INR | APAC : Weekly Updates

 

Australia strikes US$118 million policing deal with China-friendly Solomon Islands

• Australia is confirmed to help boost the police force of Solomons Island with an infrastructure package, multi-year funding, and training for the Pacific nation with close ties with China. 

• It represents a new foundation for Australia’s security partnership with the Solomon Islands, according to Prime Minister Antonio Albanese.

• The Solomons police announced on the same day that it had received a modest donation from China as well, a sign of the competition Australia faces from Beijing.

Read ahead:

Australia announces $118 million deal to enhance policing in the Solomon Islands

An ethnic group claims to have captured a regional army headquarters

• The latest in the long series of regional talks held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, it has made no headway in restoring peace to the war-torn Southeast Asian nation. 

• Myanmar has been wracked by violence ever since its army overthrew the elected government in the year 2021. They violently repressed the pro-democracy protests, lasting to the arms resistance movement. 

• The military government has used harsh tactics to suppress its opponents, including air strikes, but the war has only become fiercer, especially in the past year. 

Read ahead:

An ethnic armed group in western Myanmar claims to have captured a major regional army headquarters | AP News

Pakistan Denounces US Sanctions on Its Missile Programmes

• Pakistan denounces the US sanctions on the country's missile program as “discriminatory” that puts the region's peace and security at risk.

• Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the sanctions “have dangerous implications for strategic stability of our region and beyond.”

•  It also accused the U.S. of “double standards” for waiving licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries.

Read ahead:

Pakistan denounces US sanctions on its missile program as ‘discriminatory’ | CNN

US arms manufacturers could help boost Vietnam's military capabilities, said US ambassador

• US manufacturers could help build up Vietnam’s armed forces by working with Vietnamese counterparts

• The US Ambassador Mark Knapper said, “Our goal is to ensure that vietnam has what it needs to defend its interests”.

• Vietnam has been trying to increase its domestic arms manufacturing instead of being dependent on Russia for weapon imports.

• Read ahead:

US ambassador to Vietnam says US arms manufacturers could help Vietnam build up its armed forces - The Economic Times

102 Rohingya refugees were rescued by the Sri Lankan navy

• A Sri Lankan navy spokesperson said that more than 100 people believed to be Rohingya refugees were spotted by a fisherman on the Sri Lankan northern coast.

• The refugees include 25 children and 30 women. Later they were escorted to the eastern coast where they were given medical care, food, and water.

• The navy has not yet confirmed if the refugees are Rohingya because of the communication difficulties but the group is believed to be from Myanmar according to the navy.

Read ahead:

Sri Lanka's navy rescues 102 Rohingya refugees found adrift aboard a fishing trawler | AP News

China criticizes Phillippine’s plan to deploy mid range missiles

• The Philippines has announced their plans to acquire midrange missile systems to strengthen its territorial defence amidst tensions with China in the South China Sea.

• China has marked this move as "extremely irresponsible," claiming it could provoke geopolitical confrontations and an arms race.

• The United States has reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defence and advocated for the typhoon as a necessary defence against China’s growing military presence.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/china-philippines-deploy-missile-system-95a5d4b923b262f400c540e1b6926b0e

Violence in Manipur leads to widespread displacement

• Ethnic violence in Manipur has led to a humanitarian crisis, causing thousands of people to be displaced from their homes due to ongoing standoff.

• The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, is causing concerns over the region's stability and human rights violations.

• The Indian government has been criticized for its slow response, with calls for immediate action to restore peace and provide assistance to the displaced populations.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-manipur-ethnic-violence-displacement-9153549db3852e7f34a3ef70b7bdb349

India marks tsunami anniversary with reflection on earthquake’s impact

• On the anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, India mourns the devastating loss of life, with thousands of families still in pain of their lost loved ones in Tamil Nadu.

• The scars left by the tsunami and the earthquake remain, as survivors are still facing the harsh reality of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy.

• For many, the trauma of that day is still raw, and the anniversary serves as a painful reminder of the immense cost of human lives due to natural disasters.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/india-tsunami-anniversary-earthquake-tamil-nadu-9b0f71ec5cb2135747f349208bf5beb2

Japan’s former Emperor Akihito marks his 91st birthday

• Japan’s beloved former Emperor Akihito marked his 91st birthday on Monday, as he continues to pursue his lifetime research into goby fish, care for his wife and pray for peace.

• Akihito, who abdicated in 2019 and handed over the Chrysanthemum throne to his son, Emperor Naruhito, now holds the title of Emperor Emeritus.

Read Ahead: https://apnews.com/article/japan-akihito-emperor-empress-birthday-abdication-monarchy-58cca340fee8f2353e826620f5a8ee66

Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the northwest

• The Pakistani Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for a deadly military checkpoint attack in the country’s northwest.

• The militant group said it killed 35 soldiers and injured 15 others in an early morning raid. It also claimed seizing equipment including a night vision device and weapons. 

• It’s Pakistan Taliban’s latest assault on troops in the restive province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan. They made the claims in one of their WhatsApp chat groups.

Read ahead: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-taliban-checkpoint-attack-waziristan-fff19247b8a3f72b10b12554527ea039

Drafted by:

Daney Antonio Martin (B.A. I.R., 2nd Year) (Region Head)

Gouri Kapoor (BA IR, 1st Year)

Nripan Babu (BA IR, 1st Year)

Published by:

Varsha Das (B.A. I.R., 3rd Year)

INR | APAC : Weekly Updates

 

Mpox vaccine for those at high risk in Singapore, virus troublesome but can be managed: Ong Ye Kung

 

 

●       Vaccinations against mpox are being given free to healthcare workers who are at highest risk of exposure to mpox, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Sept 4.

 

●       This is to ensure that the people who need it most will be given protection

 

●       Immediate contact tracing will be carried out for close contacts of confirmed clade I cases

 

●       they will be quarantined for 21 days, the incubation period observed in Africa.

 

 

Read More : https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mpox-vaccine-for-those-at-high-risk-in-singapore-virus-troublesome-but-can-be-managed-ong-ye-kung

 

Australia's economy growing at slowest pace since 1990s recession, as households cut back on spending
 

 

 

●       Australia's economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the June quarter, and 1 per cent over the last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

 

●       It is the weakest rate of annual growth Australia ..

 

●       Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned this week that the Reserve Bank's 13 interest rate rises were "smashing the economy".

 

●       Krishna Bhimavarapu, APAC economist at State Street Global Advisors, said the continuing slowdown in economic growth was the "clearest indication yet" that monetary policy was restrictive enough in Australia.

 

 

Read More at :

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-04/gdp-june-quarter-2024-australia-economic-growth/104305324

 

 

 

Bold remarks by Yoon's aide on US elections reflect Trump concerns

●       Kim Tae-hyo,  suggested that a potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump could weaken the U.S. security umbrella..

 

●       However, some of Kim's remarks about the U.S. elections and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris "may need more heavyweight advisers on her foreign policy team," could be seen as controversial, observers noted.

 

●       "If Trump is reelected, there is a possibility that the U.S. security umbrella may be weakened, as it may seek to discuss the costs associated with the deployment of strategic assets provided to us,"

 

Read More At :

 

https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=381863

 

 

 

China honours WWII Flying Tiger aircrews in push to improve people-to-people ties with US
 

 

●       China has paid tribute to American “Flying Tiger” aircrew members in a ceremony commemorating the end of World War II.

 

●       For the first time, the names of more than 2,500 personnel who died fighting the Japanese on behalf of China have been published.

 

●       Chinese ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said the Flying Tiger spirit “will forever be a great treasure”.

 

Read More At :

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3277181/china-honours-wwii-flying-tiger-pilots-amid-push-improve-people-people-ties-us?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

 

 

China’s hypersonic missiles can be made from steel, scientists say
 

 

 

●       team of Chinese scientists say they have found a way to make a hypersonic missile with a steel nose cone

 

●       The partial blueprint shows the shell of the warhead – located at the very front of the missile

 

●        the nose of a hypersonic weapon can hit temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees

 

●       The team says their missile is designed to reach Mach 8 ,  marks a key step forward in thermal protection technology.

 

Read More At :

 

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3277127/chinas-hypersonic-missiles-can-be-made-steel-scientists?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

 

 

China’s consumer confidence nears all-time low, calls for ‘bolder’ measures

 

   

 

 

●       Consumer confidence in China is approaching a historic low as short-term supportive measures.

 

●       The consumer confidence index for the world’s second-largest economy hit 86 in July,  falling to just above the all-time low of 85.5 during coronavirus pandemic.

 

●       “To truly revive consumer confidence, we believe Beijing needs to implement bolder and more effective stimulus measures to address the real problems in the property sector,” said Nomura economists led by Lu Ting..

 

●       A “sustained weakness” in consumption could be attributed to falling property and stock prices, plus “tepid” wage growth and “capital flight amid geopolitical tensions”, they added.

 

Read More At:

 

https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3277160/chinas-consumer-confidence-nears-all-time-low-calls-bolder-measures?module=top_story&pgtype=homepage

 

 

In leadership bid, LDP Secretary-General Motegi says no tax hikes
 

 

●       Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi formally joined the upcoming contest for the leadership.

.

●       “Promoting policies without any tax hike doesn’t go against existing policies, but rather it alleviates public concerns about an increased financial burden,” He said.

 

●       Four other LDP lawmakers have put their names forward in the race: Ishiba, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, digital minister Taro Kono and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

 

●       More lawmakers are set to announce their candidacy in the upcoming week, before campaigning officially kicks off next Thursday.

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/04/japan/politics/motegi-announcement/

News bits collected and drafted by: 

Deepanjali Singh (BA IR 3rd year) (Region Head)

Gungun Thakur (BA IR 2nd year)

Published by: Varsha Das (BA IR 3rd year)

 

 

INR | APAC : Weekly Updates

 US President Joe Biden's Response to Taiwan's Invasion

• US President Joe Biden has stated that he is not ruling out using U.S. military force in response to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

• Biden differentiates between deploying on the ground, air power, and naval power, but the response would depend on the circumstances.

• He has made clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the U.S. policy refrains from endorsing Taiwanese independence, but would defend the island if China unilaterally attempts to change the status quo.

• Biden has not stated if the U.S. would launch strikes from its military bases in Japan or the Philippines.

• The U.S. has reinforced its network of alliances in Asia, particularly with Japan and the Philippines, with Manila granting the U.S. military access to key bases facing Taiwan.

• Fears of a war over the island have risen in tandem with the growth of China’s military power, with some U.S. military officers even claiming Beijing could be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.

• The U.S. has long taken an approach of strategic ambiguity to deter Beijing from using force against the island and dissuade Taipei from seeking formal independence while giving it breathing room in its ties with both.

Read more at - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/05/asia-pacific/politics/biden-defend-taiwan-china/

Korea and Africa to Strengthen Joint Economic Committee

• Korea and Africa announced plans to establish a joint economic committee to strengthen future business partnerships.

• The summit, organized by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), aimed to enhance economic and business interactions.

• Over 500 attendees discussed strategies to enhance collaboration in job creation and the trade of critical minerals.

• A group of 20 African leaders shared a common view with Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and ranking government officials.

• Top executives from major conglomerates, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, and CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, attended the summit.

• Both sides agreed to commence discussions for the establishment of the Korea-Africa Economic Collaboration Committee.

• KITA Chairman Yoon Jin-sik and Federation of Korean Industries Chairman Ryu Jin attended the summit to boost business ties with their African counterparts.

• The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy signed 12 MOUs in the areas of trade, investments, and mineral exchanges with its African counterparts.

• Key themes discussed included activating investments and driving industrialization in Africa, increasing trade volume and creating more jobs, strengthening mineral supplies to Korea, and addressing decarbonization.

• The event came a day after delegations from 48 African nations visited Seoul for a summit with Yoon.

Read more at - https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2024/06/419_376058.html

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's China Visit

• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's first visit to China since his second term began in March.

• The visit aims to enhance ties between China and Pakistan, push forward the development and upgrade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and expand cooperation in emerging sectors.

• Despite security issues along the CPEC, Sharif's visit is expected to elevate mutual trust and push for new cooperation to boost momentum.

• The visit will also promote interaction between enterprises in both countries, utilize special economic zones and Pakistan's labor advantages to establish joint ventures, facilitate the transfer of industries and technologies, and enhance Pakistan's manufacturing output.

• Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Pakistan relations and issues of mutual interest.

• Sharif will also visit South China's Guangdong Province and Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

• The visit will also include meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies dealing with oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies.

• The visit will also address the China-Pakistan Business Forum with leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and investors from both countries.

• The visit will also focus on counter-terrorism and safeguarding the security of the CPEC.

Read more at - https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202406/1313611.shtml

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Third Term Challenges

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed victory for a third term, despite his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failing to secure a majority of seats.

• Experts predict that Modi's ambition to compete with Chinese manufacturing and improve India's business environment will be difficult to achieve due to the country's poor business environment and the controversial reforms in tax and labor.

• The Modi administration plans to push through regulations making it easier to hire and fire workers, but experts believe this ambition is unlikely to be realized.

• The Modi administration's policies have not had many advantages and the government lacks motivation to address the issue.

• China-India relations are unlikely to see major improvement after Modi's reelection, with analysts predicting a more hawkish and aggressive approach to external policies.

• The Indian government intends to embrace protectionism to develop its own manufacturing, as China's manufacturing has a clear advantage over India's.

• Despite the low China-India relations, China has overtaken the US to become the top trading partner of India, and the trade deficit with China is increasing.

Read more at - https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202406/1313634.shtml

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Investigates Armaguard

• Armaguard, a cash transportation monopoly, is under scrutiny for its business model and access to bank notes and coins.

• Emergency talks led to a $26 million financial bailout from major banks and retailers, which was rejected.

• ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb is considering Armaguard's conduct since its September merger with Prosegur.

• The ACCC is monitoring Armaguard to ensure compliance with merger conditions, including maintaining distribution network and not increasing prices.

• The ACCC is also scrutinizing Armaguard's misuse of market power.

Read more at - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-05/fresh-accc-scrutiny-of-troubled-armaguard/103941522

News bits collected and drafted by: 
Deepanjali Singh (BA IR 2nd year) (Region Head)
Gungun Thakur (BA IR 1st year)
Published by: Varsha Das (BA IR 2nd year)