VIF Information Alerts - 24 July 2019

Eye On China, India Set To Kick-Start 1st Space War Drill
Published: The Times of India

24 Jul 2019

The Indian armed forces are all set to conduct the country’s first-ever simulated space warfare exercise this week, which will lead to an assessment of the “imminent threats” in the expanse beyond earth and the drafting of a joint space doctrine for futuristic battles.
The tri-Service integrated defence staff (IDS) under the defence ministry is conducting the two-day “IndSpaceEx”, with all military and scientific stakeholders on Thursday and Friday, in the backdrop of China’s rapidly expanding space and counter-space capabilities.Click here to read... [2]

Imran Khan big admission in US says, 40,000 terrorist still in Pakistan
Published: Hindustan Times

24 Jul 2019

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday made a startling revelation that his country still has about 30,000 to 40,000 militants “who have been trained and fought in some part of Afghanistan or Kashmir.” The Pakistani leader made these comments at the United States Institute of Peace during his three-day visit to the nation.Click here to read... [3]

China issues white paper on national defense in new era
Published: Xinhua

24 Jul 2019

China on Wednesday issued a white paper to expound on its defensive national defense policy in the new era and explain the practice, purposes and significance of China's efforts to build a fortified national defense and a strong military. Titled "China's National Defense in the New Era," the white paper was released by the State Council Information Office, with a view to helping the international community better understand China's national defense.Click here to read... [4]

Fury As Trump Said He Could Wipe Afghanistan Off The Earth
Published: TOLO News

23 Jul 2019

Strong reactions pour in among Afghanistan’s ordinary people and political elites following US president’s controversial remarks about the war in the country, especially when he said that he could wipe Afghanistan off the Earth if he wanted to. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement said that partnership and cooperation between Afghanistan and the US should be based on mutual respect and in line with the interests of the two countries, asking Trump to clarify his statement.Click here to read... [5]

Australia to create new Pacific military unit to counter Chinese regional influence
Published: The Telegraph

23 Jul 2019

Australia will create a new military unit dedicated to training and assisting Pacific allies, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said on Tuesday, as Canberra accelerates plans to undercut Chinese influence in the region.
Australia, which long enjoyed virtually unchecked influence in the Pacific, and its Western allies worry that the region has edged closer to China in recent years as Beijing increases aid to the sparsely populated region and its resource-rich oceans.Click here to read... [6]