New Delhi [India], September 9 (ANI): The foreign secretaries of India, France and Australia co-chaired a first trilateral dialogue on Wednesday with an objective to “synergising their respective strengths to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based” Indo-Pacific Region.
The virtual meeting was chaired by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla; Secretary-General of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Francois Delattre; Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary, Frances Adamson, according to a statement by Ministry of External Affairs.
The focus of the dialogue was on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, the ministry said.

“The outcome-oriented meeting was held with the objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and synergising their respective strengths to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific Region. The three sides agreed to hold the dialogue on an annual basis,” the statement read.
During the dialogue, the three sides discussed economic and geostrategic challenges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic responses to COVID-19.
Cooperation on Marine Global Commons and potential areas for practical cooperation at the trilateral and regional level were also discussed, including through regional organisations such as The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Commission, the statement read.
The three countries also had an exchange on the priorities, challenges and trends in regional and global multilateral institutions, including the best ways to strengthen and reform multilateralism.

Japan calls for increased cooperation in Indo-Pacific to counter China expansion

Tokyo [Japan], September 09 (ANI): Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono on Wednesday called for increased cooperation in the India-Pacific region to counter Chinese expansion.
Speaking at a webinar held by Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies, Kono pitched for a larger regional mechanism or global mechanism to counter China.
“In order to check Chinese expansion. I think we need to force China to pay some cost when they are violating international rules, international norms … The U.S. and Japan alone cannot do it. I think we need to work with the global community. So a larger regional mechanism or global mechanism would be necessary,” Kono was quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
Indo Pacific region is largely viewed as an area comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.
China‘s territorial claims in the South China Sea its efforts to advance into the Indian Ocean are seen to have challenged the established rules-based system. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims in the South China Sea.
In recent years, Japan has expressed increasing concern regarding Beijing’s activities in the region especially concerning the situation with the disputed Senkaku islands, known in China as the Diaoyudao islands and claimed by Beijing to be Chinese territory.

China growing anxious as Myanmar proceeds cautiously with BRI projects: Report

Naypyitaw [Myanmar], September 9 (ANI): Chinese officials are growing anxious as Myanmar government is taking cautious steps regarding the implementation of already-delayed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects.
Recently Yang Jiechi, a Politburo member and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission under the Communist Party of China‘s (CPC) Central Committee, recently made a stop in Myanmar capital en route to Europe and conveyed that Myanmar has “set a high standard” when it comes to green-lighting BRI projects, reported The Irrawaddy.
Yang’s high status as a Politburo member gave the meetings a greater significance than Myanmar leaders’ discussions with previous visitors such as State Councilor Wang Yi and Song Tao, the head of the International Department of the CPC’s Central Committee, the report said. The meetings also gave Naypyitaw a rare chance to convey important messages to the highest levels in Beijing.
During the working meeting with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar side emphasized the need for quality investment from China.
The Irrawaddy, in an article, said that the government is proceeding cautiously with the BRI projects and the pace of implementation remains slow.
China has proposed 38 projects under CMEC and Myanmar so far has approved only nine.
Since last year senior Myanmar officials said that Myanmar will only implement the projects that can guarantee mutual benefits for both sides.
Myanmar is demonstrating caution and resistance to China, which has been attempting to deepen its influence through the China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).
Beijing is eager to see the implementation of its delayed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects start before elections in Myanmar in November, sources said, adding that the Chinese are also concerned with the growing influence of other partners in Myanmar namely the US and Japan.
“Beijing is well aware that both Myanmar officials and the public are wary of the BRI projects and has taken note of the steady rise of anti-Chinese sentiment in Myanmar,” the article noted.
A recent increase in the military capabilities of armed ethnic groups in northern Myanmar is causing serious concern among Myanmar‘s military leadership. Since last year, the military has seized several caches of Chinese made weapons near the northern border.
China is supplying funds and sophisticated weaponry to armed groups in Myanmar and the Naypyitaw-designated terrorist group, the Arakan Army, to have leverage over Myanmar and India, Licas News had reported.
A military source with experience in South-East Asia confirmed that China is providing approximately 95 per cent of Arakan Army funding. He further revealed that the Arakan Army has approximately 50 MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) surface-to-air missiles.
Even as it promises to assist Myanmar‘s ongoing peace process, China continues to back ethnic insurgents based in northern Myanmar. (ANI)