Tag: Indo-Pacific

Chinese threat to Taiwan ‘closer than most think’: top US admiral
24Mar By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

Chinese threat to Taiwan ‘closer than most think’: top US admiral

Admiral John Aquilino, who is chosen to be the next commander of US forces in the Pacific, on Tuesday said that China is amassing weapons and systems to militarily overwhelm Taiwan, an action it could be “poised to take” within the next six years.“My opinion is this problem is much closer to us than most think,” he said before the Senate Armed Services Committee, which was reviewing his nomination to lead the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command.He further stated that China considers establishing full control over Taiwan to be its “number one priority”.The current head of the command, Admiral Philip Davidson, told a hearing earlier this month that China could be prepared to take Taiwan, the self-governed democratic island that Beijing claims as its sovereign territory, by force within the ne...
Read More
US calls India important partner in Indo-Pacific, welcomes emergence as leading global power
11Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

US calls India important partner in Indo-Pacific, welcomes emergence as leading global power

India is one of the most important partners in the Indo-Pacific region to us. We welcome India’s emergence as a leading global power and its role as a net security provider in the region, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday.He also welcomed India’s tenure at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as a non-permanent member, adding that the US remains India’s largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade increasing to USD 146 billion in 2019.“We cooperate on a wide range of diplomatic and security issues, including defense, non-proliferation, regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, environment, health, education, technology, agriculture, space and oceans and that list is not exhaustive,” he added.The State Department spokesp...
Read More
Quad countries working to arrange first meeting amid China’s growing influence
7Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Quad countries working to arrange first meeting amid China’s growing influence

Amid China’s growing influence, members of the Quad countries - the US, India, Japan and Australia - are working to arrange the first meeting of their leaders, according to media reports.This comes as the US President Joe Biden’s new administration has expressed its eagerness to build on renewed attention to the grouping of the four major Indo-Pacific democracies. National security adviser Jake Sullivan even called it “a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo-Pacific”.According to a source, the US has already proposed to other countries the idea of holding an online meeting of the Quad leaders.During the envisioned meeting, the Quad members are expected to discuss cooperation for the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” amid concerns over China’s ma...
Read More
India, US have common interest in promoting security in Indo-Pacific: MEA
15Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

India, US have common interest in promoting security in Indo-Pacific: MEA

Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that India and US have a common interest in promoting security and prosperity in Indo-Pacific region and that the ability of two countries to work together has a positive impact in effectively addressing the regional and global challenges.“India and US share comprehensive global strategic partnership and given our substantial bilateral agenda, our growing engagement and convergence on strategic and security interest, both countries have a common interest in promoting security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Our ability to work together has a positive impact in effectively addressing the regional and global challenges,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at a media briefing.He was answering a query about t...
Read More
France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region
4Oct By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region

India, Australia and France recently held talks for the first time under a trilateral framework with focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.The virtual meeting was co-chaired by François Delattre, Secretary General - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary - Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Frances Adamson, Secretary - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.“The focus of the dialogue was on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.According to the official statement released by the Ministry, the outcome-oriented meeting was held with an objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and s...
Read More