Round-the-clock breaking news from Malaysia.
Anonymous sources claim US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faces possible removal amid Iran policy tensions and media scrutiny, threatening fragile military coordination with China just as bilateral ties show signs of strengthening.
President Trump has adopted a more conciliatory tone on allegations of Chinese election interference, describing past claims as historical matters. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila on Wednesday during Asean meetings.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the United States in September is proceeding as scheduled, despite mounting tensions between Washington and Beijing over allegations of electoral interference.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers convene in Manila this week to address the Myanmar civil war, escalating Middle East tensions threatening oil supplies, and ongoing South China Sea territorial disputes. U.S., Chinese, and Russian officials will also attend the three-day gathering.
Senior US Republican lawmakers have pressed the Justice Department to investigate vandalism at a California museum dedicated to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, suspecting possible involvement by Chinese state actors.