Over the past week even as USA stepped up its engagement
with China, the Biden administration and its key partners in the Indo-Pacific
region-initiated measures to counter China’s military ambitions. India and the
US at their 2 + 2 Ministerial explored new ways to expand their strategic
partnership to safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific in the face of the
challenge from an assertive China. Indonesia and the United States are set to
deepen their bilateral relationship across several fronts during President
Jokowi’s visit to Washington this week. Tokyo committed to strengthening its
security relationship with the Philippines during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio
Kishida’s recent Manila visit. This included the first-ever transfer of defense
aid under Japan’s new Official Security Assistance framework. The Philippines’
coast guard said it would maintain its regular supply missions to troops
stationed on a disputed atoll in the South China Sea even though it expects
more Chinese vessels to be sent to the area. Meanwhile, Japan’s
State Minister of Finance Kenji Kanda has submitted his resignation
further weakening Kishida’s position. China & Iran are coordinating closely
to deescalate war in Gaza.
Threats posed by China also
discussed’: Lloyd Austin on India, US 2+2 dialogue
Hindustan Times | 10th November 2023
India and the US on Friday (November 10) explored new ways
to expand their strategic partnership to safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific
in the face of the challenge from an assertive China, even as the two sides
unveiled plans to jointly develop and manufacture an armoured infantry vehicle.
The fifth annual 2+2 ministerial dialogue, co-chaired by defence minister
Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar and their American
counterparts Lloyd Austin and Antony Blinken, encompassed issues ranging from
the defence industry partnership to counter-terrorism and cutting-edge
technologies in sectors such as semiconductors and critical minerals.
US-China diplomatic thaw raises
hopes for military dialogue breakthrough
South China Morning Post | 13th November 2023
With the Indo-Pacific becoming a hotbed of contention,
recent events have raised the possibility of a flashpoint developing into a
military conflict between the US and China. The collisions between
Chinese and Filipino vessels over the past weeks are of particular concern as
America and the Philippines have a Mutual Defence Treaty that
mandates the US to take military action to defend a Philippines under attack.
But this is not the only area with potential for escalation. There have also
been many examples of US
and Chinese military aircraft in close and dangerous proximity. However, in the
past few months, there has been a dramatic increase in
high-level diplomatic dialogue between the two sides.
Indonesia and US set to upgrade
ties as Biden meets Widodo, say Washington officials
The Strait Times | 13th November 2023
Indonesia and the United States are set to deepen their
bilateral relationship across several fronts when US President Joe Biden hosts
his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo at a bilateral meeting
at the White House on Monday (November 12) afternoon, senior administration
officials told reporters on Sunday (November 13). “We’ll be taking our
partnership to a truly new level, announcing a comprehensive strategic
partnership… in many ways to build upon our deep engagement in South-east
Asia and the fact that we’re doing new and consequential things with many of
that region’s leaders,” said one of the two officials who briefed the media.
Japan Grants Security Assistance to
the Philippines, Looks to Enhance Military Cooperation
USNI News | 9th November 2023
Tokyo committed to strengthening its security relationship
with the Philippines during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent
Manila visit. While in Manila, Kishida inked several agreements with Philippine
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., including the first-ever transfer of defense
aid under Japan’s new Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework. This aid
program aims to transfer non-lethal equipment, such as patrol boats and radar
systems, to the armed forces of “like-minded countries.” Through the first OSA
program, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will receive $4 million worth of
coastal surveillance radars for the Philippine Navy, unlike previous Japanese
assistance that gave radars to the Philippine Coast Guard.
Philippines to continue South China
Sea supply missions despite Chinese boats
Reuters | 11th November 2023
The Philippines’ coast guard said on Saturday (Nov 11) it
would maintain its regular supply missions to troops stationed on a disputed
atoll in the South China Sea even though it expects more Chinese vessels to be
sent to the area. The Philippines regularly sends supplies to a handful of
troops living aboard an aging warship that was deliberately run aground on the
Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s sovereignty claims over the
atoll.
State minister of finance resigns
in further blow to Kishida
Japan Times | 13th November 2023
Japan’s State Minister of Finance Kenji Kanda submitted
his resignation Monday (Nov 13) after admitting last week that his firm had
failed to pay fixed asset taxes on its land and property. Both were seized by
tax authorities on four occasions between 2013 and last year after his company
fell into arrears. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized Monday (November 13)
evening for appointing a deputy minister who had to resign soon after taking
office in September.
Iran says it hopes to work with
China to de-escalate Israel-Gaza war
South China Morning Post | 13th November 2023
China’s head of West Asian and North African affairs
visited Iran over the
weekend in a bid to boost ties and discuss the Israel-Gaza war. Tehran
said it hoped to “strengthen communication and coordination” with China to
de-escalate the war in Gaza as Wang Di, director general for the region at the
Chinese foreign ministry, met Iranian diplomatic officials on Saturday,
according to the ministry. It was the first visit by a Beijing official to the
country since the war began last month. Wang reiterated Beijing’s stance on the war,
saying there was an “urgent need for ceasefire” as the conflict had caused
“large-scale civilian casualties”.
