Japan is sending a warship to take part in a joint exercise with Indonesia as tensions remain high in the South China Sea. Japan has increased its criticism of China in recent months as it deals with its own dispute with Beijing in the East China Sea. Source: IBT
The United States imposed sanctions on a Russian port service agency and Chinese firms for aiding North Korean ships and selling alcohol and tobacco to Pyongyang in breach of U.S. sanctions. Source: Reuters
The United States has confirmed plans to more double the number of troops based in Norway, a move Russia has already criticised as “clearly unfriendly”. Source: The Local
The Swiss government has decided to hold off on signing up to a landmark United Nations treaty that would ban nuclear weapons. Source: The Local
