Indo-Pacific Insight Weekly: July 5th 2025
ASEAN & BRICS, Philippines & East, South China seas, the end of SAARC, Cambodia & CPTPP, Indonesia-Saudi oil deals, NATO & South Korea, Australia-Laos relationship, QUAD coast guards group...
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia Ink $27 Billion Worth of Oil and Energy Deals
OilPrice.com
"The amount of total investment being discussed is close to the trade turnover between the two countries over the last five years, which stood at $31.5 billion, according to Reuters. Among the deals being discussed is a low-carbon energy venture between Saudi ACWA Power and Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara and state oil major Pertamina."
"Saudi Arabia has been working to secure long-term demand for its top export commodity through partnerships in countries that consume a lot of oil. China has been among them, as have other Asian nations such as India, with which the Saudis are currently in talks for the construction of a new refinery. Last November, Aramco and Sinopec broke ground on their joint $10-billion refinery project."
"The country is currently producing around 600,000 barrels of crude daily but wants to boost this to 1 million bpd by 2030, through both new exploration and production revival at old wells. To that end, Indonesia is inviting oilfield service providers that have the technology to turn idle wells into producing ones again to partner with local industry players. The government is also planning to offer another 74 new oil and gas blocks to potential developers."
GCC, Japan begin 2nd round of FTA negotiations in Tokyo
Arab News
"This follows the first round of negotiations in December, during which both parties discussed cooperation in goods, services, e-commerce, investment, and economic evaluation."
" 'The second round of negotiations will address a number of topics across various areas, including goods, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, services provisions, financial services, telecommunications services, the movement of natural persons, intellectual property, dispute settlement, general provisions of the agreement, rules of origin, and trade facilitation.' the SPA report stated."
"According to the Japan External Trade Organization, GCC exports to Japan reached $84 billion in 2024, down from $93 billion the previous year due to a drop in oil prices. Meanwhile, Japanese exports to the GCC rose to $24 billion last year from $22 billion in 2023."
China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh mull scrapping SAARC; working to build a new regional bloc
The Financial Express, India
"Pakistan and China are planning to form a new regional bloc to replace SAARC [South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation], where India played a prominent role. According to a report by Pakistan's The Express Tribune, discussions between Islamabad and Beijing on this new alliance are already at an advanced stage. The report also said that Bangladesh too joined the meeting that was held in Kunming, China, on June 19 to discuss the new bloc. The main purpose of the meeting was to bring in other South Asian countries that were part of SAARC and invite them to join this new group, the report added."
"According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan and China believe that the time has come to create a new group to improve regional cooperation and connectivity. The report says this new alliance could include other SAARC members such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Afghanistan. There has been no mention of India taking part in this new regional bloc."
"A meeting to discuss the idea was held on June 19 in Kunming, China, with Bangladesh also attending. However, Bangladesh has denied that any new political grouping is being formed. Officials from Dhaka said it was only a meeting between government officials and not a political move. They stressed that Bangladesh is not joining any new alliance with China and Pakistan."
Cambodia Weighs Joining CPTPP Trade Pact
Cambodianess
"Cambodia has established a government task force to study the feasibility of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a high-standard regional trade pact that could reshape its economic trajectory. Despite the deal's stringent standards, experts say it could offer Cambodia substantial economic advantages, including greater market access, stronger investor confidence, and a roadmap for much-needed domestic reforms."
"Currently, the bloc includes 12 member countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and most recently, the United Kingdom, which completed its accession in 2024. Together, they account for about 15 percent of global GDP and represent a combined market of over 500 million people."
"Analysts suggest that pursuing CPTPP membership, alongside existing RCEP participation, could place Cambodia at the intersection of two powerful trade architectures in the Asia-Pacific region—amplifying its strategic value in global supply chains."
The EU's Indo-Pacific Projection Relies on France: But for How Long?
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
"France considers itself a resident power in the region, being the only EU member state with sovereign territories in the Indo-Pacific: Mayotte, La Réunion, the Scattered Islands, and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories in the Indian Ocean; and New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia, and Clipperton Island in the Pacific. These territories are home to more than 1.6 million French citizens and enable a substantial military presence of 7,000 troops: 4,100 in the Indian Ocean and 2,900 in the Pacific."
"President Macron's most recent tour to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore reaffirmed France's regional commitment and its role as a strategic partner. The visit put into practice all four pillars of France's Indo-Pacific Strategy, underscoring its consistency in regional engagement. This diplomatic effort is not one-off: since 2018, Macron has visited Australia, India, Japan, Thailand (for the 2022 APEC Summit), and, most recently, Madagascar in April 2025, demonstrating sustained strategic interest."
"France remains the EU's most capable and engaged actor in the Indo-Pacific, thanks to its territorial footprint, strategic assets, and consistent diplomacy. However, the rise of pro-independence sentiment in its overseas territories introduces a long-term vulnerability that must not be overlooked. This dynamic may also undermine the EU's broader engagement in the region, given France's pivotal role as the only resident power and the limited capacity of other member states – and of Brussels itself – to project influence on a comparable scale."
Electric Trucks and the Future of Chinese Oil Demand
The Rhodium Group
"There are three explanations for the decline in diesel consumption: the slowdown in real estate construction, the expansion of liquid natural gas (LNG) trucking, and the electrification of transportation. China's structural decline in construction is well understood, as is the anticipated hit to diesel demand. But even as real estate construction activity stabilizes at lower levels and infrastructure construction picks up to some extent, diesel demand has still continued its decline. This leaves us to consider the other variables: increased LNG trucking and electrification of transport in China."
"China is now pivoting away from transportation fuels to power-based energy across all modes of transport. Chinese companies are also exporting the electrification of transportation to the rest of the world, which has meaningful implications for oil markets. BYD is targeting 800,000 overseas passenger car sales this year, in a global auto market of 75 to 80 million vehicles. Domestically, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales are expected to top 12 million units, which has impacted China's gasoline demand. Gasoline demand in May 2025 has fallen to roughly the same level as May of 2022, when Shanghai was almost entirely locked down under zero-COVID."
"Following in the footsteps of its passenger vehicle market, China's heavy transport is increasingly being electrified. In 2020, 69% of light duty truck sales were diesel. By April 2025, diesel's share of annual sales had fallen below 50%. Over the same period, annual light duty electric truck sales rose from 1% to 15%. In 2024 alone, China sold 256,000 light duty battery electric trucks, a 25% increase year on year. Light duty electric truck sales were the first to take off, but sales growth is now growing across all truck categories. Other formats, such as hybrids, plug-in hybrids and gasoline, have also reduced demand for light duty diesel trucks."
Batam's strategic role in regional industrial development
The Jakarta Post - Op Ed
"The data indicates that interdependence in electronics manufacturing is very high among Southeast Asian countries (including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines) and major electronics-producing nations in Asia (such as China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong). The total value of electronic product exports and imports among these countries is approximately $2.3 trillion, representing 65.3 percent of the global electronics trade."
"In the Malay Peninsula, the key manufacturing hubs in Southeast Asia are Singapore and Johor, Malaysia. Both regions have announced plans to implement an integrated corridor aimed at accelerating industrialization in both Malaysia and Singapore. The governments of Malaysia and Singapore are officially cooperating to develop the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which seeks to strengthen strategic partnership and improve connectivity between the two countries."
"We find that Batam is highly strategic due to its close geographical proximity to Singapore and Johor, Malaysia. To date, Batam has shown strong export interconnectedness, with its main export products being electronic goods (HS Code 85), totaling $6.9 billion, which accounts for 44 percent of Batam's total exports. Its primary import product is also electronics, valued at $5.9 billion, representing 40 percent of Batam's total imports. These findings indicate that Batam has significant potential to become a part of regional manufacturing hub, particularly for electronic products."
Congress Eyes Ammunition Plant at former U.S. Naval Base in the Philippines
U.S. Naval Institute News
" 'The Committee is concerned with the lack of a forward-staged ammunition manufacturing facility in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, the Committee directs the Department of Defense to assess, in coordination with the Department of State and the International Development Finance Corporation, the feasibility of establishing a joint ammunition manufacturing and storage facility at United States Naval Base Subic Bay,' stated the report."
"This call for joint ammunition production follows Manila's renewed defense industrial base under the Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act, which aims to develop Philippine industries to aid the country's military modernization program."
"Lawmakers also directed the Secretary of Defense to provide updates on the feasibility study within 60 days of the enactment of the appropriations act. If pursued, the facility would be one of the most significant American defense investments in the Philippines since the Cold War and Commonwealth era."
Indonesia and Malaysia agree on joint development of disputed Ambalat Block
Indonesia Business Post
"Indonesia and Malaysia have reached a mutual agreement to pursue a joint development approach to address longstanding border disputes, including the contentious Ambalat Block, a commitment made during a bilateral meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, June 27, 2025."
"The Ambalat Block, spanning roughly 15,235 square kilometers, lies in the Sulawesi Sea (Makassar Strait) and is rich in oil and gas reserves, making it a highly strategic and economically valuable zone for both countries. The dispute stems from overlapping maritime claims between Indonesia and Malaysia."
"Previously, the 1979 map drew criticism not just from Indonesia, but also from countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, and Vietnam, all of whom regarded it as an overextension of Malaysian maritime claims."
Decoding ASEAN's Measured Engagement with BRICS
The Diplomat
"Why did Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi only join BRICS as 'partner countries' while Indonesia was determined to seek full BRICS membership? By pursuing partner status, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are walking a fine line between BRICS and the West, which remain at odds on many important issues."
"Malaysia considers its economy as 'highly open' and maintains a 'neutral' foreign policy. Hence, joining BRICS is a vital step towards diversifying the country's economic relations. Meanwhile, Vietnam remains committed to 'bamboo diplomacy' – an overarching foreign policy strategy rooted in multi-alignment, multilateralism, and strategic autonomy. Hanoi's partnership with BRICS allows it to lay low geopolitically while enhancing its ability to 'influence international affairs' through the bloc, via 'forums and meetings that facilitate dialogue, cultural exchange, and cooperation' in security and economic matters."
"However, BRICS partnership is not a risk-free endeavor. Heavily influenced by Russia and China, the bloc is advancing a de-dollarization agenda aimed at challenging U.S. financial dominance. In the wake of the Ukraine war and Russia's SWIFT exclusion in 2022, Moscow has pushed BRICS members to advance this agenda by building an alternative international payments platform, thereby strengthening BRICS' role in the global financial and monetary system. In 2024, Russia announced a series of initiatives – including the BRICS Pay e-payment system, the BRICS Bridge cross-border payment platform, and the BRICS Grain Exchange – as part of its broader efforts to establish an independent economic and financial framework relatively immune from Western influence."
Philippines says military leaders working to set-up 'one-theatre' approach in East, South China seas
Channel News Asia
"Gilberto Teodoro, the Philippines' Secretary of National Defense, said it was 'reasonable' to treat both the East and South China seas as a single area of operation, saying both are maritime areas with no land borders involved. However, he said the area should exclude the Korean Peninsula."
"Japan's Joint Operations Command is operationalising the single-theatre concept, and the 'Squad' grouping, which includes the defence ministers of Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the US, will establish a coordinating centre in December to enforce it, Teodoro said."
"On Monday, the Philippines and Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen defence cooperation in areas like cyber security, maritime security and munitions production."
Why Did Hun Sen Call For Regime Change in Thailand?
The Diplomat
"This will have repercussions for Phnom Penh. No foreign leader will trust the Hun family again with personal information. Diplomatic relations will be set back. Hun Sen's standing in the region will be severely impacted. Moreover, the fact that Hun Manet hasn't come out to distance himself from his father's words, and the fact that Hun Sen has now seemingly taken back full control of government policy, make Hun Manet look weak..."
"Some more conspiratorial theories are also floating around. One is that Hun Sen wants to fast-track the demise of the Shinawatras over fear that their signature proposal to legalize gambling and casinos in Thailand would destroy Cambodia's casino industry, thus depriving Cambodia's elites of the backhanders and illicit money they garner from the industry."
"Another is that the Cambodian leadership and its networks are opposed to the Paetongtarn government's crackdown on the illegal scam industry along the Myanmar and Cambodia border. By happenstance, a major Amnesty International report was released on June 26 that alleged that the Cambodian government is 'acquiescent' and 'complicit' in the abuses happening in the scam compounds. 'Scamming compounds are allowed to thrive and flourish by the Cambodian government,' it added."
Why NATO's Future Depends on Strategic Partners Like South Korea
Real Clear Defense
"South Korea's military is one of the most advanced and experienced in Asia. Its interoperability with NATO member forces, particularly the United States and European partners such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, has been demonstrated through joint naval exercises, air defense drills, and peacekeeping missions. This experience is crucial for enhancing NATO's operational flexibility and preparedness. South Korea's military also offers valuable lessons in countering asymmetric threats, such as ballistic missile defense, cyber warfare, and anti-submarine operations—capabilities that directly support NATO's efforts to modernize its force posture in a contested global environment."
"Strategically, South Korea's location offers NATO indirect access to the Indo-Pacific, a region central to future geopolitical stability. The Korean Peninsula remains one of the world's most volatile flashpoints, with North Korea's nuclear program posing a persistent threat. South Korea's credible deterrence posture and strategic foresight help stabilize the region, limiting the scope for escalation that could entangle NATO indirectly. At the same time, South Korea's ability to project maritime power, maintain regional partnerships, and participate in multinational security frameworks aligns with NATO's efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific."
US, Japan put Philippine railway project back on track after China plans fall through
South China Morning Post
"The 212km (132-mile) Subic–Clark–Manila–Batangas (SCMB) Railway is now set to become the central spine of the Luzon Economic Corridor – a flagship initiative launched in April of last year by the US, Japan and the Philippines to enhance regional infrastructure and supply-chain connectivity."
"Both Clark and Subic were being used by the military, and the railway would link areas close to three key Philippine military installations: Camp O'Donnell in the neighbouring province of Tarlac; the biggest army camp, Fort Magsaysay, in Nueva Ecija province; and Basa Air Base in neighbouring Pampanga province."
"Under the newly proposed plan, the SCMB railway, which will mainly carry cargo, will be almost triple the length of the China-backed railway and will be extended to the port in Batangas and all the way to Manila."
Lao PDR, Australia, and ESCAP Launch LIFT 4 Laos to Boost Investment and Economic Resilience
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
"The AUD2.1 million program, funded through the Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP), aims to strengthen Lao PDR's capacity to attract high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI), promote sustainable economic development, increase resilience to external shocks, and enhance regional cooperation."
"LIFT 4 Laos builds on a portfolio of collaboration between ESCAP and the Government of Lao PDR, including the development and implementation of the ASEAN Regional Investment Promotion Action Plan, as well as the successful organisation of the ASEAN Investment Forum 2024 also funded by Australia, which took place in Vientiane during Lao PDR's ASEAN Chairmanship."
"A key focus will be the development of a targeted investment promotion strategy and tools tailored to Lao PDR's priority sectors, including sustainable mining and critical minerals. By fostering stronger regional cooperation and aligning with ASEAN's investment frameworks, the project will help position Lao PDR as a competitive investment destination within regional value chains."
Bridging ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council: Why People-to-People Connectivity Matters
Fulcrum, Singapore
"According to an estimate, the total workforce across the six GCC countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — stood at around 32 million in 2022. Gulf nationals account for 5.8 million, or 18 per cent of this figure, with foreign workers accounting for over 26 million. While comprehensive and up-to-date data on the total number of ASEAN citizens working in the GCC is limited, available figures serve as important reference points, highlighting the GCC's significance as a destination for ASEAN labour migrants and a key source of remittances."
"Religious devotion also plays a part in people-to-people connectivity. The annual hajj pilgrimage and umrah to Mecca in Saudi Arabia are a powerful conduit for deepening people-to-people ties between Southeast Asia and the GCC. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, was allocated a hajj quota of 221,000 in 2025, underscoring its central role in the global Islamic community. Malaysia, too, maintains a strong presence, supported by long-standing government subsidy schemes that help lower- and middle-income citizens undertake the pilgrimage."
US military exercises in Southeast Asia reveal a new Indo-Pacific strategy
Modern Diplomacy
"This suggests that the US presence in Southeast Asia will likely include the establishment of garrisons on islands near the South China Sea. The goal is not only to demonstrate commitment to allies but also to test capabilities in the context of potential conflicts. Evidence of this is the Balikatan 2025 exercise. In contrast to Balikatan in 2017 under Trump 1.0, which was aimed at logistics and humanitarian relief, Balikatan 2025 is the largest, featuring real-world firepower and the participation of many partners outside the region. This is a shift from 'risk prevention' to 'deterrence,' reflecting a change not only in the approach to new military exercises but also in the preemptive thinking of hawkish security officials in the White House."
"Second, in addition to traditional exercises, [Free and Open Indo-Pacific] FOIP 2.0 is expected to expand the form of military presence through more flexible measures. One of the important plans is to deploy a short-term military presence instead of building fixed bases. The US will establish a rotational military presence in key locations, which will control financial resources, reduce the risk of political confrontation, and maintain rapid response capabilities. Flexible tactical training activities and intensive exchanges such as the Combat Casualty Care Exchange program in the Philippines or the Tiger Balm 2025 exercise in Singapore have shown that this form of deployment is designed to increase short-term presence."
2025 NATO Summit: Time to Include the Asia-Pacific Democracies
Real Clear Defense
"As NATO prepares for its upcoming summit at The Hague, the alliance must confront the reality that the security threats of the 21st century are not confined to the Atlantic or Europe. The rise of authoritarianism, expansionist behavior by China and Russia, coupled with declining American interest in Europe, demands a broader, more adaptive NATO. Now is the time to begin formal steps toward including key Asia-Pacific democracies — Japan, South Korea, and Australia — into NATO's framework, not as distant partners, but as full-fledged members."
"Adding the major Asia-Pacific democracies of Japan, South Korea, and Australia will also help keep the US interested and integrated with Europe. The Trump administration has voiced significant concerns about the value of American geostrategic interests in Europe as US concerns in the Indo-Pacific are increasing. A global NATO alliance of democracies that includes clear defense of interests in the Indo-Pacific benefits the US and helps Europe."
QUAD Nations Launch First-Ever 'At Sea Observer Mission' to Boost Maritime Cooperation
Press Information Bureau, India
"In a significant stride toward strengthening maritime security and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific, the Coast Guards of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia have launched the first-ever 'QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission' under the Wilmington Declaration. Two officers, including women officers from each country have embarked on board US Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Stratton, which is currently sailing to Guam."
"The cross-embarkation mission marks an unprecedented step in QUAD Coast Guard collaboration, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and domain awareness in support of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific. The mission reflects the vision laid out at the QUAD Leaders' Summit in September 2024 and signifies a deepening of operational ties between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Japan Coast Guard (JCG), US Coast Guard (USCG), and Australian Border Force (ABF)."
China's Expanding Control Over Scarborough Shoal
SeaLight
"SeaLight's Anna van Amerongen produced visualizations using this data to show heat maps of both years in sequence. We tracked 57 CCG and militia ships producing around 724,000 total AIS broadcasts near Scarborough Shoal from May 2023 - April 2024. The result was a relatively tight area of focused activity very near the shoal..."
"Over the following 12 months, by contrast, we see the area of intense activity expanded dramatically, with 78 ships and 1,573,000 broadcasts--or more than double the total signals broadcast over the previous period. We also see China's ships ranging in all directions, but especially to the east toward the Philippine mainland..."
Rethinking Sea Basing in East Sabah – Understanding Malaysia's Strategic Shift to Mobile Maritime Platforms
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
"For Malaysia, investing in MOB [Mobile Offshore Basing] could serve as one of the best deterrents and a force multiplier taking into consideration its complex water space especially in the East Sabah. The geographic configuration of East Sabah, particularly its proximity to the maritime boundary with the southern Philippines, renders it vulnerability to transnational maritime threats. Unlike Indonesia and the Philippines, which benefit from dense archipelagic geographical features that provide natural platforms for maritime surveillance, enforcement, and the positioning of security forces, Malaysia's east coast of Sabah is comparatively limited in the number and distribution of islands. This geographic limitation constrains the ability of Malaysian security forces to establish permanent forward-operating posts or maintain a sustained maritime presence across its extensive territorial waters."
"Lessons from other international practices further support this direction. Japan has explored floating maritime platforms for dual-use purposes and China has deployed floating structures to reinforce its grey-zone activities in the South China Sea. While Malaysia's version will not emulate the scale or strategic intent of these powers, it can draw upon the utility of mobile platforms for deterrence and maritime sovereignty enforcement in complex littoral environments. Importantly, this shift is not just about operational hardware, but also about adapting to the realities of hybrid threats and multi-domain challenges in the Indo-Pacific sphere of influence."
India refuses to sign SCO statement over Pahalgam
The Hindustan Times
"The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers' meeting couldn't issue a joint communique on Thursday [June 26] after India refused to endorse the document because it didn't address its terrorism-related concerns, officials aware of the matter said."
"Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the meeting at Qingdao in China, refused to sign the joint communique as it was silent on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed but mentioned Balochistan and the hijacking of the Jaffer Express by Baloch militants in March, the officials said, asking not to be named."
"China, the current president of the SCO, has deep military and strategic ties with Pakistan, which it strongly supported during the recent four-day clashes with India under Operation Sindoor. The operation was India's direct military response to the Pahalgam terror strike, the worst attack on civilians since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks."
Colombo Port: Indian MOD-managed Mazagon buys CDL
The Morning, Sri Lanka
"India last week expanded its strategic footprint in Sri Lanka with the Indian shipbuilding giant Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), which is managed by India's Ministry of Defence (MOD), acquiring a controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDL)."
"MDL is set to acquire a controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC), Sri Lanka's largest shipyard, in a deal worth up to $ 52.96 million. This marks MDL's first international acquisition. Located in the Port of Colombo, CDPLC gives MDL a strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean Region – a key maritime corridor."
" 'With this, MDL begins its transformation from a domestic shipbuilder to a regional maritime player with global ambitions. Aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, this move strengthens India's regional maritime influence and expands MDL's global reach,' Mazagon Dock said in a social media post on X on Friday (27) afternoon."
Pacific Islands delay security plan that could open door to China
Reuters
"Leaders of the four biggest Pacific Islands nations have delayed adopting a joint security strategy that could provide an opening for Beijing, against a backdrop of increasing rivalry between China, Australia and the United States in the Pacific Ocean."
"The Melanesian Spearhead Group, which includes Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji, had been negotiating its first joint security framework, focused on maritime security."
"The Pacific's bigger diplomatic bloc, the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum, has rejected China security ties and said instead the Pacific should provide its own security."
"Among the Melanesian Spearhead Group nations, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are seen as the closest to Beijing with policing ties, while Papua New Guinea has security deals with the United States and Australia, and Fiji has a defence partnership with Australia."
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia extend ties in AI and Semiconductor sectors
Ary News, Pakistan
"Both nations discussed the initiation of the Pakistan Digital Corridor to link with China and Central Asia, planning to boost global digital connectivity."
"During the meeting, the main highlight was Pakistan's endorsement of a Rs 4.8 billion Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) initiative to provide semiconductor training in Pakistan for over 7,000 youth in the modern technologies."
"Minister Shaza Fatima highlighted Pakistan's full support for Saudi Arabia's National Semiconductor Hub, stating the importance of joint ventures in AI and computing technologies."
More of the Indo-Pacific:
Disclaimer: Headlines, and content selections, presented here are taken directly from the referenced articles and online platforms, and do not reflect any personal value judgment, statement or opinion. I make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or truthfulness of the content of these articles. All news and information presented should be carefully scrutinized, considering the credibility of each source, the documented or discernible facts, the statements presented, and the strength of supporting evidence. Readers should form their own conclusions through the application of informed critical analysis. In detail >
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