Ukraine's Foreign Minister Makes 'Strong' Statement, UK Has New Defense Minister

US officials believe in Ukraine's counterattack progress, EU officials make 'strange' statements about Gabon... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.

Mr. Grant Shapps will become the UK's Defense Secretary. (Source: PA Media)

The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.

* Russia continues to target Ukrainian command centers: On August 30, in its daily report, the Russian Defense Ministry said: “During the night of August 30, the Russian military continued to deploy a series of continuous attacks with air-to-surface missiles and ship-launched missiles on the command posts and intelligence centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU). All targeted targets were destroyed.”

* Ukrainian Foreign Minister Responds to Criticism of Counterattack Campaign : On August 31, speaking at the meeting of foreign ministers of European Union (EU) member states in Toledo, Spain, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that criticizing the slow speed of the counterattack is no different from disrespecting Ukrainian soldiers who are sacrificing their lives every day to advance and regain territory.

Standing next to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Mr Kuleba said: “I advise all critics to shut up, go to Ukraine and try to win back one square centimetre.”

A day earlier, speaking in Paris (France), Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed that Kiev's capture of Rabotino in the southeast this week would allow them to easily advance further south towards the Crimean Peninsula.

“Having entrenched ourselves on the flank of Rabotino, we are opening the way to Tokmak and, ultimately, Melitopol and the administrative border with the Crimean Peninsula,” he said.

* US: Ukraine is making progress in counterattack : On August 30, White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator John Kirby assessed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) are gradually making progress in the counterattack campaign. He noted that the US will continue to support Ukraine in terms of security systems.

However, on the same day, American radio host Garland Nixon said that VSU was at risk of losing all its personnel in the near future, and this development would mark the end of the counter-offensive campaign. According to Nixon, there seemed to be a shortage of personnel within the VSU ranks. (VNA)

* China mentions new communication channels with the US : On August 31, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesman Shu Jiaoting emphasized that establishing new communication channels between the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the US is an important step to stabilize bilateral economic and trade relations, and at the same time create a favorable environment for the industrial and business community to promote practical cooperation.

However, she said that Minister Wang Wentao called on Washington to treat Chinese companies investing in the United States “equally,” while calling the tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese imports “discriminatory.” He made the call during a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo this week. (Reuters/Xinhua)

* China affirms that it has “ not stopped ” military communications with the US : On August 31, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian emphasized: “I want to make it clear that military communications between China and the US have not stopped,” emphasizing that there are still “difficulties and obstacles” in the relationship between the two countries.

China had previously rejected a US request to hold a meeting between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu on the sidelines of a Singapore defense forum in June. Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for allegedly purchasing Russian weapons equipment. (Reuters)

Southeast Asia

* Philippines rejects China's "10-dash line map" : On August 31, Manila criticized Beijing for its "Standard Map" depicting Philippine territory within its borders in the South China Sea. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs affirmed: "The Philippines rejects the 2023 version of the Chinese Standard Map issued by the Department of Natural Resources on August 28, because this map includes the nine-dash line (now the 10-dash line), which is said to be China's boundary in the South China Sea."

“This latest attempt to legitimize China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the ministry said. (Reuters)

* Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra requests pardon : On August 31, Thai media quoted Minister of Justice Wisanu Krea-ngam as saying that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had submitted a request for a royal pardon through his family. According to regulations, the pardon request will be sent through the Department of Corrections to the Minister of Justice. The Prime Minister will then review it and submit it to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Previously, on August 22, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin returned to Thailand after 17 years of exile. After returning home, the Criminal Division for Political Position Holders of the Supreme Court ordered Thaksin to be imprisoned with a total sentence of 8 years in prison on 3 different charges.

Notably, Mr. Thaksin returned to the country just before Mr. Srettha Thavisin, a member of the Pheu Thai Party and a close ally of Mr. Thaksin for many years, officially became the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand. However, on the first day of his sentence at the Bangkok Remand Camp, he was transferred to the Police General Hospital due to health problems and is currently being treated at the hospital. (Bangkok Post)

South Asia

* India reduces Russian oil imports: The world's third-largest oil consumer reduced its oil imports from Moscow in August for the third consecutive month, down to 1.57 million barrels per day, down 24% from the previous month, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. August became the month in which India imported the least amount of Russian oil since January.

Indian refiners also cut imports from Iraq by 10% to 848,000 barrels a day in August, data showed. Some of that volume was replaced by imports from Saudi Arabia, which rose 63% from the previous month to 852,000 barrels a day. India’s consumption of Russian crude has soared since last year, hitting a peak of 2.15 million barrels a day in May, as refiners scrambled to scoop up deeply discounted cargoes.

However, the Mangalore refinery and petrochemicals plant in the southwestern state of Karnataka, with a capacity of 301,000 barrels per day, has cut imports by two-thirds. Viktor Katona, senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, said Mumbai-based Reliance's purchases have fallen to 1.1 million barrels per day from a normal average of 1.2-1.3 million barrels due to a planned shutdown of a crude distillation unit in September. However, India's crude imports, which fell 7% in August to 4.35 million barrels per day, are likely to rise from October as demand accelerates in the fourth quarter and there are no major maintenances in the coming months. (TTXVN)

Northeast Asia

* China, Japan, South Korea discuss trilateral summit : South Korean officials said on August 31 that the country, Japan and China are discussing arranging a trilateral summit this year. South Korea is the host of the trilateral summit, which has not been held since 2019 due to historical disputes between South Korea and Japan, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)

* Japan actively supports fishermen affected by China's ban: On August 30, some sources said that Japan will mobilize the budget to support the fishing industry against the impact of China's ban. Tokyo may set up two funds worth 80 billion yen ($547.9 million) to help develop new sales channels and freeze surplus fish, waiting to be sold when demand recovers.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on August 31 to show his support for Japan’s seafood industry in the face of China’s ban. Earlier, Fisheries Minister Tetsuro Nomura said the government was taking steps to diversify Japan’s seafood export sources, especially for products that rely on China, such as scallops. China accounted for more than half of Japan’s scallop exports in 2022.

Japan may also take steps to urge China to lift the ban, including filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Tokyo says Beijing's ban has no scientific basis. (Kyodo)

* South Korea promotes domestic seafood consumption : On August 31, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced that the government will spend 80 billion won (60.4 million USD) to promote domestic seafood consumption, which was affected after Japan discharged treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.

The decision comes amid protests against Japan’s waste disposal practices due to concerns about the safety of seafood. According to Mr. Yoon, the money is intended to subsidize domestic seafood products to boost consumption.

President Yoon Suk-yeol also ate seafood for lunch on August 31 during a visit to the Noryangjin fish market in Seoul, the latest move by the leader to promote local seafood consumption amid public concern over Japan's discharge of Fukushima wastewater into the sea. (Kyodo/Yonhap)

Europe

* Russia sends fighter jets to intercept Norwegian plane in Barents Sea : On August 31, the Russian Defense Ministry said one of its fighter jets was dispatched to intercept a Norwegian military plane approaching its airspace.

Moscow said it was the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent days. In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Norwegian plane turned around and left Russian airspace after being intercepted by a Russian MiG-31. (Reuters)

* The UK has a new Secretary of Defense: On August 31, Mr. Ben Wallace submitted his resignation as Secretary of Defense to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the same day. That same morning, Mr. Grant Shapps was appointed as Secretary of Defense.

Shapps previously served as Transport Secretary in the Boris Johnson government from 2019 to 2022; Home Secretary for the final six days of Liz Truss's term in October 2022; and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (October 2022 to February 2023). He was then appointed as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net-Zero Emissions. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Shapps' appointment as Defense Secretary. "Grant Shapps is an excellent choice to replace Ben Wallace," he said. (Xinhua/Reuters)

* Russian, Turkish leaders to hold talks on Black Sea grain deal : Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Russian resort of Sochi on October 4 to discuss mainly grain exports through the Black Sea, two sources familiar with the matter said on August 31. At the same time, the two leaders will discuss the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine as well as the agreement to allow the Eastern European country's grain exports through the Black Sea.

A 2022 Black Sea grain deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations collapsed after Russia announced it was pulling out in July. Ankara has since tried to persuade Moscow to return to the deal. Turkey hopes an upcoming meeting between President Erdogan and his Russian counterpart will help avert a food crisis. (Reuters)

Middle East-Africa

* Coup in Gabon: The military government has made a new move, many countries have spoken out: On August 30, the force leading the coup in Gabon appointed the Commander of the Gabonese Republican Guard, General Brice Oligui Nguema, as Chairman of the Transitional and Institutional Restoration Committee (CTRI) and interim President during the transition.

The decision was made at a meeting attended by Gabon's commanders, chiefs of staff and military generals, CTRI spokesman Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi said. The official said General Nguema had ordered the reconnection of the fiber optic cable and the restoration of radio and television signals, including French-language channels France 24, RFI and TV5 Monde . The CTRI representative also stressed the need to maintain peace in the country, as well as to preserve the stability and dignity of Gabon.

In addition, the nightly curfew, which was imposed after chaos at the end of the election process, will remain in place until further notice: “From tomorrow (August 31), Gabonese people will once again be able to move freely to work between 06:00 and 18:00 (local time). The traffic restrictions will remain in effect from 18:00 to 06:00 until further notice.”

Several countries have also reacted to CTRI's rise to power.

On August 30, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for maintaining stability in Gabon, where military officers carried out a coup and placed under house arrest President Ali Bongo, a childhood friend of Moroccan King Mohammed VI.

“Morocco is closely following the developments in the Republic of Gabon,” the statement said. It stressed the importance of maintaining stability in Gabon and the well-being of its people. Morocco also expressed confidence that the Gabonese people and institutions will act “in the greater interest of the country, defending its interests and meeting the aspirations of the people.”

“We call on those responsible to release and ensure the safety of government members and their families and to maintain civilian rule,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

“The military has no right to intervene by force in the political process. The Gabonese people must have the right to autonomy and freedom to decide their own future,” the German Foreign Ministry said.

On August 30, the British Foreign Office also criticized the “unconstitutional military takeover” in Gabon and called for the restoration of constitutional government in Gabon.

Notably, on August 31, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy affirmed that the military coup in Gabon cannot be compared with the recent coup in Niger. According to this official, officers intervened after President Ali Bongo won an unfair victory: “Of course, military coups are not the solution, but we must not forget that Gabon has had elections full of irregularities.” According to him, the fraudulent election could lead to a civilian “institutional coup.”

For its part, South Korea issued a special travel advisory for its citizens in Gabon on August 31. The foreign ministry urged its citizens to cancel or postpone their trips to Gabon and to leave if they have already been there, except for urgent matters. The warning can last up to 90 days. Seoul will continue to closely monitor the situation in Gabon and consider taking additional measures with travel advisories if necessary. ( AFP / Reuters / Xinhua / Yonhap )

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tin-the-gioi-318-ngoai-truong-ukraine-tuyen-bo-gat-anh-co-bo-truong-quoc-phong-moi-240416.html