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Russia’s Putin arrives in Belarus for talks with Lukashenko

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Belarus on Monday along with his defence and foreign ministers, fanning fears in Kyiv that he intends to pressure his ex-Soviet ally to join a fresh ground offensive that would open a new front against Ukraine.

Putin, whose troops have been driven back in Ukraine’s north, northeast and south, is taking a more public role in what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. He visited the operation’s headquarters on Friday to sound out military commanders.

His trip for talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was his first to Minsk since 2019 – before the Covid pandemic and a wave of pro-democracy protests in 2020 that Lukashenko crushed with strong support from the Kremlin.

Russian forces used Belarus as a launch pad for their abortive attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in February, and there have been Russian and Belarusian military activity there for months.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that Belarus was Russia’s “number one ally” but that suggestions Moscow aims to pressure Minsk into joining its “special military operation” were “stupid and unfounded fabrications.”

Ukrainian joint forces commander Serhiy Nayev had said he believed the talks would address “further aggression against Ukraine and the broader involvement of the Belarusian armed forces in the operation against Ukraine, in particular, in our opinion, also on the ground.”

Ukraine’s top general, Valery Zaluzhniy, told the Economist last week that Russia was preparing 200,000 fresh troops for a major offensive that could come from the east, south or even from Belarus as early as January, but more likely in spring.

Moscow and Minsk have set up a joint military unit in Belarus and held numerous exercises. Three Russian warplanes and an airborne early warning and control aircraft were deployed to Belarus last week.

But Lukashenko, a pariah in the West who relies heavily on Moscow for support, has repeatedly said Belarus will not enter the operation in Ukraine. Foreign diplomats say committing Belarusian troops would be deeply unpopular at home.

Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/world/asia-pacific/40023247

Monday, December 19, 2022

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2022

Check out what’s hot in the region as The Nation puts together headlines from members of Asia News Network (ANN). Click to read more:

ANN news highlights: Mon, Dec 19, 2022
Bringing Asia Closer

Economy China
Stable growth highlighted as key task in ’23 – China Daily

Facilitating a solid economic recovery with a focus on substantially expanding domestic demand and boosting market confidence will be key priorities for China next year, after a key meeting outlined major policy objectives and plans for the overall improvement of the world’s second-largest economy.

N Korea
N. Korea says it conducted ‘important’ test for developing reconnaissance satellite – Yonhap for Korea Herald

North Korea has conducted an “important final-stage” test at its rocket launching facility on putting a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, with a plan to complete preparations for the project by April next year, according to its state media Monday.

Antartica Japan
Japanese expedition team plans to extract ‘world’s oldest ice’ in Antarctica – The Japan News

A Japanese research team plans to make a new attempt at drilling through Antarctica’s ice sheet, in order to probe for changes in the global environment over the past 1 million years.

South China Sea
Chinese coast guard challenges anew PH resupply team to Ayungin Shoal | Inquirer

Personnel of the Western Command (Wescom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who conducted a resupply mission and were bringing Christmas packages to troops assigned at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal had another unpleasant encounter with the Chinese coast guard near the area at the West Philippine Sea.
 

Myanmar Crisis
Electricity infrastructure subject to 210 attacks: SAC – Eleven Media

State Administration Council (SAC) has issued a statement that infrastructures concerning electricity such as power stations, sub-power stations, offices and staff housing were attacked and destroyed 210 times.

Politics Pakistan
Opinion: Can military stay out of politics? – Dawn

Days before he hung up his spurs after six years as army chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke at Martyrs’ Day. That speech is both interesting and important and has not been properly unpacked.

Economy Vietnam
Can Vietnam mirror success of ‘Miracle on the Han River’? – Korea Herald 

Days before he hung up his spurs after six years as army chief, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke at Martyrs’ Day. That speech is both interesting and important and has not been properly unpacked.

Jobs Sri Lanka
A record number of Lankans secure foreign employment – Minister – The Island

More than 300,000 have gone overseas on employment through the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau so far this year. Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said that it was the highest number of registered Sri Lankans to have gone overseas for employment in a year.

Hydro Nepal
Government, Nepal-China joint venture sign pact to develop $322 million hydro project  – Kathmandu Post

The government on Sunday signed a project development agreement with a Nepal-China joint venture power developer to construct a $322 million project under the build, own, operate, and transfer modality.

Media Indonesia
Editorial: Money streaming in – Jakarta Post

In recent years, investors have been increasingly prying at profit from streaming service businesses in Indonesia. It is not surprising, given the industry has been gaining momentum throughout the pandemic and is projected to claim robust growth, at least for the next five years.

Energy Cambodia
Thailand’s CP Group and Soma team up on clean energy development – Phnom Penh Post

Prime Minister Hun Sen on December 17 authorised two conglomerates to begin researching clean energy projects, as this ties in with Cambodia’s goals of energy security and carbon neutrality.

Food Laos 
Vinamilk Laos – Jagro to export fresh milk to Vietnam in May 2023 – Vientiane Times

Vinamilk Laos – Jagro plans to export fresh milk to Vietnam in May next year after the company recently built a modern milking barn in Phaxay district, Xieng Khuang province.

Cyber  Vietnam
US cybersecurity firm sets up 1st research centre in Asia in HCM City – Vietnam News

OPSWAT, a US-based provider of critical infrastructure protection cybersecurity solutions, announced on December 16 the opening of its first critical infrastructure protection lab in Asia in its new office in HCM City.

Business India
58% of Indians cut ‘Make in China’ purchases across products in 2022 – The Statesman

About 58 % of Indians have reduced their ‘Make in China’ purchases due to the current geo-political situation while 26 % said they found Indian alternatives to be better in price and quality when it comes to fashion, apparel, vehicle accessories and gadgets categories, a new survey has shown.