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A new report released by U.S Department of Defense has said that U.S seeks to deny the ability of any country in the Indo-Pacific to dominate US and its allies. 

The new report titled Annual report to Congress: Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China says that U.S intends to open a wider range of military-to-military communication with the PLA with a focus on strategic stability as well as deconfliction and escalation, more broadly. We will also seek other ways to make clear our peaceful intentions. 

At the same time, we will ensure that the Joint Force is always ready and able to defend our nation’s interests in the Indo-Pacific, the document says. 

 As we do so, it bears emphasizing that U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific are fundamental—but also scoped and reasonable. We do not seek to strangle, dominate, or humiliate China, according to the document. 

Rather, as laid out in President Trump’s National Security Strategy, we seek only to deny the ability of any country in the Indo-Pacific to dominate us or our allies, the document reads. 

That means being so strong that aggression is not even considered, and that peace is therefore preferred and preserved. 

The document says: “The Department of War will therefore prioritize bolstering deterrence in the Indo-Pacific through strength, not confrontation. President Trump seeks a stable peace, fair trade, and respectful relations with China, and the Department of War will ensure that he is able to achieve these objectives from a position of military strength.” 

 In the process, we will forge and sustain a balance of power that will enable all of us to enjoy a decent peace in an Indo-Pacific—one in which trade flows openly and fairly, we can all prosper, and all nations’ interests are respected.

The document says that China has likely also considered basing Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has said that necessary preparations have already begun for conducting the House of Representatives elections on March 5. 

“It is now irrelevant to argue whether the elections will be held or not,” he said.

Addressing the concluding session of a two-day orientation organized by the Election Commission (EC) for political parties on submitting closed lists of candidates under the proportional representation (PR) system, he added, “Holding the elections is an obligation in the present situation.”

He emphasized that political issues related to the elections will be resolved politically, and the EC will uphold matters addressed through political and legal means. 

According to the Acting Chief Election Commissioner, the elections are also essential for the regularization of the Constitution. He urged political parties to select capable candidates and contribute to establishing good governance.

Bhandari also called on political parties to consider caste, language, class, and geography while submitting closed lists for the PR system. 

He urged them to avoid politics of prohibition and to help create an environment conducive to the election. He further reminded parties of the importance of complying with the election code of conduct.

“No one is expected to create obstacles for the elections,” he said, encouraging parties to engage with voters politely. “The Election Commission’s role is to act as a referee during the elections; the players are the political parties,” he added, reminding them of their responsibility to ensure a successful election.

The orientation was attended by EC Commissioners Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar and Sagun Shumsher JB Rana, Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut, Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, and two representatives from each of the 93 political parties that applied to take part in the PR election.

With President Ram Chandra  Paudel, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, issuing the House of Representatives Member Election (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2082, political parties are now required to submit closed lists under the PR system based on the population percentages of Dalits, Indigenous Nationalities, Khas Arya, Madhesi, Tharu, and Muslims according to the 2078 census report. The lists must be inclusive.

The closed lists are to be submitted to the EC between 10 am and 4 pm on December 28-29. 

Spokesperson Bhattarai confirmed that the EC is fully prepared for this process.

The Election Commission has established the offices of the Election Officers in seven provinces and also appointed election officers for the National Assembly member elections to be held on January 25.

The Commission’s spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said  that the Commission has appointed the district judges as the election officers.

Accordingly, Bhimraj Prasai has been appointed the Election Officer in Koshi Province, Shubhanath Puri in Madhesh Province, Geeta Shrestha in Bagmati Province, Himal Belbase in Gandaki Province, Prakashraj Pandit in Lumbini Province, Deepak Dhakal in Karnali Province, and Bhuvan Singh Thapa in Sudurpaschim Province.

Elections are taking place to the 19 vacant National Assembly member seats that will fall vacant on March 4. 

According to the election schedule, the publication of the voter list will take place from 10 am to 11am on January 3, objections and complaints regarding the list will be investigated, and the final voter list will be published from 3 pm to 4 pm on January 6.

Similarly, candidate nominations will be made from 10 am to 3 pm on January 7; complaints against the candidates can be filed from 10 am to 4 pm on January 8; candidates can withdraw their names from 10 am to 1 pm  on January 11, and the final list of candidates will be published from 1 pm  to 2 pm the same day.

As per the election schedule, the election symbols will be allocated to the candidates from 10 am to 1 pm on January 12. The voting will take place at the relevant polling center from 9 am to 3 pm.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that the government is primarily mandated for successfully conducting the elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5.

Inaugurating the Karnali Province–level Security Seminar jointly organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Birendranagar, Surkhet, the Home Minister stated that preparations for the elections are progressing accordingly.

“Our main strategy is to prevent the country from facing any kind of potential crisis,” he said, adding that the government is working to ensure the elections are held in a peaceful, free, and impartial environment, thereby helping to normalize the overall situation of the country. 

He went on to say the public mandate requires elections to be held within six months of the dissolution of Parliament and emphasized that security challenges will be addressed by strengthening security mechanisms.

The Home Minister further informed that the names of all those who attained martyrdom during the Gen Z movement have been published in the national gazette and that the government is focused on providing relief to their families. He stressed the need to bring Gen Z groups into the political mainstream to promote prosperity, development, and good governance in the country.

“Gen Z groups are not affiliated with any specific political party. They represent a collective force of energy, creativity, and talent, which should be utilized for national development,” he said.

The seminar was attended by Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki, Director of the National Investigation Department Tekendra Karki, Chief Secretary of the Karnali Provincial Government Birendra Kumar Yadav, Armed Police Force Inspector General Raju Aryal, Nepal Army Lieutenant General Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Anand Kafle, Chief District Officers from all 10 districts, and heads of the security agencies.