VIF Information Alerts - 1 Mar 2018

Brexit: European Commission publishes draft Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement
Published: European Commission
28 Feb 2018

The European Commission has today published the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The draft Withdrawal Agreement translates into legal terms the Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on the progress achieved during phase 1 of the negotiations, published on 8 December 2017, and proposes text for those outstanding withdrawal issues which are mentioned in, but not set out in detail, in the Joint Report. It also integrates the text on the transition period, based on the supplementary negotiating directives adopted by the Council (Article 50) on on 29 January 2018.

Text of the Draft Withdrawal Treaty Click here to read... [2]

US warns law enforcement partners from around the world of spreading ISIS threat
Published: The Straits Times
01 Mar 2018

The United States warned judicial and law enforcement officials from around the world of the dangers posed by an increasingly decentralised Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group spreading to new regions.

At a two-day conference in Washington that concluded on Wednesday (Feb 28), the US State Department designated seven ISIS-linked groups as terrorist threats - underlining the reach of the network. Click here to read... [3]

China has plan to build nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Published: Today
28 Feb 2018

China is developing technologies to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, state media reported on Wednesday (feb 28), as Beijing pushes forward with an ambitious military modernisation programme.

State-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), the country's largest naval vessel manufacturer, revealed the ambition in a list of technical developments the company hopes to achieve as part of weaponry upgrades for the Chinese navy by 2025, according to the state-backed Global Times. Click here to read... [4]

Duterte: Philippines co-owns West Philippine Sea with China
Published: Philstar
01 Mar 2018

Following his pivot to China, President Duterte yesterday bragged that Beijing has recognized that it is a “co-owner” with the Philippines with regard to disputed areas in the South China Sea. Duterte said China has offered the Philippines joint exploration of the South China Sea after he opted to shift foreign policy in favor of Beijing – a 180-degree turn from the stance of the previous Aquino administration. Click here to read... [5]

Philippines says any energy deal in disputed waters must be with Chinese company, not govt
Published: VNExpress
01 Mar 2018

Any potential deals between Manila and Beijing on energyexploration in the South China Sea (which Vietnam calla the East Sea) should be agreed with a company and not the Chinese government, the Philippines' presidential spokesman said on Thursday.

China claims most of the South China Sea, a key route in global trade and resource-rich territory whose parts are subject to competing claims with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Click here to read... [6]

Welcome India's efforts in Act East policy: Tran Dai Quang, Vietnamese president
Published: The Economic Times
01 Mar 2018

Vietnam cherishes defence partnership with India, President Tran Dai Quang told ET’s Dipanjan Roy Chaudhary in an interview during a visit that will be marked by landmark memorandums of understanding in civil nuclear cooperation and port development. He said Vietnam encourages investments from India and wants India to rank among top ten investors in the country, up from 28th in 2017. Quang’s visit comes just over a month after Vietnamese Prime Minister’s visit to Delhi as India seeks to expand foothold in China’s periphery. Click here to read... [7]

Amid Souring Ties, India May Choose Indonesia Over Maldives in UNSC Elections
Published: The Wire
28 Feb 2018

When the time comes for India to choose between Maldives and Indonesia as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in June, New Delhi may break its long-stated commitment to the Indian Ocean nation. The Maldives had announced over a decade ago its intention to stand for election to the non-permanent seat in the Security Council for the 2019-20 term. Until now, India has consistently supported Malé’s undertaking.

However, complications have crept in – like Indonesia’s support for the Indian candidate for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the current state of relations with the Indian Ocean nation – which have led to a re-think. Sources told The Wire that there have been “indications” that India has changed its mind on keeping its commitment to the Maldives. The elections for non-permanent UNSC members are scheduled in June this year. Click here to read... [8]

India was not interested in building ports or highways in Sri Lanka, says former President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Published: The Hindu
01 Mar 2018

Former Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that India was not interested in building ports and highway projects in his country when it was first offered.

“We offered India first - port/highways. But somehow they were interested in building the port at Hambantota. The government did not want it at that time because it was war time I think,” Mr. Rajapaksa told reporters here on Wednesday on his return from Tirupathi. His response came to a question on increasing interest from China in Sri Lankan projects. Click here to read... [9]

Sri Lanka to sign Convention on Cluster Munitions
Published: Colombo Gazette
28 Feb 2018

President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Minister of Defence, has obtained cabinet approval to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Government says the Sri Lanka armed forces have never used cluster bombs and showing its commitment on preventing use of cluster bombs, it was decided to accede to the convention which was ratified by 102 countries. Click here to read... [10]

Cabinet puts on hold Nepal’s status upgradation in UN
Published: Kathmandupost
01 Mar 2018

The government on Wednesday decided not to graduate Nepal from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category to developing country category for now. The cabinet meeting on Wednesday took decision to send report to the United Nations (UN) stating not to Nepal from LDC category in 2018. As of now, there are 48 countries under LDC category including Nepal. Click here to read... [11]