing a French plan to create a European military intervention force as a way to maintain strong defence ties with the EU after Brexit, a minister told AFP on Saturday. British junior defence minister Frederick Curzon said London was "very keen to support" French President Emmanuel Macron's plan for a force that could be deployed rapidly to deal with crises. The force, known as the European Intervention Initiative, would be separate from other EU defence cooperation, meaning there w ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SUPERPOWERS
Russia Offers Space Tourist Flight to US, European Astronauts, UAE Citizen

Spinning science: multi-use variable-g platform arrives at the Space Station

Tourism nearly a tenth of global CO2 emissions

For how long will the USA remain the Nobel Prize leader?

SUPERPOWERS
TDM Bridge Builder: Daniel Herman, Solar Electric Propulsion System Lead

Reduce, Reuse, Rockets?

SpaceX's Dragon cargo ship returns to Earth

Return of SpaceX cargo ship delayed by rough seas

SUPERPOWERS
Mars growth stunted by early giant planetary instability

NASA blasts off Mars-bound spaceship, InSight, to study quakes

InSight probe to survey Mars for secrets inside the planet

One scientist's 30-year quest to get under Mars' skin

SUPERPOWERS
China to Use Soviet Engine to Power Its First Reusable Space Rocket

Astronauts eye more cooperation on China's space station

China unveils underwater astronaut training suit

China to launch advanced space cargo transport aircraft in 2019

SUPERPOWERS
ESA selects three new mission concepts for study

Australian Space Agency Lost In Canberra

China's communication satellites occupy niche in world market

In crowded field, Iraq election hopefuls vie to stand out

SUPERPOWERS
China rejects US military claims of laser attacks on pilots

DARPA taps MIT for research on high-value molecules

Atomically thin magnetic device could lead to new memory technologies

Improving 3-D printing of plastic parts

SUPERPOWERS
Atmospheric seasons could signal alien life

An Exoplanet Atmosphere Free of Clouds

Dutch astronomers photograph possible toddler planet by chance

The Cheops ccience instrument arrives in Madrid

SUPERPOWERS
Fresh results from NASA's Galileo spacecraft 20 years on

What do Uranus's cloud tops have in common with rotten eggs?

Pluto's Largest Moon, Charon, Gets Its First Official Feature Names

Pluto's largest moon, Charon, gets its first official feature names









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.