The Roundup

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Analysis: Why more Southeast Asian countries have signalled interest to join BRICS • Several ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, have shown interest in joining BRICS. Countries are motivated by the desire to diversify their global economic options and strengthen their international standing. • BRICS offers potential benefits in investment, trade, and infrastructure financing, particularly from China and India. The group's collective potential is attractive for national interest calculations. • Analysts warn that joining BRICS could lead to overreliance on China, impacting ASEAN countries in the US-China trade war and South China Sea conflicts. Economic risks include China's slowing domestic demand and property crisis, which could affect ASEAN economies. • Membership could lead to avoiding criticism of China on sensitive issu

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Jun 10, 2024 (Monday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.        Beijing Says US Provoking Arms Race in Moves into South China Sea . The US poses the largest security challenge in the South China Sea as its military deployment there is turning it into “the whirlpool of an arms race,” Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.          2.        South Korea Restarts Anti-North Korea Loudspeaker Broadcasts in Retaliation for Trash Balloons . South Korea resumed anti-North Korean propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas in retaliation for the North sending over 1,000 balloons filled with trash and manure over the last couple of weeks. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Ukrainian Warplane Fires Weapon at Target Inside Russia for First Time . A Ukrainian warplane has for the first time fired a weapon that struck a target inside Russia, a Ukrainian military source

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 31, 2024 (Friday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.        China's military says Taiwan drills met goals but it is ready for further action . China’s military achieved its expected goals during two days of drills around Taiwan last week but is prepared for further action if provoked.         2.        ‘Hong Kong 47’ trial: 14 democrats found guilty in landmark subversion case . Fourteen Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were found guilty and two were acquitted in a landmark subversion trial that critics say could deal another blow to the city’s rule of law and its reputation as a global financial hub. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Pressure on Biden to let US weapons strike Russia . Pressure is growing on US President Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to use West-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory. 4.        Spain passes bill granting amnesty to Cata

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 30, 2024 (Thursday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.       China Renews Military Activity Around Taiwan Days after Completing War Games . China continues to run military drills around the island of Taiwan after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, who has expressed support for formal independence in the past. 2.       US, China Top Officials to Meet in Singapore for Rare Military Talks . The United States and Chinese defence chiefs are set to meet in Singapore this weekend, to hold rare direct talks. Russia/Europe/West 3.       Uzbekistan Negotiating Extensive Rearmament Deal with Russia for Defense Forces . Uzbekistan is discussing a rearmament program with Russia for its air force, air defense, and ground forces, according to Dmitry Shugaev, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia. 4.       Sweden Announces $1.23bn Militar

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 29, 2024 (Wednesday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.        China Lauds Sheikh Hasina’s Bold Refusal of Foreign Military Base . China praised Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for rejecting a foreign military base, viewing it as a testament to the strong national spirit and independence of the Bangladeshi people after she revealed she was offered assured re-election in exchange for allowing a foreign airbase, a proposal she declined to safeguard national sovereignty. 2.        Chinese Military Shows Off Rifle-Mounted Robot Dogs at Joint Exercise with Cambodia . China’s army has a new weapon in its arsenal: four-legged robot dogs with rifles mounted on their back, exhibited during its Golden Dragon training with Cambodia. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Belgium Pledges $1 Billion in Military Aid, 30 F-16s for Ukraine . Belgium will deliver 977 million e

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 May 28, 2024 (Tuesday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.       China, Japan and South Korea Hold Regional Summit Overshadowed by U.S . The leaders of South Korea and Japan sought to restore economic cooperation with China, their biggest trading partner, after years of souring relations, but their three-way talks were overshadowed by heightened tensions between China and the United States. 2.       North Korea Launches Presumed Spy Satellite, Seoul Says . North Korea launched what was likely a spy satellite, South Korea's military said, hours after a trilateral summit among China, Japan and South Korea that took place in Seoul. Russia/Europe/West 3.       NATO Parliamentary Assembly Calls for Ukraine to be Allowed to Strike Russia with Western-Supplied Weapons . The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has urged the governments of the Alliance’s member states to allow Ukraine to