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Conflicts - Tensions
U.S. Coast Guard affirms legality of patrols, boardings with Pacific partners
Reuters Recent boardings of Chinese fishing boats by the United States Coast Guard and Pacific island partners were conducted at the behest of Pacific nations to protect their coastal fisheries, officials said, dismissing Beijing’s claims that the joint patrols violate international law. Six Chinese fishing vessels were found to be violating Vanuatu’s fisheries law after being inspected by local police…
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Global Commons
South Korean peacekeepers support infrastructure, agriculture initiatives in South Sudan
Felix Kim From civil engineering projects to dispensing medical supplies and introducing a new variety of rice, South Korean peacekeepers are helping enhance South Sudan’s infrastructure and supporting the young nation’s population. Known as the Hanbit Unit, Seoul’s peacekeepers first deployed to the Central African nation in 2013 to help improve living conditions, boost security and foster development within the…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Australian, New Zealand defense forces supporting Solomon Islands elections
Tom Abke International partners including Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations are providing security, logistical and other assistance to support the Solomon Islands conduct national elections in April 2024. In addition to defense and police personnel, Pacific neighbors are contributing financial assistance to the island nation. Almost 150 of the nearly 1,000 islands, atolls and reefs that comprise the…
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Global Commons
South Korea launches second reconnaissance satellite amid tensions with North Korea
The Associated Press South Korea recently launched its second reconnaissance satellite, days after North Korea reaffirmed its plan to launch multiple spy satellites in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the reconnaissance satellite, which launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, entered orbit and communicated with an overseas ground station. With the early April…
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Global Commons
Houthi rebel attacks expose PRC’s disingenuous platitudes, failure to protect global commons
FORUM Staff Iranian-linked Houthi rebels have attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea and northwest Indian Ocean more than 50 times since mid-November 2023. Operating from Yemen, they sank a ship in February 2024, killed three crew members and injured four others in March, and have damaged more than 20 ships, according to news reports. The attacks have caused an…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Allies, Partners resolute over North Korea WMD sanctions, condemn Russia’s veto
FORUM Staff Russia’s latest attempt to weaken monitoring of United Nations sanctions of North Korea over its illegal nuclear weapons program will have negligible impact, according to security experts. In late March 2024, Moscow vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate for a panel of experts (POE) to monitor the sanctions. The veto has instead…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
After maritime exercise with Allies and Partners, Philippines seeks South China Sea talks with PRC
Reuters Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for talks with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to prevent more incidents of Beijing’s vessels ramming and firing water cannons at Philippine boats in the South China Sea. Manila is exhausting all options for discussions with the Chinese leadership to ease tensions in the waterway, Marcos said. He said he hoped…
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Conflicts - Tensions
President Biden affirms importance of Taiwan Strait peace, security in call with Xi
FORUM Staff United States President Joe Biden raised Indo-Pacific security concerns during his recent telephone conversation with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping, including maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the importance of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. During the nearly two-hour conversation, President Biden also “emphasized the U.S.’s enduring commitment to…
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Conflicts - Tensions
India dismisses Beijing’s arbitrary renaming of 30 places in Himalayan border state
Reuters India rejected the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) renaming of about 30 places in India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, calling Beijing’s arbitrary move “senseless” and reaffirming that the border province is an “integral” part of India. New Delhi repeatedly has dismissed Beijing’s claims to the Himalayan state. The PRC similarly ratcheted up tensions in 2023 by designating Chinese names for…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Australia, India eye closer collaboration on underwater domain awareness
Mandeep Singh Underwater domain awareness (UDA) is of growing interest to Australia and India, prompted by the increasing number of underwater assets deployed by China’s People’s Liberation Army. Canberra and New Delhi have highlighted UDA in joint defense exercises and bilateral talks, with more comprehensive collaboration planned, officials and analysts say. “The escalating presence of Chinese submarines and unmanned underwater…
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