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Assange to make first public appearance since release 

The WikiLeaks founder returned to Australia in June after striking a deal that secured his freedom…reports Asian Lite News

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, is set to address the human rights organization Council of Europe next week in a first public appearance since being freed from a British jail, WikiLeaks said Wednesday.

“Julian will be in Strasbourg next week on October 1st. It will be an exceptional break from his recovery as @COE invited Julian to provide testimony for the … Committee’s report into his case and its wider implications,” said Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, on X.

The WikiLeaks founder returned to Australia in June after striking a deal that secured his freedom, but forced him to plead guilty to violating United States espionage law, ending a drawn-out 14-year-old legal saga.

Assange will give evidence to the Strasbourg-based human rights body on Oct. 1, after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) concluded in a report that he was a political prisoner and called on the U.S. to investigate whether he had been exposed to inhumane treatment.

Legal action against Assange started in 2010 after hundreds of thousands of leaked documents about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars were published. U.S. prosecutors said the massive leak endangered hundreds of lives and that Assange was aware of the dangers, prompting a U.S. criminal investigation to prosecute him under the Espionage Act.

Assange has always denied any wrongdoing. He has been held in Belmarsh high-security prison since 2019, when he was removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he took refuge for years.

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Ties between India, Australia incredibly strong, says Victoria’s PM

Allan said that she wants to explore the opportunity for Victorian education institutions to partner with Indian institutions to deliver education in India….reports Asian Lite News

Lauding the ties between India and Australia, Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan has called the relationship between the two nations “incredibly strong one.” She stressed that India and Australia share a lot in common in terms of values.

In an interview with ANI, Allan called education an incredibly important part of community and economy in Victoria and expressed pride to welcome the largest number of Indian international students to study in educational institutions in Victoria and Melbourne.

Highlighting the ties between two nations, she said, “Relationship between India and Australia is an incredibly strong one and as the premiere of the State of Victoria in Australia, we are proud to call the most number of Indian-born Australian residents home, they live in Victoria and what that provides us with this incredibly strong foundation to come and strengthen the economic and cultural ties between our two nations. We have a lot in common in terms of values but also our priority growth areas in terms of renewable energy and building more homes and building better transport connections to support ongoing growth in both of our communities.”

Allan said that she wants to explore the opportunity for Victorian education institutions to partner with Indian institutions to deliver education in India.

Speaking about the ties between two nations in education sector, Victoria’s Premier said, “Education is an incredibly important part of our community and economy in Victoria in the state of Australia and we are proud to welcome the most number of international students and the most number of Indian international students to study in our great Victorian and Melbourne-based international education institutions and my message during my visit here is to continue to say very strongly that international students continue to be very welcome in our community, a very important part of our business and our relationships and our culture.”

“But we want to also explore the opportunity for Victorian education institutions to partner here in India with Indian institutions to deliver education here,” she added.

She also spokeabout choosing India as the first country for her first overseas visit after taking over as Victoria’s Premier. Allan recalled her past visit to India, which she undertook 15 years ago.

“This is my first overseas visit as Premier of Victoria but it is not my first time to India. I had the great pleasure of visiting here 15 years ago when we launched our first India Strategy as our priority for the Government and it remains a priority for me because we have so much in common, so much in common in terms of values, focus on hard work and families and building for the future that we have that foundation that we can grow in terms of the focus that we have into the future on those priority areas that support jobs and business development, health and education,” Allan said.

She recalled Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to India in 2023. She said that Australia shares a “strong relationship” with the Indian government.

Underscoring the “strong” ties between governments of two nations, Allan said, “There is a strong bond I know between the Australian and Indian Governments and I know the Australian Prime Minister was very pleased to visit India last year as part of the Quad meetings and had the opportunity to visit that amazing Modi Stadium that has been constructed and we have such strong relationships with India and with the Indian Government and again that underpins those opportunities for the future that are really important to both governments.

Earlier in March 2023, Australian PM Anthony Albanese visited the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to watch the first day of the final Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023. PM Modi welcomed his Australian counterpart at the venue. Both the leaders were greeted with loud cheers as they did a lap of honour at the stadium prior to the match.

Asked on how she sees India-Australia cooperation in terms of economy, Allan said, “If you look at the growth areas of India’s economy or Australia and our economy in Victoria, they are centered around very similar areas around continuing to drive investment in renewable energy, the building of more homes, the investment in transport connections and what underpins all of that is the delivery of good strong education, whether it’s from Indian education providers or Victorian education providers that partner with Indian education institutions, and that has been a key part of my visit here this week is how we can strengthen those relationships, invest in those relationships between our education providers to support those economic opportunities into the future.” (ANI)

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Australian senator moves motion opposing China’s claims over Taiwan

Fawcett explained that the motion aims to uphold the current regional order …reports Asian Lite News

Australian Senator David Fawcett recently defended a motion he co-led that criticizes China’s attempts to assert sovereignty over Taiwan, Nikkei Asia reported.

Fawcett explained that the motion aims to uphold the current regional order and counter any potential unilateral actions by China to forcibly take over Taiwan, according to Japan-based Nikkei Asia report.

“Allowing a nation to disregard others simply because of its economic or military strength will ultimately have negative consequences for everyone,” Fawcett told Nikkei Asia.

The motion, passed last week, asserts that United Nations Resolution 2758 “does not establish the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and does not determine Taiwan’s future status in the United Nations.”

Australia is the first country to pass such a motion concerning Resolution 2758, Nikkei Asia reported. Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, is claimed by China, which has used the 1971 Resolution to restrict Taiwan’s international presence and involvement with the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, such as the World Health Organization.

Although Resolution 2758 acknowledges the People’s Republic of China as “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations,” the Australian Senate clarified that it neither grants Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan nor dictates Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, Nikkei Asia reported.

Despite speculation that the motion might provoke a reaction from Beijing, there has been no public condemnation from Chinese state media or the Chinese embassy in Australia. Senator David Fawcett’s action comes amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan.

Recently, Taiwan issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid trips to China, Hong Kong, and Macao due to Beijing’s threats against those who support Taiwan’s independence, Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

Liang Wen-chieh, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, issued the warning in response to heightened tensions with China. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to engage with Taiwan’s government since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, CNA reported.

The advisory aimed to alert Taiwanese travellers regarding the risks posed by China’s new regulations targeting independence supporters. While travel was not prohibited, citizens were advised to avoid expressing political views or participating in activities that could lead to detention or prosecution by Chinese authorities, according to Central News Agency report.

Previously, Taiwan condemned Beijing’s threats of severe penalties, including the death penalty, for those advocating Taiwan’s independence. Beijing’s notice stated that leaders of independence efforts causing significant harm to the state could face the death penalty, while other prominent advocates might receive prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life.

Taipei had rejected these new Chinese guidelines, asserting that Beijing had no legal authority over Taiwan and dismissing the regulations as non-binding on Taiwanese citizens. (ANI)

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India, Australia hold talks on economic cooperation pact

The latest round of talks was held from 19-22 August 2024 in Sydney in the areas of Goods, Services, Digital Trade…reports Asian Lite News

The tenth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) was held between India and Australia recently. Both countries reviewed the progress made so far for a balanced economic cooperation agreement.

The latest round of talks was held from 19-22 August 2024 in Sydney in the areas of Goods, Services, Digital Trade, Government Procurement, Rules of Origin and Agri tech.

“Intense discussions were held on each of these tracks, bringing clarity and understanding for convergence in the remaining provisions. The 10th Round was held after a gap of around 5 months from the concluded 9th Round. However, intersessional meetings were held between these two rounds to bring in convergence on all these tracks as well as under other remaining tracks,” the commerce ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The Indian delegation was led by Rajesh Agrawal, the Chief Negotiator and Additional Secretary of the Department of Commerce and the Australian delegation was led by Ravi Kewalram, the Chief Negotiator and First Assistant Secretary in DFAT, Australia.

India said efforts were made by both sides, keeping in mind the domestic sensitivities for reaching a balanced outcome.

“It was decided that given the clear understanding of each other’s proposals under the five tracks, track leads from both sides would work out an action plan for negotiations through virtual mode intercessional before the next round, likely to be held in India,” the statement said.

The Chief Negotiators reviewed the bilateral trade and investment relations between India and Australia and underscored commitment to strengthen and enhance the economic partnership between India and Australia through building up on the positive effects of the India-Australia ECTA, which entered into force on 29 December 2022.

Both sides made efforts to ensure that the CECA negotiation delivers meaningful benefits and balanced outcomes for both sides.

The Indian delegation also visited the University of Sydney and Cicada Innovation Centre to understand the research activities being carried out by Australia in agriculture and agritech.

Australia is an important trade and strategic partner of India. Both countries are part of the 14-country Indo-Pacific Economic Forum for Prosperity (IPEF) and Trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), which is expected to strengthen the supply chain resilience in the region.

The next Round of India-Australia CECA negotiations is likely to be held in November 2024, the statement added. (ANI)

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AUKUS: Australia’s Ex-PM Accuses Albanese-Govt Of Bending To US Will

Paul Keating said in a TV programme that AUKUS is about the military control of Australia in American terms

Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating accused the Albanese government of bending to the will of the United States over AUKUS, local media reported.

Keating said in a TV programme that AUKUS is about the military control of Australia in American terms, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Saturday.

AUKUS is trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“The Albanese government and their policy is likely to turn Australia into the 51st state of the United States,” he said.

Keating said that Australia has got a continent of its own and a border with nobody, and the country was not likely to be threatened, Xinhua news agency reported quoting ABC.

“The only threat likely to come for us is because we have an aggressive ally, because of AUKUS,” Keating said.

Paul Keating

He said that if Australia did not have an aggressive ally, like the United States, there would be nobody attacking Australia. Keating also explained that the United States is “aggressive” because it is trying to “superintend” China, and China has no strategic designs for Australia.

ABC also quoted Keating in its news report as saying that the strength and scale of the US basing in Australia will eclipse Australia’s own military capability such that Australia will be viewed in the United States as a continental extension of American power akin to that which it enjoys in Hawaii, Alaska and more limitedly in places like Guam.

“Such an outcome is likely to turn the Australian government, in defence and security terms, into simply the national administrator of what would be broadly viewed in Asia as a US protectorate,” he said.

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Protest In Sydney Against AUKUS Nuclear Subs

They also reject the Australian opposition’s proposal for nuclear power reactors on sites, reports Asian Lite News

Dozens of protesters, including members from the local activist group Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition, gathered at the Sydney Town Hall Square on Saturday to demand that the Australian government reject the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines.

They also reject the Australian opposition’s proposal for nuclear power reactors on sites, Xinhua news agency reported.

Peter Murphy, convener of Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition, said in his speech at the rally that the AUKUS Pact between the United States, Britain and Australia was a super-secret project to have Australia acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines, as well as to jointly develop hypersonic missiles, cyber warfare, quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence weapons.

According to a statement publicised by the protesters, they gathered to remember victims of the US atomic bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and remember all victims of nuclear war preparations.

US President Joe Biden, then UK PM Rishi Sunak, Australia PM Anthony Albanese.

The protesters marched to the Defence Plaza Sydney after the gathering, with banners that read, “Australia says No to AUKUS, No to NATO, No to War”, “Down with the AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Deal,” “Scrap AUKUS Now” and “No to Nuclear Subs.”

Dennis Doherty, co-ordinator of Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition, told Xinhua that the nuclear industry, the nuclear weapons and the nuclear submarines will harm Australia.

“We want to live in friendship with all people in our region. And that’s why it’s a bad move to have nuclear-powered submarines, because it’s a threatening move which will increase tension in our region when we need to decrease tension,” he said.

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Jaishankar Meets Australian FM in Tokyo

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries committed to enhancing and supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met his Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to discuss the bilateral relations between India and Australia.

“A great start this morning meeting Australian FM Senator Penny Wong in Tokyo,” he said in a post on X.

The leaders spoke about the steps to strengthen the bilateral ties of the two nations and further deepen the cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.

“Spoke about further steps to intensify our bilateral ties, including in security, trade and education. Also discussed deepening our practical cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Look forward to continuing this at the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting shortly,” the EAM added.

Jaishankar is in Tokyo to attend the eighth meeting of the Quad foreign ministers on Monday, where the grouping comprising India, Japan, Australia and the United States, will review and build on continuing initiatives and announce deliverable outcomes.

This gathering follows the ministers’ summit that took place in Hiroshima earlier this year and a subsequent follow-up meeting in New York.

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between four countries committed to enhancing and supporting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

This meeting will further lead on previous discussions and bolster cooperation among the member nations.

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Australia Sanctions Israel Amid West Bank Tensions

Israel to go ahead with 3000 new homes in West Bank

Wong said Canberra has been firm and consistent that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law….reports Asian Lite News

The Australian government on Thursday announced sanctions on some Israelis involved in settler violence in the West Bank, the first time the country has imposed such punishment against Israelis over settlement activity.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong announced financial sanctions and travel bans for seven Israelis and a youth group for participating in violent attacks against Palestinians, Xinhua news agency reported.

“This includes beatings, sexual assault, and torture of Palestinians resulting in serious injury and in some cases, death. The entity sanctioned is a youth group that is responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinian communities,” Wong said in a statement.

Wong said Canberra has been firm and consistent that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law.

“We call on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and to cease its ongoing settlement activity, which only inflames tensions and further undermines stability and prospects for a two-state solution,” she said.

Speaking on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio, Wong said Australians should recognize the sanctions as a very substantial penalty.

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Australia confident of Trump supporting AUKUS sub deal

Marles reported that interactions with Trump’s camp have reassured Australia of continued support for AUKUS…reports Asian Lite News

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles expressed confidence on Wednesday that a re-elected Donald Trump would support the AUKUS security alliance and its nuclear submarine deal.

Following discussions with Trump’s team, Marles is optimistic that Trump would uphold the A$368 billion ($243 billion) AUKUS deal, aimed at acquiring nuclear-powered submarines to counter China’s influence in the Pacific.

The deal includes purchasing three to five US Virginia Class submarines in the 2030s, despite concerns that Trump’s America First policy might prioritize US Navy needs. However, Marles reported that interactions with Trump’s camp have reassured Australia of continued support for AUKUS.

Marles highlighted bipartisan backing for AUKUS, noting that Republican support, including from Trump allies, was evident in the passage of AUKUS legislation last December.

Two weeks ago, South Korean Vice Defence Minister Kim Seon-ho vowed to strengthen defence cooperation with Australia, his office said, amid growing arms industry ties between the two countries.

Kim made the remark during a bilateral defence conference in Canberra, which discussed key threats in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to bolster cooperation between the militaries and defence industries of the two countries, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean defence companies, including shipbuilders Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, also participated in the conference to feature their products.

“Amid a grave global security environment, (the conference) presented an opportunity to further strengthen relations between South Korea and Australia,” Kim said. “(We) will make further efforts to strengthen bilateral defence and arms industry cooperation.”

The two countries have bolstered defence ties in recent years, with Canberra signing major deals to purchase South Korean weapons systems, including the Redback infantry fighting vehicle and K9 howitzers.

South Korea has sought closer security ties with Australia, with their top diplomats and defence chiefs discussing Seoul’s potential participation in part of the AUKUS security partnership in May.

The United States, Britain and Australia launched a security pact known as AUKUS in 2021 to counter China’s assertiveness.

Seoul has welcomed considerations of its possible inclusion in Pillar 2 of the partnership, which covers cooperation in advanced technologies.

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India-Indonesia-Australia trilateral explores collaboration

The three sides also noted convergence between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)…reports Asian Lite News

The India-Indonesia-Australia Trilateral Focal Points meeting was held on Tuesday, during which the three sides held discussions to explore opportunities for collaboration under the framework of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

The Indian side was led by Paramita Tripathi, Joint Secretary (Oceania and Indo-Pacific), while the Indonesian side was led by Adi Dzulfuat, Director for Pacific and Oceanic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Australian side by Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary, South and Central Asia Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“The three sides held discussions to explore opportunities for collaboration, including under the framework of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) mechanisms, maritime domain awareness, marine pollution and blue economy cooperation,” the MEA said in a statement.

The three sides also noted convergence between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

India, Indonesia and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to advancing their shared values and working together towards a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Earlier in May, the 2nd edition of the India-Australia-Indonesia Trilateral Maritime Security Workshop (TMSW) was conducted from May 15 to 17 at INS Dronacharya, Kochi.

The theme of the workshop was ‘Indian Ocean Region: Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Regional Maritime Security’, which was selected to discuss ongoing maritime security challenges and opportunities for collaboration between the three maritime neighbours in the region.

The workshop was conducted under the aegis of Headquarters Southern Naval Command and witnessed the participation of delegates from the three participating navies. (ANI)

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