India's Proximity Archives
Date: November 22, 2023
South Asia
by Shreyas Deshmukh
On November 17, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took oath as the eighth President of Maldives. India’s Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju, attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Muizzu in Male. On the sideline of the ceremony, President Muizzu held a meeting with Mr Rijiju and “formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.” Both sides agreed to discuss “workable solutions” to continue the use of Indian military platforms by the Maldives and also reviewed the progress of the implementation of various projects in the Maldives with the support of India.
Bangladesh Election Commission has announced that it will hold the 12th parliamentary elections on January 7, 2024, for 300 seats. BNP has already declared that it will boycott the elections. The political violence in the last three weeks killed at least five people and 197 arson attacks were reported across the country. Bangladesh Supreme Court on November 19 dismissed an appeal by Jamaat-e-Islami seeking to overturn a 2013 ruling that barred it from participating in elections for violating the constitutional provision of secularism Bangladesh.
UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, on November 18 met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Also, the US Ambassador Donald Blome held meetings with leaders of various political parties, including PMLN leader Nawaz Sharif, PPP leader Yousuf Raza Gillani and IPP leader Jahangir Tareen, to discuss Pakistan’s political landscape and significance of an ‘enduring’ relationship between Pakistan and the United States. This was the second meeting of Nawaz Sharif with a foreign dignitary after his return from London.
Other Developments
Trade Agreement Signed Between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan
India - Sri Lanka joint military exercise Mitra Shakti – 2023 commenced on November 16, in Pune
Kabul raises issue of refugee assets with Islamabad
Southeast Asia
by Jayantika Rao T.V
On November 16, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta. In his address, he affirmed ASEAN’s centrality and appreciated its role in promoting dialogue and consensus in the region. He also reiterated India’s commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters in accordance with international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Minister Rajnath Singh called for regional security initiatives that are “consultative and development-oriented to reflect the larger consensus among various stakeholders”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also held bilateral meetings with his Indonesian and Vietnamese counterparts on the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus meeting on November 16, 2023 focussing on boosting overall bilateral ties including defence industrial collaboration. In his meeting with Vietnamese National Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang, the ministers reviewed the progress in the implementation of the ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership’.
During the 17th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) which was held in Jakarta, on November 15, the member states adopted the Jakarta Joint Declaration of the ADMM for Peace, Prosperity and Security which reaffirmed the ADMM’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation amongst ASEAN member states and plus countries to address regional security challenges while upholding ASEAN centrality and unity. The ADMM discussed a number of defence and security issues including the deteriorating situation in the Israel-Hamas war where numerous ASEAN member states citizens are stuck.
Other Developments
Taiwan's Presidential Front-Runner Picks U.S. Envoy As Running Mate
Philippines Launches Joint Sea, Air Patrols With U.S. Military
Philippines Woos Neighbours To Craft Code On South China Sea
Myanmar: Is The Rule Of Junta Under Threat?
East Asia
by Sanket Joshi
North Korea reportedly launched its first military reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyong-1' into orbit on November 21, despite condemnation from the US and its allies. South Korea, Japan, and the US informed that they were evaluating whether the launch had been successful. Washington asserted that the satellite launch violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and was likely to destabilize East Asia's security situation. On its part, South Korea announced that it will suspend an inter-Korean agreement intended to lower military tensions.
As North Korea and China pose growing security threats to Japan, the US State Department approved a USD 2.35 billion deal for 400 Tomahawk missiles with a range of 1,600 kilometres that will give Tokyo the ability to strike far-off enemy bases and command and control centres.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit 2023 was held in San Francisco, California, on November 16-17 under the theme “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All”. APEC Leaders’ Golden Gate Declaration reiterated its commitment to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment. For this, APEC reaffirmed the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. On the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida met with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders reiterated the importance of close strategic communication to build a stable and constructive relationship.
Other Developments
Japan and China agree to work on stable relationship, though only vague promises in seafood dispute
President Macron Expresses "Deep Concern" to Xi Over Russia, North Korea Military Ties
West Asia
by Sanket Joshi
The Israeli government approved a Qatari-mediated ceasefire agreement with Hamas on November 22 for a four-day period in Gaza to free 50 hostages who had been abducted into the Gaza Strip during Hamas' terrorist attack on October 7. Tel Aviv informed that this deal was the “first stage” of the return of all hostages. Earlier, in a virtual extraordinary summit held on November 21, ‘BRICS’ called for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, as well as humanitarian aid and protection of civilians in Gaza.
China hosted a delegation of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic nations on November 20, reiterating its call for a ceasefire in Gaza and opposing any forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, met with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo where she expressed gratitude to Egypt for facilitating humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, Egypt and the EU also opposed the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians and called for a two-state solution.
In advance of the 15th anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks, Israel has designated Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terrorist organization, demonstrating Tel Aviv's determination to strive for a unified global front in the fight against terrorism. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, has stressed that the Israel-Hamas conflict may stall progress on India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor (IMEC) and I2U2, but is confident that these ideas will “stand the test of time”.
Other Developments
Israel Ships "Legitimate Target", Warn Yemen's Houthis After Seizure Of India-Bound Vessel
At UN, India Opposes Terrorism, Supports Humanitarian Pauses in Israel-Hamas War
China and Saudi Arabia sign currency swap accord to foster bilateral commerce, giving a boost to the yuan’s globalisation
China
by Angana Guha Roy
In their first in-person meeting in a year, US President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. President Biden praised “real progress” with President Xi as they agreed to restore military-to-military communications in a bid to ease soaring tensions. Shortly after his meeting with Xi, Biden called Xi a dictator during a media interaction. Beijing responded to President Biden's comment by slamming it as “extremely incorrect and irresponsible political manipulation”. According to Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some careless individuals are always trying to cause trouble and damage China-U.S. relations, but their attempts will not succeed.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen has warned the EU’s 27 member states to get moving with de-risking economic ties with China or prepare for their businesses to be steamrollered by unfair Chinese competition. “Geopolitics and geoeconomics need to be considered even more closely together and dealt with on a European level”, she added.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has accused the Chinese navy of “dangerous, unsafe and unprofessional” conduct after an incident in international waters near Japan, marked a potential friction point with Beijing. Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles in a statement said that Australian divers aboard the long-range frigate HMAS Toowoomba were trying to clear fishing nets from its propellers on November 14 when a Chinese destroyer approached. Despite being warned that a diving operation was underway, the Chinese destroyer operated its sonar in a manner that “posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water,” the statement said. Responding to the statement Beijing said the Australian claims were unfounded. "We urge the Australian side to respect the facts, stop making reckless and irresponsible accusations against China," defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said, adding China "did not engage in any activities that may have affected the Australian divers”, the statement said.
Other Developments
Nepal-China ties tense up over TikTok, airport
Central Asia
by Jayantika Rao T.V.
On November 17, India hosted the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit virtually. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, was invited by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to participate in the panel discussion on “India and the Global South: Joint Development for a Better Future”. Minister Nurtleu emphasised the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and India, highlighting the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Global South. He emphasised the need to develop connectivity and diversify transport routes to strengthen this relationship further. He also stressed the importance of joint measures to reduce biological risks and recalled Kazakhstan’s President’s initiative to establish an International Biosafety Agency for technology transfer and experience exchange among countries.
The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov paid an official visit to Japan on November 17-20. On the first day of the visit, the official Kyrgyz delegation had a meeting with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, as well as other members of the Imperial family. There were also meeting with the speaker of the Japanese Parliament and the manager of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) where the development of inter-parliamentary relations as well as the strengthening of partnership with Japan including the involvement of reputable financial institutions were discussed.
On November 20, Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The leaders discussed many issues including the status and future of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Japan and the upcoming ‘Japan Central Asia’ meeting scheduled for 2024. Prime Minister Kishida emphasised the readiness of the Japanese Government to expand mutually beneficial partnership with Kyrgyzstan in the trade, economic and investment spheres. The leaders also signed a joint statement on the new era of friendship and an all-encompassing comprehensive partnership between the Kyrgyz Republic and Japan.
President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon paid an official visit to Russia on November 21-22 where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin before continuing on to Belarus for the Collective Security Treaty Organisation Summit on November 23. The agenda of the talks include “state and development prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic, and humanitarian spheres and other key aspects of the Russia-Tajikistan strategic partnership”.
Other Developments
Iran, Turkmenistan Ink Agreements in Roads, Power, and Trade Sectors
The Collective Security Treaty Organization Summit will meet in Minsk on November 23
by Shreyas Deshmukh
On November 17, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu took oath as the eighth President of Maldives. India’s Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju, attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Muizzu in Male. On the sideline of the ceremony, President Muizzu held a meeting with Mr Rijiju and “formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.” Both sides agreed to discuss “workable solutions” to continue the use of Indian military platforms by the Maldives and also reviewed the progress of the implementation of various projects in the Maldives with the support of India.
Bangladesh Election Commission has announced that it will hold the 12th parliamentary elections on January 7, 2024, for 300 seats. BNP has already declared that it will boycott the elections. The political violence in the last three weeks killed at least five people and 197 arson attacks were reported across the country. Bangladesh Supreme Court on November 19 dismissed an appeal by Jamaat-e-Islami seeking to overturn a 2013 ruling that barred it from participating in elections for violating the constitutional provision of secularism Bangladesh.
UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, on November 18 met PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Also, the US Ambassador Donald Blome held meetings with leaders of various political parties, including PMLN leader Nawaz Sharif, PPP leader Yousuf Raza Gillani and IPP leader Jahangir Tareen, to discuss Pakistan’s political landscape and significance of an ‘enduring’ relationship between Pakistan and the United States. This was the second meeting of Nawaz Sharif with a foreign dignitary after his return from London.
Other Developments
Trade Agreement Signed Between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan
India - Sri Lanka joint military exercise Mitra Shakti – 2023 commenced on November 16, in Pune
Kabul raises issue of refugee assets with Islamabad
Southeast Asia
by Jayantika Rao T.V
On November 16, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting - Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta. In his address, he affirmed ASEAN’s centrality and appreciated its role in promoting dialogue and consensus in the region. He also reiterated India’s commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in international waters in accordance with international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Minister Rajnath Singh called for regional security initiatives that are “consultative and development-oriented to reflect the larger consensus among various stakeholders”.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also held bilateral meetings with his Indonesian and Vietnamese counterparts on the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus meeting on November 16, 2023 focussing on boosting overall bilateral ties including defence industrial collaboration. In his meeting with Vietnamese National Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang, the ministers reviewed the progress in the implementation of the ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership’.
During the 17th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) which was held in Jakarta, on November 15, the member states adopted the Jakarta Joint Declaration of the ADMM for Peace, Prosperity and Security which reaffirmed the ADMM’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation amongst ASEAN member states and plus countries to address regional security challenges while upholding ASEAN centrality and unity. The ADMM discussed a number of defence and security issues including the deteriorating situation in the Israel-Hamas war where numerous ASEAN member states citizens are stuck.
Other Developments
Taiwan's Presidential Front-Runner Picks U.S. Envoy As Running Mate
Philippines Launches Joint Sea, Air Patrols With U.S. Military
Philippines Woos Neighbours To Craft Code On South China Sea
Myanmar: Is The Rule Of Junta Under Threat?
East Asia
by Sanket Joshi
North Korea reportedly launched its first military reconnaissance satellite 'Malligyong-1' into orbit on November 21, despite condemnation from the US and its allies. South Korea, Japan, and the US informed that they were evaluating whether the launch had been successful. Washington asserted that the satellite launch violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and was likely to destabilize East Asia's security situation. On its part, South Korea announced that it will suspend an inter-Korean agreement intended to lower military tensions.
As North Korea and China pose growing security threats to Japan, the US State Department approved a USD 2.35 billion deal for 400 Tomahawk missiles with a range of 1,600 kilometres that will give Tokyo the ability to strike far-off enemy bases and command and control centres.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit 2023 was held in San Francisco, California, on November 16-17 under the theme “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All”. APEC Leaders’ Golden Gate Declaration reiterated its commitment to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment. For this, APEC reaffirmed the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. On the sidelines of the APEC Summit, Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida met with Chinese President, Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders reiterated the importance of close strategic communication to build a stable and constructive relationship.
Other Developments
Japan and China agree to work on stable relationship, though only vague promises in seafood dispute
President Macron Expresses "Deep Concern" to Xi Over Russia, North Korea Military Ties
West Asia
by Sanket Joshi
The Israeli government approved a Qatari-mediated ceasefire agreement with Hamas on November 22 for a four-day period in Gaza to free 50 hostages who had been abducted into the Gaza Strip during Hamas' terrorist attack on October 7. Tel Aviv informed that this deal was the “first stage” of the return of all hostages. Earlier, in a virtual extraordinary summit held on November 21, ‘BRICS’ called for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, as well as humanitarian aid and protection of civilians in Gaza.
China hosted a delegation of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic nations on November 20, reiterating its call for a ceasefire in Gaza and opposing any forced displacement of Palestinian civilians. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, met with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo where she expressed gratitude to Egypt for facilitating humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. In addition, Egypt and the EU also opposed the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians and called for a two-state solution.
In advance of the 15th anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks, Israel has designated Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terrorist organization, demonstrating Tel Aviv's determination to strive for a unified global front in the fight against terrorism. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, has stressed that the Israel-Hamas conflict may stall progress on India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor (IMEC) and I2U2, but is confident that these ideas will “stand the test of time”.
Other Developments
Israel Ships "Legitimate Target", Warn Yemen's Houthis After Seizure Of India-Bound Vessel
At UN, India Opposes Terrorism, Supports Humanitarian Pauses in Israel-Hamas War
China and Saudi Arabia sign currency swap accord to foster bilateral commerce, giving a boost to the yuan’s globalisation
China
by Angana Guha Roy
In their first in-person meeting in a year, US President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. President Biden praised “real progress” with President Xi as they agreed to restore military-to-military communications in a bid to ease soaring tensions. Shortly after his meeting with Xi, Biden called Xi a dictator during a media interaction. Beijing responded to President Biden's comment by slamming it as “extremely incorrect and irresponsible political manipulation”. According to Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some careless individuals are always trying to cause trouble and damage China-U.S. relations, but their attempts will not succeed.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen has warned the EU’s 27 member states to get moving with de-risking economic ties with China or prepare for their businesses to be steamrollered by unfair Chinese competition. “Geopolitics and geoeconomics need to be considered even more closely together and dealt with on a European level”, she added.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has accused the Chinese navy of “dangerous, unsafe and unprofessional” conduct after an incident in international waters near Japan, marked a potential friction point with Beijing. Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles in a statement said that Australian divers aboard the long-range frigate HMAS Toowoomba were trying to clear fishing nets from its propellers on November 14 when a Chinese destroyer approached. Despite being warned that a diving operation was underway, the Chinese destroyer operated its sonar in a manner that “posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water,” the statement said. Responding to the statement Beijing said the Australian claims were unfounded. "We urge the Australian side to respect the facts, stop making reckless and irresponsible accusations against China," defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said, adding China "did not engage in any activities that may have affected the Australian divers”, the statement said.
Other Developments
Nepal-China ties tense up over TikTok, airport
Central Asia
by Jayantika Rao T.V.
On November 17, India hosted the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit virtually. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu, was invited by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to participate in the panel discussion on “India and the Global South: Joint Development for a Better Future”. Minister Nurtleu emphasised the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and India, highlighting the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Global South. He emphasised the need to develop connectivity and diversify transport routes to strengthen this relationship further. He also stressed the importance of joint measures to reduce biological risks and recalled Kazakhstan’s President’s initiative to establish an International Biosafety Agency for technology transfer and experience exchange among countries.
The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov paid an official visit to Japan on November 17-20. On the first day of the visit, the official Kyrgyz delegation had a meeting with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, as well as other members of the Imperial family. There were also meeting with the speaker of the Japanese Parliament and the manager of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) where the development of inter-parliamentary relations as well as the strengthening of partnership with Japan including the involvement of reputable financial institutions were discussed.
On November 20, Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The leaders discussed many issues including the status and future of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Japan and the upcoming ‘Japan Central Asia’ meeting scheduled for 2024. Prime Minister Kishida emphasised the readiness of the Japanese Government to expand mutually beneficial partnership with Kyrgyzstan in the trade, economic and investment spheres. The leaders also signed a joint statement on the new era of friendship and an all-encompassing comprehensive partnership between the Kyrgyz Republic and Japan.
President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon paid an official visit to Russia on November 21-22 where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin before continuing on to Belarus for the Collective Security Treaty Organisation Summit on November 23. The agenda of the talks include “state and development prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade, economic, and humanitarian spheres and other key aspects of the Russia-Tajikistan strategic partnership”.
Other Developments
Iran, Turkmenistan Ink Agreements in Roads, Power, and Trade Sectors
The Collective Security Treaty Organization Summit will meet in Minsk on November 23
