Latest news with #NationalSecurityCommittee
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Indus Waters Treaty: Pakistan's Bid To Prove India As Water Aggressor Baseless, Say Intelligence Sources
Last Updated: A top Pakistani military official's statement on the Indus Waters Treaty shows Pakistan is committed to responding with full force across the complete spectrum of national power A statement on India's abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty being an 'act of war" by a top Pakistani military official, is baseless and without understanding of the facts involved, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18. Pakistan's chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Sahir Shamshad Mirza declared any suspension or abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as 'acts of war" at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. According to top intelligence sources, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza's statement shows that Pakistan is committed to responding with full force across the complete spectrum of national power. The neighbouring country's aggressive rhetoric, framing India's measures related to the IWT as an 'act of war", reflects a pattern of coercive diplomacy, the sources said. This has been reinforced by Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC), which warned that disrupting water flow will be treated as aggression. The senate standing committee on water resources condemned India's abeyance as illegal and provocative, threatening international legal action while ignoring the absence of provisions on the treaty's suspension. The sources said such narratives portray India as a water aggressor to fuel domestic nationalism. There is no actual suspension, but India declared the IWT in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack that it alleged has cross-border terror links, they said. They said this shows that this is a reversible diplomatic measure, and not a termination based on future negotiations on terrorism. The IWT does not have a clause for unilateral suspension, which makes India's move to be against terrorism rather than legal withdrawal, they added. The sources further said Pakistan has labelled treaty adjustments as 'acts of war" while itself violating the IWT provisions. Pakistan is using the groundwater of the eastern rivers – allocated to India – before they cross into Pakistan, they said. The country is also constructing river training works, which is contributing to the flooding of the Rann of Kutch in India, they added. Pakistan has repeatedly denied links to cross-border terrorism despite attacks like Pahalgam in April this year and Uri in 2016. India has cited these deadly terror strikes to justify the raft of diplomatic countermeasures it took following the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. Framing water issues as an existential threat lowers the threshold for military retaliation and Pakistani generals only want it to remain in the business of war, the sources said. Pakistan's threats risk closing doors to all functional diplomatic channels, they said. India's 'abeyance" is a measured response to terrorism and not water warfare as suggested by Pakistani military officials, they said. Islamabad's escalation rhetoric ignores both technical realities and its own treaty violations, while prioritising confrontation over cooperative water governance needed for climate-vulnerable regions, they said.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Beijing appoints a new top representative to Hong Kong
Zheng Yanxiong has been removed as director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong and the central government has appointed Zhou Ji, the executive deputy director of its top office for the city's affairs, to replace him. The State Council, China's cabinet, announced late on Friday (May 30) that Zhou, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), had been appointed to lead the central government's liaison office in the city. In a brief statement, it also said it had removed Zheng, 61, from all three of his posts, namely as the director of the liaison office, as deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and as adviser to the city's national security committee. In a statement, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu welcomed Zhou and thanked Zheng for his support of Hong Kong in the past. Zhou, who was appointed as executive deputy director of the HKMAO in 2023, will also take over Zheng's role on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of Hong Kong. Zheng was appointed as head of the liaison office in January of that year to succeed Luo Huining, who was 68 at the time. Zheng was appointed as deputy director of the HKMAO earlier that same year. Last month, he urged the Hong Kong government to speed up the development of the Northern Metropolis and strengthen the city's cooperation with mainland China to become a 'superconnector' and 'super value-adder' for the digital economy. The city leader also extended his gratitude to Zheng for upholding the 'one country, two systems' principle in safeguarding national security and maintaining constitutional order during his more than two years as liaison office chief, noting the Beijing official's full support for the local legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution. 'Zheng Yanxiong has fully supported the HKSAR government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility and historic mission of completing the local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law,' Lee said in the statement in Chinese. Lee said since Zhou had taken up his role with the HKMAO in 2023 he had been directly involved in the management and coordination of Hong Kong affairs and was deeply familiar with the country's policies for the city. He added that Zhou last year led a team to Hong Kong to carry out an inspection and research, coordinating work on the implementation of a series of central policies to support the city and conveying Beijing's strong support for the financial hub's development and its care and concern for Hongkongers. Zhou also had extensive experience in formulating and implementing policy, as well as rich experience in regional governance, Lee said, citing the Beijing official's previous posts in Hubei and Henan. He had no work experience in Hong Kong or Macau when he was made the No 2 official at the HKMAO. His appointment was part of the office's upgrade to a higher-level outfit reporting directly to the Communist Party leadership. Last month, Zhou attended a high-level conference in Hangzhou, the capital of tech powerhouse Zhejiang province, where Lee was leading a delegation. Zhou said at the event that Hong Kong had won global recognition amid the US-China trade war by maintaining its 'strategic determination to firmly uphold the international order, the multilateral trading system and the city's status as a separate customs entity'. He reiterated that Beijing would always fully support Hong Kong in taking advantage of its uniqueness and deepening cooperation with mainland provinces and cities, which would serve the country's overall development. 'With the strong leadership of the central government and the institutional strengths of the 'one country, two systems' governing principle, the cooperation between the two places will surely be able to lead the nation's high-quality development,' he said at the event. Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, told the Post that Zhou was a very seasoned official. 'He should have greater political powers in implementing the central government's policies in Hong Kong,' he said.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Beijing appoints a new top representative to Hong Kong
Zheng Yanxiong has been removed as director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong and the central government has appointed Zhou Ji, the executive deputy director of its top office for the city's affairs, to replace him. The State Council, China's cabinet, announced late on Friday that Zhou, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), had been appointed to lead the central government's liaison office in the city. In a brief statement, it also said it had removed Zheng, 61, from all three of his posts, namely as the director of the liaison office, as deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and as adviser to the city's national security committee. In a statement, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu welcomed Zhou and thanked Zheng for his support of Hong Kong in the past. Zhou, who was appointed as executive deputy director of the HKMAO in 2023, will also take over Zheng's role on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of Hong Kong. Zheng was appointed as head of the liaison office in January of that year to succeed Luo Huining, who was 68 at the time.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Beijing removes Zheng Yanxiong as head of liaison office in Hong Kong
Zheng Yanxiong has been removed as director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong and the Chinese government has appointed Zhou Ji, the executive deputy director of the top Beijing office for the city's affairs, to replace him. Advertisement The State Council, China's cabinet, announced late on Friday that Zhou, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), had been appointed to lead the central government's liaison office in the city. Zhou Ji, the executive deputy director of the top Beijing office for the city's affairs, will replace Zheng Yanxiong. Photo: Handout In a brief statement, it also said it had removed Zheng, 61, from all three of his posts, namely as the director of the liaison office, as deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and as adviser to the city's national security committee. It was not immediately clear what prompted the replacement or where Zheng would be posted next. Zhou, who was appointed as executive deputy director of the HKMAO in 2023, will also take over Zheng's role on the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of Hong Kong. Advertisement More to follow …
CNN
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
The latest on Trump's presidency as he addresses West Point graduates
Update: Date: Title: NOW: Trump addresses service academy graduates at West Point Content: President Donald Trump has begun his commencement address at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York. The speech comes after Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed a sweeping effort to scour the country's military academies for course offerings, clubs and books deemed unsuitable by the administration — and as Trump orchestrates a wider shakeup of the Pentagon and the country's national security establishment. The class Trump is speaking to represents a diverse group of newly commissioned second lieutenants. According to West Point, 252 are women — including the valedictorian, Joanna K. Halfhill. It's the 45th anniversary of the first class to graduate women. CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report. Update: Date: Title: Tehran "disappointed" with US nuclear talks, senior Iranian lawmaker says Content: Iran is disappointed with the progress of nuclear talks with the United States and is considering a 'Plan B' if they fail, a senior Iranian lawmaker told CNN. Ebrahim Rezaei, a member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said officials get 'more disappointed' after each round of negotiations, particularly around the issue of uranium enrichment, which has emerged as a red line in the talks. Uranium can be used to build a bomb if enriched to high levels. 'We do not have hope yet, because the American side is still insisting on zero enrichment, and I know the Islamic Republic of Iran will never agree with zero enrichment,' Rezaei said in an interview at the Iranian parliament today. 'I got disappointed and do not have much hope that the negotiations will lead to a deal. We are preparing for Plan B.' He did not specify what Plan B might entail. Rezaei was speaking the day after the fifth round of indirect talks in Rome between the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. A senior Trump administration official said Friday that talks 'continue to be constructive' and that progress was made, adding that both sides agreed to meet 'in the near future.' Witkoff said last week that the US had 'one very, very clear red line, and that is enrichment. We cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability … because enrichment enables weaponization.' Rezaei told CNN that 'if these are the real words of the American aide and they say the same in the negotiations, I can already say that the talks are doomed to fail.' Update: Date: Title: Trump's speech at US Military Academy comes as his anti-DEI initiatives alter the institution Content: Often when a president makes an annual commencement address at a US military service academy, it's an opportunity to discuss the national security environment the graduating class, all newly commissioned officers, will be entering when they leave. As President Donald Trump stands on stage about to address the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, he has plenty to discuss in front of the 1,002 graduates — global conflicts, new investments in the military and his efforts to maintain 'peace through strength.' Still, an undeniable backdrop to this year's speech is Trump's crackdown on diversity initiatives across the military and higher education, which have coincided at institutions like West Point. Trump's crackdown on DEI programs has played out on the campus here in New York's Hudson Valley over the last several months. A number of affinity groups have been disbanded, including the Society of Black Engineers and the Latin Cultural Club. At other service academies, books deemed in violation of Trump's anti-DEI directives have been pulled from the library. The White House and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say they are making the military more lethal and focused on its core mission of warfighting. It's all caused an enormous amount of consternation, and at least one professor at West Point has resigned. There are protests expected near campus today, including in boats on the Hudson River beneath campus. Update: Date: Title: After awkward ramp incident in 2020, Trump's West Point stage has an addition: a handrail Content: The last time President Donald Trump addressed graduates at the US Military Academy in 2020, his appearance was punctuated by an awkward, unsteady descent down a ramp that raised questions about his physical well-being. This morning, as Trump returns to West Point, two long ramps remain in place in front of the podium. But this year, a handrail has been installed on one side. At the time, Trump issued an ardent defense of his halting walk down the ramp, where he stepped gingerly to get ground level. In a tweet, Trump insisted the slope was 'very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery,' though it had not rained beforehand and others were seen walking normally down the decline. With the handrail in place, Trump may be able to avoid the questions this time around. Update: Date: Title: Reporting roundup: Our latest coverage of President Donald Trump's administration Content: Entering the weekend, we're tracking the latest on President Donald Trump's ever-evolving trade policy, particularly his threat of 50% tariffs on the European Union and 25% levies on cellphone makers that manufacture their products outside the US. We'll also have updates on the president's speech at the US Military Academy commencement later this morning in West Point, New York. Use the links below to get up to speed on our other recent coverage: • Legal battle with Harvard: A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration's ban on Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, marking the latest development in a battle over the elite institution's refusal to accept White House policy demands. International students at the school say they are experiencing 'pure panic' as they await an outcome. • Trump's 'big, beautiful bill': After intense lobbying by Trump, GOP infighting and an all-nighter, House Republicans advanced their sweeping tax cuts and spending package this week. Analysts say low-income Americans will feel the effect of aid cuts, while wealthy Americans will see a windfall if the package advances through the Senate in a similar form. • National Security Council ousters: The administration has put more than 100 officials at the National Security Council on administrative leave as part of a restructuring under interim national security adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sources told CNN yesterday. • Another wrongfully deported migrant: The administration has been ordered to facilitate the return of a Guatemalan man who was wrongly deported to Mexico in February, after he told authorities about his fears of violence and torture across the border. This is at least the third time a judge has ordered the return of a migrant wrongfully deported under Trump's immigration crackdown. • Sanctions on Syria: The administration issued orders yesterday to begin easing sanctions on Syria, marking a major policy shift after Trump pledged earlier this month to roll back the measures during a trip to the Middle East. Update: Date: Title: Trump arrives at West Point ahead of commencement speech Content: President Donald Trump has arrived in West Point, New York, where he will deliver the commencement address at the US Military Academy around 10:15 a.m. ET. This will be the second commencement address Trump delivers this spring. The first was at the University of Alabama — where he wasn't shy about getting political, inflating the margin of his 2024 win in the state and criticizing former President Joe Biden's administration. Update: Date: Title: EU trade chief says a deal with the US must be based on respect, not threats Content: A trade deal between the European Union and the US must be based on 'mutual respect, and not threats,' the EU's trade chief said, after President Donald Trump threatened the bloc with a 50% tariff. 'The EU's fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both,' Maroš Šefčovič wrote in a post on X yesterday after a call with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, adding that the European Commission 'remains ready to work in good faith.' However, he said, EU-US trade 'must be guided by mutual respect, not threats.' 'We stand ready to defend our interests,' Šefčovič added. Some context: Trump raised the prospect of the 50% tariff on goods from the EU yesterday, citing a lack of progress in trade negotiations. The tariff Trump is considering slapping on the EU is more than double the size of the 20% initial 'reciprocal' tariff that was briefly in place in April before he swiftly paused those tariffs to allow for further negotiations. In a post on Truth Social, the president said he took particular issue with 'non-monetary trade barriers,' as he has repeatedly called them, as well as countries or trading blocs that run trade deficits with the US. Those occur when the US purchases more from another trading partner than that country purchases from the US. CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald contributed reporting to this post. Update: Date: Title: Trump's trade war: What to know about the president's latest tariff threats Content: President Donald Trump issued a pair of new threats in his ever-evolving trade policy yesterday, taking aim at the European Union and cellphone makers. Here are the two key tariff headlines entering the weekend: Trade demands for the EU: The president has threatened a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union, citing a lack of progress in negotiations and policies he says are contributing to an unacceptable trade deficit with the bloc. 'Our discussions with them are going nowhere!' Trump said in a Truth Social post yesterday morning. 'Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.' During an executive order signing in the Oval Office later that day, Trump escalated his message: 'I'm not looking for a deal,' he said. 'We've set the deal — it's at 50%.' Trump did open the door to pushing his June 1 deadline further, however, and his tariff threats have repeatedly been followed by reversals and delays. Ultimatum for smartphone makers: Trump also demanded yesterday that Apple and other smartphone makers like Samsung make their phones in the US or face a 25% tariff. 'I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.' Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office that the tariff would apply to any phone maker selling devices in the US, calling out Samsung by name. The threat comes after Trump expressed displeasure last week that Apple plans to manufacture iPhones for sale in the US at newly built plants in India. Update: Date: Title: Watch: Breaking down a busy week at the White House Content: In another busy week, President Donald Trump met at the Oval Office with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and tracked Republican efforts to get his sweeping tax and spending cuts package through Congress. CNN's Kaitlan Collins debriefs on the past few days at the White House:
