Tokyo: Laying a long-term strategic groundwork to further solidify cooperation for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and delving into the implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are expected to be the central focus of the second in-person summit of Quad leaders in Tokyo on Tuesday. The leaders of the Quad comprising India, the United States, Australia and Japan are set to demonstrate that the grouping is a 'force for global good' and has a unifying commitment to a rules-based international order amid China's increasingly intimidatory behaviour.The summit is taking place at a time when relations between China and the member countries of the Quad have become tense in the last few years with Beijing increasingly challenging democratic values and resorting to coercive trade practices. At the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to delve into India's perspective and vision for the Indo-Pacific as well as ways to boost cooperation in multiple domains including ensuring resilient supply chains.In a statement, before he left for Japan on Sunday, Modi said the summit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to review the progress of the Quad initiatives and exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest. There have been indications that the four-nation grouping may further resolve to expand cooperation in areas of emerging technologies, supply chain security, clean energy, connectivity, digital trade and infrastructure. US President Joe Biden is likely to use the summit to showcase Washington's strong commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and may call for further revitalising the grouping's framework for cooperation. In line with its long-term vision for the region, Biden is launching on Monday the ambitious Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which is an initiative aimed at deeper cooperation among like-minded countries in areas like clean energy, supply-chain resilience and digital trade. The rollout of the IPEF is expected to send across a signal that the US is focused on pushing forward a strong economic policy for the region to counter China's aggressive strategy on trade in the region. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday said the IPEF is designed to create 'high-standard approaches' to digital economy, to clean energy transition, diverse and resilient supply chains and open and transparent economic governance. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra last week said continuing cooperation on COVID-19 response, post-pandemic management of the economy and health infrastructure are also important elements for the Quad summit. "These include last-mile delivery, health security, genomic surveillance, clinical trials, and pandemic preparedness as their important elements," he said. Australia's newly-appointed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also participate in the summit and it will be interesting to know about his vision for the Indo-Pacific. The Quad leaders are also set to discuss the Russian military offensive in Ukraine and the humanitarian as well as security implications of the conflict.Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the United Nations platforms on the Russian aggression.India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. In March last year, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of Quad leaders in the virtual format that was followed by an in-person summit in Washington in September.The Quad leaders also held a virtual meeting in March. The Quad has been focusing on cooperation in areas such as producing vaccines, connectivity projects, facilitating mobility of students, and looking at promoting startups and technology collaboration. The Quad vaccine partnership was announced in March last year with an aim to deliver one billion doses of vaccines to the Indo-Pacific region by the end of 2022. India has always been maintaining that Quad is not aimed at any country. The foreign minister of the four countries held their first meeting under the 'Quad' framework in New York in September 2019. In November 2017, the four countries gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence besides cooperating on other issues. India's approach to the Indo-Pacific was enunciated by Prime Minister Modi in his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2018. Inclusiveness, openness and ASEAN centrality and unity lie at the heart of India's Indo-Pacific vision.The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a key stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific region.—PTI

Laying a long-term strategic groundwork to further solidify cooperation for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and delving into the implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are expected to be the central focus of the second in-person summit of Quad leaders in Tokyo on Tuesday.

China, Russia to be the focus of Quad deliberations

Far East

Tokyo: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son met on Monday to discuss more investments by the country's biggest tech backer, as a startup boom appears to cool in India amid worries about the global economy. The Japanese firm has injected more than $14 billion into India's tech industry, including in payments app Paytm whose market value has sunk since listing in Mumbai in November.Fundraising has become much more difficult this year for Indian startups after attracting a record $35 billion in 2021, while Softbank this month posted a record $26.2 billion loss at its Vision Fund investment arm. "Further propelling Japanese investments in India," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said on Twitter posting pictures of Modi and Son in a meeting in Tokyo.Bagchi said talks focused on "Softbank's future participation in India in technology, energy, finance, R&amp;D, etc" without giving details. In a video statement shared by New Delhi after the meeting, Son said India was growing "very quickly" and had become the third-biggest generator of startups in the world."India's future is bright," he said, adding Modi was keen to keep supporting the startup sector. Modi also met officials from Suzuki Motor Corp, the majority owner of India's biggest automaker, Maruti Suzuki, and discussed investment in electric vehicles and batteries.In a separate meeting with the chief of Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing Co Ltd, Modi urged the retailer to invest in India's upcoming all-in-one mega textile parks. The prime minister is in Tokyo for a summit of the leaders of the Quad group of countries - India, the United States, Japan, and Australia - and the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.—IANS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son met on Monday to discuss more investments by the country's biggest tech backer, as a startup boom appears to cool in India amid worries about the global economy. The Japanese firm has injected more than $14 billion into India's tech industry, including in payments app Paytm whose market value has sunk since listing in Mumbai in November.

PM Modi, Softbank's Son discuss more investments after big tech bets

Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Japan on a two-day visit to attend a summit of the Quad leaders which is aimed at further bolstering cooperation among the member nations of the influential grouping and discussing developments in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. 'Landed in Tokyo. Will be taking part in various programmes during this visit including the Quad Summit, meeting fellow Quad leaders, interacting with Japanese business leaders and the vibrant Indian diaspora,' Modi tweeted in both Japanese and English.'Ohayo, Tokyo! PM @narendramodi arrives to a warm welcome in Tokyo on what is his fifth visit to Japan in the last 8 years,' External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Prime Minister Modi interacted with children outside the hotel in Tokyo.He also saw the drawing of a young girl and signed an autograph for her during his interaction with the children. He then interacted with a boy who was waiting for him with a drawing of the tricolour. Prime Minister Modi asked him from where he learnt Hindi and praised him for his fluency in the language. Japan's Indian community has made pioneering contributions in different fields. They have also remained connected with their roots in India. I thank the Indian diaspora in Japan for the warm welcome,' Modi said on Twitter after his interaction with the community.Besides Modi, the Quad summit in Tokyo on May 24 will be attended by United States President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian prime minister-elect Anthony Albanese. 'In Japan, I will also participate in the second in-person Quad Leaders' Summit, which will provide an opportunity for the leaders of the four Quad countries to review the progress of Quad initiatives,' Modi said in his departure statement.'We will also exchange views about developments in the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest,' said Modi, whose visit to Japan is taking place under the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia. Modi, who is visiting Tokyo at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, will hold separate bilateral meetings with Biden, Kishida and Albanese on the sidelines of the summit. He had hosted Kishida for the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit in March 2022.'During my visit to Tokyo, I look forward to continuing our conversation further, with an aim to strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership,' Modi said ahead of his visit.He said economic cooperation between India and Japan is an important aspect of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership.Modi also said that he is looking forward to a bilateral meeting with newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Albanese during which the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and regional and global issues of mutual interest will be discussed.Noting that Japan is home to nearly 40,000 members of the Indian diaspora, who are an important anchor in India's relations with Japan, Modi said he looks forward to interacting with them.—PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Japan on a two-day visit to attend a summit of the Quad leaders which is aimed at further bolstering cooperation among the member nations of the influential grouping and discussing developments in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.

Where did you learn Hindi': In Tokyo to attend Quad, Modi meets kids

Taipei City: &nbsp;Taiwan has expressed regret that the island is yet to receive an invitation to the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/who" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">WHO</a>), scheduled to take place in Geneva. The key gathering of global health officials will take place from May 22-28, which will be the first in-person&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/world-health-assembly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">World Health Assembly</a>&nbsp;(WHA) since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We find it deeply regrettable that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/who" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">WHO</a>&nbsp;has once again failed to remain professional and politically neutral to extend an invitation to Taiwan," Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou said at a news briefing, as quoted by Taiwan Focus.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/who" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">WHO</a>&nbsp;has disregarded the widespread international support for Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer, which is necessary and urgent, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she added. This comes after the US government on Wednesday extended its support for Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA. "We strongly advocate for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/who" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">WHO</a>&nbsp;to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer and lend its expertise to the solution-seeking discussions at the 75th WHA this May," the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. "Inviting Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer would exemplify the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/who" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">WHO</a>'s commitment to an inclusive approach to international health cooperation and 'health for all," he added.According to Blinken, Taiwan is a highly capable, engaged, and responsible member of the global health community, and it has been invited to participate as an observer in previous WHA meetings.The Beijing government has been blocking Taiwan's representation at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/who" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">WHO</a>&nbsp;meetings after the self-ruled democracy elected Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan's president in 2016 and again in 2020.Delegates from Taiwan had attended the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aninews.in/topic/world-health-assembly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: transparent;">World Health Assembly</a>&nbsp;as nonvoting observers from 2009 to 2016, during a period of relatively warm ties between Beijing and Taipei.Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war.—ANI

Taiwan has expressed regret that the island is yet to receive an invitation to the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), scheduled to take place in Geneva.

Taiwan expresses regret over no World Health Assembly invitation

Seoul: &nbsp;US President Joe Biden arrived in South Korea on Friday for his first summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol on a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear program and supply chain risks. Biden's Air Force One landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported, Yonhap news agency reported. The US president is expected to head straight to a Samsung chip plant in the same city to meet with Yoon and tour the facility, underscoring the two countries' commitment to working together to strengthen supply chains.'Biden's visit, his first since taking office, comes as both Seoul and Washington believe a North Korean nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile test is imminent and could happen while he is in South Korea or Japan, the second leg of his tour. The visit also comes only 10 days after Yoon took office. The two will meet again Saturday for their first summit, which will be held first in a small group and then in an expanded format, to discuss the full range of security and economic challenges facing the allies and the region.Top among them will be the growing threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and the two sides are expected to discuss ways to bolster their combined defence and deterrence. "(The summit) will be an opportunity for the relationship between South Korea and the United States to become more solid and transition to an alliance covering a broader range," Yoon told reporters earlier Friday.Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the presidential National Security Office, told reporters earlier this week that the first thing the two sides will do during the summit will be to come up with an "action plan" for how South Korea and the United States will "strengthen the reliable and effective extended deterrence." Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. deployment of both conventional and nuclear assets to defend an ally.Specific actions the two leaders could take include the possible reactivation of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG), a key bilateral platform that was suspended in 2018. "The EDSCG can be regarded as the most important exercise in deterring North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," Kim said. "That is why I believe there could be discussions at this summit about regularizing the consultation body, expanding its agenda and strengthening the practical response capabilities of extended deterrence." In the event North Korea carries out a major provocation during Biden's stay, the two leaders will immediately take command of the two countries' combined forces, he added.'Biden's first trip to the region as president also demonstrates his commitment to strengthening cooperation with allies on economics and trade.During their summit, Yoon is expected to announce South Korea's participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, an initiative proposed by Biden to ensure secure and resilient supply chains, set the rules of the digital economy, and invest in clean, modern and high-standards infrastructure. Perceptions that the proposal aims to exclude China from global supply chains have raised concerns that China could retaliate against South Korea - as it did when the US deployed the THAAD antimissile system to South Korea in 2017. "It's not really necessary to look at it from a zero-sum perspective," Yoon told reporters Friday. "We just need to build good economic ties in our relationship with China as well." Kim said earlier that Saturday's summit will see the two countries expand their military and economic alliance to a "technological" alliance.' President Yoon Suk-yeol answers reporters' questions as he arrives for work at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on May 20, 2022.Key business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, have been invited to a banquet with Yoon and Biden at the National Museum of Korea on Saturday.On Sunday, Biden will depart for Japan. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the trip comes at a "pivotal moment," as Biden seeks to demonstrate US leadership both in responding to Russia's war in Ukraine and in the "vital" Indo-Pacific region. He'll have the opportunity to reaffirm and reinforce two vital security alliances, to deepen two vibrant economic partnerships, to work with two fellow democracies to shape the rules of the road for the 21st century, and to thank his allies in Korea and Japan for their remarkable, and in some ways unexpected, contributions to the effort to support Ukraine and to hold Russia accountable," he told reporters Wednesday.—IANS

US President Joe Biden arrived in South Korea on Friday for his first summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol on a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear program and supply chain risks.