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India, China to join Russian war games

China’s Defence Ministry in Beijing in a statement announced the participation of PLA troops in the exercises, adding that “India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia and other countries will also participate”…reports Asian Lite News

Indian and Chinese troops are set to take part in military exercises in Russia later this month, the first such major war games to be hosted by Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February.

China’s Defence Ministry in Beijing on Wednesday in a statement announced the participation of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops in the exercises, adding that “India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia and other countries will also participate”.

India has also indicated its participation in the war games. There was no response from the Indian Army on Wednesday to questions on India’s participation.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said last month the Vostok (East) 2022 exercises will be held from August 30 to September 5 in 13 training grounds in Russia’s Eastern Military District, and that the manoeuvres would include units of airborne troops, long-range bombers and military cargo aircraft.

It remains unclear if Indian and Chinese troops will be present together or if they will take part in different drills which will be spread across the 13 different training grounds.

The Chinese Defence Ministry statement noted the exercises were “unrelated to the current international and regional situation” and were aimed at “deepening the pragmatic and friendly cooperation with the militaries of participating countries, enhancing the level of strategic coordination of all participating parties, and enhancing the ability to deal with various security threats”.

Indian and Chinese troops have remained in a stand-off that has lasted for more than two years along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh following the transgressions by the PLA in April 2020. Disengagement has taken place in some areas along the LAC but talks to restore the status quo in the remaining friction areas in Hot Springs, Demchok and Depsang have been slow-moving.

The Chinese defence ministry said the exercise is “unrelated” to the current international and regional conditions. The Russian government confirmed the “Vostok” (East) drills last month without sharing details.

The Chinese defence ministry confirmed the exercise and shared some more details on Wednesday. “In accordance with the annual plan for cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries and the bilateral agreements, the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) will soon delegate and send part of its forces to Russia for participation in the Vostok-2022 exercise,” the Chinese statement said.

“China’s participation aims at enhancing strategic coordination among the participating nations and strengthening the ability to respond to security threats,” the ministry statement said, according to official media.

Reacting to the development, former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd) said: “I don’t attach too much significance to India and China taking part in these multi-nation drills against the backdrop of the Ladakh standoff. What will be more significant is restarting the India-China bilateral Hand-in-Hand exercise, which does not appear likely at the moment.”

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‘Sino-India ties going through a rough patch’

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India-China relations are going through an “extremely difficult phase” because of Beijing’s actions on the border and it will be difficult to have an Asian century if the two countries don’t come together, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

Jaishankar also defended India’s decision to purchase Russian oil and the country’s engagement with Myanmar’s junta following last year’s coup in the face of what he described as “double standards” and criticism from far away that didn’t account for India’s priorities.

During an interaction at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, he said relations between China and India were largely dependent on how the two sides are able to harmonise their interests, and recalled Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s remarks that an Asian century will happen when India and China come together.

“But the Asian century will be difficult to happen if India and China don’t come together. And one of the big questions today is where India-China relations are going,” he said.

“Because at the moment, the relationship is going through an extremely difficult phase because of what the Chinese have done in the last two years in our border areas,” he said, referring to the military standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that the Indian side has attributed to China’s unilateral attempts to alter the status quo.

Jaishankar’s remarks were in marked contrast to the Chinese leadership’s assertions about a “momentum of recovery” in relations when the external affairs minister met Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi last month. Jaishankar has also repeatedly said in recent months that the overall relationship cannot be normalised without peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

Responding to a question on India’s decision to buy Russian oil despite criticism from other countries, Jaishankar said there were different “yardsticks of judgement” and even “double standards at times” on this matter.

“We are not the only oil importer and…there are no sanctions on oil,” he said, adding that other countries and regions were being “very articulate” on this issue but have taken care of their own interests.

“I think it’s reasonable that we too be allowed to take care of our interests, particularly because we are a low-income society. For us, the increase in energy prices really hurt,” he said.

India, the third largest consumer of energy, has snapped up discounted Russian crude in recent months. Jaishankar said on Wednesday that India’s actions were aimed at ensuring the best possible deal for its citizens amid high energy prices and shortages.

ALSO READ-India takes a dig at China in UN

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China plans military posts in Pakistan to protect its investments

Given the huge imbalance of power in its favour, China started putting pressure on Pakistan to allow the construction of posts where it would station its armed personnel…reports Asian Lite News

As part of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China has made significant investments in the conflict-prone Pakistan-Afghanistan region.

China is planning to protect its interests in the two Asian countries by stationing its own forces in specially designed outposts, according to top diplomatic sources.

China has made significant investments in Pakistan and Afghanistan to further its goal of expanding its influence in the region.

China is a major source of financial, military and diplomatic support for Pakistan, and according to some estimates, the Chinese investments have exceeded $60 billion.

Given the huge imbalance of power in its favour, China started putting pressure on Pakistan to allow the construction of posts where it would station its armed personnel.

However, Afghanistan, where the Taliban is currently in power, still has to meet the expectations of China and Pakistan on many counts.

Top diplomatic and security officials in Islamabad, who requested anonymity for this report, are convinced that China’s People’s Liberation Army is working at a war scale to establish military posts in Pakistan and Afghanistan to support its operations and expansion of its Belt and Road Initiative.

A diplomatic source claims that Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong discussed the issue in a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Army and leaders of its Prime Minister’s Office.

Ambassador Rong has recently arrived in Pakistan and has not been there since the end of March 2022.

However, the meeting in which he demanded the creation of outposts for Chinese forces was perhaps the first formal meeting between Ambassador Rong with the new government and state representatives.

According to sources, the Chinese ambassador has continuously been insisting on the security of Chinese projects and safety of its citizens.

Apart from requesting the use of Gwadar International Airport for its fighter jets, China has already demanded security outposts in Gwadar.

Another top source revealed that the facility, which could be used for military purposes, will soon become operational as revealed from its fencing.

However, the issue has its own sensitive dimensions as the Pakistani people may not be comfortable with a heavy Chinese military presence in the country.

There are concerns that Pakistan is already mired in a debt-trap-like situation and that Chinese tactics could leave it no better than a colony.

Both China and Pakistan have different concerns regarding Afghanistan. Both Pakistan and China expected unwavering support from the landlocked nation after the Taliban’s takeover. However, this has not materialised fully.

Keeping Indians out of Afghanistan was one of the topmost priorities for Pakistan. But the Kandahar-based Taliban have not too much of a liking for Pakistan that would allow it to call the shots.

The Taliban have a strong desire for an independent foreign policy, including ties with India. Even Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yakub has suggested military training in India.

However, this was not the only instance in which Pakistan expected the newly-elected Afghan government to comply with its demands.

Taliban and especially the groups affiliated to the Haqqanis were expected to facilitate the destruction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and hand over wanted militants to the Pakistani army.

It soon became clear that Haqqani would not comply. The reason being that the Kandaharis and some of the TTP leaders shared the same ancestral background. The Pakistan Army had no option but to engage in complex ceasefire talks with the TTP.

On one side, Pakistan is trapped in the debt-trap diplomacy of China, while on the other hand, the Chinese administration is constantly reminding them that they do not have trust in the Pakistani security apparatus.

Pakistan does not want to annoy China from whom it repeatedly takes financial aid. However, the acceptance of the demand would not only dent its global image further it could also lead to domestic complications, say sources who requested anonymity for this report due to their proximity to decision makers in the country.

ALSO READ-Pakistan under fire as China demands military outposts

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-Top News China Sri Lanka

Chinese spy ship reaches Lanka

Chinese vessel ‘Yuan Wang-5’ is widely believed to be a spy ship. It was given clearance to arrive on Sri Lanka port last week…reports Asian Lite News

A Chinese research vessel – widely tagged as a spy ship – reached Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port on Tuesday morning, reports said, amid concerns in India. The vessel – Yuan Wang-5 – was give clearance to arrive at the Sri Lanka port over the weekend. Yuan Wang-5 is used by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to track satellites and ballistic missiles. The ship is said to have some 2,000 sailors aboard.

“Having considered all material in place, on 13 August 2022, the clearance to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China was conveyed for the deferred arrival of the vessel from 16-22 August 2022,” Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.

The Hambantota Port has been taken by China on a debt swap by China on a 99-year-lease. It’s considered to be strategically important because of its location.

The arrival of the vessel in debt-ridden Sri Lanka – which was initially expected on August 11 – comes after the island nation had asked Beijing earlier this month to defer the entry. This was, however, followed by a sharp reaction from China, which said that it was “completely unjustified” for certain countries to cite the so-called “security concerns” to pressure Colombo and “grossly interfere” in its internal affairs. Beijing had said it had sought new entry dates “for replenishment purposes of the vessel”.

However, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi gave a sharp response over Beijing’s comment. “We reject the insinuations in the statement about India. Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and makes its own independent decisions,” Bagchi had said.

“As regards India-China relations, we have consistently emphasised the necessity of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests as a basis for the development of ties.”

Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at South Asian University, Dhananjay Tripathi says: “Sri Lanka is caught in a quandary. It cannot refuse China because it is under a pile of debt. Also, by giving a nod to the entry of the ship we can see that there is a strong Chinese influence in the current administration”.

Tripathi says that there will also be a section in India’s neighbouring countries that will be anti-India. “We have a section that opposes India in Sri Lanka as well. But I feel that India should ignore such voices. Over time these voices will get neutralised”. Many anti-India sentiments are driven by personal political agendas as well external forces, he added.

India has, largely, been the only country to have come to Sri Lanka’s aid since the beginning of this year with nearly $4 billion in lines of credit (LoC) and humanitarian aid. Colombo’s repeated requests for help went unheard in Beijing.

Regarding the comments made by the outspoken Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, Tripathi says: “It is very cunning of China to use a third country to spy on India. If Sri Lanka is a sovereign country with the right to develop relations with other countries, India too is a sovereign State with a genuine right to express its concerns over the arrival of a spy ship”.

India had last week asked Sri Lanka to defer the ‘Yuan Wang 5’ research ship’s docking at the commercial port of Hambantota over fears that the ship will be detrimental to India’s defence and economic interests in the Indian Ocean region.

Military experts say that the ship is one of China’s latest space-tracking ships which can monitor satellites, missiles and rockets, and hence India’s concerns.

ALSO READ-China conducts fresh military drills around Taiwan

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Realty crisis can inflict bigger economic blow to China

It is to be noted that China’s factory-gate inflation in July reached the lowest since February last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics…reports Asian Lite News

The real estate slump in China has sucked in both banks and provincial governments, threatening a bigger impact on the world’s second-largest economy, according to media report.

According to Nikkei Asia, defaults have soared over the past 12 months after property developers’ debt-fueled growth model lurched into reverse. Around 99 defaults on domestic debt occurred in the year including delayed payments, according to Shanghai-based Wind Information.

It is to be noted that China’s factory-gate inflation in July reached the lowest since February last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The country’s producer price index, which gauges factory-gate prices, increased 4.2 per cent year-on-year in July, following a 6.1 per cent rise from the previous month, China Daily reported citing NBS.

Earlier, S&P Global Ratings warned that around 20 per cent of Chinese developers it rates are at risk of insolvency. Chinese government triggered this reversal by imposing tougher restrictions in 2021 on mortgages and developers’ access to financing.

The complete lockdown in major cities amid China’s zero-COVID policy has put the country’s economy under strain with increasing inflation and disrupted global supply chains.

Though China refuses to acknowledge it, the rigid stamping out of COVID-19 from the country is beginning to affect big companies and industries which are suspending operations in Shanghai and other cities, reported The Hong Kong Post.

Meanwhile, new housing sales shrank 27 per cent on the year in volume in the January-June half. July sales fell 13 per cent from June and 27 per cent from a year earlier across 100 major Chinese cities, according to real estate research company China Index Academy, cited by Nikkie Asia.

Banks have begun to feel the heat. Lending to the real estate sector makes up 26 per cent of China’s total outstanding loans, compared with around 21 per cent to 22 per cent in Japan at the height of the property bubble there. The percentage of nonperforming loans held by China’s big four state-owned banks increased by over 1 percentage point in 2021 to 3.8per cent.

Several housing developers have halted ongoing condominium construction projects as they are unable to secure cash. Yan Yuejin at Shanghai-based E-house China R&D Institute estimated that around 4 per cent of new builds sold in the four years through June 2022 had problems, Nikkie Asia reported.

While local governments are hardly on solid financial footing themselves.

As tax breaks eat into their revenue, local authorities have come to rely heavily on income from selling usage rights for state-owned land to developers. Land sales revenue exceeded tax income in 2020 for the first time in data going back to 2010.

But cash-strapped developers cannot afford land for new residential properties. Local governments’ land income dropped 31 per cnet on the year in the first half of 2022, and is expected to decline on a full-year basis for the first time in seven years. The squeeze on the industry has also hit income from property-related taxes.

S&P Global estimates that as many as 30 per cent of local governments could be in dire enough financial straits at the end of this year to require corrective action such as spending cuts.

Real estate has been a key driver of the Chinese economy in the last two decades.

According to Harvard University professor Kenneth Rogoff, real estate and related activities now account for around 29 per cent of gross domestic product, up from less than 10 per cent at the end of 1990. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Zero Covid Policy Withers As New Infections Sprout In China Tourism Hubs

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Xi plans to meet Biden in November

Chinese officials are planning for President Xi Jinping to visit Southeast Asian nations and meet face-to-face with US President Joe Biden in November, Wall Street Journal reported.

This visit comes after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan which has irked the Chinese government and in response, they launched a military drill around the self-ruled island.

This visit would mark the Chinese leader’s first international trip in nearly three years and his first in-person meeting with Biden since the American leader’s inauguration.

According to the publication, this trip preparations suggest that Xi is confident about his fortunes at a twice-a-decade congress set to take place this fall, where he is expected to break with recent precedent and claim a third term as Communist Party chief.

The Chinese leader is first expected to conclude the party Congress and then would likely attend a summit of leaders from the Group of 20 nations on the Indonesian island of Bali from November 15 to 16. And after two days, Xi is expected to travel to Bangkok, Thailand’s capital to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, they said.

However, the plans can change as it is still at the early stage and the part of preparations is to prepare a possible meeting between Xi and Biden on the sidelines of one of the two summits, the people said.

“China supports Indonesia and Thailand as the hosts of the two conferences, and is willing to work with all parties to promote the conference to achieve positive results,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a response to The Wall Street Journal’s question on Xi’s potential trip.

Meanwhile, the White House said that the two leaders discussed a possible face-to-face meeting during their recent call and agreed to have their teams follow up to sort out the specifics. The official declined to provide details on the time or location, according to Wall Street Journal.

Recently, when Pelosi visited Taiwan against China’s wishes, Beijing started holding large-scale military exercises while threatening to take over the self-ruled island. After more than a week-long training near Taiwan, China on Wednesday announced that it has concluded its military drills, simulating an attack on the island.

PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said it had successfully completed various missions during recent drills around Taiwan and effectively tested the troops’ joint operation combat capacity, state media outlet Global Times reported.

The Chinese military said they will regularly organize combat readiness patrols in the Taiwan Strait.

Justifying its large-scale military drills and airspace violations in the East and South China sea, China said that after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the country is now preparing itself for every possible scenario.

Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said that Pelosi’s Taiwan visit is a major provocation that upgraded US-Taiwan relations and a real threat to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity adding that China has to prepare itself for every possible scenario.

Recently, on Friday, as many as 24 Chinese aircraft and six vessels were detected by the Taiwan Defence Ministry near its territory, two days after China halted its large-scale military drills near the self-ruled island. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Xi Jinping testing Biden’s resolve to defend Taiwan

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Zero Covid Policy Withers As New Infections Sprout In China Tourism Hubs

(Photo by Chu Yan_Xinhua_IANS)

President Xi’s Zero-Covid policy fails as new areas come under coronavirus infection. The latest additions are tourism hubs of Tibet and Hainan. Due to the enforcement of lockdowns in an abrupt manner, tens of thousands of tourists are stranded now……. A special report by Ram Mohan

Zero-Covid policy, propagated by Chinese President Xi Jinping, appears to have failed terribly. Coronavirus infections are spreading to new areas in China even as the old infected areas remain hotspots. Despite the harshest restrictions on public movement, which led to a loss of livelihoods and huge mental harassment, the Zero-Covid policy did not work. And now the coronavirus infection is spreading to new areas of China while government agencies feel helpless.

The latest additions are tourism hubs of Tibet and Hainan. Due to the enforcement of lockdowns in an abrupt manner, tens of thousands of tourists are stranded now.  Ironically, China was the first to declare that the country was free from Covid-19 in early 2021. However, the country is struggling to prevent new infections, though the other parts of the world appear to be free of the Covid-19 pandemic now. Under the Zero-Covid policy, people are forced to stay at home.

Hainan hosts the tourist city of Sanya—also referred to as Hawaii of China. Many people from China especially Shanghai had rushed to Sanya for a vacation after months of rigorous lockdowns. But now they are stuck in Sanya as the public movement has been suspended after new 263 cases were reported.  Other cities in Hainan province such as Haikou, Wuzhishan, Ledong and Chengmai too are facing strict restrictions since China’s medical agencies are failing miserably to stop coronavirus. Total cases in Hainan have crossed 2,500-figure.  Zhou Changqiang, the head of Hainan’s health commission, said “We still have many shortcomings and weaknesses in COVID epidemiologic investigation, testing and treatment.”  The situation remains the same in other parts of China even as the areas that were unaffected so far are coming under the Covid-19’s grip.

Tibet had reported just one asymptomatic patient since the Covid-19 pandemic originated in China and reached across the globe like wildfire. A few days ago, Tibet has found 28 new Covid patients, leading to panic in the region. Now, Chinese agencies are building makeshift hospitals with a capacity of over 3,000 beds.  The sparsely populated Tibet largely remained unaffected till recently since the pandemic broke out.  But it has now become vulnerable as Chinese authorities could not contain the pandemic in the country. Now, Tibetans are at higher risk of getting infected as China’s Health Commission has stated that the people from the hilly areas are more prone to chronic respiratory diseases and low blood pressure levels.

People in new Covid areas are worried about Shanghai-styled long-duration lockdowns, which can impact their jobs, basic freedom and mental health.  Those who were quarantined in Covid centre did not get beds or blankets, and people stuck at home struggled to get food and medicine.  Even kids including infants were forcibly separated from their parents. Chinese people shared their woes on social media, leading to a public outcry against Xi’s Zero-Covid policy.

Many women in China do not want to have babies or delay pregnancy thanks to the Zero-Covid trauma. “I definitely don’t want my children to carry the uncertainty of living in a country where the government can just come to your door and do whatever they want,” said 30-year-old Jiang.  She is a media professional. Dr Brian Hall, a mental health researcher at a Shanghai-based university said the ‘Zero Covid’ policy was taking a significant toll on the mental health and well-being of Chinese people. “I am concerned about how these lockdowns may affect people’s livelihoods, which have knock-on effects on their mental health, especially among those with precarious working conditions, migrants, and young adults,” he said.

Newly infected areas are now heading to stringent lockdowns as the government has shut down pubs, restaurants and malls as well as started suspending train and air services. Given the past experiences, there are high possibilities that even grocery shops would be shut down in accordance with the Zero-Covid policy. This has caused chaos in Hainan and Tibet, where tourists can be seen being stranded at airports.  China’s GDP has taken a hit due to Xi’s Zero-Covid policy. Now policy expansion to new areas can hurt the Chinese economy more as well as cause a huge negative impact on people’s livelihoods and mental health.

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India takes a dig at China in UN

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday said the practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification must end…reports Asian Lite News

Taking a dig at China, India has told a UN Security Council meeting chaired by Beijing that it was “most regrettable” that genuine and evidence-based proposals to blacklist some of the world’s most notorious terrorists are being placed on hold, saying such “double standards” are rendering credibility of the Council’s sanctions regime at an “all-time low”.

In June, China, a permanent member of the UN and a close ally of Pakistan, had put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday said the practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification must end.

“An effective functioning of the Sanctions Committees requires them to become more transparent, accountable and objective. The practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification must end,” she said.

Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on ‘Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts’ chaired by permanent-member and Council President for the month of China, Ms Kamboj said, “It is most regrettable that genuine and evidence-based listing proposals pertaining to some of the most notorious terrorists in the world are being placed on hold.”

“Double standards and continuing politicisation have rendered the credibility of the Sanctions Regime at an all-time low. We do hope that all members of the UNSC can pronounce together in one voice, sooner than later, when it comes to this collective fight against international terrorism,” she said.

Abdul Rehman Makki is a US-designated terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba head and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

It was learnt that New Delhi and Washington had put a joint proposal to designate Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist under the 1267 ISIS and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council but Beijing placed a hold on this proposal at the last minute.

Earlier also, China, an all-weather friend of Islamabad, had placed holds and blocks on bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists.

In May 2019, India had won a huge diplomatic win at the UN when the global body designated Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist”, a decade after New Delhi had first approached the world body on the issue.

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China was the sole hold-out in the 15-nation body on the bid to blacklist Masood Azhar, blocking attempts by placing a “technical hold”. All decisions of the committee are taken through consensus.

Stalemate in India-China talks

While India pushed for a comprehensive disengagement, China’s refusal to discuss Demchok and Depsang had stalled all further progress in talks

The stalemate in the talks between India and China to end the standoff in Eastern Ladakh continues with no breakthrough in the 16th round of Corps Commander talks held last month.

In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the “security and stability” on the ground in the Western Sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), a joint statement issued had said.

“The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” the statement said. The talks were held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side and lasted for over 12 hours.

Building on the progress made at the last meeting on March 11, 2022, the two sides continued discussions for the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in a “constructive and forward looking manner.”

Stating that they had a frank and in-depth exchange of views in this regard, in keeping with the guidance provided by the State leaders to work for the resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest, the statement added: “The two sides reaffirmed that the resolution of remaining issues would help in restoration of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations.”

While an agreement for disengagement from Patrolling Point-15 was close by in the last few rounds of talks, China’s refusal to discuss other friction areas, Demchok and Depsang, maintaining that they are not part of the current stand-off, has stalled any progress. India has been insisting on comprehensive disengagement and de-escalation to end the ongoing standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Since the stand-off began in May 2020, the two sides have so far held 15 rounds of senior military commander talks with disengagement undertaken from both sides of Pangong Tso in February 2021, and from PP 17 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area in August, in addition to Galwan in 2020 after the violent clash. The 15th round of Corps Commander talks took place on March 11, 2022.

ALSO READ-Why Beijing must link One-China Policy with One-India policy

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Taiwan begins live-fire artillery exercises

The Foreign Ministry in Taipei has condemned China’s extension of its manoeuvres near Taiwan…reports Asian Lite News

Taiwan on Tuesday began scheduled live-fire artillery exercises amid China’s ongoing military manoeuvres around the island.

The live ammunition artillery exercise known as the Tien Lei drill was announced in late July and was designed to simulate Taiwan’s defence against an attack by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), reports dpa news agency.

It is taking place on Tuesday and Thursday this week and was planned as part of Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang exercises, but comes amid heightened tensions and just after China said it would extend large-scale air and sea drills to the north, south-west and east of Taiwan that had been due to end on Sunday.

No new formal end date has been announced.

Taiwanese television reported on Tuesday that flares were fired in coastal areas during the military exercise in Pingtung county in the island’s south, near a zone previously designated by the Chinese army for its drill.

The Foreign Ministry in Taipei has condemned China’s extension of its manoeuvres near Taiwan.

“China’s real intention behind these military exercises is to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the entire region,” Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told a news conference.

Wu said China’s large-scale military exercises, missile launches and cyberattacks were all part of Beijing’s “military playbook to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan”.

He said they were strategies to “weaken public morale” on the island.

China launched the military manoeuvres on August 2 in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

Since its launch, the Chinese military practised not only a naval and air blockade, but also amphibious landing capabilities to launch beach assaults on Taiwan, according to Chinese media.

Taiwan’s military said Chinese aircraft flew 66 sorties on Sunday alone. In the process, 22 jets crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, a demarcation that had mostly been respected in the past.

Fourteen Chinese warships were said to have participated, as well.

A Chinese drone was also spotted again on Sunday evening over the outlying Taiwanese island of Kinmen, which is only a few kilometres from the Chinese coast.

ALSO READ-China continues military drills around Taiwan

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China continues military drills around Taiwan

military medical staff airlifted by eight large transport planes of the air force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) arrive at Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 2, 2020. (Photo by Long Deyong/Xinhua/IANS) Release Date & Time: 2020-02-02 15:32

In announcing the manoeuvres to the north, south-west and east of self-ruled island on August 2, China had originally promised their conclusion on Sunday…reports Asian Lite News

China’s People’s Liberation Army on Monday continued their large-scale sea and air drills around Taiwan despite its initial announcement that the exercises which began last week in response to US House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, would end on Sunday.

China’s state television reported that the exercises were focussing on “anti-submarine and sea assault operations”, reports dpa news agency

In announcing the manoeuvres to the north, south-west and east of self-ruled island on August 2, China had originally promised their conclusion on Sunday.

No new formal end date has been announced.

In fact, some commentators on Chinese media expressed the view that the military exercises could become the new normal.

Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian on Monday said the drills are a “necessary warning” to the US and Taiwan, describing them as an “entirely reasonable and appropriate” response to their recent “provocations”.

He said the tensions were “deliberately” stoked by Washington, with Pelosi travelling to Taipei last week in the face of fierce opposition from Beijing.

The Chinese leadership rejects official contacts by other countries with Taipei because it regards the island as part of the mainland.

Taiwan, on the other hand, has long seen itself as independent.

Over the past several days the Chinese military practised not only a naval and air blockade, but also amphibious landing capabilities to launch beach assaults on Taiwan, according to Chinese media.

Taiwan’s military said Chinese aircraft flew 66 sorties on Sunday alone. In the process, 22 jets crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, a demarcation that had mostly been respected in the past.

Fourteen Chinese warships were said to have participated, as well.

A Chinese drone was also spotted again on Sunday evening over the outlying Taiwanese island of Kinmen, which is only a few kilometres from the Chinese coast, the Defence Ministry in Taipei reported.

Until recent days, there had been no Chinese overflight of the island since the 1950s.

Other Chinese manoeuvres are also planned this week in other waters, including in the north in the Bohai Gulf and Yellow Sea, and in the south in the South China Sea off the coast of Guangdong province

ALSO READ: Alarm bells in Lanka over China’s surveillance ship to Hambantota

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Taiwan not part of US, but Chinese territory: Wang Yi

In announcing the manoeuvres to the north, south-west and east of self-ruled island on August 2, China had originally promised their conclusion on Sunday…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that Taiwan is not part of the United States but Chinese territory.

During a short visit to Bangladesh, Wang Yi said United States has been engaging in “sophistry” on the Taiwan question, and China’s actions on Taiwan have been just, appropriate and legal, as well as being aimed at safeguarding the country’s sacred sovereignty and territorial integrity, media reported.

Meanwhile, China’s People’s Liberation Army on Monday continued their large-scale sea and air drills around Taiwan despite its initial announcement that the exercises which began last week in response to US House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, would end on Sunday.

China’s state television reported that the exercises were focussing on “anti-submarine and sea assault operations”, reports dpa news agency

In announcing the manoeuvres to the north, south-west and east of self-ruled island on August 2, China had originally promised their conclusion on Sunday.

No new formal end date has been announced.

In fact, some commentators on Chinese media expressed the view that the military exercises could become the new normal.

Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian on Monday said the drills are a “necessary warning” to the US and Taiwan, describing them as an “entirely reasonable and appropriate” response to their recent “provocations”.

He said the tensions were “deliberately” stoked by Washington, with Pelosi travelling to Taipei last week in the face of fierce opposition from Beijing.

The Chinese leadership rejects official contacts by other countries with Taipei because it regards the island as part of the mainland.

Taiwan, on the other hand, has long seen itself as independent.

Over the past several days the Chinese military practised not only a naval and air blockade, but also amphibious landing capabilities to launch beach assaults on Taiwan, according to Chinese media.

Taiwan’s military said Chinese aircraft flew 66 sorties on Sunday alone. In the process, 22 jets crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, a demarcation that had mostly been respected in the past.

Fourteen Chinese warships were said to have participated, as well.

A Chinese drone was also spotted again on Sunday evening over the outlying Taiwanese island of Kinmen, which is only a few kilometres from the Chinese coast, the Defence Ministry in Taipei reported.

Until recent days, there had been no Chinese overflight of the island since the 1950s.

Other Chinese manoeuvres are also planned this week in other waters, including in the north in the Bohai Gulf and Yellow Sea, and in the south in the South China Sea off the coast of Guangdong province.

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