Tokyo, June 15

A Chinese navy spy ship today entered Japan’s territorial waters for the first time in over a decade while tailing two Indian naval ships during the trilateral Malabar naval exercise attended by the US, India and Japan.A Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft spotted the Dongdiao-class intelligence vessel sailing in territorial waters to the west of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 3:30 am (1830 GMT on Tuesday), Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters.The ship travelled on a southeasterly bearing and left Japan’s territorial waters south of the prefecture’s Yakushima Island around 5 am, Kyodo news agency quoted Seko as saying.It was for the first time that a Chinese spy ship was detected in Japanese waters since a submarine was spotted in 2004. The latest intrusion came less than a week after another Chinese naval vessel sailed near islands at the centre of a Tokyo-Beijing sovereignty dispute in the East China Sea.A senior foreign ministry official lodged a protest with the Chinese Embassy.In Beijing, Chinese officials defended the naval vessel’s entry into the waters, saying the passage was in line with the principle of freedom of navigation and international rules.Under international law, ships of all countries, including military ones, are entitled to the right of “innocent passage” through territorial waters as long as it would not undermine others’ security. — PTI

HOSHIARPUR: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said India would not change its nuclear policy under any circumstances.

Addressing the media, the defence minister said the ministry had given a no-objection certificate for according commercial status to the Adampur defence airport in Jalandhar district. “The Airports Authority of India and Air India are holding a meeting in July to finalise things,” he added.

He said India was a responsible nuclear power and did not need any lessons from the external forces. Replying to queries about Pakistan’s threat of a nuclear war, he said India knew its job well enough.

Parrikar said Pakistan was burning its own hands in the fire of militancy. “We are equipped to counter any attack and give a befitting reply to those who want to destabilise the country,” he warned.

Responding to the recent Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pardesh, Parrikar said the country’s defence forces were keeping a close vigil on the situation. He, however, said that the overall cross-border infiltration had come down in the recent past.

Talking about the Union government’s “Make in India” initiative in the defence sector, Parrikar said that indigenous Tejas had been inducted and a proposal was afoot to manufacture twin engine fighter aircraft in partnership with a foreign company.

Refusing to speak much on AgustaWestland chopper scam, he said the previous UPA government had flouted established norm to strike the deal and the matter was under investigation. The allegations of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s sonin-law Robert Vadra’s links with an arms dealer were also being probed, he added.

In this photograph taken on November 27, 2008, flames and smoke gush out of The Taj Mahal Hotel, one of the sites of attacks by alleged militant gunmen. AFP

Hong Kong, June 7In a major development, China for the first time has publicly acknowledged the role of Pakistan in the coordinated terror attacks that took place in Mumbai between November 26 and 29, 2008 that claimed the lives of 164 people and left another 308 injured.Chinese State Television CCTV9 has, in a documentary aired recently, highlighted the role of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its sponsors in Pakistan in this horrific attack which shook the world.This change in policy by China is significant in the sense that it is taking place on the eve of the expiry of Beijing’s decision to place on technical hold the listing of three known LeT/JuD (Jamaat-ud-Dawa) militants – Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, Talha Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rauf, on June 9.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)The listing of these individuals by the Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council in September 2015 had the overwhelming support of all members of the international community, with the exception of China, which acted on Pakistan’s behest.China is already facing considerable global flak over a similar technical hold over the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Hafiz Saeed, even though the JeM stands listed by the United Nations Sanctions Committee.China has obviously realised that extending blind support to Pakistan on terror-related issues taints its own reputation as a responsible world power that is seeking to build an international consensus on the need for all countries to jointly fight the menace of terror. ANI

Vice-Admiral BK Varma of Indian Navy (C), Y Murakaawa, Vice-Admiral of Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, US Navy (L) during a joint press conference on board the Indian Naval ship INS Shivalik, in Chennai. PTI file photo

Tokyo, June 7

A fleet of US, Japanese and Indian warships will hold a large-scale joint naval exercise over eight days from Friday in the Western Pacific, close to a Japanese island chain, part of which China claims.As China pushes its territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea, Tokyo and Washington worry it will look to extend its influence into the Western Pacific, with a growing fleet of submarines and surface vessels to ply distant oceans.The drill, dubbed Malabar, is an annual event between the US and India, and Japan is joining it this year for the first time since 2007, Japan’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.Among the Japanese warships, which will practice submarine hunting and anti-aircraft defence, will be the Hyuga, one of the country’s three new helicopter carriers. Last year, the drill was held in the Bay of Bengal near India.Japan’s southwestern island chain, which hosts the biggest concentration of US military personnel in Asia, blocks China’s east coast access to the Western Pacific. Japan’s military is reinforcing the islands with radar stations and anti-ship missile batteries.Lying around 220 km west of Taiwan is a group of uninhabited isles, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China, which are controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing.On Tuesday, China told the United States it should play a constructive role in safeguarding peace in the disputed South China Sea, as US Secretary of State John Kerry called for talks and a peaceful resolution.China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims, as well as close military ties with the United States. — Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Barack Obama. — Tribune file photo

Washington, June 5

India is likely to enter the missile technology control (MTCR) regime this week, a move that will boost the country’s efforts to purchase Predator drones from the US and export its high-tech missiles to friendly nations.

An announcement in this regard is anticipated as early as this week, possibly during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US at the invitation of US President Barack Obama, sources tracking the development said.

The major breakthrough comes days after India announced that it is subscribing to ‘The Hague Code of Conduct’ against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, which is considered to be complementary to the missile technology control regime (MTCR).

India, had applied for its membership last year.

But it was facing strong opposition from a few member countries of the MTCR where decisions are based on consensus.

The Obama administration has strongly backed India’s membership into MTCR and three other export control regime — Australia Group, Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.

Established in April 1987, the voluntary MTCR aims to limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.

The MTCR regime urges its 34 members, which include most of the world’s key missile manufacturers, to restrict their exports of missiles and related technologies capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload at least 300 kilometers or delivering any type of weapon of mass destruction.

Since 2008 India has been one of the five countries that are Unilateral Adherents to MTCR.

After MTCR’s announcement, India and the US are expected to fast track their discussion on sale of predator series of unmanned aircraft for the Indian military.

“Yes, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc is aware of India’s interest in Predator®-series Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA),” Vivek Lall, chief executive of the US and International Strategic Development of ‘General Atomics’, the largest privately-held American defence company which designs and manufactures Predator drones, said last year.

The Predator drone, which recently eliminated the Taliban leader in Afghanistan, is the preferred tool of the CIA.

Membership into MTCR is a huge boost for India’s ability to procure this capability. — PTI

PANIPAT, JUNE 3

Residents of Nangal Kheri village bid adieu to Amit Punia, who died dousing fire which engulfed the Ammunition Depot of the Army at Pulgaon inMaharshtra four days ago. The Army fireman was cremated with full state honours in his village this evening.Punia’s body was brought to his native village from Maharashtra in the evening.ADC Rajiv Mehta conveyed condolences on behalf of the district administration. Army officials also saluted the brave man. Amit, a bachelor, was the youngest son of Satbir Singh Punia of Bichpadi village in Sonepat who shifted to Nangal Kheri 30 years ago.He was injured in the operation to control the fire in the Ammunition Depot. He succumbed to the injuries on June 2. Mahipal Dhanda, MLA; Brig Rajiv Chopra, Major Gyanesh, Sewah sarpanch Khushdil and hundreds of villagers attended the cremation. — TNS

Jawan Mahesh Gurung’s body being taken for cremation in Dehradun. Tribune photo: Vinod Pundir

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 25

The brave son of Uttarakhand, who died fighting infiltrators in Chandel district of Manipur on May 22, was cremated with full military honours in Haridwar today. Public representatives and top brass of the Army paid floral tribute to martyr Havaldar Mahesh Gurung before he was consigned to flames.A pall of gloom descended on the city when the body of Gurung was brought to his residence, Daudwala, Dehradun. Relatives and neighbours consoled the bereaved family members. Locals and neighbours waited for hours to pay tributes to the martyr, whose body was draped in the Tricolour. Gurung’s father, mother, wife and other relatives were inconsolable during the cremation ceremony.Amid chanting of slogans like “Gurung Amar Rahe”, and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, Gurung’s body was taken to the Sati Ghat in Haridwar. Ayush, the 13-year-old son of Gurung, performed the last rites. Despite Ayush was inconsolable, he decided to follow the footprints of his father. Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Cabinet Minister Dinesh Agarwal and Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi were present at the cremation ground.

The Indian Army climbers were amongst the initial lot of mountaineers to successfully climb Everest after a hiatus of two years as the peak was closed due to the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal last year

The 30 member Indian Army’s Everest Massif Expedition 2016 was flagged off by Lieutenant General MMS Rai, Vice Chief of the Army Staff on March 30.

Indian Army mountaineers led by Lieutenant Colonel Ranveer Jamwal and a team of six army mountaineers successfully summitted Mount Everest (8848M) at dawn on May 19.

Concurrently, the Lhotse Summit Team under Major Nooruddin Ahmed is attempting to summit Mount Lhotse (fourth highest peak in the world at 8501M).

The Indian Army climbers were amongst the initial lot of mountaineers to successfully climb Everest after a hiatus of two years as the peak was closed due to the devastation caused by the earthquake in Nepal last yearThe 30 member Indian Army’s Everest Massif Expedition 2016 was flagged off by Lieutenant General MMS Rai, Vice Chief of the Army Staff on March 30. Five members of the team will also be participating in the tough and intensive ‘Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon’ on May 29, considered to be one of the toughest trail marathons in the world. (ANI) –