News Story: Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia security patrols to prevent terror attacks

By Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines - The enforcement of joint maritime security patrols among the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia will not only address the rising criminality being committed on their respective maritime boundaries but will also tighten, if not totally plug, the entry and exit of local and foreign terrorists into the three neighboring states, the Department of National Defense (DND) said.

Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong issued this statement in welcoming the soon-to-be launched maritime security arrangement between three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, in a bid to forestall terrorism and cross-border crimes with their respective maritime borders.

“It is a timely measure in response to the ever-evolving threat of terrorism not only in our countries but in the entire region, “ Andolong said.

In his meeting with President Duterte at Malacañang Friday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the planned launching of joint maritime security patrols in line with both countries’ intensified security cooperation.

Widodo also said that for transnational crimes, it has been agreed upon that the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation be expanded by creating a joint working group on counter-terrorism and strengthening intelligence information cooperation.

“This bodes well for the future of maritime security and safety in our common areas,” Andolong said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: India to conduct joint military exercises with several countries

NEW DELHI, March 24 Xinhua) -- Indian government Friday said it was going to conduct joint military exercises with several countries including China, United Kingdom, Russia and United States this year to boost military ties and enhance bilateral defence cooperation

The information was given India's junior minister for Defense Subhash Bhamre in the parliament.

"Military exercises are to be conducted with Australia, Bangladesh, China, France, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States of America during the year 2017," Bhamre told parliament.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US Ships, Planes Challenge 22 Countries’ Claims — Not Just China’s

Image: Flickr User - Greg Bishop

By SYDNEY J. FREEDBERG JR.

WASHINGTON: In 2016, the Defense Department flew aircraft or steamed ships through territories claimed by Albania, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Malta, and, well, China, according to the Pentagon’s annual report released today. So should Beijing be relieved it was not the sole focus of American Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) or should it feel slighted that it wasn’t our sole focus? Of course, China’s Pacific pushiness does get pride of place, with the most extensive single entry — but the 22-nation list also includes US allies and neutral powers like tiny Malta.

Indeed, to quote the accompanying press release, the Pentagon strives — sometimes to absurd extremes — to be “comprehensive (and) even-handed… challenging excessive maritime claims based on principle rather than identity of the coastal State asserting the claim.” (Ironically, the US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which codified in a treaty the longstanding principle of freedom of navigation. The right was first expounded in western law in 1609 by the estimable Hugo Grotius of Holland).

We have the challenge to Italy, which the US believes improperly “claimed historic bay status for the Gulf of Taranto.” Malta, for its part, improperly required “prior consent or prior notification” for foreign warships to enter its waters, which is one of the most common offenses in the report, committed in some form by 14 of the 22 countries. Japan is guilty of another common sin (committed by seven of 22), “extensive straight baselines” — that is, Tokyo claimed jurisdiction over large, squared-off areas of the ocean, rather than the irregularly curving boundaries that result from properly measuring distances off the nearest point of land.

All told, 13 of the 22 countries challenged were in East Asia or South Asia, a region of growing economies, rising nationalism, and complex island territories. Just four were in Europe, two in the Persian Gulf (Iran and Oman), two in the Americas (Brazil and Venezuela), and one in North Africa (Tunisia).

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

News Story: Pakistani diplomat assumes office as new SAARC chief

KATHMANDU, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Amjad Hussain B. Sial, a senior Pakistani diplomat, assumed the office of secretary general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) here on Wednesday.

Sial has replaced Nepal's Arjun Bahadur Thapa whose three-year term as the SAARC chief expired on Tuesday.

He is the 13th secretary general of the regional bloc which was established in 1985.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: SAARC member states to meet in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of the eight member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will meet this week in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu to attend the Programming Committee, officials said on Sunday.

This will be the first meeting of the SAARC member countries since the postponement of the 19th SAARC summit in Islamabad last November.

During the meeting, SAARC member states will discuss a number of issues including the budget of the SAARC Secretariat and five regional centers of SAARC, officials of the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Nepal, current chair of the SAARC, had decided to postpone the SAARC Summit until further notice after four nations Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India decided to boycott the summit in Islamabad scheduled for November 9 and 10 last year.

Read the full story at Xinhua

India: Seventh Indo-Maldives joint military exercise to commence from 15 dec

Seventh edition of Exercise EKUVERIN will be held from 15 to 28 Dec 2016 at Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll, Maldives. The Exercise is a 14 day platoon level joint military exercise between the Indian Army & the Maldives National Defence Force conducted on a yearly basis.

The aim of the exercise is to conduct military training with emphasis on amphibious & counter insurgency/counter terrorism operations with a view to enhance interoperability between the two armies.

The contingents comprises of platoon strength from BIHAR Regiment and a similar strength of the Maldivian National Defence Force.

The previous edition of the exercise was held in India at Trivandrum, Kerala.

Col Rohan Anand, SM APRO (Army) 

Release Id :155305

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Story: China ‘Likely’ To Seek More Foreign Bases; Troubling Debt Cited By US-China Commission

China's J-20 Stealth Fighter

By COLIN CLARK

WASHINGTON: If you want to grow uneasy about the world, read the US-China Commission’s annual report to Congress.

China, while it continues to enjoy robust economic growth, faces a major strategic challenge. Strategically, the biggest threat facing China right now — and the rest of the world given how integrated China is to the global economy — is the risk posed by China’s enormous corporate debt.

The report says that “China’s rapidly rising debt levels heighten risks to the stability of the country’s financial markets, which can quickly spill over into global markets….China’s rapidly rising corporate debt—which stands at 169 percent of GDP—also raises questions about the sustainability of the country’s economic growth. The International Monetary Fund warned in its annual review of China’s economy that China’s rising corporate debt was a ‘serious and growing problem that must be addressed immediately,’ estimating the potential losses from bad corporate loans to be worth 7 percent of GDP.”

The other really intriguing issue, one that may mark a huge shift in Chinese cultural, political and military terms as Breaking D readers know, is the commission’s conclusion “that China is likely to continue to seek opportunities to secure military facilities abroad, such as the one it has begun constructing in Djibouti, to facilitate a range of operations.” As we reported in May 2015, China was pressing hard to secure a base in the remote and tiny East African state that was long a French colony. China has also expressed interest in a military presence in the precarious islands known as the Maldives.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

News Report: India Delays Launch of Dedicated South Asia Satellite Amid Tension With Pakistan

Indian Space Rocket Launch (File Photo)

India's launch of a satellite on behalf of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was announced two years ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SAARC summit in Kathmandu. However, the launch date has been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements between India and its neighbor over ongoing violence in Kashmir.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) says it won't be possible for it to carry out the much-anticipated launch of the SAARC satellite as scheduled in December. Instead, it plans to launch its ambitious Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark – III. An ISRO official told Sputnik that it is certain that the launch of the South Asian satellite will be delayed by more than a month, although the exact date for the launch of GLSV Mark-III remains to be finalized.

News Story: Sri Lanka, India, Maldives to begin sea exercise

Indian Coast Guard Vessel (File Photo)

COLOMBO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka, India and Maldives will begin a four-day coastguard exercise in the Maldives on Tuesday with the aim of strengthening corporation and enhancing the interoperability of forces, the navy media unit said here.

Sri Lanka Navy's Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Sagara' left for Maldives on Monday from the Port of Colombo in order to take part in the tri-lateral coastguard exercise dubbed "DOSTI - XIII".

The 13th edition of the tri-lateral coastguard exercise this year will focus on Maritime Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Marine Pollution Response and anti-piracy operations.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Maldivian defense chief arrives in Nepal on six-day visit

KATHMANDU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives, Major General Ahmed Shiyam, arrived here on a six-day official visit, the Nepali Army Headquarters said on Tuesday.

The Maldivian Army General was received by Senior Army Official Hemanta Raj Kunwar at the Tribhuwan International Airport.

General Ahmed was presented a Guard of Honor from a troop of Army at a function at the Army Headquarters in the Capital today itself.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Nepal says to initiate necessary consultation on successfully holding 19th SAARC summit

KATHMANDU, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nepal, current chair of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), said Sunday that it will initiate necessary consultation on successfully holding the 19th SAARC summit.

The statement came two days after Pakistan, the host nation of the summit, announced postponement of the summit amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

The 19th SAARC summit had been slated for November 9 and 10 in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Experts from South Asian countries gather in Nepal to discuss effectiveness of SAARC

KATHMANDU, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Experts and parliamentarians from South Asian countries gathered on Thursday in Kathmandu to join a two-day regional conference on the effectiveness of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Addressing the conference, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal lamented over the slow pace of the SAARC.

"SAARC's process has been very slow over the years. Several agreements have been made in the past and I would say it is a time for SAARC member states to go for implementation of those agreements," the prime minister said.

The SAARC has not been able to make significant progress compared with other regional blocks around the world, he added.

Stressing the importance of enhanced connectivity and deeper economic integration for better peace, stability and prosperity in the region, Dahal said the SAARC member states should make collective efforts to overcome challenges such as poverty and underdevelopment.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Nepal urges SAARC member states to ensure participation in 19th SAARC Summit

KATHMANDU, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Nepal on Wednesday urged all member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to ensure the participation in the 19th SAARC Summit which is proposed to be held in November 9-10 in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

"As the current chair of SAARC, the government of Nepal strongly urges that a constructive environment should be created for the 19th SAARC Summit soon by ensuring the participation of all member states in line with the spirit of the SAARC Charter," Ministry of Foreign Affairs said here in a press statement in Kathmandu on Wednesday evening.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: India 'Unable' to Participate in SAARC Summit in Pakistan

India will not be able to take part in the forthcoming summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) that is expected to take place in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — SAARC is an economic and political organization of eight countries, namely India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Bangladesh. 

"In response to a question, the Official Spokesperson stated that India has conveyed to current SAARC Chair Nepal that increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in the region and growing interference in the internal affairs of Member States by one country have created an environment that is not conducive to the successful holding of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November 2016…" the statement said. 

"In the prevailing circumstances, the Government of India is unable to participate in the proposed Summit in Islamabad."

The Foreign Ministry added that New Delhi remained steadfast in its commitment to cooperation and contacts in the region.

Tensions between India and Pakistan entangled in the decades-long dispute over Jammu and Kashmir region have escalated since July after Indian security forces killed Burhan Wani, a renowned separatist commander. On Sunday, a group of militants reportedly crossed from Pakistan into India-administered northern Kashmir territory and attacked the Indian base in Uri, killing 18 servicemen.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: India Lobbies to Boycott SAARC Summit to be Held in Pakistan

Increasing its diplomatic initiative to isolate Pakistan, the Indian government is lobbying hard to convince other SAARC member countries to boycott the summit.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The SAARC Summit which is going to be held in November in Pakistan is turning out be a show of diplomatic clout by India. The Indian government has asked other members of the SAARC to boycott the Summit in protest against the recent terror attack in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, sources in the Ministry of External Affairs told Sputnik.

Besides India and Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka are set to attend the regional intergovernmental organization. India is trying to convince these countries to boycott the SAARC Summit in Islamabad as a mark of solidarity with India.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to skip the Summit in November. Indications are that head of states of some other neighboring countries such as Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda, Sri Lankan President Sirisena and Afghanistan President Asharf Ghani may also to skip the upcoming SAARC Summit. 

Supporting India’s Initiative, Afghan envoy to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali told a private news channel that countries in the region should come together to boycott the SAARC summit in Islamabad over the host nation's role in "destabilizing" the neighborhood. 

“We have to make sure that we bring the maximum number of countries and I am sure most of the countries in South Asia are in line with what Afghanistan and India think," Abdali said. 

The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a grouping of seven countries which strive to promote peace, stability and progress in the South Asian region.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: Pakistan to host regional summit on Nov. 9-10

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will host a two-day regional summit in Islamabad on Nov. 9-10, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Pakistan has invited the leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states to grace the summit with their presence and is looking forward to welcome them at Islamabad, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

SAARC groups Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Nine observers of SAARC have also been invited to attend the 19th Summit.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: Pacific Partnership, Malaysian Armed Forces team for search and rescue exercise

By MC3 Trevor Kohlrus, Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and U.S. Navy personnel transport a simulated patient aboard USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during a Pacific Partnership search and rescue exercise. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Trevor Kohlrus) >>

KUANTAN, Malaysia - Pacific Partnership 2016 and Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel collaborated to execute a search and rescue exercise (SAREX) that ended with a casualty response drill aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), Aug. 14.

During the exercise participants came together to plan and execute a coordinated response to a simulated passenger vessel in distress during a severe typhoon in Kuantan, Malaysia.

“This event simulated the rescue of personnel from a distressed vessel at sea, the rescue of casualties in the water and transfer of casualties to Mercy,” said Lt. Sarah Cosgrove, Pacific Partnership 2016 SAREX lead planning officer.

News Story: Sri Lanka vows to provide safest naval route within 10 years

COLOMBO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan Navy, on the instructions of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, will implement a special action plan which will protect Sri Lanka's maritime border from Maldives to Malacca Strait, the government information department said in a statement here on Monday.

The plan is scheduled to be implemented within the next 10 years as there has been an increase of the activities of sea pirates near the Sri Lankan maritime boundaries during the past decade.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Enhancing cooperation tops SAARC meeting

POKHARA, Nepal, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The 37th session of the Council of Ministers of the South Asian Association for the Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was held here Thursday with enhancing cooperation among the members high on the agenda.

Nepal's Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli inaugurated the one-day event in the beautiful lake city in the Western part of Nepal in the presence of foreign ministers from eight SAARC member states, namely Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Addressing the event, the prime minister stressed on enhancing cooperation among the SAARC member states on a various areas including connectivity, technology and telecommunication.

"Connectivity remains a key enabler for robust regional cooperation. Connectivity of infrastructures as well as of ideas, connectivity in terms of information and telecommunication technology as well as of knowledge, connectivity in terms of energy as well as of literature and culture, connectivity of markets as well as of minds can indeed unleash the potential of South Asian cooperation. It can promote meaningful cooperation in trade and investment, in tourism, in finance, and in energy with multiplier effects," Prime Minister Oli said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Editorial: Fear and Loathing in the Maldives

By Ian Lloyd Neubauer

Things can get a little tense on the idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago.

It’s the destinations most people avoid that I’ve found to be the most rewarding: countries like Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Burma before the tourism boom. So when I finally succumbed to my girlfriend’s pleas for a holiday in the Maldives – the Indian Ocean archipelago home to some of the world’s most exquisite tropical resorts – I made it my business to fly in a day earlier to get to know the capital Malé.

Utterly remarkable when seen from the air, Malé is a floating city of that rises Atlantis-like from a turquoise ocean. Home to 115,000 people, the 1.77 square kilometer blip of land is one of the most densely populated places on earth, yet visited by next to none of the million-something tourists who flock to the Maldives every year. Add a bustling fish market, centuries-old mosques, a national museum, and spicy Afro-Indian street food, and Malé had the makings of a superb travel destination.

To make the most of my time, I got in touch with a tourist guide in Malé asked him to show me the sights. Joe, as I’ll call him, said he’d be delighted and offered to meet me at Malé International Airport on nearby Hulhule Island on the morning of my arrival.

Read the full story at The Diplomat