MONTH IN BRIEF – AUGUST 2024
MONTH IN BRIEF
China’s rebuke following US, Japan criticism
China’s Foreign Ministry has hit out at joint statements by the United States and Japan that ‘falsely accuse’ Beijing over maritime issues and pass judgment on its normal military development and defence policy, The ministry’s comment followed the US and Japan’s criticism of what they called Beijing’s recent ‘provocative’ behaviour in the South and East China seas, joint military exercises with Russia and the rapid expansion of its nuclearweapons arsenal.On July 28, US and Japanese leaders unveiled a new military structure that would be implemented in parallel with Tokyo’s own plans to establish a joint command for its forces by March 2025.
Modi condemns Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused Pakistan of trying to stay relevant through ‘terrorism’ and ‘proxy war’, while insisting its ‘unholy plans’ will never succeed.The nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours share an uneasy relationship and India has, for decades, accused Pakistan of backing Islamist militants fighting its rule in Kashmir, the Himalayan region both claim in full but rule only in part. Pakistan denies the accusations, saying it provides only diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris seeking self-determination in the Muslim-majority region.
Seoul’s ‘North nukes’ warning
North Korea may be considering a nuclear test near the time of the US presidential election, in order to raise its profile, South Korea’s defence minister has warned, as the North’s leader Kim Jong-un rolls out new warheads capable of striking the United States and its allies in Asia.Seoul will reach a deal with Japan and the US to standardise the tracking of missiles fired from North Korea, Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said in a July 28 interview in Tokyo.He was visiting the Japanese capital to sign a deal with the US and Japan to lock in gains in security cooperation that have included joint military training.
Junta chief becomes figurehead president
All duties of Myanmar’s figurehead president have been transferred to the chief of the ruling junta, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, after the nominal head of state was placed on medical leave following a period of prolonged illness.Myanmar has been mired in chaos since aFeb 2021 coup, when the military, led by Gen Min Aung Hlaing, ousted an elected civilian government, triggering a wave of protests that has transformed into a nationwide armed rebellion against the junta.Although Mr Myint Swe, 73, is only a figurehead president, the junta has depended on him to sign its decrees and provide a veneer of legitimacy to its rule.
Russia to back Malaysia’s BRICS bid
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said Russia will back the South-east Asian country’s application to join the BRICS economic bloc as Moscow looks to expand its influence into the Global South. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the assurance to Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim during his two-day visit to Malaysia in late July, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.Mr Anwar separately said the country has already submitted an application to join BRICS – a group of emerging economies led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – of which Moscow is the current chair.
Nepal air crash: unanswered questions
Relatives of the 18 people who died in a July 24 plane crash in Nepal have yet to hear from the government or the airline on the possible cause of the disaster, in whicha small jet went down during take-off at Kathmandu airport, leaving the pilot as the only survivor.The incident has cast a spotlight on Nepal’s poor record on air safety, with almost 360 people killed since 2000 in plane and helicopter crashes. The 50-seater CRJ-200 aircraft that crashed in this latest tragedy was operated by Saurya Airlines, and was ferrying 15 technicians, two crew and two of a technician’s family to the central city of Pokhara, where it was scheduled for regular maintenance.
Trivia leads to tragedy
A trivial argument over the age-old question ‘Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?’ has led to a man in Indonesia stabbing his friend to death, according to Indonesian police.The man, identified only by the initials ‘DR’,posed the question to 47-year-old Kadir Markus, after which an argument ensued. ‘DR’ then stabbed his friend 15 times with a type of dagger called a badik on July 24, in a village in Tongkuno district, Muna regency, in south-east Sulawesi. Police said both men were under the influence of alcohol at the time.
New record speed for K2 ascent
A French climber has summited Pakistan’s K2 in record time, reaching the top of the world’s second-highest mountain in just under 11 hours.Benjamin Vedrines, a 32-year-old specialist in high-speed ascents – made without the aid of oxygen – left K2 base camp just after midnight on July 27 and reached the summit 10 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds later. Vedrines’ ascent took less than half the time set by the previous record for climbing K2 without the aid of bottled oxygen, completed in 23 hours by another Frenchman, Benoit Chamoux, in 1986.