Xinhua Asia Pacific news summary at 0600GMT, Feb. 12

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has slammed the country's human rights commission, saying it should be " ashamed of itself" for recommending a major public inquiry be established into Australia's detention of immigrant children.

Abbott said instead of criticizing the conservative government' s record on immigration, the human rights commission should be sending former Immigration Minister Scott Morrison a note of congratulations for the outstanding work he did in that difficult portfolio. (Australia PM-Human Rights Commission-Slam)

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CANBERRA -- The Australian government will step up its border security measures to help fight terrorism in Australia following the latest security threat in Sydney, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Thursday.

"At every level, we are lifting our game when it comes to national security," Abbott told radio station 3AW.

His comments were prompted by the arrest of two suspected "lone wolf" terrorists on Tuesday, the third such terror-related incident in Australia in the past six months. (Australia-Border Security)

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WELLINGTON -- A U.S. Coastguard vessel is en route to help an Australian-flagged fishing boat trapped by ice in Antarctic waters, New Zealand's maritime safety agency said Thursday.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), which is organizing the rescue, said the 63-meter Antarctic Chieftain had requested assistance on Wednesday after becoming trapped and damaging its propeller. (US Vessel-Australian Boat-Help)

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WELLINGTON -- The top U.S. Navy commander arrived in New Zealand Thursday in a visit to build closer cooperation between the two services.

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert would visit Wellington and Auckland on his two-day visit and be hosted by New Zealand Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Jack Steer.

Greenert would discuss a range of matters, including coordinated responses to international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief events, Steer said in a statement. (US-New Zealand-Talks)

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WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand government on Thursday officially declared a drought on the east of the South Island after weeks of a long, dry summer that has seen many farmers prepare to cull their stock.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said the drought conditions were "a medium-scale adverse event", the mid point on a three-level scale of adversity, between "national" and "localized. " (New Zealand-Drought-Declaration)

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WELLINGTON -- Growing numbers of Chinese visitors helped drive a boom in New Zealand's accommodation sector last year, according to figures from the government statistics agency Thursday.

Guest nights across the country were up 5.8 percent last year, compared to 2012, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Last year ended on a high note too with guest nights in December up 7.1 percent year on year, making it the ninth straight month of growth. (New Zealand-Chinese Visitors-Accommodation Sector)

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YANGON -- Myanmar government forces are in pursuit of Kokang ethnic army despite no fighting between them on Wednesday, the third day since the first fight on Monday, an official report said Thursday.

According to the report, the government troops combed the area of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on Monday and Tuesday, which sneaked into Laukkai through Nyochan Jetty and prepared for operation in southern and northern parts of Laukkai. (Mynamar-Kokang Ethmic Army-Pursuit) Endi