Yusara Askari, Author at The Singapore Post

13May

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Sri Lanka faces debit crises.

Sri Lanka is going through a debit crisis regarding which they took a loan from China earlier and on Monday the island said they have secured a $500 million loan from South Korea after a month.The government said South Korea agreed to provide the loan at a concessional interest rate of 0.15 to 0.20 percent, repayable over 40 years with a 10-year grace period."The framework arrangement was signed today," the finance ministry said in a statement.Last month Colombo raised another $500 million loan from Beijing in a desperate bid to shore up its dwindling foreign reserves and ease pressure on the local currency.The People's Bank of China also granted a $1.5 billion currency swap to finance imports from China in February as the rupee hit a record low of 202.73 to the dollar.At the end of April...

Jaishankar says, India has limitless possibilities and uncountable challenges.

10May

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Jaishankar says, India has limitless possibilities and uncountable challenges.

London, UK: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said we have enormous possibilities with China but we have challenges as well.Speaking at an event 'Policy Exchange' in London, he said: "Our relation with China has enormous possibilities, it also has significant challenges. I am afraid some of those challenges are on display right now. It is common sense that you can develop a relationship if it is free of tension and friction, if not actually coercion and conflict."He pointed out that at this time, a very large Chinese military massing of forces close to border areas of India, which has impacted growth of the relationship between the two countries."At this time, we have a very large Chinese military massing of forces close to our border areas. That has impacted growth of th...

Japan expresses objection over China at G7

8May

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Japan expresses objection over China at G7

London, UK: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed growing concerns over a number of issues related to China. On the second day of Group of Seven (G7) ministerial meetings in London.Motegi stressed on China's attempts to change the status quo in the East China and South China seas, the situation around Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.Tokyo also raked up Beijing's handling of human rights of the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang province, which it said has caused "grave concerns". Motegi also discussed regional issues at the meeting.The meeting lays the groundwork for the summit among world leaders in June.On Monday, Motegi had agreed with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to step up cooperation to deal with China and promised to fur...

in safeguards in EU-China investment deal Civil society calls for rights

8May

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in safeguards in EU-China investment deal Civil society calls for rights

An appeal has been launched to European Institutions calling for the inclusion of enforceable human rights clauses in the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). In view of the upcoming Plenary session of the European Parliament, the CSOs in the letter expressed "grave concern" at the omission of a human rights clause from the discussion about the agreement and its final text, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) said in a statement. They state that the omission of rights clause "sends a signal that the European Union will push for closer cooperation [with China] regardless of the scale and severity of human rights abuses carried out by the Chinese Communist Party, even when Beijing is in direct and open violation of international treaties and ...

6May

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India saw hope in Japan-US meet.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on his visit to the United States last month has set the agenda for the wider Indo-Pacific engagement of Tokyo and its evolving priorities went other way as people were not expecting to be.Focus on ChinaRight at the outset, it was clear that the crux of the discussions during this first in-person meeting between the newly anointed President of the United States, Joe Biden, and Mr. Suga would revolve around China. To begin with, Tokyo and Washington drilled down to brass tacks on their joint security partnership given the need to address China’s recent belligerence in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas as well as in the Taiwan Strait. Both sides affirmed the centrality of their treaty alliance, for long a source of stability in East

Bhutan rejects the suggestion of boundary talks by China

5May

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Bhutan rejects the suggestion of boundary talks by China

NEW DELHI: Bhutan has rejected the offer of chines to alter the terms related to the China and Thimpu talksThe 10th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) between China and Bhutan, held in Kunming from 6 and 9 April, was marked by Chinese assertiveness and impatience because of Bhutan’s insistence on sticking to the existing framework on boundary talks instead of adopting a new formula, informed sources have revealed.For instance, China wants Bhutan to amend the clause in the ‘Guiding Principles’ that mandates both sides to maintain the status quo on the boundary as it existed in March 1959. The Bhutanese delegation, however, pointed out to their Chinese counterparts that the clause about maintaining status quo was included in the existing framework on boundary talks at the insistence of the then Chi

Indo-Pacific strategy to be put at loggerheads with China: EU

4May

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Indo-Pacific strategy to be put at loggerheads with China: EU

Manila, Philippines: Unique Indo-Pacific strategy was introduced by European Union which declared to put the EU at loggerheads with China.The Council today adopted conclusions on an EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, setting out the EU's intention to reinforce its strategic focus, presence and actions in this region of prime strategic importance for EU interests. The aim is to contribute to regional stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development, at a time of rising challenges and tensions in the region.The 10-page document comes as China continues to threaten the security of the area by claiming sovereignty in most parts of the region.Richard Javad Heydarian writes for Asia Times that the timing and the language of the policy paper show that rising concerns ove...

Maritime exercises in disputed sea conducted by Philippines amid tensions with China

1May

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Maritime exercises in disputed sea conducted by Philippines amid tensions with China

Manila, Philippines: As Chinese coast guard ships continue to amass near a disputed reef in the South China Sea. The Philippines has conducted maritime exercises in the disputed West Philippine Sea. Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources began their "intensified" maritime training, CNN Philippines reported. In a statement, the PCG said eight capital ships of the national government have been deployed for the maritime exercises in Bajo De Masinloc and Pag-asa Island. The exercises cover navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations. Lawyers, medical workers, and maritime specialists are also on board the vessels, the PCG said. The vessels would also be used to perform maritime drills in the Batan...

UAE held help hand to India said will help with all resources.

29Apr

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UAE held help hand to India said will help with all resources.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of UAE has forwarded a friendly hand to India and assured UAE’s full support in the tough times which country is going through.This came in a phone call made by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Sunday with Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, wherein His Highness said that the leadership, government and people of the UAE are in full solidarity with the Republic of India in these challenging circumstances and support the Indian government in all measures it takes to contain the repercussions of the pandemic.Sheikh Abdullah expressed UAE's keenness to dedicate all resources in support of the efforts currently undertaken by the government of India to weather th

To prevent China from dominating in South China Sea Vietnam builds up maritime militia

27Apr

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To prevent China from dominating in South China Sea Vietnam builds up maritime militia

Beijing, China: as Beijing ramps up efforts to dominate the disputed waterway in South China sea, Vietnam is building up its maritime militia in the same waters. "Vietnam's maritime militia force and their activities in waters near Hainan, the Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands have threatened China's maritime law enforcement and national defence-security," Naval and Merchant Ships magazine said in an article published last week. The matter must be "taken seriously and dealt with in a timely manner", it said. Vietnam passed a law in 2009 that authorises its maritime militia to conduct sea patrols and surveillance and confront and expel intruding foreign vessels in defence of Vietnamese-controlled islands and reefs. While the European Union has estimated that about 8,000 fishi...