A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. The waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves.
US DEFENSE CHIEF TOURS ASIA
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper will visit Vietnam and then meet with his Chinese counterpart in Thailand during a trek through Asia this week aimed at illustrating how serious a threat Washington believes Beijing is.
FILE - In this June 12, 2019, file photo, Hong Kong actor and singer Jackie Chan shows photos during a promotional event announcing his new album "I AM ME" in Taipei, Taiwan. A visit by Chan to Vietnam has been cancelled following complaints over his alleged pro-China stance on South China Sea sovereignty issues. (AP PhotoChiang Ying-ying, File)
While Vietnam is a former U.S. enemy, the two countries have grown closer in recent years in the face of China's increasing assertiveness over its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. Vietnam's territorial claims in the area overlap those of China and the two have come close to conflict in recent years as the competition for resources and national pride heats up.
Esper's meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe in Bangkok will mark the first face-to-face exchange between the two officials, although they spoke via video teleconference from the Pentagon on Nov. 5.
JACKIE CHAN'S VIETNAM VISIT CANCELLED
FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2019, file photo, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper talks to the media with Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Khalid Al Attiyah at the Pentagon in Washington. Esper will visit Vietnam and meet with his Chinese counterpart in Thailand during a trek through Asia aimed at illustrating seriousness of the perceived threat to U.S. interests from Beijing. (AP PhotoCliff Owen, File)
A visit by martial arts actor Jackie Chan to Vietnam has been cancelled following complaints over his pro-Beijing stance.
Chan had been due to travel to the country on behalf of children's charity Operation Smile, but the plan drew an angry response online.
Although Hong Kong-native Chan has not been outspoken on the South China Sea issue, he is an enthusiastic backer of China's ruling Communist Party and a member of the ceremonial national parliament's chief advisory body.
CHINA, US, TRADE BARBS AT ASEAN
The U.S. and China traded barbs over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea at the annual summit of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Thailand.
Recently appointed national security adviser Robert O'Brien accused Beijing of using intimidation to try to stop ASEAN nations from exploiting their offshore resources, blocking access to $2.5 trillion in oil and gas reserves alone.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang responded by saying, "Some nonregional countries have done everything to make trouble and raise tensions. They want to impose their will on our countries."
The meeting took place Nov. 4.
DETROIT (AP) — The Oakland Athletics no longer have to wonder where they'll play the next few seasons. That won't make the long goodbye any easier.
The A's reacted to the announcement that this will be their last year in Oakland with a mixture of sadness and relief.
“At least as a player, you know where you’re headed,” outfielder Seth Brown said Friday before a game against the Tigers in Detroit. “There’s obviously a lot of moving parts, a lot of stuff we’re not privy to, so it’s just been kind of a waiting game on our end. Where are we going to go? Where are we going to be? So I think just having that knowledge -- at least we know where we’re going to be playing next year.”
Vivek Ranadivé, who owns the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, and Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher announced Thursday that the A’s will temporarily relocate to West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park for at least three seasons. The A's are moving to Las Vegas after a new ballpark is constructed.
The River Cats, who are affiliated with the San Francisco Giants, will continue to play at the same facility.
Fisher was unable to reach an agreement with Oakland city officials on extending the lease at Oakland Coliseum, which expires at the end of this season. The A's have played in the city since 1968.
“There's direction now, which we've talked a lot about,” Oakland A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “We've got time to kind of reflect on what this really means from an organizational standpoint, the history that we've had in Oakland, with this being now the final season. There's a lot of emotion that goes behind this.”
It will not only cause some upheaval for the players and staff but also members of the organization that work behind the scenes.
“At the end of the day, we know where we're going to be for the next three seasons after the finish this year and that in itself gives a little bit of stability,” Kotsay said. “At the same time, in the present, it's challenging in certain ways to think about the finality of this organization in Oakland.”
Sacramento will be a much smaller environment to house a major league team. Ranadivé said the River Cats venue currently seats 16,000 when counting the stands, the lawn behind center field and standing room only.
First baseman Ryan Noda is concerned with the facilities. He's hopeful that significant upgrades will be made, much like the Toronto Blue Jays did at Buffalo's Triple-A facility. The Blue Jays played at Buffalo's Sahlen Field in 2020 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“New walls, new dugouts, new locker rooms — everything they needed to become a big league stadium,” said Noda, who played some games in Sacramento as a minor leaguer. “As long as we can do something like that, then it'll be all right. But it's definitely going to be different than playing in stadiums that hold 40,000 people.”
Kotsay is confident the upgrades will occur.
“I know it will be of major league baseball quality,” he said. “It's has to be of major league baseball quality. I know the Players Association will make sure that takes place, as they did in Buffalo.”
For the rest of this season, the A's will have to deal with small home crowds and disappointed fans.
“We’re sad for the fans, the diehard fans, who always come to our games, always support us, always support the boys wearing the jersey,” Noda said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, center, shakes hands John Fisher, owner of the Oakland Athletics, before the start of a news conference where Fisher announced his team will leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a minor league park, during a news conference in West Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 4 2024.The A's announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
John Fisher, owner of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, announces that his team will leave Oakland after this season and play temporarily at a minor league park, during a news conference in West Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 4, 2024. The A's announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Sutter Health Park, home of the Triple A team Sacramento River Cats, is shown in West Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, April 4, 2024. The Oakland Athletics announced the decision to play at the home of the Sacramento River Cats from 2025-27 with an option for 2028 on Thursday after being unable to reach an agreement to extend their lease in Oakland during that time. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay walks to the dugout after making a pitching change during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, March 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
