Page 8 - Indo-pacific

Japan PM likely to unveil 'Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace' during India visit

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to unveil his plan for a "free and open Indo-Pacific" with a focus on India's increasingly significant role in the region during his visit to New Delhi on Monday. The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military assertiveness is also likely to figure in wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kishida. The Japanese prime minister is scheduled to arrive on Monday morning on an around 27-hour-long visit to New Delhi with an aim to further expand bilateral ties in a range of areas including defence and security, trade and investment and high technology. Modi and Kishida are also set to discuss priorities for India's presidency of G20 and Japan's presidency of the G7. The Japanese prime minister is expected to unveil his 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Plan for Peace' during a lecture being organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs at the Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, people familiar wi

Biden proposes over $25 bn spending in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

US President Joe Biden on Thursday proposed more than USD 25 billion spending, mostly in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular in the critical infrastructure sector and defence to out-compete China, amid Beijing's increasingly assertive presence in the strategic region. This includes over USD 15 billion of proposed investment in the infrastructure sector in the Indo-Pacific and USD 9 billion for shoring up American defence in the region. "This Budget cements our commitment to confronting global challenges and keeping America safe. It outlines crucial investments to out-compete China globally and to continue support for Ukraine in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression," Biden said in his message to the Congress. Biden said it also continues his administration's work to restore America's global leadership - reviving key alliances and partnerships, strengthening the military, fostering democracy and human rights, protecting global health, honouring the veterans, fixing immigration

India, US to launch strategic trade dialogue to address export controls

In a significant move, India and the US on Thursday decided to launch a strategic trade dialogue to address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfers. The decision to launch the new framework of dialogue was taken at a meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "The external affairs minister and secretary Raimondo agreed to launch a India-US Strategic Trade Dialogue, led by Foreign Secretary from Ministry of External Affairs of India and Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security in US Department of Commerce," the MEA said. "The Strategic Trade Dialogue will address export controls, explore ways of enhancing high technology commerce, and facilitate technology transfer between the two countries," it said. The MEA said Jaishankar and Raimondo had a productive discussion about the India-US strategic ...

IPEF will prove to be economically impactful than FTA: US commerce secy

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday expressed hope that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) will prove to be more economically impactful than a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. The IPEF was launched jointly by the US and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region on May 23 in Tokyo. The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 per cent of global GDP and 28 per cent of global goods and services trade. The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy (issues like tax and anti-corruption). India has opted out of the trade pillar and has decided to join the remaining three subjects pertaining to supply chains, clean economy and fair economy. Raimondo said that a trade agreement with India is at present not on the table and the US Congress has stated that there is no appetite for an FTA. "My hope is that the IPEF...my strong belief is that it will prove to be in many ways more economically impactful t

Russia never engage in playing any country against another: Sergey Lavrov

"The idea promoted by our American friends of ASEAN plus Quad is openly aimed at ruining East Asia Summits. In other words it means East Asia Summits minus China and Russia," Lavrov said

Quad committed to supporting Pacific Island countries: Joint statement

The Quad grouping of countries issued a joint statement opposing any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo or increase tensions in the area

After G20 FMM, New Delhi to host Quad foreign ministers' meeting today

The meeting, to be presided over by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, will be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Australia's Penny Wong

India to host Quad foreign ministers on Friday; Indo-Pacific in focus

India will host a meeting of Quad foreign ministers on Friday that is expected to focus on the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region. The meeting to be presided over by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia's Penny Wong. "The next meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers will be hosted by India on March 3 in New Delhi," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "The meeting will be chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and will see the participation of foreign ministers of Australia and Japan and the Secretary of State of the United States of America," it said. It said the meeting will be an opportunity for the ministers to continue their discussions held at their last meeting in New York in September 2022. "They will exchange views on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and ..

Aero India 2023: India is our partner of choice, says US envoy Jones

She also said that both countries are strengthening cooperation on critical technologies from space components to semiconductors

Investing in defence ties with India for balance in Indo-Pacific: Pentagon

The US is making investments in defence ties with India to uphold a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, a top Pentagon official told lawmakers Thursday indicating that strengthening ties with New Delhi is one of the key factors to address the pacing challenge from China. "Earlier this month, the US Government launched the inaugural technology initiative with India, including in-depth discussions about opportunities for co-production of major defence platforms," Ely Ratner, the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a Congressional hearing on China. "We are making significant investments in our defence ties with India to uphold a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region," he said. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said the US has invested in the Quad partnership with India, Australia, and Japan. "We are aligning with like-minded partners around the world to strength

India, US reaffirm commitment to free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific

India and the US on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, with the objective of ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The situation in the Indo-Pacific came up for discussion during talks between Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and visiting US Under Secretary of State for Political Victoria Nuland. In the talks, held under the framework of annual India-US Foreign Office Consultations, the two sides covered contemporary regional developments in South Asia, Indian Ocean Region and the Indo-Pacific, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "The two sides reiterated their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, with the objective of ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the region," it said in a statement. The MEA said both sides reviewed progress made towards further consolidating the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. It said Kwatra and Nuland took stock of a number of

USTDA expecting portfolio to unlock $37 bn financing in India: Director

Director of USTDA, Enoh T Ebong, also informed that USTDA has launched a new partnership with eight state governments India for 'interstate clean energy procurement partnership'

China's actions may lead to military hostilities in Indo-Pacific: Report

Several smaller nations in the region have accused China of using military threats to maintain its hegemony and silencing the critics

Defence chiefs of US, India discuss global security, bilateral cooperation

Seeking to deepen US-India military ties, the defence chiefs of the two countries have shared their assessments of the regional and global security environment and discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation and interoperability. The call between US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark A Miley and his Indian counterpart Chief of the Indian Defence Force Gen Anil Chauhan took place amidst increased tension between India and China on the border. The two military leaders shared assessments of the regional and global security environment and discussed ways to deepen bilateral military ties and interoperability, Joint Staff Deputy Spokesperson Joseph R. Holstead said on Wednesday in a readout of the call. The US and India share a strong military-to-military relationship under the US-India Major Defence Partnership," Holstead said, adding that India plays a "key role" in maintaining a free Indo-Pacific. "India is a key regional leader and an important partner in maintaining a free and open

India to host next round of negotiations of US-led IPEF in February

Negotiations will include supply chain, tax and anti-corruption pillars under IPEF

LIVE updates: FM Sitharaman sees strong growth, low inflation in 2023

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India emerged as a security provider in Indo-Pacific, says Rajnath Singh

India's capacity to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its citizens as well as regional partners has grown, the Defence Minister said

India should strive for win-win situation for all: Rajnath on Indo-Pacific

Singh said the Indo-Pacific region remains important for the economic development of not only the regional but also the wider global community

Latest LIVE: Take back 'Amazon parcel': Thackeray asks Centre to recall Guv

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India advocates free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific: Rajnath Singh

Amid China's growing assertiveness, defence minister Rajnath Singh has reaffirmed India's call for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific region