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📰 Chinese delegations meet with Vietnam

📰 Chinese delegations meet with Vietnam

and Australia and Indonesia pen ‘landmark’ security pact

Ross Crabtree
August 20, 2024

Hello,

Today's update once again centres on the Middle East: Human Rights Watch has suggested that Israel’s airstrikes on Yemen might qualify as war crimes, while the Israeli Defense Forces have recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza.

Australia and Indonesia have signed a significant security agreement, and Vietnam and China have further solidified their relationship.

In other news, gold prices have surged amid ongoing geopolitical instability.

More details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇾🇪 🇮🇱 Israeli airstrikes on Yemen may constitute war crimes, say Human Rights Watch: HRW accused Israel of launching indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilian areas during the July 20 strike on Hodeidah, which targeted Houthi military positions near the port. The assault, which struck oil facilities and a power station, killed at least six people and injured over 80. The airstrikes occurred in response to a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv the previous day, which killed one person and could also be classified as a war crime, HRW noted. The Israeli bombardment damaged more than two dozen oil storage tanks, two shipping cranes, and a power plant in the Salif district of Hodeidah province. HRW emphasised that the attacks resulted in excessive harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, warning that willful violations of the laws of war could amount to war crimes.

2️⃣ 🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Bodies of 6 Israeli hostages recovered in Gaza: The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that it had recovered the bodies of six hostages taken into Gaza during the Hamas-led ‘al-Aqsa flood’ on October 7. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the bodies were found during an overnight operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, during an operation that coincides with ongoing attempts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to broker a cease-fire that would end Israel’s months-long offensive in Gaza and secure the release of remaining hostages. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a proposal for a cease-fire, urging Hamas to agree to the terms.

3️⃣ 🇸🇩 Sudan foreign minister asserts the need to cut off RSF’s supply lines: In an op-ed for Al Jazeera, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Hussein Awad Ali called on the international community to do more to help end the conflict in Sudan. He condemned the atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and expressed confidence in the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) ability to defeat the RSF and restore peace. Ali emphasised the SAF's commitment to reestablishing national unity and aiding the country's recovery—though this claim is disputed by other sources—and stressed that international support is crucial to achieving these goals.

4️⃣ 🇦🇺 🇮🇩 Australia and Indonesia pen ‘landmark’ security pact: Canberra and Jakarta have finalised a new security pact to expand joint military exercises and visits, raising concerns among human rights advocates. During a meeting in Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the relationship between the two nations "the most important" and announced the "historic" treaty, which strengthens defence cooperation through enhanced dialogue, interoperability, and practical arrangements. While the leaders confirmed the agreement, they provided no details and did not take questions from the press. The pact, replacing an older defence arrangement, is legally binding under international law and aims to bolster mutual security and regional stability amid China's growing influence in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸 Gold prices soar as expectations of US interest rate cuts drive investor demand: The spot price of gold climbed to a record $2,522.99 on Tuesday, marking a 0.7% increase for the day. With a standard gold bar now valued at over $1 million, much of this surge is attributed to expectations of interest rate cuts by central banks, particularly the US Federal Reserve. Lower rates make bonds and shares less appealing, pushing investors toward gold, which is considered a safe haven during economic and geopolitical instability. Recent conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have also contributed to gold's rise, which has surged by more than 20% since March.

Major Story

🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇧🇾 CHINESE DELEGATIONS MEET WITH VIETNAM, ANNOUNCE UPCOMING TALKS WITH RUSSIA AND BELARUS

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vietnamese President To Lam reinforced their economic and ideological bonds during To Lam's first state visit to Beijing on Monday. Lam, who began his presidency in May, chose China for his inaugural foreign trip, highlighting the enduring significance of their relationship despite ongoing disputes in the South China Sea.

Xi emphasised the "deep friendship" between the two nations and underscored Vietnam's importance in China’s "neighbourhood diplomacy." He praised the shared communist ideology of both parties and expressed confidence in expanding their collaboration to advance global socialism.

During his visit, Lam reaffirmed Vietnam's support for China’s "One China" principle regarding Taiwan and affirmed that matters related to Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang are internal affairs of China. Lam is anticipated to follow his predecessor's approach by balancing Vietnam's relationships with China, the United States, Russia, and other global powers. The U.S. and Japan have been strengthening their ties with Vietnam, which, as a former adversary from the Vietnam War, is increasingly seen as a strategic partner amid rising economic and geopolitical competition with China.

Later this week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will travel to Russia and Belarus, according to Beijing's foreign ministry. His visit underscores the deepening economic and diplomatic ties between China and Russia.

Li will engage in the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, and is expected to discuss practical cooperation and mutual concerns with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning highlighted that under the strategic direction of the two countries' leaders, China-Russia relations have remained robust despite external pressures. The visit reflects the strengthening of the China-Russia strategic partnership, which has solidified since the start of the Ukraine conflict, a situation China has maintained a neutral stance on, while being a key ally to Russia.