PM Modi said India shared close cultural and civilisation ties with the region, including with Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), who are enriched by a shared heritage of Buddhism and Ramayana.
|Last Updated: Oct 10, 2024, 12:38 PM IST|Source: PTI
New Delhi: India has successfully test-fired the indigenously developed VSHORADS missiles in Pokhran firing ranges in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The three tests of the Very Short Range Air Defence System were carried out by the DRDO in the Pokhran range of Rajasthan as part of development trials.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army and industry involved in the successful development trials and stated this new missile equipped with modern technologies will give further technological boost to the Armed Forces against aerial threats.
“The DRDO India has successfully conducted three flight tests of the 4th Generation, technically advanced miniaturised weapon system VSHORADS, from Pokhran. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, the Indian Army and industry involved in the successful development,” posted the Defence Minister’s office on Saturday. The missiles have been under development for the last few years and are expected to meet the critical requirements of the forces to tackle enemy aircraft, drones and other aerial targets at short ranges.
In a series of trials against high speed aerial target Very Short Range Air Defence System(VSHORADS) has been successfully tested, demonstrating repeatability of hit to kill capability of weapon in various target engagement.@PMOIndia@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/k1IYaza15C
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) October 5, 2024
The forces rely on the Russian Igla missiles for their requirements but have felt the need to modernise their inventory for over a decade now. The development cum production partners in the VSHORADS project are two private companies. Earlier on Friday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2024 in New Delhi, expressed India’s support for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific.
“India has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on the centrality of ASEAN in fostering regional dialogue, stability, and collective growth,” he said. Rajnath Singh underscored India’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of vital international maritime routes. He further said that the engagement with regional partners, including joint exercises and information-sharing initiatives, is aimed at strengthening the collective maritime security framework.
He underlined that the Indian Armed Forces, particularly the Navy, have been at the forefront of cooperative endeavours with countries of the region, and are continuously working towards building their capacity and capabilities, the Ministry of Defence stated.”While India’s endeavour for maritime cooperation continues, its interests are not in conflict with any other country.
At the same time, the interests of any other nation should not come in conflict with those of other nations. This is the spirit in which we must work together,” Singh further said.Highlighting India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific he said, “India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific is based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) as we believe in fostering partnerships that prioritise sustainable development, economic growth and mutual security.
“The Defence Minister added that India’s engagement with its partners is guided by the understanding that true progress can only be achieved through collective action and synergy. He stated that due to these efforts, India is considered a “credible and preferred security partner and first responder” in the region.
The top of Myanmar’s junta on Monday blamed instability for stalling efforts to put in force a peace plan agreed with different Southeast Asian nations as he prolonged emergency rule for any other six months.
The junta first declared a state of emergency after seizing energy from the elected govt of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in February remaining 12 months.
Myanmar has been in chaos since then, with war spreading after the military overwhelmed most commonly non violent protests in cities and towns.
The ten-member Affiliation of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) agreed a five-point “consensus” to finish hostilities remaining 12 months, however there was little signal of the junta imposing the five-point plan, which incorporates an finish to violence and discussion.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing mentioned in a speech aired on state media that Myanmar were striving to triumph over the demanding situations of the coronavirus pandemic whilst dealing with inner violence.
“So it used to be tricky to put in force the ASEAN consensus because of the loss of balance,” mentioned Min Aung Hlaing, including that best when the placement used to be “standard” may just growth be made.
Western governments denounced the coup and the detention on more than a few fees of Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and a large number of individuals of her celebration and supporters.
Some individuals of ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member and which has a convention of non-interference in each and every different’s inner affairs, additionally criticised the generals.
Whilst the junta has didn’t put in force the ASEAN plan, it hasn’t ever rejected it.
“Our nation is an ASEAN state so we price the conventions of ASEAN,” Min Aung Hlaing mentioned.
Whilst Min Aung Hlaing didn’t point out the extension of the emergency in his speech, state media reported {that a} army govt defence and safety council had unanimously authorized his request for 6 extra months.
‘PROGRESS IN SIX MONTHS’
The junta mentioned it needed to take energy remaining 12 months on account of balloting fraud in a November 2020 basic election that Suu Kyi’s celebration simply gained. Election tracking teams discovered no proof of mass fraud.
The army has pledged to carry new elections in August 2023 although the timetable has already slipped and combatants don’t imagine it will be unfastened and honest.
Safety forces have killed greater than 2,100 other folks because the coup, consistent with the Help Affiliation for political prisoners, an activist crew. The junta has mentioned such tolls are exaggerated.
The real image of the violence has develop into harder to evaluate since evenly armed Other people’s Defence Forces have sprung as much as take at the military, incessantly in additional far flung spaces the place ethnic minority insurgents also are preventing the army.
In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing blamed “terrorists” for causing casualties. The army has branded as “terrorists” its armed combatants and a rival shadow Nationwide Harmony Executive arrange through pro-democracy politicians.
The junta has confronted sanctions from many Western nations and remaining week noticed additional condemnation after the execution of 4 democracy activists it accused of “terror acts”.
Min Aung Hlaing additionally introduced up the financial system, which has slumped because the pandemic and because the coup ended a decade of reform.
“I believe growth will also be observed inside of six months,” he mentioned, bringing up the chance of extra jobs and a focal point on farming.
The International Financial institution tasks Myanmar’s financial system will develop 3% this fiscal 12 months following an 18% contraction remaining 12 months and warned {that a} go back to pre-pandemic ranges used to be not likely within the close to time period.
Via PTI
NEW DELHI: India will host the overseas ministers of ASEAN countries from June 16 to 17 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of its family members with the 10-nation grouping.
Exterior Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned Myanmar’s participation on the ASEAN-India overseas ministers’ assembly can be in keeping with the foundations of the grouping, which is noticed as a sign that the rustic’s overseas minister is not going to be in New Delhi.
The placement of the ASEAN on enticing Myanmar at multilateral boards following the army coup in that nation ultimate yr has been that it will have to be on the non-political stage.
“India will host the Particular ASEAN-India International Ministers’ Assembly (SAIFMM) on June 16 to 17 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of our discussion family members and the tenth anniversary of our strategic partnership with the ASEAN,” Bagchi mentioned at a media briefing.
He mentioned Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan will co-chair the assembly.
The overseas minister of Singapore is India’s nation coordinator in ASEAN (Affiliation of Southeast Asian International locations).
Bagchi mentioned overseas ministers of different ASEAN member states and the ASEAN secretary-general will take part within the SAIFMM. The yr 2022 has been designated because the ASEAN-India friendship yr.
Requested about Myanmar’s participation, Bagchi mentioned it will be as in keeping with the ASEAN regulations. There have been indications that India is not going to ask the Myanmarese overseas minister for the assembly and as an alternative would invite an legitimate.
On February 1 ultimate yr, Myanmar’s army grabbed energy within the coup and imposed a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and different leaders of her Nationwide League for Democracy (NLD). The rustic witnessed large protests following the coup. The global group has been critically important of the coup.
ASEAN-India discussion family members began with the established order of sectoral partnership in 1992 which graduated to complete discussion partnership in December 1995, Summit stage Partnership in 2002, and strategic partnership in 2012.
“Nowadays, ASEAN-India strategic partnership stands on a powerful basis. The ASEAN is central to India’s Act East Coverage and its imaginative and prescient for the broader Indo-Pacific,” Bagchi mentioned.
“This multi-faceted partnership encompasses many sectoral discussion mechanisms and dealing teams that meet continuously at more than a few ranges and come with annual summit, ministerial and senior officers’ conferences,” he mentioned.
The continuing India-ASEAN collaboration is guided through the Plan of Motion 2021-2025 which used to be followed in 2020.
Whilst ASEAN-India International Ministers’ Assembly (FMM), hosted through the ASEAN Chair is an annual tournament, the SAIFMM will be the first ASEAN-India FMM to be hosted through India in New Delhi.
The SAIFMM can be preceded through twenty fourth ASEAN-India Senior Officers Assembly on June 15. The SAIFMM can be accompanied through the twelfth version of Delhi Discussion, a premier Monitor 1.5 Discussion within the ASEAN-India calendar, which can be hosted through India on June 16-17.
U.S. President Joe Biden opened a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders with a promise to spend $150 million on their infrastructure, safety, pandemic preparedness and different efforts aimed toward countering the affect of rival China.
On Thursday, Biden began a two-day summit with the 10-nation Affiliation of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) in Washington with a dinner for the leaders on the White Area forward of talks on the State Division on Friday.
Biden smiled extensively as he took a bunch photograph at the South Garden of the White Area ahead of the dinner with representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Whilst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is at the schedule, Biden’s management hopes the efforts will display the nations that Washington stays targeted at the Indo-Pacific and the long-term problem of China, which it perspectives on the nation’s primary competitor.
In November by myself, China pledged $1.5 billion in construction help to ASEAN nations over 3 years to battle COVID and gasoline financial restoration.
“We wish to step up our recreation in Southeast Asia,” a senior U.S. management reputable informed newshounds. “We aren’t asking nations to select between america and China. We need to shed light on, regardless that, that america seeks more potent relationships.”
U.S. President Joe Biden walks onto the South Garden with leaders from the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) to take a bunch {photograph} as Biden hosts a distinct U.S.-ASEAN summit on the White Area in Washington, U.S., Would possibly 12, 2022. (Reuters)
The brand new monetary dedication features a $40 million funding in infrastructure supposed to assist decarbonize the area’s energy provide and $60 million in maritime safety, in addition to some $15 million in well being investment to help in early detection of COVID-19 and different respiration pandemics, an reputable stated. Further investment will assist the nations broaden virtual financial system and synthetic intelligence rules.
The U.S. Coast Guard may even deploy a boat to the area to assist native fleets counter what Washington and nations within the area have described as China’s unlawful fishing.
Nonetheless, the commitments faded compared to China’s deep ties and affect.
Biden is operating on extra tasks, together with “Construct Again Higher Global” infrastructure funding and an Indo-Pacific Financial Framework (IPEF). However neither are finalized.
The summit marks the primary time that ASEAN’s leaders accumulate as a bunch on the White Area and their first assembly hosted via a U.S. president since 2016.
8 ASEAN leaders are anticipated to participate within the talks. Myanmar’s chief was once excluded over a coup remaining 12 months and the Philippines is in transition after an election, regardless that Biden spoke to the rustic’s president-elect, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Wednesday. The rustic was once represented via its overseas affairs secretary on the White Area.
ASEAN leaders additionally visited Capitol Hill on Thursday for a lunch with congressional leaders.
CONCERN OVER CHINA
The nations percentage a lot of Washington’s issues about China.
China’s statement of sovereignty over huge swathes of the South China Sea has set it in opposition to Vietnam and the Philippines, whilst Brunei and Malaysia additionally lay declare to portions.
But nations within the area have additionally been pissed off via a U.S. prolong in detailing plans for financial engagement since former President Donald Trump give up a regional industry pact in 2017.
“The U.S. will have to undertake a extra energetic industry and funding schedule with ASEAN, which is able to receive advantages the U.S. economically and strategically,” stated Malaysian Top Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Thursday.
The IPEF is ready to be introduced on Biden’s shuttle to Japan and South Korea subsequent week. However it does no longer lately be offering the expanded marketplace get admission to Asian nations crave, given Biden’s fear for American jobs.
Analysts say that despite the fact that ASEAN nations percentage U.S. issues about China, they continue to be wary about siding extra firmly with Washington, given their essential financial ties with Beijing and restricted U.S. financial incentives.
Kao Kim Hourn, an adviser to Cambodian Top Minister Hun Sen, informed Reuters that the rustic would no longer “make a selection facets” between Washington and Beijing even if U.S. funding in his nation is rising.
On Wednesday, Hun Sen was once the objective of a shoe-throwing protester previous to his first discuss with to the White Area over a tenure that started in 1985. The Cambodian chief has confronted grievance from activists for suppressing dissent.
Via PTI
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday celebrated the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ by means of inaugurating tasks reflecting Buddhist linkages with the ASEAN and East Asian nations.
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the federal government to have a good time and commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.
As a part of the birthday party, books of Buddhist ‘Jataka’ stories translated into Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese language languages had been unveiled, the MEA stated.
A complete video of e-ITEC lessons presented by means of the MEA on Buddhist teachings used to be proven all the way through the development. The Indian Technical and Financial Cooperation Programme (ITEC) is a prestigious programme performed by means of the MEA.
Minister of State for Exterior Affairs RajKumar Ranjan Singh inaugurated an interactive espresso desk book on Buddhist linkages with the ASEAN (Affiliation of Southeast Asian Countries) and East Asian nations.
The virtual exhibition titled “Bodhicitta: Interweaving Buddhist Artwork Traditions from India Throughout Asia” curated by means of Nationwide Museum used to be displayed, the MEA stated in a commentary.
“The ministry offered an Interactive Template to be used by means of Missions for orientation visits by means of college/faculty scholars to cultural centres/missions for higher figuring out of India’s Buddhist linkages,” it stated.
A chain of commemorative occasions and actions shall be organised by means of the MEA around the nation as a part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav week’ from February 21 to 27.