Category: Australia

Categories
-Top News Australia UK News

Trade talks tops agenda at annual UK-Australia summit

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, “The UK and Australia are the best of mates and for over a century we have been hard-headed champions of freedom and democracy…reports Asian Lite News

The fields of Salisbury Plain and historic dockyards of Portsmouth will be the backdrop to significant talks between the UK and Australia’s defence and foreign ministers today, as both nations discuss how to intensify efforts to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will host their Australian counterparts, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, in London, Salisbury and Portsmouth this week for the annual UK-Australia ‘AUKMIN’ summit.

Following bilateral talks with their opposite numbers on Wednesday, the group will visit Salisbury Plain to see Australian and UK troops training Ukrainian soldiers. The joint programme, which also involves forces from Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, is part of an acceleration of efforts by the UK and allies to ensure Ukraine wins the war and secures a lasting peace.

On Thursday the group will gather for meetings at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth to discuss the countries’ long-term cooperation to promote prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as well as broader cooperation on climate, security and trade.

The UK’s work with Australia to promote open societies and economic security in the region area is crucial to boosting trade with the Indo-Pacific and delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country. The Indo-Pacific is set to account for half of global growth by 2050.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, “The UK and Australia are the best of mates and for over a century we have been hard-headed champions of freedom and democracy. In an increasingly volatile world, we are pursuing a forward-looking agenda with Australia as a trusted partner and friend. Together we are promoting prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific, boosting trade, and pursuing our vital climate targets.”

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace MP said, “Australia is our close and valued defence partner, with historic ties spanning the decades. The Australian Armed Forces are providing vital training for the brave Ukrainian men and women here in the UK, learning the skills they will need to return and defend their country. We are also progressing our collaboration over the AUKUS programme, promoting security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.”

The ministers will also look at how the UK and Australia can step up their commitments to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees, including by transitioning to renewable energy, promoting low-emission technologies as part of a joint Clean Tech partnership the 2 countries signed in 2021, as well as supporting island states in the Pacific who are on the front line of the climate emergency.

More widely, they will take stock of progress on AUKUS – a defence and security pact between the UK, US, and Australia which will deliver a nuclear-powered submarine capability to Australia.

They will also continue discussions on the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a £9 trillion free trade bloc, and progress towards the UK ratifying the bilateral Free Trade Agreement with Australia, expected to come into force in spring this year.

The iconic venue for talks in the historic naval town reflects the 2 nations’ shared seafaring heritage. The summit also affirms the UK’s ongoing commitment to Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, and follows a busy 18 months of UK engagement in the region, including the visit of the Carrier Strike Group, the AUKUS agreement, our Prime Ministers meeting at the G20 in Bali, and Indo-Pacific Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan’s visit to Australia at the end of last year.

ALSO READ-India views Austria as serious, consequential partner’

Categories
-Top News Australia

Australian Treasurer hopeful worst of inflation is over

Chalmers said the cost of living pressures would continue to affect millions of Australians but stressed that relief would be a key part of May’s federal budget….reports Asian Lite News

Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Sunday that the worst part of the country’s inflation crisis was over.

Ahead of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) releasing consumer price index (CPI) data for the final quarter of 2022 on Wednesday, Chalmers said he was optimistic that price increases would start to moderate in 2023, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Wednesday’s data is expected to reveal another rise in the CPI but both the Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) have predicted a peak in the December quarter.

Chalmers said the cost of living pressures would continue to affect millions of Australians but stressed that relief would be a key part of May’s federal budget.

“The Australian economy will begin to soften a bit this year and that is the inevitable likely consequence of higher interest rates and a slowing global economy,” he told reporters.

“That’s why our economic plan is cost-of-living relief in a responsible way and growing the economy without adding to these inflationary pressures.”

According to the ABS, inflation rose by 7.3 per cent in the 12 months to September, with a 10.9-percent rise in gas and household fuel prices a major contributing factor.

A Treasury analysis released on Saturday found the gas price cap, which was put into place by the government in December 2022, is expected to drive down wholesale prices by between 29 and 44 per cent in the financial year 2023-24.

“Energy is a bigger part of our inflation challenge in our economy,” Chalmers said.

“There have been other price pressures which have started to ease whether it’s shipping costs or housing costs or some of the others, and that’s obviously welcome.

ALSO READ: India-Australia ECTA to ‘double bilateral trade’ in 5 years

Categories
-Top News Australia Politics

Chris Hipkins to New Zealand’s next PM

Chris Hipkins to replace Jacinda Ardern as NZ PM.(photo:instagram)

Hipkins is currently the only nominee for the Labour leadership and will still need to be formally endorsed by the party in the House of Representatives

Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s incumbent minister for police, education and public service, is set to replace Jacinda Ardern as the country’s next Prime Minister following the latter’s surprise announcement to step down next month.

Hipkins is currently the only nominee for the Labour leadership and will still need to be formally endorsed by the party in the House of Representatives on Sunday before he can assume the top post, the BBC reported on Saturday.

If he receives the endorsement, Ardern will formally tender her resignation to the Governor-General on February 7, who will then on behalf of King Charles III appoint Hipkins as Prime Minister.

Hipkins, 44, was first elected to Parliament in 2008 and appointed minister for Covid-19 in November 2020.

During her resignation announcement on Thursday, Ardern — who at 37 became the youngest female head of government in the world when she took office in 2017 — said she did not have “enough in the tank” to lead and added that the past five-and-a-half years had been the “most fulfilling” of her life.

However, she added that leading the country during “crisis” had been difficult — with the Covid pandemic, Christchurch mosque shootings and White Island volcanic eruption taking place during her premiership.

Inflation and increasing social inequality saw Ardern’s popularity fall to all-time lows, according to opinion polls, reports the BBC.

The polls also suggested public approval of the country’s Labour Party was similarly low.

ALSO READ: India-Australia ECTA to ‘double bilateral trade’ in 5 years

Categories
-Top News Australia

Hindu temple targeted in Australia: Report

Victoria Police confirmed to The Australia Today that an investigation into the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir incident is ongoing….reports Asian Lite News

Melbourne, Jan 17 (IANS) A second Hindu temple has been vandalised in Australia with anti-India graffiti, leaving the community in a state of shock, a media report said on Tuesday.

The vandalism of the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria, comes just days after the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park was vandalised by anti-India supporters, The Australia Today reported.

“I urge (Victoria) Premier Dan Andrews and Victoria Police to take strict action against these goons who are trying to scare the Victorian Hindu community,” Usha Senthilnathan, a devotee, told The Australia Today.

Senthilnathan, along with other devotees, noticed the anti-Indian graffiti saying, ‘Target Modi’, on Monday when they came to calebrate Pongal festival at the temple.

“I can’t tell you how upset I am for witnessing a second Hindu Temple vandalised for Khalistan propaganda,” Hindu Council of Australia’s Victoria chapter President Makrand Bhagwat told The Australia Today.

On January 12, the walls of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir were defaced with anti-India graffiti, saying ‘Hindustan Murdabad’, and also marked with praises of Indian terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale — a supporter of the creation of Khalistan for Sikhs — as a ‘martyr’.

Victoria Police confirmed to The Australia Today that an investigation into the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir incident is ongoing.

ALSO READ: Jaishankar likely to visit Sri Lanka next week

Categories
Australia

ICC Rankings: Australia, India players make massive gains

Usman Khawaja was the biggest mover, following his stunning century in the third and final Test against South Africa in Sydney…reports Asian Lite News

Australia’s star performers from their Test series win against South Africa have been richly rewarded in the latest ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings released on Wednesday while India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were also the big gainers in the ODI section.

Usman Khawaja was the biggest mover, following his stunning century in the third and final Test against South Africa in Sydney — he moved up to 8th in the Men’s Test batters’ rankings.

Khawaja was unbeaten on 195, missing out on his double ton as skipper Pat Cummins declared to force a result in a rain-curtailed contest. Khawaja’s exploits saw him gain four spots and break into the top 10.

Performers from the drawn Test between Pakistan and New Zealand also made big gains, with Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Saud Shakeel making big moves.

Latham scored 71 and 62 in the second Test in Karachi and has gained a place to move to 19th. Conway’s century in the first innings also saw him move up three spots to 21. Shakeel, who scored his maiden Test ton, has gained twenty spots to move to 30.

Marnus Labuschagne continues his reign at the top of the rankings chart in the batters rankings.

In the bowling charts, Josh Hazlewood, who made a comeback in the Sydney Test, is the biggest mover. He scalped five wickets in the contest, which saw him gain six spots to move to No. 10. Cummins continues to remain the top-ranked Test bowler.

Meanwhile, Virat and Rohit moved up in the ODI batting rankings. Kohli, who scored a stunning century in India’s victory against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Guwahati, has moved up two spots to 6th.

On the other hand, Rohit also scored an aggressive 83 and has gained a spot to sit at 8th. Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka scored a fighting ton despite his side losing and has gained 20 spots to move to 61.

Meanwhile, in the bowling charts, Mohammed Siraj is the biggest gainer after scalping two wickets in the first ODI, moving up four spots to 18.

In the T20I rankings charts, Suryakumar Yadav continues his reign at the top of the batting charts, driven by his brilliant century in the third T20I against Sri Lanka. Shakib Al Hasan remains the top-ranked all-rounder in the shortest format, while Wanindu Hasaranga is displaced by Rashid Khan as the top-ranked bowler following his struggles in the series against India.

ALSO READ: Kohli’s ton propels India to 67-run victory over Lanka

Categories
-Top News Australia India News

Australian PM to visit India in March

Australian High Commissioner to India says visit will be an opportunity to advance ties between two countries..reports Asian Lite News

As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to arrive in India this March to lock the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) deal and upgrade the relationship between the two countries, the Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’ Farrell said that the visit will be an opportunity to advance the relationship between the two countries.

The two sides will carry out discussions on a variety of issues like clean energy, tech, digital trade and procurements. “Prime Minister Albanese has made clear that he sees enormous opportunity at the Australia-India relationship and like Prime Minister Modi is seeking more ambition from officials for the relationship, what I foresee is the visit being an opportunity for him to advance that, recognizing that he is also expected to attend this year the G20 leaders meeting. But at the end of the day, the comprehensive strategic partnership which had a slew of agreements underneath it, everything from the defence side and critical minerals, skills, research and clean energy, are the areas that I think we see more ambition in. I also think things like sustainable development, things like clean energy and tech and I think digital trade and procurement will be issues that both sides would be seeking to explore”, the Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’ Farrell said.

PM Albanese announced last year that he will visit India next year in March to lock India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) deal and upgrade the relationship.

While addressing the presser, PM Albanese said, “I will visit India in March. We’ll take a business delegation to India. And that will be an important visit and an upgrade in the relationship that we have between our two nations.”

Further speaking on the India-Australia Trade deal, the High Commissioner said that the trade deal benefits both the economies and Prime Minister Modi’s ambition of making India a Global Advanced Manufacturing Hub will become closer to reality.

“Well, the trade deal benefits both our economies, it boosts growth and creates jobs in both India and Australia by reducing tariffs on 96 per cent of Indian goods entering Australia, increasing up to 100 per cent in two years’ time,” the High Commissioner said.

“We Australians benefit is India gets a bigger market. But more importantly in areas like liquid natural gas, in cotton and wool, we’re providing those free of duty into India, which means the cost of production using those fabrics, for instance, for textiles becomes less, which makes your products more marketable in the world economy and the reduction in tariffs on critical minerals like lithium and Cobalt mean, the Prime Minister Modi’s ambition of making India Global Advanced manufacturing Hub becomes closer to reality,” he added.

He further added that it’s a win-win cooperation for both countries in terms of mobility because Australia understands the importance of not just educating young Indians, but giving them the skills needed to come back to India job ready.

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) recently entered force on December 29, 2022. Under the pact, Australia is offering zero-duty access to India for about 96.4 per cent of exports (by value) from the day the agreement is enforced.

India will benefit from preferential market access provided by Australia on 100 per cent of its tariff lines, including all the labour-intensive sectors of export interest to India, such as Gems and Jewellery, Textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, food, and agricultural products, engineering products, medical devices and automobiles.

On the other hand, India will be offering preferential access to Australia on over 70 per cent of its tariff lines, including lines of export interest to Australia, which are primarily raw materials and intermediaries such as coal, mineral ores and wines.

Talking about India’s G20 Presidency, the Australian High Commissioner said that Australia welcomes India’s G20 Presidency and that there’s no country better placed in the world to manage the global crisis in the economy that we’re facing than India.

“Australia welcomes India’s presidency of the G20. There is no country in the world that better understands the importance of economic growth to the development of citizens. There’s no country better placed in the world to manage the global crisis in the economy that we’re facing than India is as part of the G20 process,” he said.

“As I’ve said before, prosperity delivers peaceful, prosperous outcomes. And what India is bringing to the G20 presidency as a perspective that we’ve not had before. From a country that has one world, one family initiative, a country that’s determined to address sustainability, and a country that understands as I said, the importance of economic growth to the future of every citizen, not just within India, but across the world, we are happy with that”, the Australian High Commissioner said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: India-Australia pact to double trade to $45 bn

Categories
-Top News Australia

India-Australia pact to double trade to $45 bn

With trade deal kicking in today, the next step for both countries is towards progressing a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement to build on the interim trade deal…reports Asian Lite News

The implementation of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between India and Australia has the potential to double bilateral trade in goods and services to $45 billion in the next five years, said the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The industry body CII noted that zero-duty access to Australia’s market will be available to India immediately as the ECTA comes into force starting Thursday. The trade arrangement is expected to lead to a $10 billion jump in India’s merchandise exports by 2026-27, and would help in creating additional 10 lakh jobs in India.

The agreement encompasses cooperation across the entire gamut of bilateral economic and commercial relations between the two friendly countries.

CII added that besides providing cheaper raw materials to many sectors, including steel and aluminium from Australia, the agreement would also facilitate increased investments from Australia and will support Indian manufacturing.

The significant boost for India, the CII said, would be in its labour-intensive sectors, which are currently subject to import duty of 4-5 per cent by Australia.

“The sectors that would gain immediately are textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, furniture, sports goods, jewellery, machinery, railway wagons and select agricultural and marine products,” the CII said on Wednesday.

India, on the other hand, is providing zero-duty access to Australia for 70.3 per cent of its tariff lines (40.3 per cent tariff lines from day one and the remaining 30 per cent in a phased manner). India has offered zero duty access on coal, alumina calcined, manganese ore, copper concentrates, bauxite, sheep meat, rock lobster, macadamia nuts, cherries, and wool.

About 96 per cent of Australia’s exports to India comprise raw materials and intermediate products. Therefore, the tariff concessions offered by India will allow local/domestic industries to get cheaper raw materials and enhance their competitiveness.

The CII said it is also looking forward to various opportunities for trade in services.

It said Australia had made wide-ranging commitments in around 135 sub-sectors with most-favoured-nation (MFN) status in around 120 sub-sectors.

The major gains would be for the Indian IT sector followed by healthcare and education, and service professionals such as yoga teachers and chefs.

Trade deal begins today

A trade agreement between India and Australia will be implemented from December 29, almost nine months after the two sides signed a deal.

“India & Australia consolidate their long-standing partnership. Economic Cooperation & Trade Agreement, realised under the guidance of leaders of both countries, comes into effect from December 29, 2022. It is the dawn of a whole new era for our businesses & people,” said commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Twitter.

India’s President has approved the deal. The two nations signed an interim free trade deal—Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)–in April and the Australian Parliament ratified it last week.

“The ECTA’s two tariff cuts in quick succession intensify the up-front benefits of this agreement for our exporters. Businesses are encouraged to get on the front foot and prepare themselves now to take advantage of the substantial improvements in market access to India under the new agreement. Austrade can assist existing and potential exporters benefit from the lowering of trade barriers into the Indian market,” said Don Farrell, Australia’s minister for trade and tourism.

“Entry into force of the agreement before the New Year delivers a double bonus of two tariff cuts in quick succession: one as the agreement comes into effect and a second on 1 January 2023. ECTA will save Australian exporters around $2 billion a year in tariffs, while consumers and business will save around $500 million in tariffs on imports of finished goods, and inputs to our manufacturing sector,” said a statement by the Australian government.

India had a trade deficit of $8.5 billion with Australia in FY22, with $8.3 billion worth of exports and $16.8 billion worth of imports. Bilateral trade is expected to cross $45-50 billion in five years from $25 billion at present after the trade deal comes into force. 

The next step for both countries is towards progressing a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement to build on the interim trade deal, said the Australian statement. “The Australian Government is pursuing further opportunities in goods and services, in addition to new commitments in areas such as digital trade, government procurement, and new areas of cooperation.”

ALSO READ-Swiatek leads Australian Open entry list

Categories
Australia India News

Australian biz operator fined $30k for not paying Indian worker

The penalty was imposed last week in response to Bhangu Pty Ltd. failing to comply with a compliance notice by Australian regulatory authority Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO)…reports Asian Lite News

A vehicle repair business operator in Australia has been fined AU$30,000 for not paying back-pay entitlements to a worker from India, the court said.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court imposed the penalty against Bhangu Pty Ltd., which operates a business trading as Rehaan Automotive Care, based in Archerfield, a suburb in the city of Brisbane.

The penalty was imposed last week in response to Bhangu Pty Ltd. failing to comply with a compliance notice by Australian regulatory authority Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).

The FWO notice required the company to calculate and back-pay entitlements to a visa-holder worker from India, who was employed as a full-time motor mechanic between February 2017 and February 2018.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said in a statement that business operators that fail to act on compliance notices need to be aware they can face penalties in court on top of having to back-pay workers.

“When compliance notices are not followed, we are prepared to take legal action to ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements,” Parker added.

“Employers should also be aware that taking action to protect vulnerable employees, such as migrant workers, is a priority for the agency. Any employees with concerns about their pay or entitlements should contact us for free advice and assistance,” she said in an FWO statement.

The FWO investigated after receiving a request for assistance from the Indian worker and issued compliance notice to Bhangu Pty Ltd. in September 2021.

It found that the worker had been underpaid minimum wages and annual leave entitlements, owed under the Vehicle Manufacturing, Repair, Services and Retail Award and the Fair Work Act’s National Employment Standards.

Thereafter, it secured a $30,000 penalty in court against the operator of the vehicle repair and maintenance business in Brisbane.

The court has also ordered the company to take the steps required by the FWO compliance notice, which includes back-paying the worker in full, plus superannuation and interest.

ALSO READ: Australia activates security suspecting Khalistani activism

Categories
-Top News Australia

Australia activates security suspecting Khalistani activism

Recently, the Indian government has raised concerns about growing Khalistani divisive activities in multiple capital cities of Australia…reports Asian Lite News

After the Indian government raised concerns about activities of anti-India elements in Australia, the Canberra officials started working with the security apparatus to look into the “Khalistan referendum” matter.

Recently, the Indian government has raised concerns about growing Khalistani divisive activities in multiple capital cities of Australia and one of the officials in the meeting said, “Allegations of some overseas players entering into Australia and running a malicious campaign with elements of possibly violent past are very concerning to us,” The Australia Today reported. During the meeting with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Claire O’Neil, officials also said that they respect freedom of speech but now it looks like something is not going right.

The Australia Today revealed that in the latest development, the Department of Home Affairs of Australia is examining the visa conditions of some Khalistani overseas players who are actively involved in a proposed Khalistan referendum to be held in Melbourne.

In the meeting, Indian government officials strongly advised the Albanese government that this could lead to violence toward Indian Australians.

In the social media space, “The Last Battle to kill Indian-Hindutva system” along with pictures of Satwant Singh and Kehar Singh are circulating which are seen as Khalistani propaganda posters.

Notably, Satwant Singh was one of the bodyguards who assassinated India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at her New Delhi residence on October 31, 1984. Meanwhile, Kehar Singh was tried and executed for conspiracy in the plot of the Indira Gandhi assassination, carried out by Satwant Singh and his accomplice Beant Singh (nephew of Kehar Singh), according to The Australia Today.

Another poster with Australian phone numbers accuses Hindu mobs of killing an infant of a Sikh Army officer.

A representative of the Hindu Council of Australia who does not want to be named for security reasons told The Australia Today, “Concerned community members have reached out to them as they live around the route of the proposed Khalistan Referendum Car rally.”

“Tens of thousands of Hindu families living in Melbourne’s western suburbs of Tarneit are scared of not only their wellbeing but also their properties.”

In November 2022, members of the Indian-Australian community in Victoria were left shocked and deeply disturbed to see Khalistani flags, booklets and T-shirts distributed and displayed at the Nagar Kirtan/Humanity Walk organised by the Victorian Sikh Gurdwaras Council (VSGC), as per The Australia Today.

Earlier in June 2022, members of the Indian-Australian community were upset to see the Australian Defence Force marquee at the Griffith Sikh Games where Khalistani banners, posters and flags were displayed.

According to The Australia Today, the Australian Defence Force spokesperson in a statement conceded that they have identified an internal process issue and are working to address it. It noted: “While the attendance of the ADF personnel at this event was well-intentioned, it has identified some internal process issues around attendance at community events and a requirement for further awareness training, both of which are being addressed.”

After this news, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the matter has been taken with the Australian government.

“We came to know there was an instance. We have taken it up with the Australian government. It pertained to some soldiers of Australia. Talks are being held, don’t have more details,” Bagchi said during the weekly media briefing in July. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Australia, US vow to increase cooperation in Indo-Pacific region

Categories
-Top News Australia USA

Australia, US vow to increase cooperation in Indo-Pacific region

The two countries also released a statement on the occasion of the 32nd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN)….reports Asian Lite News

Australia and the United States have announced plans to increase cooperation for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

This commitment was made as US State Secretary Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles on December 6 in Washington to advance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a statement released by Pentagon.

The two countries also released a statement on the occasion of the 32nd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

“The principals committed to deepening cooperation, bilaterally and with regional partners and institutions, to ensure an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, stable, peaceful, prosperous, and respectful of sovereignty. The principals affirmed that regional growth and stability are underpinned by international law, which serves the interests of all nations,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

They committed to enhancing deterrence and resilience through coordinated efforts to offer Indo-Pacific nations support to resist subversion and coercion of any kind.

Defence and Foreign ministers of the US and Australia committed to strengthening their engagement with Indo-Pacific countries to promote economic development and security.

“The four principals emphasized the importance of all states being able to exercise rights and freedoms consistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight,” Pentagon added.

They reiterated their strong opposition to destabilizing actions in the South China Sea, such as the militarization of disputed features and dangerous encounters at sea and in the air. They also expressed concern about other actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including it asserting excessive maritime claims that are inconsistent with international law.

The ministers resolved to work with partners to support regional maritime security and reiterated Taiwan’s role as a leading democracy in the Indo-Pacific region. “They also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and shared opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo,” the statement read.

The four principals emphasized the importance of all countries managing strategic competition responsibly and committed to work together to ensure competition does not escalate into conflict. “The United States and Australia look to the PRC to do the same and plan to engage Beijing on risk reduction and transparency measures.”

They also affirmed the importance of cooperation with China on issues of shared interest, including climate change, pandemic threats, non-proliferation, countering illicit and illegal narcotics, the global food crisis, and macroeconomic issues. (ANI)

ALSO READ: EU’s fresh sanctions target Russia’s armed forces