Years after the string of pearls theory was coined, China has few ships, 1 base and no air cover across the Indian Ocean reuters.com/world/asia-pacif…

🔊 'We get to hear exactly what Xi Jinping told Donald Trump … as reporters, that's just catnip for us because it's like being a fly on the wall.' @TrevorNews on the Reuters World News podcast as Trump and Xi sit down for high-stakes talks reut.rs/4xOJWnH

FA CUP Final 1978 @IpswichTown 1 v @Arsenal 0 Despite Arsenal being the clear historical and tactical favourites, Ipswich Town thoroughly dominated the match. They hit the woodwork three times—including twice by midfielder John Wark and once by Paul Mariner—before breaking the deadlock late in the second half.

Taiwan upgrades maritime patrol capacity for vulnerable South China Sea outpost reut.rs/4ybK15H reut.rs/4ybK15H

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet in Washington as tensions linger over issues ranging from trade to Taiwan. Reuters White House correspondent Trevor Hunnicutt breaks down the key issues to watch reut.rs/4h8e9Jk

ICYMI

Exclusive: China's Xi Jinping is expected to press US President Donald Trump to halt Taiwan arms sales under a 1982 joint statement during a visit to Washington this week, which he could do at the US National Archives reut.rs/4yk18SU

In the four months since the leaders of the two global superpowers last met, Xi Jinping has overseen a surge in China's trade with the world while Donald Trump has struggled with falling approval ratings at home. That shift in fortunes has tempered expectations for their summit in Washington this week, analysts say, with Xi in no rush to make concessions and Trump constrained by a costly war with Iran that has hurt both his popularity and Americans' wallets reut.rs/4h4PjKs

A range of delegates to China's flagship defence conference this week expressed fears over the potential for unchecked AI development and technology rivalries to further heighten risks across the global security environment reuters.com/business/media-t…

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said on Wednesday that countries should cease provocative acts and check the resurgence of regressive historical trends in remarks likely to be taken as veiled criticism of Japan. reuters.com/world/china/chin…

ICYMI: A new early warning station in the Paracels to protect the future Antelope reef base? China accelerates South China Sea build-up reuters.com/world/china/new-…

ICYMI: New installations emerge on islet as China accelerates South China Sea build-up reuters.com/world/china/new-…

New installations have ​been sighted on an islet near Antelope Reef in the Paracels archipelago reuters.com/world/china/new-…

China’s development of Antelope Reef creates a major military node in the northern South China Sea, extending persistent surveillance while supporting air & naval operations from a position close to the mainland, 👇imagery via Reuters, annotated to show the current buildout

ICYMI: China completes first stage of work at disputed South China Sea reef, images show. Interesting takes from @OfficialBen_L @CollinSLKoh @carl_thayer reuters.com/world/china/chin…

A major milestone for Japan's counterstrike capability! The successful, @USNavy-assisted test-firing of a Tomahawk missile from a Japanese destroyer marks a significant moment for Japan, the U.S.-Japan Alliance, and, crucially, security in the Indo-Pacific. The growing suite of Alliance capabilities reinforces both our deterrence and our commitment to preserving peace and building prosperity across this region. @shinjirokoiz @JMSDF_PAO @jmsdf_srh @US3rdFleet @USPacificFleet @USFJ @USPACOM

Taiwan's cooperation with the United States may be closer than many imagine, the island's Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Friday, as it strives to deepen military exchanges with the U.S. Pacific Command to boost defence capabilities. reuters.com/world/china/taiw…

Water cannon diplomacy as Beijing moves further into Philippine waters Tensions rise as China seeks to expand its claims, firing water cannon and ramming fishing boats in Philippine waters ✍️ @ngahpham bit.ly/3U7b7Ma

Busy time: Singapore Navy's landing ship RSS Persistence is in Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa province, on an official visit (1-5 Aug). Before it, a Russian naval flotilla visited the same port from 26-29 July.

The great Indo-Pacific hedge - deeper defence ties as US doubts grow and China ascends reut.rs/4uIWtbJ reut.rs/4uIWtbJ

The great Indo-Pacific hedge - deeper defence ties as US doubts grow and China ascends reut.rs/4dBYrV6 reut.rs/4dBYrV6