International
India comes out in support of Manila after Beijing's action in South China Sea
Manila, March 26 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India firmly supports the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty after the latter lodged “strongest protest” against Chinese action in the disputed South China Sea.
The Philippines summoned a Chinese diplomat on Monday, following a “water cannon assault” by the country’s coast guard that injured Filipino navymen and heavily damaged their boat last week.
Addressing a press briefing in the capital alongside Enrique Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, S. Jaishankar extended his support to the nation, and called on all countries to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“As a nation deeply invested in this region (The Philippines), because of its Act East policy and Indo Pacific…, India follows all developments with great interest. We are also convinced that the progress and prosperity of this region is best served by staunch adherence to the rules-based order,” he said.
Stating that all parties must adhere to UNCLOS 1982 in its entirety, both in letter and in spirit, he said: “I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India’s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty.”
There have been repeated confrontations between Manila and Beijing in recent months owing to their long history of maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Following Manila’s protest, China described its actions as “lawful regulation, interception and expulsion” of a foreign vessel that “tried to forcefully intrude” into Chinese waters.
UNCLOS establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans.
India has been supporting freedom of navigation and over flight, and unimpeded commerce based on the principles of international law, reflected notably in the UNCLOS 1982.
The two leaders discussed shared interest in ensuring maritime safety, given that the two nations contribute so much to the global shipping industry.
As two seafaring nations of the Indo-Pacific, the EAM said that bilateral maritime cooperation holds great potential as he highlighted that the two nations signed agreements on enhanced maritime cooperation last year.
He also briefed his Filipino counterpart about the Indian Navy’s deployments of the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats.
The EAM emphasised that India’s partnership with the Philippines also has a larger context in terms of engagement with the ASEAN as the Southeast Asian nation will take over as New Delhi’s country coordinator later this year.
“We look forward to its steering India-ASEAN cooperation, especially in regard to reviewing the trade agreement, to building connectivity and to deepening people-to-people contacts.”
Further, the Minister stressed that as the world changes, it is essential for countries like India and the Philippines to cooperate more closely to shape the emerging order.
Keeping this in mind, the two nations discussed a range of global and regional issues, ranging from the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Indo-Pacific to Myanmar and Ukraine.
“These convergences based on expanding bilateral partnerships today drive the upward trajectory of our ties,” Dr Jaishankar said.
The Minister has embarked on a three-nation tour to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, from March 23 – 27, to strengthen bilateral relations.
In June 2023, EAM Jaishankar and Manalo co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The two leaders held wide-ranging and substantive discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern, according to an MEA release.
Acknowledging that both countries have a shared interest in a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, the two nations underlined the need for peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international laws.
–IANS
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Beijing, July 6 (IANS) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message to Masoud Pezeshkian, congratulating him on his election as the President of Iran.
In his message, Xi said China and Iran enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges, and bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries more than half a century ago.
In the face of the complex regional and international landscapes, China and Iran have always supported each other and stuck together through thick and thin, continuously consolidating strategic mutual trust, steadily promoting exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and maintaining sound communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, which has not only benefited the two peoples, but also made positive contributions to promoting regional and world peace and stability, Xi added.
The Chinese President also said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Iran relations, and is willing to work with Pezeshkian aiming to guide the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
–IANS
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New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended an invitation to newly-elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for an early visit to India as both leaders agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The two leaders spoke over phone as PM Modi congratulated Starmer on his and Labour Party’s “remarkable victory” in the general elections.
“Pleased to speak with Keir Starmer. Congratulated him on being elected as the Prime Minister of the UK. We remain committed to deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and robust India-UK economic ties for the progress and prosperity of our peoples and global good,” PM Modi posted on X after the call.
Both leaders recalled the historic relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UK.
“Appreciating the positive contributions of the Indian community in the social, economic, and political development of the UK. The two sides agreed to continue to promote close people-to-people ties. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
–IANS
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London, July 6 (IANS) Asserting that “diplomacy matters”, Britain’s new Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Saturday that the new Labour government will begin with a “reset” with Europe on climate and with the global South.
Outlining his priorities following his appointment, Lammy highlighted that the world is currently facing “huge challenges” with more countries engaged in conflict than at any time since World War II.
“This government will reconnect Britain for our security and prosperity at home. What happens here in the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office is essential.
“Diplomacy matters. We will begin with a reset with Europe, on climate, and with the global South. And a gear-shift when it comes to delivering on European security, global security, and British growth,” Lammy said in a statement released by the UK Foreign Ministry on Saturday.
The 51-year-old Labour Party politician promised that the new government is determined to deliver for working people and committed to building a better future for everyone.
“It is the honour of my life to stand before you as Foreign Secretary. A descendant of enslaved people. A black, working-class, man from Tottenham. A community which never produced a Foreign Secretary before. This speaks to what a modern, multicultural Britain can be. Proudly internationalist,” he said.
Lammy also mentioned that Britain has “enormous potential” and that the change has begun now – a slogan with which the Keir Starmer-led party fought the general elections.
–IANS
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Islamabad, July 6 (IANS) Pakistan’s macroeconomic environment in the calendar year 2023 remained challenging amid rising inflation, weak foreign exchange inflows, pressures on external account and local currency, and low business confidence, particularly in the first half, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said.
However, the policy measures and regulatory interventions that were taken to address growing imbalances coupled with securing a nine-month stand-by agreement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helped improve the macroeconomic conditions in the second half of 2023, the SBP said in its financial stability review for 2023, Xinhua news agency reported.
Inflation started falling, economic growth recovered, and the exchange rate stabilised towards the year-end, the central bank said in the report.
Against this backdrop, the financial sector exhibited strong growth and performance, and maintained financial soundness and operational resilience, it added.
The asset base of the financial sector expanded by 27 per cent in 2023, mainly driven by the banking sector, according to the report.
–IANS
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Islamabad, July 6 (IANS) Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning about the potential for flash floods and urban flooding due to the ongoing torrential rain, marking the beginning of the monsoon season in various parts of the country.
The National Emergency Operation Centre of the NDMA anticipates that the ongoing rain may cause flash floods in local streams of Islamabad, parts of east Punjab, and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, the authority said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported.
The torrential rain may also cause urban flooding in several districts of the two provinces, including their densely populated capital cities, the statement added.
The NDMA also advised provincial disaster management authorities and local administrations to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate measures to safeguard the at-risk population, the statement read.
The NDMA also urged citizens to download its mobile application for disaster alerts, which provides notifications, guidelines, and precautionary measures to address urban flooding in their areas so they can stay alert and informed.
–IANS
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