VIF Information Alerts - 18 Jan 2018

No action can be taken against Hafiz Saeed ‘sahib’: Pak PM
Published – The Tribune
18 Jan 2018

Pakistan will not act against Hafiz Saeed ‘sahib’ as there is no case registered against him in the country, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said, giving a clean chit to the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind. Click here to read... [2]

UNSC must step up pressure on Pakistan to change its behaviour: US diplomat Nikki Haley
Published – Hindustan Times
18 Jan 2018

US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday that the UN Security Council should step up pressure on Pakistan to “change its behaviour”.

Briefing reporters after returning from a UN Security Council visit to Afghanistan, she said Kabul has asked the 15-member powerful wing of the world body to step up pressure on Pakistan. Click here to read... [3]

Bangladesh blacklists Chinese firm over alleged bribe
Published - Business Standard
18 Jan 2018

Bangladesh has blacklisted a top Chinese construction firm for allegedly trying to bribe a senior government official and stopped its work in the country.
The state-backed China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) was in negotiations with the Bangladesh government to expand a major highway from the capital Dhaka to the northeastern city of Sylhet, a top government official told AFP. Click here to read... [4]

China, Myanmar launch joint oceanographic research
Published - Xinhua
17 Jan 2018

Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03, carrying a team of scientists, arrived at Myanmar's Thilawa Port Wednesday morning to jointly conduct oceanographic research in Myanmar's waters.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Qiu Yun, chief scientist of the vessel, expressed his belief that the research could contribute to better understanding on regional variations in response to climate change and support the marine ecological protection in Myanmar's waters. Click here to read... [5]

China, Myanmar vow to promote ties, maintain peace, stability in border areas
Published - Xinhua
17 Jan 2018

China and Myanmar held a new round of diplomacy and defense consultations here on Wednesday, pledging to further promote bilateral ties, keep close communication on the situation in northern Myanmar and maintain peace and stability in the border areas between the two countries.

The talks were co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission Shao Yuanming from the Chinese side, and Minister of International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin and Commander-in-Chief of No.1 Bureau of Special Operations (Army) Tun Tun Naung from the Myanmar side. Click here to read... [6]

NATO Chiefs of Defence address Adaptation, Coherence and Cooperation
Published: NATO
17 Jan 2018

On the 16th and 17th January, the Allied Chiefs of Defence gathered for their first meeting of 2018 in the 178th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS) at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. During the first day, the CHoDs focused on the Alliance’s political and military priorities ahead of the July Summit, military contribution to security and stabilization in Europe’s southern neighborhood, the NATO Command Structure (NCS) adaptation, the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and the Global Coalition against ISIS and NATO’s role in Iraq. Click here to read... [7]

Two missiles could blow up Three Gorges: strategist
Published – Asia times
15 Jan 2018

A strategist with Taiwan’s renowned Tamkang University has suggested procurement of 1,000 medium-range missiles for a grand total of NT$30 billion (US$1 billion).

With a complement of missiles that can attack targets within a radius of 1,000-1,500 kilometers, about 30 People’s Liberation Army airbases could be sealed off in the event of war between mainland China and Taiwan, Peter Su, senior researcher with Tamkang University’s Center for Advanced Technology, told a recent forum on Taiwan’s defense strategies. Click here to read... [8]