India takes giant step to counter Chinese influence in Indian Ocean
India has swiftly taken a giant step in countering Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar signing two defence pacts with Maldives and Mauritius
| 24 Feb 2021 2:45 AM GMT
NEW DELHI: India has swiftly taken a giant step in countering Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar signing two defence pacts with Maldives and Mauritius each with a strong maritime dimension.
Jaishankar s pre-emptive strike follows Chinese inroads in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Hoping to lower its dependence on the Malacca Straits, which are dominated by the Americans, the Chinese have been making feverish efforts to secure the region s ports. Besides, Beijing is trying to kill two birds with one stone. In trying to assert in the IOR, the Chinese simultaneously want to the undermine the regional influence of India, another rising power.
India takes giant step to counter Chinese influence in Indian Ocean Region
Follow Newsd On
By Atul Aneja
New Delhi, Feb 23: India has swiftly taken a giant step in countering Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar signing two defence pacts with Maldives and Mauritius each with a strong maritime dimension.
Jaishankar’s pre-emptive strike follows Chinese inroads in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Hoping to lower its dependence on the Malacca Straits, which are dominated by the Americans, the Chinese have been making feverish efforts to secure the region’s ports. Besides, Beijing is trying to kill two birds with one stone. In trying to assert in the IOR, the Chinese simultaneously want to the undermine the regional influence of India, another rising power.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar will be holding another Quad meeting on Thursday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other counterparts from Japan and Australia to discuss rising challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, climate change and other issues.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian s Regular Press Conference on January 29, 2021
2021/01/29
China Review News: The British government announced that the new policy on British National Overseas (BNO) passport and visa will take effect on January 31. Do you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: In disregard of China s solemn position and the fact that it has been 24 years since Hong Kong returned to the motherland, the British side blatantly violated its commitment, formulated the so-called bespoke policy of abode and citizenship in the UK for BNOs, and continued to expand its scope of application. By trying to turn many Hong Kong residents into second-class citizens in the UK, the British side has discarded the mutual understanding on the BNO between China and the UK. The BNO today is nothing like what it was. The UK s move grossly violates China s sovereignty, interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China s internal affairs, and runs counter to international law and basic norms