PM Modi exerts diplomatic pressure on China

Asia

The Indian government has reportedly launched a significant but quiet diplomatic campaign to convince China's neighbors to pressurize Beijing to end the ongoing seven-week Doklam standoff.

Indian PM Narendra Modi is engaging with leaders of Nepal, Japan, Turkmenistan and the 10-member ASEAN south-east Asian countries.

Besides this, India is also attempting to solve the Doklam crisis through dialogue with China.

Japan backs India, says Doklam status-quo must not change forcibly

On August 18, Japan endorsed India's position on the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam, near the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction area.

Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu said there should be no forcible attempt at changing the military status-quo.

India and Bhutan both contend that China's attempts at building a road through Doklam would violate Bhutan's sovereignty and place Indian military forces at a disadvantage.

India and China compete to woo Nepal

Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba will embark on a five-day visit to India beginning on August 23, his first foreign trip since winning the election two months ago.

The visit is significant given that both China and India are competing to woo Nepal, an important regional partner.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang has already visited Kathmandu on August 14 to meet its new leadership.

India to host Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in September

In late September, India will host Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, who has been instrumental in improving bilateral ties.

Abe and Modi are seen as close friends in the international arena.

Japan is also locked in a territorial dispute with China.

Japan, like India, remains wary of China's growing military prowess. This mutual insecurity has brought India and Japan together strategically and diplomatically.

India discussed security-related issues with Turkmenistan

Recently, India hosted Turkmenistan's Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers (DPM) & Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov. Turkmenistan has the world's sixth-largest gas reserves and is China's biggest supplier. Meredov reportedly discussed trade along with issues related to regional security.

India invites ASEAN leaders as they seek China counterbalance

India has invited the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries, which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

These countries all border China, some of which are party to the bitter South China Sea dispute with an increasingly assertive Beijing.

Singapore and Vietnam in particular have exhorted India to increase its regional military presence as a balancer to China.

Source: newsbytesapp