Update on Ayushman Arogya Mandir 1,76,573 AAMs have been operationalized across the country till February 2025
107.10 crore screenings for hypertension and 94.56 crore screenings for diabetes have been conducted at AAMs
A total of 5.06 crore wellness sessions including Yoga have been conducted at AAMs
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:50PM by PIB Delhi
As reported by States/UTs on the Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) portal, a total of 1,76,573 AAMs have been operationalised across the country till February, 2025. As per portal, 107.10 crore screenings for hypertension and 94.56 crore screenings for diabetes have been conducted at AAMs.
Wellness-related activities like Yoga, cycling, and meditation are conducted in AAMs. As on 28.02.2025, a total of 5.06 crore wellness sessions including Yoga have been conducted at AAMs.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare,Shri Prataprao Jadhavstated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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HFW/ Update on Ayushman Arogya Mandir/25 March 2025/3
Steps taken on Mental Health AB PM-JAY provides cashless healthcare services related to 1961 procedures across 27 medical specialties including 22 procedures under Mental Disorder Speciality
District Mental Health Programme component of the National Mental Health Programme has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission
Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities
47 Government run mental hospitals are functional in the country, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions
36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services. More than 19,67,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number
Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024 to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:48PM by PIB Delhi
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued Master Circular on Health Insurance Business dated 29.05.2024, vide which insurers are required to provide wider choice to policyholders by offering products catering to all types of existing medical conditions; pre-existing diseases and chronic conditions. Insurers are also mandated to make available products in compliance with the provisions of Mental Health Care Act, 2017. In line with the above provisions, products are available in the market providing coverage for mental illness as per the respective product designs of the insurers.
Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri – Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the latest national master of the Health Benefit Package (HBP) provides cashless healthcare services related to 1961 procedures across 27 medical specialties including 22 procedures under Mental Disorder Speciality such as Intellectual Disability, Schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional disorders, autism spectrum disorder etc, to eligible beneficiaries. Further, States have been provided flexibility to further customize the Health Benefit Packages to local context.
As per centrally available data at National health Authority (NHA), as on 21.03.2025, 77,634 hospital admission worth Rs 87 Crore have been authorized under the scheme.
For providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare facilities in the country, the Government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission. Facilities made available under DMHP at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels, include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/ psycho-social interventions, continuing care and support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In addition to above services there is a provision of 10 bedded in-patient facility at the district level.
The Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level. The Government has upgraded more than 1.75 lakh Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental, Neurological, and substance use disorders (MNS) have been added in the packages of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities. Further, the Government has also supported 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties.
There are 47 Government run mental hospitals in the country, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. Mental Health Services are also provisioned in all AIIMS.
The Government is also augmenting the availability of manpower to deliver mental healthcare services in the underserved areas of the country by providing online training courses to various categories of general healthcare medical and para medical professionals through the Digital Academies, established since 2018, at the three Central Mental Health Institutes namely National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. The total number of professionals trained under Digital Academies are 42,488.
Besides the above, the Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 19.03.2025, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services. More than 19,67,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number.
The Government has also launched Tele MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World Mental Health Day – October 10, 2024. Tele-MANAS Mobile Application is a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed to provide support for mental health issues ranging from well-being to mental disorders.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare,Shri Prataprao Jadhavstated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Steps taken to expand healthcare professionals in rural areas Hard area allowance is provided to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas
Honorarium is provided to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills trained doctors to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area
Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have been introduced under NHM
Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:45PM by PIB Delhi
The details of healthcare professionals in urban and rural areas are available at website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Uniform Resources Locator (URL) as under: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/.pdf
Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system including to take measures to improve healthcare infrastructure in rural areas to support and retain medical professionals based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides financial approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. The details are available in public domain at: https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php
Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging healthcare professionals including females to practice in rural and remote areas of the country:
Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.
Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as “You Quote We Pay”.
Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.
In addition to the National Health Mission, Government of India has implemented the following to improve healthcare infrastructure in rural and urban areas of the country:
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas by i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals; iii) Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high focus States; and iv) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.
The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector and spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level.
Further, as per the ‘Guidelines for Human Resources for Health, National Health Mission (NHM)’, States/ UTs should make sure that living quarters/lodging facilities are provided to the HRH, especially in rural and difficult areas, close to the health facilities. The State may also explore the option of providing crèche facilities for women working with the NHM in the Block/District/ State offices.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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HFW/ Steps taken to expand healthcare professionals in rural areas/25 March 2025/4
The Government is aware of the hazard of avalanches in the Himalayan regions, which poses significant risks to human lives and property. Avalanches are a recurring natural phenomenon/disaster in high-altitude areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Government effectively deploys technologies for improved early warning and forecasting of Avalanches in the hazardous zones. Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is a national level agency for avalanche forecasting and is involved in the daily Operational Avalanche Forecasting for Defence users. Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chandigarh under DRDO is also the nodal agency for studying and developing avalanche mitigation technologies. The methodologies include aerial reconnaissance/ ground surveys, which are further used as an input to prepare avalanche hazard maps. Regular operational avalanche warning is issued by DGRE to the Army and civilian population in the snow bound regions of north-west Himalayas. Additionally, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) supplies six-hourly weather updates to enhance situational awareness.
Automated weather stations and Doppler radars have been installed in vulnerable regions to improve forecasting capabilities.
DGRE has installed 72 Snow Meteorological Observatories. Further, 45 Automated Weather Stations (AWS) are operational, 100 (AWS) are under testing and 203 (AWS) are under installation. The data is regularly received from snow observatories at 3 hour intervals and at 1 hour interval from AWS at DGRE. This output and the expert opinion is used to draw avalanche forecast for different areas at least 24 hour in advance. DGRE has also developed its own Avalanche map indicating locations of potential avalanche sites located all over the Himalayas and is being used by Troops for their safe mobility in snow bound area. Engineering solutions are also being provided as per the user’s requirements.
DGRE has developed following technologies for accurate avalanche predictions to safeguard lives in snow bound regions of Himalaya:
AI and ML (Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning) based avalanche forecast.
Increased Automatic Weather Station (AWS) network and surface observatories for snow bound areas.
Avalanche Engineering Control structures.
Avalanche Early Warning Radars.
Common Alert Protocol (CAP) compliant online APP for avalanche warning dissemination.
Forecast dissemination using satellite based communication for last mile.
Multi scale material properties simulation.
Process based 3D – Snowpack Modelling for stability of slope.
Light weight rigid structure for avalanche defence.
InSAR based landslide warning technology.
As informed by DGRE, in a first in India, Avalanche monitoring radar has been installed in North Sikkim. The system can detect avalanches within three seconds of trigger.
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), under the Ministry of Earth Science (MoES) provides the high resolution weather forecasts from their global, regional and ensemble prediction systems to DGRE on daily basis. DGRE uses NCMRWF model output to drive their mountain weather model and Avalanche forecast model. In addition during the winter season, NCMRWF shares the coupled model’s snow forecasts with DGRE. These snow and total precipitation forecasts are very useful for possible Avalanche forecasting at DGRE’s end.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released guidelines on Management of Landslides & Snow Avalanches in June 2009 to advise states on its response, preparedness and mitigation strategies. These guidelines have measures to reduce the impact of snow avalanches and early warning.
Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) based Integrated Alert System’ has been initiated with an outlay of Rs. 454.65 Crore, for dissemination of geo targeted early warnings/alerts related to disasters to the citizens of India for all 36 States/UTs using various disseminating medium like SMS, Costal Sirens, Cell broadcast, Internet (RSS feed & Browser Notification), Satellite Receiver of GAGAN & NavIC etc., through integration of all alerting agencies, [IMD, Central Water Commission (CWC), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), DGRE, Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Forest Survey of India (FSI)].
Besides early warning and preparedness, the Government deploy advanced technologies for rescue operations in avalanche-affected areas. These technologies such as Drone-Based Intelligent Buried Object Detection System and timely deployment of Helicopters enable rapid
response and efficient evacuation during emergencies. Similarly, the establishment of Disaster Management Control Rooms at the state and district levels ensures round-the-clock monitoring and coordination during rescue operations during Avalanche.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
As per Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, subjects of Police and Public Order are with the State Governments. However, the Government of India (GoI) has been supplementing the efforts of States affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). To address the LWE problem holistically, a “National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE” was approved in 2015. It envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures, development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc. On security front, the GoI assists the LWE affected State Government by providing Central Armed Police Forces battalions, training, funds for modernization of State police forces, equipment & arms, sharing of intelligence, construction of Fortified Police Stations etc;
The Policy envisages rapid infrastructural development in LWE-affected areas to boost economic development. In the endeavour, Government of India (GoI) has taken several specific initiatives in LWE affected areas, with special thrust on expansion of road network, improving telecommunication connectivity, education, skill development and financial inclusion. A few of these are enumerated below:
For expansion of road network, 17,589 Km have been sanctioned under 02 LWE specific schemes namely Road Requirement Plan (RRP) and Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas (RCPLWEA). Of these, 14,618 Km have been constructed.
For improving telecom connectivity in LWE affected areas, 10,505 mobile towers have been planned, of which 7,768 towers have been commissioned.
For Skill Development, 48 Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and 61 Skill Development Centres (SDCs) have been approved. Of these, 46 ITI and 49 SDCs are functional.
For quality education in tribal areas 255 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) are sanctioned, of which 178 EMRS are functional.
For Financial Inclusion, Department of Posts has opened 5731 Post Offices with banking services in LWE affected districts. 1007 Bank Branches & 937 ATMs have been opened and 37,850 Banking Correspondents (BCs) have been made operational in Most LWE affected districts.
For further impetus to development, under Special Central Assistance (SCA), funds are provided for filling critical gaps in public infrastructure in Most LWE affected Districts. Till now, Rs 3,563 Crore have been released since the inception of Scheme in 2017.
Apart from the specific schemes for LWE affected areas, Ministry of Home Affairs works in close coordination with other Ministries for optimum implementation of various flagship schemes of GoI in LWE affected areas.
For engaging with the local community, several measures are taken. A few are enumerated below:
Distribution of title deeds to Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers, under Forest Rights Act 2006. Till now 21,15,936 title deeds have been distributed (20,15,337 – Individual and 1,00,599 – Community).
To wean away the local population from the influence of the Left Wing Extremists, Civic Action Programme, is being conducted by, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed in LWE affected areas, undertaking various civic activities for welfare of the local people like organising Medical Camps, Skill Development. Rs. 196.23 crore has been released to CAPFs since 2014-15.
Tribal Youth Exchange Programs (TYEPs) are being organized for outreaching to the tribal youth of LWE affected districts. Through TYEP tribal youth are exposed to development activities and technological/ industrial advancement in other parts of the country and to enable them to develop emotional linkage with the people in other parts of the country and to make them aspirational. The program also aims to counter the false propaganda of left-wing extremists. 32500 youth have participated in these programmes since 2014-15.
To encourage Left Wing Extremists to join the mainstream, States have their own Surrender cum Rehabilitation policies. GoI also support the States in the endeavour through ‘Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation’ Policy and reimburses the expenditure incurred by the LWE affected States on rehabilitation of surrendered cadre. The rehabilitation package inter-alia, includes an immediate grant of Rs. 5 lakhs for higher ranked LWE cadres and Rs.2.5 lakhs for other LWE cadres. In addition, incentives for surrender of weapons/ ammunition are also provided under the Scheme. In addition, provision also exists for imparting training in trade/ vocation of their liking with monthly stipend of Rs. 10000/- for three years.
The resolute implementation of the policy has resulted in consistent decline in violence and constriction of geographical spread. The LWE related violence incidents and resultant deaths of civilians & Security Forces, have come down from high of 2010 by 81% and 85% respectively in 2024. The number of LWE affected districts reduced from 126 to 90 in April 2018, 70 in July 2021 and further to 38 in April-2024.
Improved law & order and security situation, accompanied by investment in infrastructure has created an enabling environment for enhanced economic development including increase in Public/Private investment.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes including cyber crime and digital arrest scams through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEAs.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes the statistical data on crimes in its publication “Crime in India”. The latest published report is for the year 2022. Specific data regarding digital arrest scams is not maintained separately by NCRB.
To strengthen the mechanism to deal with cyber crimes including digital arrest scams in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include the following:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) as an attached office to deal with all types of cyber crimes in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
The Central Government has launched a comprehensive awareness programme on digital arrest scams which, inter-alia, include; newspaper advertisement, announcement in Delhi Metros, use of social media influencers to create special posts, campaign through Prasar Bharti and electronic media, special programme on Aakashvani and participated in Raahgiri Function at Connaught Place, New Delhi on 27.11.2024.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke about digital arrests during the episode “Mann Ki Baat” on 27.10.2024 and apprised the citizens of India.
iv. I4C in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched a caller tune campaign for raising awareness about cybercrime and promoting the Cyber Crime Helpline Number 1930 & ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (NCRP). The caller tune is also being broadcasts in regional languages, delivered 7-8 times a day by Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
I4C proactively identify and blocked more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 Whatsapp accounts used for Digital Arrest.
vi. The Central Government has published a Press Release on Alert against incidents of ‘Blackmail’ and ‘Digital Arrest’ by Cyber Criminals Impersonating State/UT Police, NCB, CBI, RBI and other Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Central Government and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have devised a system to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers appear to be originating within India. Directions have been issued to the TSPs for blocking of such incoming international spoofed calls.
Till 28.02.2025, more than 7.81 lakhs SIM cards and 2,08,469 IMEIs as reported by Police authorities have been blocked by Government of India.
The ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been launched, as a part of the I4C, to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes, with special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber crime incidents reported on this portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies concerned as per the provisions of the law.
The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’, under I4C, has been launched in year 2021 for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters. So far, financial amount of more than Rs. 4,386 Crore has been saved in more than 13.36 lakh complaints. A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.
To spread awareness on cyber crime, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include; dissemination of messages through SMS, I4C social media account i.e. X (formerly Twitter)
(@CyberDost), Facebook(CyberDostI4C), Instagram (cyberDostI4C), Telegram(cyberdosti4c), Radio campaign, engaged MyGov for publicity in multiple mediums, organizing Cyber Safety and Security Awareness weeks in association with States/UTs, publishing of Handbook for Adolescents/Students, digital displays on railway stations and airports across, etc.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Exchange Fund Bills tender results
Tender date*”Pro rata ratio” refers to the average percentage of allotment with respect to each tender participant’s tendered amount at the “highest yield accepted” level.
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority tenders to be held in the week beginning March 31, 2025:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Hongkong Post announced today (March 25) that, as advised by the postal administration of Italy, mail delivery services previously impacted by a local strike have returned to normal. However, due to the impact of flooding, mail delivery services to the provinces of Florence, Lucca, Grosseto, Livorno, Pistoia and Prato in Italy are still subject to delay.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (March 25) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Township of Enniskillen of Ontario Province in Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Canada last year.
​”The CFS has contacted the Canadian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
MOFA response to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba expressing great concern over China’s joint military drills around Taiwan
October 14, 2024
Commenting on China’s joint military drills around Taiwan during an interview with the press on October 14, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pointed out that peace and security in and around the Taiwan Strait were an extremely important issue to the region. He stated that Japan would carefully monitor the situation and prepare to respond to any development.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) affirms and appreciates Prime Minister Ishiba’s public expression of great concern and support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait immediately after China launched military drills around Taiwan.
Also on October 14, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya and Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani stressed the importance of cross-strait peace to regional security and stability and stated that they would closely monitor the situation and remain vigilant concerning related developments.
Maintaining cross-strait peace and stability is a matter of international consensus. China’s repeated use of pretexts to suppress and intimidate Taiwan has undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. MOFA again urges China to exercise reason and restraint and to stop threatening Taiwan and unilaterally escalating regional tensions. For its part, Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities and work with the United States, Japan, and other like-minded partners to safeguard the rules-based international order.