Tag: QUAD

Categories
-Top News Australia India News

Modi thanks Albanese for hosting QUAD summit in May

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced that it will host the Quad Leaders’ Summit on May 24 in Sydney…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked his Australian counterpart, Antony Albanese for hosting the next Quad Summit in Sydney and said that it will further bolster the efforts of the grouping to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the Prime Minister said that he is looking forward to his visit and strengthening QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). “Thank you @AlboMP for hosting the next Quad Summit in Sydney which will bolster our efforts to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. I look forward to my visit and discussions on strengthening Quad collaboration across domains to advance our positive agenda,” PM Modi tweeted.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced that it will host the Quad Leaders’ Summit on May 24 in Sydney reiterating that it will be a chance to work in cooperation with US, Japan and India.

In a Twitter video post, he said, “Sydney will be the host of the Quad Leaders’ meeting in 2023. The hosting of this meeting at the Sydney Opera House will be a chance for us to work cooperatively with US, Japan and India, but also it will also be an opportunity to showcase this beautiful city and the country to the entire world.”

He said that hosting Quad partners in Sydney next month will be an opportunity for Australia to help shape the region “we all want to live in.”

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is the grouping of four democracies–India, Australia, the US, and Japan–that aims to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

“I’m pleased to announce that Australia will be hosting the Quad Leaders’ Summit for the first time on May 24 in Sydney,’ Anthony Albanese tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Australia in May to take part in the Quad leadership summit.

The announcement was made during the joint press conference hosted by Prime Minister Modi along with Australian counterpart in March when the latter was on a four-day visit to India.

“India and Australia are both members of the Quad. I thank PM Albanese for inviting me to Australia for the Quad Leaders’ Summit in May. I have invited him to India for the G20 summit in September,” PM Modi had said.

The leaders of the Quad group have met on four occasions earlier and their next meeting will be held in Australia. The group’s importance in the region has increased due to its keen interest in sustainable and inclusive economic growth and increasing people-to-people connections between Quad members and non-Quad members. (ANI)

ALSO READ: First batch of rescued Indians from Sudan arrive home

Categories
-Top News Australia India News

‘India a critical, great power’

Australian Foreign Minister opined that India is a critical power, great power in the region that there is no reshaping of the Indo-Pacific without India…reports Asian Lite News

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Friday lauded India as a “critical, great power” and said the country’s civilisation prowess brought a fresh perspective on dealing with current issues.

Wong participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting presided by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue 2023 held in the national capital Delhi. Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken were the other participants who attended the meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) grouping.

“India is a critical power, great power in the region that there is no reshaping of the Indo-Pacific without India. We’ve seen that India is a civilisational power that brings a different perspective to some of the challenges of these time,” said Wong while replying to President of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Samir Saran on Australia’s assessment of India’s growth.

Saran moderated the discussion on “The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon.”

Wong also explained how Quad can be a complimentary actor in Indo-Pacific.

“The complementarity of this configuration with the architecture of the region, I think is demonstrated from the Australian perspective by our geography and by our interest,” said the Australian FM.

Wong said that in terms of geography, Australia is the smallest economy, most southernmost economy, abounded on one side by the Indian Ocean, the other side by the Pacific, ASEAN, and particularly the northern countries of ASEAN.

“So for us, our interest lies in a world which is being reshaped, the region which is being reshaped — looking through this and the architecture of the region which I describe stable, peaceful, secure and respect the sovereignty. So our geography and our interest lead to a complementarity. I also believe there is tangible complementarity in the sense that there are things we engage — Pacific Islands nations, and countries of the ASEAN region and they are all aligned with our interest in economic involvement, prosperity, stability and protection of sovereignty,” said Wong.

Jaishankar, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong attended the Raisina Dialogue 2023 in Delhi organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the ORF.

Earlier Blinken recognized that the Indo-Pacific region will shape the trajectory of the world in the 21st century.

“Good to break bread with my Quad colleagues in New Delhi today. Together, we recognize the Indo-Pacific region will shape the trajectory of the world in the 21st century and are committed to safeguarding its peace, stability, and growing prosperity,” tweeted Blinken ahead of the Quad meeting. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Australia hails partnership with India

Categories
-Top News USA World News

Quad is not a military grouping, reasserts Blinken

The Quad is not a military grouping and it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters, said Blinken…reports Asian Lite News

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is not a military grouping, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, adding it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters.

“We are working on things that are really critical,” Blinken said at a panel discussion of the Quad Foreign Ministers themed “The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon” in the national capital.
The Quad Foreign Ministers meet on the sidelines of the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue the flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy organised by the Ministry of External Affairs with the Observer Research Foundation. India, US, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad grouping.

“Quad is not a military grouping…but one of the things that we are doing through the Quad is trying to bring together not only governments, academia, experts to look at where we can collaborate together on the technology, on innovation, benefits in other areas that remains to be seen. But clearly, our four countries in particular are very well placed to increase in a variety of ways our collaboration…,” Blinken said.

Quad according to the US Secretary of State is a force for good, positive, and affirmative action.

On Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, Blinked said that allowing Russia to do what it is doing will be a message to aggressors everywhere.

“If we allow Russia to do what it is doing in Ukraine then that’s a message to the aggressors everwhere that they may be able to get away with it too,” Blinken said at the discussion chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and where Foreign Ministers of Australia, Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi participated.

“For us the future is so much in Indo-Pacific…Even as we are rightly focussed on what is happening in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression, not just because it matters to Ukrainians and to Ukraine and Europe, but because it matters to the entire world,” Blinken said.

The eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue, from March 2-4 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and chief guest Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered the keynote speech .

The conference, organised under the theme “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?” is witnessing the participation of representatives from over 100 countries. (ANI)

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is not a military grouping, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday, adding it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters.

“We are working on things that are really critical,” Blinken said at a panel discussion of the Quad Foreign Ministers themed “The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon” in the national capital.
The Quad Foreign Ministers meet on the sidelines of the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue the flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy organised by the Ministry of External Affairs with the Observer Research Foundation. India, US, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad grouping.

“Quad is not a military grouping…but one of the things that we are doing through the Quad is trying to bring together not only governments, academia, experts to look at where we can collaborate together on the technology, on innovation, benefits in other areas that remains to be seen. But clearly, our four countries in particular are very well placed to increase in a variety of ways our collaboration…,” Blinken said.

Quad according to the US Secretary of State is a force for good, positive, and affirmative action.

On Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, Blinked said that allowing Russia to do what it is doing will be a message to aggressors everywhere.

“If we allow Russia to do what it is doing in Ukraine then that’s a message to the aggressors everwhere that they may be able to get away with it too,” Blinken said at the discussion chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and where Foreign Ministers of Australia, Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi participated.

“For us the future is so much in Indo-Pacific…Even as we are rightly focussed on what is happening in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression, not just because it matters to Ukrainians and to Ukraine and Europe, but because it matters to the entire world,” Blinken said.

The eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue, from March 2-4 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and chief guest Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered the keynote speech .

The conference, organised under the theme “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?” is witnessing the participation of representatives from over 100 countries. (ANI)

ALSO READ: QUAD to stem terrorism, sets up Working Group

Categories
-Top News India News World News

QUAD to stem terrorism, sets up Working Group

Jaishankar also said that one of the outcomes that Quad agreed on was that the listings of terrorists, the counter-terrorism listings should not be politicised….reports Asian Lite News

Quad grouping of countries comprising of US, Japan, Australia and India on Friday announced the establishment of a Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in sharpening of the group’s focus to combat terror.

A joint statement of the Quad Leaders issued in New Delhi today denounced the use of terrorist proxies and committed to promote accountability for terrorist attacks including the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, “which claimed lives of citizens from all Quad countries”. Heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan struck in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 in which at least 174 people, including 26 foreign nationals, were killed and over 300 people injured.
“We announce the establishment of the Quad Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, which will explore cooperation amongst the Quad and with Indo-Pacific partners, to counter new and emerging forms of terrorism, radicalization to violence and violent extremism,” the joint statement said.

It noted that terrorism has become increasingly diffuse, aided by terrorists’ adaptation to, and the use of emerging and evolving technologies such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the internet, including social media platforms for recruitment and incitement to commit terrorist acts, as well as for the financing, planning, and preparation of terrorist activities.

The group also welcomed the focused discussions on these themes at the Quad Counter-Terrorism Policy Meeting and tabletop exercise hosted by Australia in October 2022 and said it looked forward to its first meeting in the United States in March 2023 to continue discussions on this global issue.

Earlier during a panel discussion on “The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that new things have come out during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

“If you ask me what were the new things which came out today, we agreed on a counter-terrorism working group. We agreed on cooperating more closely with Indian Ocean Rim Association. We agreed that we had earlier worked out a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Quad initiative,” said Jaishankar.

“We are pleased to note the progress made under the Quad Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Partnership (HADR) for the Indo-Pacific, since our last meeting in September 2022, when we signed the Guidelines for the Partnership,” read the statement

Quad welcomed the outcomes of the first HADR tabletop exercise and biannual meeting held in India in December 2022 and looks forward to the finalization of the Partnership’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which would enable an efficacious and coordinated response mechanism.

Jaishankar also said that one of the outcomes that Quad agreed on was that the listings of terrorists, the counter-terrorism listings should not be politicised.

“We unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations. We denounce the use of terrorist proxies and emphasize the importance of denying any logistical, financial or military support to terrorist organizations which could be used to launch or plan terrorist attacks, including transnational and cross-border attacks,” read the joint statement.

Moreover, Quad reiterates the condemnation of terrorist attacks, including 26/11 Mumbai, which claimed the lives of citizens from all Quad countries, and the Pathankot attacks.

“We are committed to working together with our regional and international partners to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks, including through designations by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. In this regard, we express our concern at attempts to politicise the working of the UNSC Sanctions Regimes and call on all states to maintain the transparent, objective and evidence-based working methods of UNSC Sanctions Committees,” added the statement.

Speaking on reforms in the UN and Standard Operating Procedures on counter-terrorism, Jaishankar said, “So the SOP for that which I think the military people would obviously see as a prerequisite for their cooperation. We coordinated with the UN to make sure that the processes of the UN are respected and workings of the UN stayed true to its spirit. I was personally happy that there was a stronger expression of support from all of us collectively to the reform of the UN to the fact that there would be inter-governmental negotiations on the reform.”

He said that the Quad is working in 2023 because we have a leadership less burdened by baggage.

“I take the Quad back to Boxing Day 2004 when the Indian Ocean Tsunami happened. In 2006, when Prime Minister Abe came to India, before coming he had the idea that Quad could be an effective way of dealing with the challenges. There was actually a Quad meeting, my memory serves me right, in Manila in 2007. Then it did not work out. If you ask me why didn’t it work out, as opposed to what happened 10 years later because it was revived 10 years later in 2017,” said Jaishankar.

“In 2019, it became a Foreign Minister’s level, and when the Biden administration came in in 2021, it became a Summit level. One, there was greater strategic clarity on the part of all the countries concerned. If I were to look at India’s ties with the US, it became much deeper. With Japan also, grew, and the real big change has been in the last decade has been with Australia. In a way, Quad is working in 2023 because we have a leadership less burdened by baggage,” the external affairs minister added.

Meanwhile, in the joint statement issued today the Quad sought an end to violence and detentions by the Myanmar Junta. On Ukraine, the joint statement said they “continued to discuss our responses to the conflict in Ukraine and the immense human suffering it is causing, and concurred that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible”.

“We underscored the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. We emphasised that the rules-based international order must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, transparency and peaceful resolution of disputes,” the statetement added. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Quad denounces Russian nuclear threats

Categories
-Top News India News World News

Quad denounces Russian nuclear threats

The Foreign Ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue met on the sidelines of the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue….reports Asian Lite News

The foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the United States affirmed that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine is ‘inadmissible.’

The Foreign Ministers of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue met on the sidelines of the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue, the flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy organised by the Ministry of External Affairs with the Observer Research Foundation. India, US, Japan and Australia are members of the Quad grouping.

“We underscored the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter. We emphasised that the rules-based international order must respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, transparency and peaceful resolution of disputes,” a joint statement from the Quad said.

Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended a landmark nuclear arms control treaty and threatened to resume nuclear tests.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Quad is not a military grouping, adding it is now engaged in working together to help countries to deal with humanitarian situations in natural disasters.

“We are working on things that are really critical,” Blinken said at a panel discussion of the Quad Foreign Ministers themed “The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon” in the national capital.

“Quad is not a military grouping…but one of the things that we are doing through the Quad is trying to bring together not only governments, academia, experts to look at where we can collaborate together on the technology, on innovation, benefits in other areas that remains to be seen. But clearly, our four countries in particular are very well placed to increase in a variety of ways our collaboration…,” Blinken said.

Quad according to the US Secretary of State is a force for good, positive, and affirmative action.

On Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, Blinked said that allowing Russia to do what it is doing will be a message to aggressors everywhere.

“If we allow Russia to do what it is doing in Ukraine then that’s a message to the aggressors everwhere that they may be able to get away with it too,” Blinken said at the discussion chaired by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and where Foreign Ministers of Australia, Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi participated.

“For us the future is so much in Indo-Pacific…Even as we are rightly focussed on what is happening in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression, not just because it matters to Ukrainians and to Ukraine and Europe, but because it matters to the entire world,” Blinken said.

The eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue, from March 2-4 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and chief guest Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivered the keynote speech .

The conference, organised under the theme “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?” is witnessing the participation of representatives from over 100 countries.

Jaishankar highlights 3 issues

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted three big issues that the Quad and the World needs to address, “resilient supply chain, digital challenge and connectivity,” at the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting held on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue 2023.

“Three big issues that Quad and the world needs to address and I think Quad can address and can make a difference. First, more reliable and resilient supply chain, second digital challenge of trust and transparency and third connectivity. I expect these to be a greater part of our agenda,” said Jaishankar. He also said that new things came out during Quad deliberations.

“New things which came out today, we agreed on a counter-terrorism working group and SoPs for the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiative. All four nations supported the reform of the UN,” said Jaishankar.

Began the day by meeting my Quad counterparts Senator Wong, Yoshimasa Hayashi and Secretary Blinken tweeted Jaishankar after the meeting. “Reaffirmed that the Quad is ‘for’, not ‘against’. And for an inclusive, resilient, free and open Indo-Pacific” Jaishankar wrote.

Foreign Ministers of Australia Penny Wong, Jaishankar, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and the Secretary of State of the US Antony Blinken met in New Delhi today for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

They reaffirmed the Quad’s steadfast commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient.

They also reviewed progress made by the Quad in pursuit of its constructive agenda and implementation of initiatives aimed at addressing contemporary priorities of the region.

“We strongly support the principles of freedom, rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes without resorting to threat or use of force and freedom of navigation and overflight, and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, all of which are essential to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” added the joint statement of Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

ALSO READ: G20 Foreign Ministers’ meet a big success

Categories
-Top News India News World News

QUAD meet focuses on Indo-Pacific

The ministers will exchange views on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and regional issues of mutual interest, guided by their vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific….reports Asian Lite News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday arrived at Taj Palace to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers meet on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue.

A panel discussion on “The Quad Squad: Power and Purpose of the Polygon,” is going to be held today where Quad Foreign Ministers will be participating at the event from 9:10-9:50 am, which will be moderated by the President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Samir Saran.
The meeting will be chaired by External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, and will see the participation of Foreign Ministers of Australia, Penny Wong and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

The meeting will be an opportunity for the Ministers to continue their discussions held at their last meeting in New York in September 2022, read the MEA press release.

They will exchange views on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and regional issues of mutual interest, guided by their vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

The Ministers will also review progress made by the Quad in pursuit of its constructive agenda and implementation of initiatives aimed at addressing contemporary priorities of the region, added the release.

The Quad evokes images of security partnership, of a development alliance, and even of a consultative committee. One and a half years since the first Leaders’ Summit, the Quad is now facing a choice between focusing on its core identity, or seeking the benefits that might come from being a more amorphous and reactive grouping.

As nations shift their attention to growth and the reconfiguration of their global economic partnerships, how will the Quad remain relevant? How does the re-emergence of land war in Europe implicate the future of a maritime grouping in the Indo-Pacific? will be the topic of panel discussion.

The US has signed an ambitious tech partnership with Australia and the UK; is part of the I2U2 focused on West Asia; has entered into a new bilateral technology agreement with India; and has a close tech alliance with Japan.

The panel will also discuss, how do these overlapping agreements and partnerships integrate with the Quad’s tech agenda? What path can it pick between a tight, action-focused coalition and a relatively minimalist ambition that might more easily incorporate other actors in the Indo-Pacific(ANI)

ALSO READ: Blinken, Jaishankar hold talks on Ukraine, global challenges

Categories
-Top News Asia News India News

Japan may miss Quad gathering in New Delhi

The Quad meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia will be immediately followed by a ministerial panel discussion at India’s annual premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, the Raisina Dialogue…reports Ateet Sharma

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off a significant visit to Central Asia and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Malaysia before arriving in New Delhi midweek for the crucial G20 and Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting. However, the participation of Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in both meetings remains uncertain as of now.

It is being reported by the Japanese media that Hayashi is considering skipping the India trip because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has requested that ongoing deliberations on the 2023 budget bill in the National parliament, the Diet, should take precedence.

Even though the Japanese Foreign Ministry has till Monday evening not announce any decision, the move has generated a lot of debate in Tokyo, with some suggesting that Hayashi’s absence from the meetings scheduled to be held in the Indian capital could lead to a “decline in Japan’s diplomatic power” in the face of current geopolitical churning taking place due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In an editorial titled ‘Diet should respond to ministers’ overseas trips in line with national interests’ on Monday, Nikkei said that even though the budget proposal is one of the most important issues – and that LDP may want to be careful to avoid criticism from the opposition parties – it is necessary to respond flexibly in consideration of national interests.

The leading Japanese publication said that since Japan will serve as the chair of the Group of Seven (G7) this year, the G20 meeting is a “valuable opportunity” for Japan to fulfill its responsibilities as the chair and reflect its own views.

“On the 3rd, a ‘Quad’ Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be held in India, consisting of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India. It is a framework that the United States attaches importance to as a deterrent to China, and it is desirable for Japan to participate face-to-face,” it stated.

The Quad meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia will be immediately followed by a ministerial panel discussion at India’s annual premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, the Raisina Dialogue.

“I’m not aware that they’ve ever had an hour-long public event where the four foreign ministers have had a chance to talk about the Quad, and to demonstrate how it is getting tangible and concrete things done in the Indo-Pacific,” US State Department’s Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu said last week.

Wong too said on Monday that she is looking forward to her first visit to India as Foreign Minister as Australia strongly supports India’s G20 Presidency and welcomes India’s ambitious, action-oriented G20 agenda, under the theme ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.

“This year is an important milestone in Australia’s bilateral relationship with India, with many high-level Ministerial visits between our two countries,” said the Australian Foreign Minister highlighting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s forthcoming visit to New Delhi next month.

Later this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the Quad Leaders’ meeting in Australia.

(India Narrative)

ALSO READ-Italian PM to be chief guest at 8th Raisina Dialogue

Categories
-Top News Asia News China

Quad, China top on Blinken’s India agenda

Blinken’s visit to New Delhi comes after Blinken scrapped a trip to Beijing after an alleged Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States, a report by Reena Bhardwaj

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in New Delhi this week and will attend a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in the Indian capital, Donald Lu, the top US State Department official on South Asia said.

“They will talk about our strategic partner partnership but really focus on how we’re working together in the Asian Quad, in the G20, what we’re doing on defence cooperation, and the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies that is being run out of the White House and the prime minister’s office,” he said.

Blinken’s visit to New Delhi comes after Blinken scrapped a trip to Beijing after an alleged Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States. The United States shot down what it said was a Chinese spy balloon and other flying objects. Asked if China would be a point of discussion between Blinken and Jaishankar, Lu said, “We have had serious conversations about China both before the latest scandal over this surveillance balloon, so I fully expect those conversations will continue.”

Secretary Blinken and EAM Jaishankar will also meet with their Australian and Japanese counterparts who are a part of the QUAD Grouping, the US official informed reporters.

“On March 3rd, the Secretary will also participate in a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Asian Quad, which is the United States, India, Japan, and Australia,” Donald Lu said.

As reported by ANI earlier this month, Secretary Blinken will also be participating in a panel at the Raisina Dialogue.

“I’m not aware that they’ve ever had an hour-long public event where the foreign ministers have had a chance to talk about the quad and to demonstrate how is getting tangible and concrete things done in the Indo-Pacific,” Lu said during a virtual briefing.

“I think we’re going to hear about what we’re doing on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief. We’ll hear about what we’re doing to improve security in the Indo-Pacific, in the Maritime Domain Awareness space. We will talk about achievements on vaccine diplomacy, and then you’ll hear about the launch of the Quad fellows programme, and a recent business and investment forum,” Donald Lu said.

While in New Delhi, Blinken will be attending the G20 ministerial Meeting that would also include his counterparts from China and Russia. US officials have been tight-lipped about the prospects for Blinken sitting down with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang or Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi.

“A major multilateral summit like the G-20, of course, lends itself to the potential for bilateral engagements on the margins, but we don’t have any specific scheduling updates to offer,” deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said. “The United States believes it’s important to keep the lines of communication open,” Patel further added. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Quad takes on cyber threats with new initiative

Categories
-Top News Technology World News

Quad takes on cyber threats with new initiative

The Quad announcement said the goal is to protect cyber-users from cybercrimes and other cyber threats…reports Yashwant Raj

India, Australia, Japan and the United States on Tuesday launched an initiative to boost their cyber security called the ‘Quad Cyber Challenge’.

“We are inviting Internet-users across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to join the Challenge and pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber habits,” the White House said in an announcement.

“The Challenge reflects Quad’s continuing efforts to strengthen individuals’ and communities’ cyber security awareness and action, as well as to foster a more secure and resilient cyber ecosystem to benefit economies and users everywhere.”

The Challenge consists of a checklist for individuals and businesses to determine their cyber security situation, along with recommendations such as installing security updates, improving and regularly changing passwords, installing password managers, adopting two-step verification, locking up devices, and keeping back-up files.

The challenge will provide resources, including basic cybersecurity information and training, for all users and will culminate in events during the week of April 10.

“The Quad partners are working to ensure that everyone has access to the resources needed to make informed decisions while online and using smart devices,” the announcement said.

The Quad announcement said the goal is to protect cyber-users from cybercrimes and other cyber threats.

No sources are mentioned of these crimes and threats, but a lot of them originate in China. One such attack targeted India’s premier health institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, in November last year.

Chinese threat in telecom, 6G tech

Amid threats from China in the field of telecom and 6G technology, the Quad grouping has decided to ensure “security-by-design and best practices of cyber security,” according to a White House press release.

In a joint statement after the meeting of the Quad Senior Cyber Group in New Delhi on January 30 and 31, the Group said that it was working on identifying best security practices for software services and products and minimum critical infrastructure cyber security requirements. “Our meeting advanced the Group’s positive and ambitious agenda. Quad partners are working together to better secure cyberspace and foster an international digital economy that works for everyone, including regional partners in the Indo-Pacific,” read the release.

Observing that telecom security is a core function of national security, the statement said working in conjunction with Quad CET Working Group, the Group will strive to ensure that security-by-design and best practices of cyber security are incorporated in Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) and 6G technologies.

The Group also endorsed the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) efforts (of which Quad countries are members) to drive international cooperation and joint action to tackle ransomware including through information and intelligence exchanges, sharing best practices regarding policy and legal authority frameworks, and collaboration between law enforcement and cyber authorities to conduct counter ransomware activities, it added.

In the longer term, the Group has also committed to: leveraging machine learning and related advanced technologies to enhance cyber security; establishing secure channels for Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and private sector threat information sharing; and creating a framework and methodology for ensuring Supply Chain Security and Resilience for information communication technologies (ICT) and operational technology (OT) systems of critical sectors. (IANS/ANI)

ALSO READ: Paris Club backs IMF bailout for Lanka, hails India’s role

Categories
-Top News Asia News USA

US, Japan to boost alliance amid China worries

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday met US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House

Prime Minister Kishida informed President Biden that Japan has changed its security strategy significantly and detailed the reforms, which include significant defence budget increases and planning counterstrikes, reports Asian Lite News

Amid China’s growing quest to take control over the Indo-Pacific, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday met US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House and agreed to strengthen the alliance between the two countries as the two sides discussed the security strategy, Japan’s NHK World reported.

During the meeting at the White House, Kishida and Biden held a two-hour-long conversation in which Kishida informed Biden that Japan has changed its security strategy significantly and detailed the reforms, which include significant defence budget increases and planning counterstrikes. In order to maintain regional peace and security, the Japanese Prime Minister said the security environment is more severe and complex than ever, as he laid emphasis on Japan’s security strategy, NHK World reported.

Taiwan Strait

President Biden and the Japanese PM also reiterated their commitment to avoid conflict across the Taiwan Strait, according to a joint statement released on Friday by the White House after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders in Washington.

A Taiwan military vessel seen from a warship of the navy of the Eastern Theater Command during the navy’s combat exercises around Taiwan. (Photo by Lin Jian Xinhua IANS)

“We emphasize that our basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged, and reiterate the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community,” the White House said in a statement posted on its website.

The situation around Taiwan escalated after former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August, angering China. In successive months, France, Japan and other western countries also sent their delegations to the island, further increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

According to the White House statement, Biden also praised Japan’s new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program. “This investment will bolster security across the Indo-Pacific and beyond and modernize the US-Japan relationship for the 21st century,” the statement said.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday met US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House.

By providing adequate, transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data regarding the disease’s progress, Biden and Kishida encouraged China to help public health officials throughout the world stop the spread of Covid-19 and find potential new variants.

“We also call on China to report adequate transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data regarding the spread of Covid-19, to enable public health officials around the world to be prepared to reduce the spread and identify any potential new variants,” the statement read. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Japan welcomes IAF jets with water cannon salute