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New Delhi [India]Chinanews.com, November 27 (Xinhua) Following the Maldives, Australia clarified on Sunday that it will not participate in the “China-Indian Ocean Development Cooperation Forum” held on November 21.
“Contrary to media reports, no Australian government officials attended the Kunming China-Indian Ocean Development Cooperation Forum,” Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell tweeted.
Chinese aid agencies hosted a meeting at the Indian Ocean Forum. Former Maldives President Mohammad Wahid Hassan and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd were joined virtually. Canberra Male is not represented in an official capacity.
“Delighted that @TimWattsMP participated in the #IORA Ministerial Council last week, the Indian Ocean’s only ministerial forum. Australia is delighted that India’s application for Vice-Chair was unanimously agreed. We have an abiding interest: a free, open, rules and secure the Indo-Pacific region,” the Australian envoy added.
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While Beijing in Australia has invited Canberra to the meeting, members of the quartet – including Australia, Japan, India and the US – have declined to attend the Chinese-dominated Indian Ocean Forum meeting.
Earlier, the Maldives Foreign Ministry denied on Sunday its participation in the China-Indian Ocean Development Cooperation Forum.
“The ministry would like to clarify that the Maldives government did not participate in the aforementioned forum and notified the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Maldives of its decision not to participate on November 15, 2022, read the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.
Notably, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) issued a joint press statement stating that the Maldives participated in the “China-Indian Ocean Development Cooperation Forum” on November 21, 2022.
Furthermore, the participation of Maldivian individuals or groups of individuals does not constitute official representation of the Maldivian government, read the statement.
According to Article 115 (J) of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, only the current President can decide, implement and supervise the country’s foreign policy and handle political relations with foreign countries and international organizations.
According to international practice, official accreditation to represent the Maldives at conferences, forums and conferences can only be done through diplomatic channels. Therefore, for this particular meeting, the Maldives government has no official representation, the statement added.
More recently, major world powers have shifted their focus from other conflict zones to the Indian and Pacific oceans. This is due in large part to China’s belligerent nature in the South China Sea, where it seeks to establish hegemony across the entire sea, in defiance of established United Nations conventions and international maritime law.
The current geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific region is full of major irritants that destabilize the region. There is a need to establish common standards to lay the groundwork for deeper integration in the future and to ensure that all countries have equal access to global commons, a right enshrined in international law.
Recently, the U.S. government announced its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy, which focuses on building collective capabilities to address challenges in the region.
These include focusing on challenges from China, advancing relations with the United States, a “major defense partnership” with India and supporting its role as a provider of cybersecurity in the region.
The European Union (EU) recently proposed an Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at strengthening its engagement across a wide range of sectors.
The EU already sees itself and the Indo-Pacific region as a “natural partner region”. It is an important player in the Indian Ocean Rim countries, the ASEAN region and the Pacific island countries.
In September 2021, the US announced a new Indo-Pacific trilateral security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US (AUKUS).
The security organization AUKUS will focus on advancing strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
A highlight of this arrangement is the sharing of US nuclear submarine technology with Australia.
Almost every country in this part of the world recognizes China’s assertiveness and aggressiveness.
In response to China, the United States launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) at the recent Quad summit in Tokyo to provide better options for the region to achieve its development goals.
IPEF will work to fine-tune four pillars: standards and rules for digital trade; resilient supply chains; green energy commitments; and fair trade.
The Indo-Pacific region is home to more than half the world’s population, with 2 billion people living under democratic rule.
The region generates one-third of the world’s economic output, more than any other region in the world.
Three of America’s most important allies, Japan, South Korea and Australia, are located here.
More than one-third of the world’s foreign trade takes place in this region.
The largest economies in the world are located in the Indo-Pacific region, namely China, India, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines. (Arnie)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the body of content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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