VIF Information Alerts - 19 April 2018

IMF praises India for using 'right policies' to lower high debt; says control over debt major challenge for China
Published: First Post
19 Apr 2018

India has “quite a high” debt to GDP ratio, but New Delhi is trying to lower it using “the right policies”, the International Monetary Fund has said. India’s general government debt remained relatively high, at 70 percent of the GDP in 2017, Abdel Senhadji, Deputy Director, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, told reporters at a news conference here.

“The debt level is relatively high (in India), but the authorities are planning to bring it down over the medium term with the right policies,” Senhadji said. In fiscal year 2017-18, India is planning to continue with the consolidation in the current fiscal year and over the medium term, the top IMF official said. Click here to read.... [2]

India, Britain to boost anti-terror ties, work together in Indo-Pacific
Published: The Quint
18 Apr 2018

India and Britain on Wednesday condemned terrorism in all its forms and agreed to strengthen cooperation to take "decisive and concerted actions" against globally-proscribed terrorists and terror entities while naming Pakistan-based terror outfits following talks between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Theresa May of Britain. In a significant move, the two sides also agreed to work together for an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Click here to read.... [3]

China may be jamming US Navy jets off aircraft carriers in the Pacific - and the US will 'not look kindly on it'
Published: Business Insider
18 Apr 2018

The US Navy's USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier has reached the Philippines, and a pilot on board reported possibly having his aircraft jammed by the Chinese. Beijing has built and militarized artificial islands in the South China Sea, and is extremely touchy about US Navy ships sailing around them despite their legal status as lying in international waters. While jamming isn't anywhere near shooting, the provocative activity "could lead to an escalatory pattern that could be negative for both sides," and the US will "not look kindly" on the practice, according to an expert. Click here to read.... [4]

Indian Navy’s cheeky tweet to China conveys message 'we see you'
Published: The Times of India
18 Apr 2018

The Navy today cheekily let China's naval force know, "we see you on the Indian Ocean". It did that by tweeting a "warm welcome" to three warships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA-N)) that entered the Indian Ocean region (IOR). The Navy then added "happy hunting" to its welcome message to the Chinese navy ships, which Beijing says belong to the 29th Anti-Piracy Escort Force of the PLA-N in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Click here to read.... [5]

OBOR impact: Why China's cheer may bring tears out of US, Pakistan and others
Published: The Financial Express
18 Apr 2018

China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is also known as ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) project, has sparked fears of many kinds in the international community. It is apparent that the Chinese want to use the project to increase its influence in the world along with its ever-growing economic and security prowess. A top American admiral has warned his country that China would be in a position to leverage the BRI projects to force countries for not granting military bases to the United States.

“China’s expanding global interests, especially its Belt and Road Initiative-associated projects, have Beijing increasingly looking beyond the region,” Admiral Philip S Davidson, nominee for US Pacific Command Commander, was quoted by PTI as telling the Senate Armed Services Committee. Click here to read.... [6]

US to restrict movement of Pakistani diplomats from May 1
Published: The Dawn
18 Apr 2018

The United States will place “reciprocal restrictions” on the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the country from May 1, forcing them to stay within 40km of the city they are posted in, a senior State Department official said on Tuesday.

In an interview with the Voice of America’s Uzbek service, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon said the United States was doing so because Islamabad had already imposed similar restrictions on US diplomats in Pakistan. Click here to read.... [7]

Russia firms taking keen interest in Pakistan
Published: The Express Tribune
18 Apr 2018

Pakistan and Russia are moving towards greater economic cooperation, which will have long-term impact on the economic relations of the two countries, said Russia Acting Ambassador Vladimir Berezyuk. “We have taken initiatives to boost our trade and economic ties,” he added. Addressing members of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) on Tuesday, Berezyuk said that Pakistan and Russia are making efforts for greater bilateral economic cooperation. Click here to read.... [8]

President signs bill extending jurisdiction of SC, PHC to FATA
Published: The Express Tribune
18 Apr 2018

President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday signed the Supreme Court (SC) and Peshawar High Court (PHC) extension of jurisdiction to FATA bill, 2018, Radio Pakistan reported. He signed the bill on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The bill had already been approved by the National Assembly and Senate. Click here to read.... [9]

Bangladesh a possible major beneficiary of BRI!
Published: Prothom Alo
18 Apr 2018

Bangladesh is one of the three key countries that are expected to be the biggest beneficiaries of China-led $1.5 trillion ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI), reports Tokyo-based Nomura. Bangladesh, it says, is set to receive total investment of $38 billion, equivalent to 15 per cent of its 2017 gross domestic product (GDP), under the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor, which is aimed at improving land, rail, water and air interconnection among the four countries. Click here to read.... [10]