HANOI (Reuters) – U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs locked horns over U.S. arms sales on Taiwan on Monday as they met for the first time since Beijing lifted a freeze on U.S. military ties.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Liang Guanglie, constructive and accepted an invitation to visit China next year. But China said both acknowledged “problems and obstacles” in military relations.

HANOI (Reuters) – China sought to smooth over regional tensions stoked by its rising military profile on Monday, when the country’s defence minister held fence-mending talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts.

China’s growing military reach and vehement reaction to maritime territory disputes have sparked renewed concern among its neighbours, from Japan to Australia.

HANOI (Reuters) – Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on Monday urged his Chinese counterpart to set up a bilateral maritime communications system quickly following a row over disputed islands, Kyodo news agency said.

Kitazawa and Liang Guanglie met in Hanoi on the sidelines of a meeting of Asia-Pacific defense ministers, in the first top-level defense talks between the two governments since the dispute flared last month.

HANOI, Oct 8 (Reuters) – Concerns over China’s maritime
ambitions are likely to remain muted at an Asia-Pacific defence
ministers’ meeting in Hanoi next week as participants steer
clear of friction to nurture a potentially useful new security
forum.

China, for its part, is likely to play nice at the defence
meeting and a summit in Vietnam later this month in an effort
to reassure its neighbours that it can be reasonable and
cooperative as the dust settles from an angry territorial row
with Japan.

By John Ruwitch

HANOI (Reuters Life!) – With its remnants of French-colonial architecture, lively ‘Old Quarter’ alleyways and streetside culinary culture Hanoi might just be Southeast Asia’s most charming capital city. It may be the oldest, too.

In October, the city entered party mode to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long, the settlement established by King Ly Thai To on the Red River in the year 1010 that has grown into a metropolis of 6 million inhabitants.

HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam has asked China for the unconditional release of nine fishermen detained last month near disputed islands, Vietnamese media reported on Wednesday, raising tension a week before regional defense ministers meet.

Chinese embassy officers in Hanoi told Vietnamese Foreign Ministry officials the sailors had broken the law by fishing with explosives and would be released with their boat only after the captain paid a fine, Vietnamese state media reported.

HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam has stepped up experimental political reforms in the lead-up to a major meeting of the ruling Communist Party next year, possibly paving the way for more accountability among the leadership.

Analysts caution that the changes do not mean the party intends to give up its monopoly on power, as enshrined in the constitution, and critics are likely to see them as cosmetic.

HANOI (Reuters) – Few investors disagree that Vietnam has huge potential. But until the country’s opaque regulatory environment becomes more predictable, only the bravest firms will commit to making substantial direct investments there.

When Vietnam’s communist government first opened up to foreign investment back in the 1990s, multinationals couldn’t wait to break ground on factories and hire some of Asia’s cheapest workers.

HANOI (Reuters) – Few investors disagree that Vietnam has huge potential. But until the country’s opaque regulatory environment becomes more predictable, only the bravest firms will commit to making substantial direct investments there.

When Vietnam’s communist government first opened up to foreign investment back in the 1990s, multinationals couldn’t wait to break ground on factories and hire some of Asia’s cheapest workers.

HANOI, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Vietnamese police have arrested
four more people linked to the debt-laden state ship-builder
Vinashin, expanding a case that is widely seen as having
political implications in the run up to a leadership reshuffle.

Among those arrested on Friday were Tran Quang Vu, a board
member who was appointed head of the failing and overstretched
conglomerate after the government sacked his predecessor in
July and ordered the firm reorganised.