VIF Information Alerts - 19 Feb 2018

Australia, US, India and Japan in talks to establish Belt and Road alternative: Report
The Straits Times
19 Feb 2018

Australia, the United States, India and Japan are talking about establishing a joint regional infrastructure scheme as an alternative to China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative in an attempt to counter Beijing's spreading influence, the Australian Financial Review reported on Monday (Feb 19), citing a senior US official.

The unnamed official was quoted as saying the plan involving the four regional partners was still "nascent" and "won't be ripe enough to be announced' during Australian Prime Minister Turnbull's visit to the United States later this week. Click here to read... [2]

Russian military build-up threatens Japan islands deal
The Straits Times
19 Feb 2018

Russia is accelerating a military buildup on islands claimed by Japan, threatening to blow a hole in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to lure President Vladimir Putin into settling the dispute.

The government in Tokyo lodged a formal protest after 2,000 Russian troops held military exercises earlier this month on the four islands, called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. A few days before, Russia paved the way for its first military airbase in the area. Click here to read... [3]

Maldives court delays reinstating pro-opposition lawmakers
Published: The Indian express
19 Feb 2018

The Supreme Court of the Maldives has delayed its order reinstating 12 pro-opposition lawmakers ahead of a key parliamentary sitting, the latest political turmoil to roil the island nation. Opposition lawmaker Ahmed Mahloof said the government may call for important votes at a parliamentary sitting on Monday to extend a state of emergency or dismiss two Supreme Court judges who have been arrested on allegations of corruption. Click here to read... [4]

Delhi and Maldives break the ice first time in latest chill
Published: The Indian Express
16 Feb 2018

For the first since the Maldives government imposed emergency and arrested a former president and the Supreme Court chief justice 10 days ago, triggering alarm bells in the region and the West, the Indian Ambassador in Male Thursday met a senior official of the island nation to discuss “each other’s position and concerns”.

The official meeting between Akhilesh Mishra and Foreign Secretary Ahmed Sareer came a week after India had expressed its inability to host a special envoy from the Maldives. Click here to read... [5]

US will not allow China to ‘coerce’ nations in Asia: Trump administration
Published: The Statesman
16 Feb 2018

The US will not allow China to “bully” or “coerce” nations in Asia, a senior Trump administration official has said, amidst Beijing flexing its muscles in the region. The Trump administration has made clear that the US wants a “productive” relationship with China, and the two countries must work to manage and resolve differences, Susan Thornton, Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told members of of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearing. We have been equally clear, however, that we will not abide Chinese attempts to displace the US in Asia, to coerce countries in the region and that we will not be taken advantage of, she said. Click here to read... [6]

May: UK will not wait to take back control of defence and foreign policy
Published: Daily Mail Online
17 Feb 2018

Britain will pull out of a major foreign policy arrangement as soon as possible after Brexit, Theresa May has announced. The Prime Minister said the UK would not wait until the end of any implementation period to take back full control over areas like diplomacy, peacekeeping, defence and aid. Common policy on foreign and security areas grew out of the Maastricht Treaty so the move is likely to please Brexiteers. Click here to read... [7]

Munich Security Conference: Germany REFUSES to spend 2 percent on Nato
Published: Daily Express
17 Feb 2018

ANGELA Merkel's deputy Sigmar Gabriel has revealed Germany REFUSES to achieve Natos defence spending target of 2 percent. He instead called for money to be spent on building a strong European defence union. Answering questions after his speech, he said: “I consider the figure difficult”. He said if Germany spent 2 percent of its GDP on Nato defence every year for ten years, it would spend more than €70 million every year. He added: "I'm not quite sure after ten years all European partners would consider that a good idea." Click here to read... [8]

'Pakistan troops sent to Saudi after defining rules of engagement'
Published: The Economic Times
17 Feb 2018

Pakistan today said the decision to send its troops to Saudi Arabia was taken after clarifying the "rules of engagement" for which negotiations were ongoing for some time. Defence Minister Khurram Dastigir Khan said the role of Pakistani troops was limited to advisory and training to Saudi forces. Click here to read... [9]

Army Chief, NSA, Foreign Secretary visited Bhutan to discuss strategic issues
Published: The Economic Times
18 Feb 2018

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval quietly travelled to Bhutan earlier this month on a rare visit during which they held extensive talks with the top brass of the Bhutanese leadership on strategic issues including the situation in Doklam, authoritative government sources said. Click here to read... [10]