Report: Ship that hit the USS Fitzgerald was on autopilot; No crew on bridge?

Report: Ship that hit the USS Fitzgerald was on autopilot; No crew on bridge?

by WorldTribune Staff, June 23, 2017 The Philippine-flagged cargo ship that hit a high tech U.S. destroyer was under control of a computerized navigation system when the incident occurred in the sea off the coast of Japan, U.S. Navy officials said. Investigators say they have found no evidence the impact with the USS Fitzgerald, in […]

Collision? Ramming of the USS Fitzgerald has raised serious questions, few answers

Collision? Ramming of the USS Fitzgerald has raised serious questions, few answers

by WorldTribune Staff, June 19, 2017 Delayed and distorted reporting from authorities and the media of the “collision” between the USS Fitzgerald and a Philippine-flagged container ship raise questions about what transpired in the sea off the coast of Japan in the early morning hours of June 17. The incident “still being misreported as a […]

Sleeping sailors on U.S. destroyer had little time to react after collision near Japan

Sleeping sailors on U.S. destroyer had little time to react after collision near Japan

by WorldTribune Staff, June 18, 2017 The bodies of seven U.S. sailors were recovered after the USS Fitzgerald sustained significant damage in a collision with a Philippine-flagged merchant ship on Saturday around 2:20 a.m. in the sea off Japan, reports said. The seven sailors didn’t make it out of the berthing area, the Navy said. […]

‘We will go to war’: Philippines leader says China’s Xi threatened him

‘We will go to war’: Philippines leader says China’s Xi threatened him

by WorldTribune Staff, May 21, 2017 When the Philippines declared its intention to drill for oil in the South China Sea, it got a warning from China – do so and “we will go to war.” Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said that is what Chinese President Xi Jinping told him last week when the two […]

With focus on North Korea, China avoids neighbors’ criticism

With focus on North Korea, China avoids neighbors’ criticism

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Two significant geopolitical issues dominate East Asia; the North Korean nuclear showdown and China’s maritime claims and expansion in the disputed South China Sea. Given the dangerous brinksmanship on the Korean peninsula, the UN Security Council held a landmark meeting to refocus global attention on […]

Donald Trump and the Philippines’ Duerte are tough, but are they tougher than North Korea’s Kim?

Donald Trump and the Philippines’ Duerte are tough, but are they tougher than North Korea’s Kim?

by WorldTribune Staff, April 30, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have a couple of things in common. Both speak their minds and both are taking a hardline stance against drugs. This may have been enough to win Duerte an invitation to the White House after the two leaders spoke on […]

Yankee go home, Yankee hang around: Mixed messages from East Asia

Yankee go home, Yankee hang around: Mixed messages from East Asia

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, is riding a populist wave with his declarations that he doesn’t need American military or commercial aid or agreements for U.S. forces to advise and assist the armed forces of the Philippines. He seems to want to reverse careful efforts on both […]

Memo to President-elect Trump: Beware of the experts on East Asia’s chessboard

Memo to President-elect Trump: Beware of the experts on East Asia’s chessboard

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk The process of “making America great again” is filled with perils and pitfalls, nowhere more so than in Asia. The intricacies and subtleties of the Great Game for Asia often are about as incomprehensible to the experts as they are to amateurs and know-nothings. As President-elect Donald Trump and […]

World leaders hail Trump win; foreign policy elites in denial

World leaders hail Trump win; foreign policy elites in denial

by WorldTribune Staff, November 9, 2016 While world leaders were quick to congratulate Donald Trump for his historic victory on Nov. 8, shell-shocked foreign policy types were not so sure the sun would come up on Nov. 9 as President Barack Obama had assured. Egyptian President Abdul Fatah Sisi was the first leaders to phone […]

Pax China: Manila’s capitulation sets ominous precedent for U.S. allies in Far East

Pax China: Manila’s capitulation sets ominous precedent for U.S. allies in Far East

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk Rodrigo Duterte was reputed as a killer long before his election as president of the Philippines five months ago. He countenanced the slaughter of hundreds of drug addicts and dealers while mayor of Davao, the major port city on the rebel-infested southern island of Mindanao, and has applauded the […]