Page 5 - Indo Pacific

Landmark Indo-Pacific supply chain pact to come into force on February 24

The US on Thursday announced that a landmark agreement on supply chain resilience under the Indo-Pacific economic framework involving 14 partner nations, including India, Japan and Australia, will come into force on February 24. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the pact will facilitate a collaborative approach to strengthen supply chains and prevent potential disruptions. The US Department of Commerce said the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) agreement relating to supply chain resilience will enter into force on February 24. The agreement is aimed at coordination among the IPEF partners on building resilient, efficient, productive, sustainable, transparent, diversified, secure, fair, and inclusive supply chains. "This is a critical step in bringing the landmark, first-of-its kind agreement into action and promoting coordination among the IPEF partners on building resilient, efficient, productive, sustainable, transparent, diversified, secure, fair, and

US announces key pact on supply chain resilience under Indo-Pacific

The US on Thursday announced that a key agreement on supply chain resilience under the Indo-Pacific economic framework involving 14 partner nations, including India, Japan and Australia, will come into force on February 24. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the pact will facilitate a collaborative approach to strengthen supply chains and prevent potential disruptions. The US Department of Commerce said the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) agreement relating to supply chain resilience will enter into force on February 24. "This is a critical step in bringing the landmark, first-of-its kind agreement into action and promoting coordination among the IPEF partners on building resilient, efficient, productive, sustainable, transparent, diversified, secure, fair, and inclusive supply chains," it said.

'US re-engagement with China have no implications on ties with India, Quad'

The United States' re-engagement with China should not be seen as having any implication on the strong ties it has with India and its commitments to the QUAD grouping, a top US official said on Wednesday. The US has been re-engaging with China at various levels after months of no contact with military as well as political leaders, which had triggered concerns about a possible confrontation between the two countries. The official said the re-engagement is primarily aimed at having better bilateral relations, especially on the economic and business front, which both countries believe is important. But it should not be seen as having any consequences on the US' strong relations with India and QUAD, which remains very important at strategic level for the US, the official added. The four-nation bloc QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, has often been seen as a counterbalance to China in the Indo-Pacific. The idea for QUAD was first moo

Taiwan's elections and the Indo-Pacific

The diplomatic responses to Lai Ching-te's victory underscore the challenge and importance of maintaining the status quo in the region

US Pentagon fact sheet: 'Decisive year' for open, stable Indo-Pacific

The Pentagon plans to bolster India's defence modernization, including by advancing the priorities outlined in the 'Roadmap for US - India Defence Industrial Cooperation'

Japan OKs record $56 bn defence budget amid China, North Korea tensions

Japan's defence spending will surge more than 16 per cent next year under a record military budget approved on Friday by the Cabinet that will accelerate deployment of long-range cruise missiles that can hit targets in China or North Korea. It also will further fortify the military with F-35 stealth combat jets and other American weapons as Japanese troops increasingly work with allies and take on more offensive roles. The 7.95 trillion-yen (USD 56 billion) budget plan for the 2024 fiscal year beginning March marks the second year of a five-year military buildup program under a new security strategy Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government adopted a year ago. The reinforcement of strike capability under the strategy is a major break from Japan's postwar principle of limiting use of force to self-defence. Japan plans to spend 43 trillion yen (USD 300 billion) through 2027 to bolster military power and nearly double its annual spending to around 10 trillion yen (USD 68 billion), maki

Aimed at boosting ties, Taiwan, Canada sign bilateral investment agreement

The Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement is part of Canada's plan to increase trade and influence in the Indo-Pacific region

Indian, Australian High Commission to UK co-host Indo-Pacific conference

The unique collaboration brought together leading experts from Australia, India, and the United Kingdom to address threats to regional security and enhance strategic stability

14-nation agreement on supply chain resilience opens doors for India

IPEF aims to reduce dependence on China and strengthen manufacturing of essential goods in member nations

S Korea's prez to talk trade, technology and defence on state visit to UK

The leaders of Britain and South Korea will seek to strengthen trade and defense ties between their countries during a state visit to the UK by President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon landed at Stansted Airport near London on Monday. Britain hopes his formal three-day visit will help cement an "Indo-Pacific tilt" in its foreign and trade policy. During that time, the president will be treated to both royal and diplomatic pomp, including a ceremonial welcome with military honour guards, an opportunity to address Parliament and a state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. He's also scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on trade, technology and defense. The two countries will officially launch talks on an "upgraded" free trade agreement to replace their current deal, which largely replicates the arrangements the UK had before it left the European Union. Britain has launched trade talks with several countries since leaving the EU in 2020, though it h

Deep fake is a big concern: Prime Minister asks ChatGPT to give warning

India will be organising the 'Artificial Global Partnership Summit' next month to discuss the need for responsible use of technology, particularly in the realm of AI

Global South existed geographically, getting voice for first time: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit held virtually on Friday.

IPEF member countries conclude negotiations for two more pillars

Under the proposed Agreement, the IPEF partners also would establish a new CBF to enhance each other's capabilities to effectively implement all aspects of the proposed Agreement

India, US, 12 other IPEF members conclude talks on fair economy agreements

After signing the supply chain resilience pact, India, the US, and 12 other members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) have announced the conclusion of negotiations on fair and clean economy agreements. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was here for the IPEF ministerial meeting. According to a joint statement from IPEF partner nations, the member countries will now undertake the necessary steps, including further domestic consultations and a legal review, to prepare the final texts of the agreements. Once finalised, the proposed agreements will be subject to IPEF partners' domestic processes for signature, followed by ratification, acceptance, or approval. "Today, the 14 IPEF partners announced the substantial conclusion of the negotiations of the IPEF Clean Economy Agreement, the IPEF Fair Economy Agreement, and the Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity at the IPEF Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco, California," the

Cambodia inaugurates new Chinese-funded airport serving Angkor Wat

Cambodia on Thursday inaugurated its newest and biggest airport, a Chinese-financed project meant to serve as an upgraded gateway to the country's major tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwestern province of Siem Reap. The Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is located on 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of land about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Angkor Wat and boasts a 3,600-metre long runway. It can handle 7 million passengers a year, with plans to augment it to handle 12 million passengers annually from 2040. The airport began operations October 16, with the first flight to land coming from neighbouring Thailand. The old airport it replaces was about 5 kilometres from the famous tourist site. Thursday's inauguration was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, the governor of China's Yunnan province, Wang Yubo, and other officials. Speaking at the ceremony, Hun Manet said the old airport was

APEC Summit: Biden seeks to assert US' grip on Pacific amid global turmoil

President Joe Biden is looking to use this week's summit of Asia-Pacific leaders to show world leaders the United States has the gumption, attention span and money to focus on the region even as it grapples with a multitude of foreign and domestic policy crises. Biden's highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday is the main event of his four-day visit to San Francisco, where leaders from the 21 economies that make up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are gathering for their annual summit. The talks with Xi are of enormous importance as the leaders of the world's two biggest economies try to find a measure of stability after what's been a difficult year for U.S.-China relations. But the White House also wants to demonstrate to APEC's leaders that Biden can remain focused on the Pacific while also trying to keep the Israel-Hamas war from exploding into a broader regional conflict and to persuade Republican lawmakers to continue to spend .

Rajnath Singh discusses defence ties, Indo-Pacific with UK counterpart

Singh also congratulated Shapps on his appointment as the Secretary of State for Defence

We support India's emergence as global power, vital for stability: US

The country said the US-India relationship is one of the most strategic and consequential of the 21st century, as per a fact sheet released by the US State Department

India likely to close discussions on 2 more IPEF pillars in US next week

According to government officials, the process for domestic approval for signing the supply chain resilience agreement is underway

Italy, EU's interest in Indo-Pacific is stabilising factor: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday welcomed Italy's and the European Union's "greater interest" in the Indo-Pacific region, terming it as a "stabilising factor" and underlining that in a globalised world, it is important for all to take an interest in every corner of the world. Addressing the Joint Session of the Senate's External Affairs and Defence Commission here, Jaishankar talked about how India sees the world today. "We see, very frankly, very difficult times ahead, very turbulent times ahead," said Jaishankar, who is here on a two-day official visit to Italy, his fourth as Foreign Minister to Italy in the last four and a half years. He said India was watching with increasing concern the evolving situation in the Middle East. "Obviously, all of us will have an interest in ensuring that there is no escalation. But it is definitely an issue of concern," Jaishankar said. In his address, Jaishankar also welcomed the greater interest shown by Italy and the European .