VIF Information Alerts - 6 September 2018

Pakistan could soon emerge as World's 5th largest nuclear state: report

Published: The Asian Age

Pakistan currently has 140 to 150 nuclear warheads and the stockpile is expected to increase to 220 to 250 by 2025 if the current trend continues, according to a latest report by authors keeping a track of the country's nukes. The current estimate of 140 to 150 nuclear weapons exceeds the projection made by the US Defence Intelligence Agency in 1999 that Pakistan would have 60 to 80 warheads by 2020. Click here to read... [2]

Pakistan focussed to undermine India's territorial integrity through terrorism: India

Published: The Economic Times
06 Sep 2018

Pakistan's focus for decades has been to undermine India's territorial integrity through the "explicit use of terrorism" as a state policy, New Delhi said in a stern response after Islamabad raked up the Kashmir issue at the UN. Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi yet again raised the issue of Kashmir while addressing the High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace in the UN General Assembly Wednesday.Click here to read... [3]

'It's our RIGHT!' - UK risks antagonising Beijing with DELIBERATE South China Sea voyage

Published: Express
06 Sep 2018

The Royal Navy declared “freedom of navigation rights” as the HMS Albion passed by the Paracel Islands in recent days on its way to Vietnam. The Albion, a 22,000 ton amphibious ship carrying a contingent of Royal Marines, docked in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday following a deployment in and around Japan. One source said China sent a frigate and two helicopters to meet with the British vessel, but there was no aggression between the two. The other source said the Royal Navy ship did not enter the territorial seas around any of the islands, internationally judged as within twelve nautical miles of the feature.Click here to read... [4]

Chinese diplomats walk out of Nauru summit amid tensions over Taiwan

Published: South China Morning Post
05 Sep 2018

Nauru’s president has labelled China’s top diplomat at the Pacific Islands Forum “insolent” and accused him of trying to use Beijing’s might to bully the tiny island nation. President Baron Waqa’s outburst followed a tense exchange at the summit he is hosting on Tuesday when China’s special envoy to the forum, Du Qiwen, tried to address a meeting about climate change but Waqa refused to let him speak.Click here to read... [5]

Australia tried to water down climate change resolution at Pacific Islands Forum: leader

Published: The Guardian
06 Sep 2018

Pacific leaders issued the Boe declaration on Wednesday night, calling climate change “the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific” at the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum, which has been held in Nauru this week. However the forum communique – which focused heavily on climate change and the need for emissions reductions – was endorsed by leaders “with qualification”.Click here to read... [6]

Calls mount to avert 'massacre' in Syria's Idlib

Published: Channel NewsAsia
05 Sep 2018

International calls mounted on Wednesday (Sep 5) to avoid a "massacre" by regime forces in Syria's last rebel-held province of Idlib, two days before a summit between key powers backing the government and opposition. The United Nations says nearly three million people live in Idlib and global concern has risen in recent days over a threatened regime assault to oust rebels and jihadists from the northwestern province and surrounding areas.Click here to read... [7]