Russia imports weapons through Central Asia to avoid sanctions, China builds a large dock at a naval base in Cambodia, India repatriates 39 Myanmar soldiers... are some notable international news in the past 24 hours.
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| The Chinese and Pakistani navies are conducting their first joint patrol in the Arabian Sea, codenamed Sea Guardian-3, from November 11 to 17. (Source: IRIA) |
The World & Vietnam Newspaper highlights some of the day's international news highlights.
Asia-Pacific
*Japan warns of new fuel for North Korean missiles: On November 15, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno warned that North Korea is developing missiles using solid fuel to improve its surprise attack capabilities.
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Mr. Matsuno said: "We are closely monitoring, collecting information and analyzing North Korea's military activities, including signs of missile launches...".
Earlier on November 14, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the country had developed a new high-thrust solid-fuel engine for its intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) and had successfully conducted tests on November 11 and 14. South Korea predicted that on November 18, North Korea's Rocket Industry Day, Pyongyang could launch a spy satellite into orbit. (Sputnik)
*Russian delegation arrives in Pyongyang: On November 15, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that a Russian delegation led by Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov arrived in Pyongyang on November 14 to attend the 10th meeting of the Joint Commission for Trade, Economy, Science and Technology Cooperation between the two countries. KCNA said that working-level officials from both sides are seriously discussing "practical issues in realizing cooperation in various fields."
The visit comes as Pyongyang seeks to boost military cooperation with Russia following a rare summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 13. (Yonhap)
*US continues to send B-52 bombers to South Korea: Sources said the US will deploy B-52 bombers to South Korea on November 15 to participate in joint air force exercises with this country.
The B-52 bombers returned to South Korea less than a month after their first landing in South Korea on October 17. This will be the sixth joint exercise between the two allies this year involving the B-52 bombers - one of the US's strategic assets.
During annual bilateral security talks on November 13, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hailed the first B-52 landing in South Korea as “a significant milestone” for Washington’s deterrence efforts and revealed that “another carrier strike group will be arriving soon.” (AFP)
*India repatriates 39 Myanmar soldiers: India on November 14 safely repatriated 39 Army personnel back to Myanmar. Defence sources said the soldiers were flown in two planes from Hnahlan heliport in Champhai to Moreh town on the India-Myanmar border in Manipur. After landing in Moreh, they crossed the Tamu “friendship bridge” to return to Myanmar.
Nearly 5,000 Myanmar nationals have crossed into India recently, according to an Indian defense official. The Indian Home Ministry said they have been handed over to the Assam Rifles stationed at the border.
The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force responsible for border security, counter-insurgency and maintaining law and order in Northeastern India. Its primary mission is to guard the India-Myanmar border.
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*China builds large dry dock at Cambodian naval base: HI Sutton, a maritime security analyst, said that according to recent satellite imagery, a large new dry dock is being built at Ream base, near the Cambodian coastal city of Sihanoukville, at a location where the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is believed to be developing infrastructure for warships and submarines.
The new dry dock’s berth is large enough to accommodate one Chinese aircraft carrier, Sutton reports. The PLA Navy currently operates three.
On November 10, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Cambodia on its 70th anniversary of independence, saying he "attaches great importance to the development of China-Cambodia relations and is willing to work with King Sihamoni to strengthen the strategic direction of bilateral relations."
Cambodia has confirmed that it has received financial support from China to build the new base, at a time when relations between the two countries are increasingly close. However, Cambodia has maintained that the facility is being built for national defense. (Straits Times)
*US establishes coastal regiment in Okinawa: The US Marine Corps on November 15 established a coastal regiment in Okinawa to strengthen the defense of remote islands in southwestern Japan. The ceremony was attended by about 200 people, including General Yasunori Morishita - Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.
The Japanese and US governments confirmed the decision to establish the 12th Coastal Regiment at the 2+2 Dialogue involving the defense and foreign ministers in January 2023.
The 12th Marine Regiment, with about 2,000 soldiers, is the second Marine Corps coastal regiment. The first was established in Hawaii in March 2022, while a third is planned elsewhere in 2027. (Reuters)
*Pakistan, China conduct first joint patrol at sea: The Chinese and Pakistani navies are conducting their first joint patrol in the Arabian Sea, called Sea Guardian-3, from November 11 to 17.
China has deployed a Type 093 Song-class diesel-electric submarine and several destroyers to participate in the patrol. The joint exercise comes shortly after India and the United States held their fifth annual 2+2 ministerial dialogue on security cooperation on November 10 in New Delhi and after Russia and Myanmar held a naval exercise, starting on November 7, in the Andaman Sea.
While the US has traditionally been a major arms supplier to Pakistan for decades, China has now emerged as a key arms supplier with sales of artillery, fighter jets and submarines. (The Nation)
*Malaysia affirms close relations with China: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim affirmed that his country is not leaning towards China, however, geographically, Malaysia is closer and is a reliable friend and ally. Mr. Anwar noted that the US is equally important and is a traditional ally and a major investor that has helped boost the Malaysian economy.
“China is our neighbor, an important and economically developed country, and we will benefit immensely from continued cooperation with this country,” the Malaysian Prime Minister noted.
On Malaysia and more broadly ASEAN’s role in the South China Sea, Anwar said: “ASEAN has discussed its position. Ideally, we should have a multilateral view in the region in this engagement with China. Anwar said that better relations between China and the US would bring huge benefits to ASEAN countries, including Malaysia. (SCMP)
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*China and 5 ASEAN countries hold joint military exercises: China's Defense Ministry said on November 15 that it will conduct joint military exercises this month with five member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) focusing on counter-terrorism and maritime security.
According to a statement from China's Ministry of National Defense, the "Aman Youyi 2023" exercise will take place from mid-to-late November off the coast of Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, southern China. ASEAN member countries Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos will participate in the exercise.
The exercise aims to enhance counter-terrorism and anti-piracy capabilities in urban and maritime areas among participating countries for peace and stability in the region. (Straits Times)
*Russia-North Korea to continue to strengthen cooperation in all areas: North Korean Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Yun Jong Ho said on November 15 that the country and Russia will continue to strengthen neighborly relations and cooperation in all areas, bringing bilateral relations to a new level. A Russian delegation, led by Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, arrived in Pyongyang on November 14 to attend the 10th meeting of the Commission for Trade, Economy, Science and Technology Cooperation between the two countries.
According to KCNA, Mr. Kozlov stressed that "the DPRK, which is standing shoulder to shoulder against the forces of domination, has fully supported Russia in regional and international affairs." (KCNA)
Europe
*Russia imports military equipment through Central Asia to avoid sanctions: The Globe & Mail reported on November 14 that Russia is establishing new supply chains through Central and South Asian countries. These new logistics routes not only help Moscow replace weapons, equipment and resources it no longer receives from the West, but also act as transit hubs to avoid Western sanctions.
2022 saw a surge in Kyrgyzstan's imports, rising more than 72% year-on-year from $5.5 billion to $9.6 billion. Kyrgyzstan's exports to Russia also increased by 245%, from $393 million to $963 million.
In 2021, Russia did not import any explosive devices from Kyrgyzstan, but in 2022, the country shipped 115,920 electric detonators to Russia. Also in 2022, Kyrgyzstan imported 193,536 electric detonators from Canada, worth $3.7 million. (Globe Mail)
*Finland considers closing border with Russia: The Kremlin on November 15 expressed “deep regret” over Finland’s move to consider closing border crossings with Russia.
Speaking to reporters about the Finnish side's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed "deep regret at the Finnish leadership's deliberate choice to distance itself from what used to be good relations."
Russia and Finland share a 1,340-km land border, stretching mostly through forests near the Russian city of Saint Petersburg to the Arctic Circle. The Nordic country of 5.5 million people is building a 200-km fence along part of the border, with the project expected to be completed by 2026.
Today, Finland's borders are mostly fenced with lightweight wooden fences, designed primarily to prevent livestock from straying across the border. (Reuters)
*Ukraine pledges to continue reforms to integrate into the EU: Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on November 15, Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal stressed: "We will continue to follow the path of Ukrainian reforms. We are preparing bills and draft government decisions." He welcomed the European Commission's (EC) recommendation to launch negotiations on Ukraine's accession, affirming that this step will bring results in the medium and long term.
Prime Minister Shmyhal also noted that the reform programs requested by the EU will positively contribute to Ukraine's military strength, post-conflict reconstruction and economic growth.
Last week, the EC recommended that the European Council launch accession negotiations with Ukraine and adopt the negotiating framework once Kiev successfully implements specific key measures. The EU granted Kiev accession candidate status in June 2022. (TASS)
Africa-Middle East
*Israeli army discovers weapons in Hamas' Al-Shifa Hospital: The Israeli army (IDF) announced on the morning of November 15 that it had discovered many types of weapons and equipment belonging to Hamas forces inside Al-Shifa Hospital, but there were no signs of hostages being held there.
In a statement on social network X , the IDF said that during the entry into the hospital, there were no “collisions” between soldiers and patients. At least five Hamas militants were killed in the gun battle outside the hospital.
After several days of siege, the IDF has begun attacking Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which is hosting some 650 patients and thousands of refugees. In the face of public outcry, Israel has said it will only strike Hamas militants with precision and selectivity. (Reuters)
*Hezbollah does not want a "big war" with Israel: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia does not believe that Iran, Lebanon or the Hezbollah Islamist movement do not want the Hamas-Israel war to escalate into a wider regional conflict.
According to the Russian Foreign Minister, the presence of US troops in Syria is completely illegal and raises questions in Iraq, causing the Iraqi Parliament to order the government to request that US forces leave by 2020.
Lavrov predicted that militias in the region could be “provoked” by the mistreatment of Palestinians and continue to “attack Americans and Israelis,” but that this trend does not indicate that the top leadership intends to escalate the situation. (TASS)
America
*Cuba proposes establishing direct flights with China: During his official visit to China from November 2-9, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero expressed Havana's interest in establishing direct flights between China and Cuba.
Although there is no specific schedule, the Cuban Prime Minister believes that direct flights between Cuba and China can be established in 2024. Previously, in an interview with Xinhua , MINTUR's commercial director Gihana Galindo affirmed that the main difficulty hindering tourism development between the two countries is the lack of air connectivity.
Cuban sources say that so far this year, the Caribbean island has welcomed about 12,500 tourists from China. Some observers say that plans to establish a direct flight between Cuba and China, which would take about 18 hours, are not feasible. (Sputnik)
*Russian Customs considers setting up office in Cuba: Head of the Russian Federal Customs Service Ruslán Davidov recently said that the agency may set up a representative office in Havana to serve Russia's interests in Cuba. This office will also handle issues related to Nicaragua and Venezuela.
In June, Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian-Cuban Business Council, said that Cuba’s Mariel port was an ideal place to host a logistics hub for trade between Russia and Latin America. Changes in the logistics chain following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine have significantly increased the cost of shipping goods from Russia to Latin America, affecting bilateral trade. If previously it cost only about $6,000 to ship goods from Russia to Latin America, now the corresponding figure is at least $20,000.
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz also proposed that the Eurasian Economic Union establish an industrial park in the Mariel special economic zone to facilitate Russian investment in accessing the Latin American market. (VNA)
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