China and the Philippines accused each other of deliberately ramming their coast guard ships near the disputed Sabina Shoal on Saturday. A China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson said the Philippines ship “deliberately collided with” a Chinese vessel. Meanwhile, officials in Manila said the opposite: that a CCG ship “directly and intentionally rammed” their vessel.(AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

India and China concluded a fresh round of border talks in Beijing late last week. Both sides said the talks were held in a “positive, friendly, and frank atmosphere.” This modestly upbeat assessment marks a slight thaw in tensions between the two Asian powers that have been locked in a bitter dispute over their contested border in the Himalayas. (THE HINDU)