News
Now, India seeks to expand its sphere of influence into South China Sea
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN,
Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, April 17:
India’s neighbourhood stretches beyond the Straits of Malacca in the east and the Gulf of Aden in the west. But the Indo-Pacific concept overcomes artificial fault-lines imposed in the post-World War II era, External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said here on Wednesday.
The minister’s formulation expands India’s intended sphere of influence into the South China Sea as a theatre of Indian foreign policy.
In a trilateral discussion with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne at the Raisina Dialogue, Jaishankar described India’s new view of its role as a “return to history.” This places the country’s neighbourhood across a greater swathe of the globe, he added.
Jaishankar’s remarks signal a desire to break out of India’s own definition of its ‘strategic backyard’ or extended neighbourhood that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had articulated back in 2000: of stretching between the Straits of Malacca and the Gulf of Aden.
The formulation, though presented in terms of historical connections, is likely to raise a few eyebrows in Beijing. China not only sees its immediate neighbourhood, but the entire Asia-Pacific, as its strategic zone.
Jaishankar pointed out that global multilateral regimes are not delivering, security alliances do not always work and bilateral relationships are falling short. In other words, the present system of global governance may have outlived its usefulness.
What he left unsaid is that the rise of China, India and other powers as well as the relative decline of the West has placed strains on the multilateral system, and it is important to rewrite it to reflect current realities.
Jaishankar said the world is moving to plurilaterals or mini laterals: smaller groups coming together with shared interests, shared goals and natural complementarities in their structures like the Quad, the four-nation compact comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia.
“Multilateralism has fallen short. And bilateral delivery is not what it used to be. World moving towards multipolarity, rebalancing and plurilateralism. Shared values and comforts are creating new combinations. Will not fall for mind games,” he tweeted.
The three ministers were to hold an in-person trilateral dialogue on the side-lines of the Raisina Dialogue. But that was postponed because the conclave went virtual in the light of India’s steep Covid-19 surge.
While France is not a member of the Quad, the India-France-Australia trilateral is an extension of the Quad, given that France is a big player in the Indo-Pacific, as a resident power, with territories in its control.
Answering a question on the importance of Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar said it is a historical reality in a more seamless world, as evidenced by the old trading routes that stretched from the western Pacific to the Mediterranean.
“Indo-Pacific is a strong message. India will not be boxed between Malacca Strait and the Gulf of Aden. Our interests and activities go way beyond. Australia and France are part of that canvas. It’s a return to history,” he declared.
“What broke this were empires and the politics of post-World War II. Today, because of rebalancing and multipolarity, they are all coming back together,” he added.
Emphasising the centrality of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar pushed back against the Chinese accusation of the Quad as an Asian NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).
In the past few meetings, he said, Quad discussions focused on climate, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), vaccines, resilient supply chains, emerging technologies and maritime security.
Latest News
Level III landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale extended
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has extended the Level III RED landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Matale until 1600hrs on 11th December 2025.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL III RED landslide warnings issued to the the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Medadumbara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Pathadumbara, Doluwa, Panvila, Gangawata Korale, Ududumbara, Akurana, Yatinuwara, Harispattuwa, Deltota, Thumpane, Poojapitiya, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Minipe and Pathahewaheta in the Kandy district, Aranayaka, Yatiyanthota, Rambukkana, Bulathkohupitiya and Mawanella in the Kegalle district, Mallawapitiya, Mawathagama and Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, and Rattota, Laggala Pallegama, Ukuwela, Matale, Wilgamuwa, Pallepola, Naula, Yatawatta and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district have been extended.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Haldummulla and Passara in the Badulla district, Warakapola, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala in the Kegalle district, Polgahawela and Alawwa in the Kurunegala district, Kothmale East, Walapane, Thalawakele, Nuwara Eliya, Kothmale West, Nildandahinna, Mathurata, Ambagamuwa Korale, Hanguranketha and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district. and Kolonna, Godakawela and Kahawaththa in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Divulapitiya, Attanagalla and Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Narammala in the Kurunegala district, and Kiriella, Eheliyagoda, Balangoda, Kaltota, Openayake, Nivithigala, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Elapatha, Pelmadulla and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.
News
“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that unauthorized constructions within the Colombo District, nor any form of residential developments that endanger the public carried out under the guise of development agenda will not be allowed.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the media at the conclusion of the Colombo District Disaster Management Committee meeting held on Tuesday [December 09] at the Colombo District Secretariat.
Addressing further, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Colombo District has become vulnerable to this extent due to the constructions carried out without any proper planning or understanding of regulations, along with personal and politically motivated decisions that have placed both the district and its people at risk.
Compared to the districts that suffered severe loss of life and property due to the recent cyclone, the damage to the Colombo District has been relatively lower. However, special intervention is being carried out together with the relevant institutions to manage the potential future flood risks in the district.
This matter was also given special attention during today’s District Disaster Management Committee meeting. We cannot allow the flooding to become a regular part of the lives of the people in Colombo. All relevant institutions will come together to put forward a common plan for flood control in the district.”
The Prime Minister further stated that discussions are already underway to provide sustainable solutions for the people living in high-risk areas within the Colombo District.
The discussion was attended by the Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Colombo District Members of Parliament Aruna Panagoda and Chandana Suriyarachchi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The handover of 35 tonnes of Russian Humanitarian Aid to Sri Lanka, recently affected by the cyclone «Ditwah», took place at Katunayake today (10th December)
The shipment was welcomed at the Katunayake airport by Ambassador of Russia Levan Dzhagaryan, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd).
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan: said “This delivery is a reflection of long-term friendly relations between Russia and Sri Lanka and reaffirms Moscow’s commitment to support countries in a difficult humanitarian situation.”
The supplies brought by the EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations) aircraft comprised a movable 60 kW electric power station, Pumping equipment for water drainage, Summer tents (10-person capacity) and Food supplies (sugar, vegetable oil, rice)
The total cargo weight is 35 metric tonnes. The aid will be distributed among the most affected regions.
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“We cannot allow flooding to become a part of the daily lives of the people in the Colombo District” – PM
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