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  • China ups military presence near Taiwan pre-inauguration

    China ups military presence near Taiwan pre-inauguration

    Taiwan is anticipating a Chinse disruption of President-elect Lai Ching-te’s May 20 inauguration by hacking into websites and e-billboards and sabotaging the power grid….reports Asian Lite News

    Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence issued a statement on Saturday revealing that a significant presence of Chinese military aircraft and vessels has been detected in the vicinity of Taiwan.

    According to the ministry, as of 6 am (UTC+8) that day, a total of 15 China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 6 China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were observed operating around Taiwan.

    Of particular concern is the revelation that 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, breaching Taiwan’s Southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (SW ADIZ) and entering its airspace. This development underscores escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, as such airspace violations are viewed as provocative actions.

    In response to the detected presence, Taiwan’s Armed Forces, represented by the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCArmedForces), have closely monitored the situation and initiated appropriate responses. The nature of these responses was not detailed in the statement.

    The increased activity in the Taiwan Strait region comes amidst growing geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China. Taiwan has long been a point of contention for Beijing, which considers the island a renegade province and has repeatedly expressed intentions to reunify it with the mainland, even if by force.

    “15 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s SW ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” said Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence on Saturday.

    The presence of PLA military assets near Taiwan continues to be a sensitive issue, heightening concerns over potential escalations in the region. The Taiwanese government has consistently called for international support and attention to ensure stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait.

    Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of “grey zone tactics” by operating more military aircraft and naval ships near Taiwan.

    According to CSIS, grey zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force.”

    Seoul :Nearly 560K foreign hacking attempts against S.Korean govt detected over past 6 yrs.(Yonhap/IANS)

    Hacking concerns

    The sole ruling party of China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could attempt to disrupt President-elect Lai Ching-te’s May 20 inauguration by hacking into websites and electronic billboards and sabotaging the southern power grid, Taiwan News reported.

    An official told ‘Liberty Times,’ a local Taiwanese newspaper on May 9 that Chinese hackers could target government websites and public screens on May 20, potentially inserting sarcastic congratulatory messages or pro-CCP propaganda to embarrass Lai.

    China has intensified pressure on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after the January elections, as per Taiwan News.

    An official revealed that China has been seeking information about the content of Lai’s inauguration speech through academics based in Hong Kong and Macau.

    According to Taiwan News, the official further assessed that China is unlikely to conduct significant military exercises before May 20 but may attempt to disrupt the inauguration.

    He also stated China could try and disrupt power in Tainan, where the presidential banquet will be held. The official warned relevant units should be prepared to respond accordingly.

    He emphasized that if China is not satisfied with the content of Lai’s inaugural speech, further actions could be taken. Tariff reductions for specific items under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) could be suspended.

    On the diplomatic front, in the first year of the new president’s tenure, as is customary, there may be overseas visits, and the CCP may once again entice allies to sever ties with Taiwan to undermine Lai.

    Meanwhile, recently Taiwan detained businessmen, and retired officers suspected of spying for China

    Chinese security officials allegedly asked the businessman, surnamed Wen, to invite retired military officers over to China for meetings, the report said quoting Central News Agency (CNA).

    A former officer named Chu agreed first and then recruited Chiang to join him, Kaohsiung prosecutors said.

    During a visit to China, the three reportedly agreed to expand their organisation and persuade more serving and retired officers to join and provide information to Beijing. After completing their investigation, prosecutors raided Wen’s home on May 9 and detained all three suspects, Taiwan News reported.

    While the three accused have denied the allegations, the investigators said they were highly likely to have broken the National Security Act. (ANI)

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  • US to impose sanctions on Chinese banks

    US to impose sanctions on Chinese banks

    Washington is considering measures that would lock banks out of the American financial system….reports Asian Lite News

    The US is considering imposing sanctions on Chinese financial institutions, which are involved in supporting Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, in a bid to suppress lifelines for Russian military production, reported Nikkei Asia.

    US State Secretary Antony Blinken, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, urged Beijing to end military support for Moscow.

    “I made it clear that if China does not address this problem, we will,” Blinken said afterward.

    Washington is considering measures that would lock banks out of the American financial system.

    Earlier in December, US President Joe Biden gave the Treasury Department authority to impose secondary sanctions against financial institutions in third countries that assisted Moscow in evading sanctions, as reported by Nikkei Asia.

    The Biden administration feared that allowing the flow of supplies from China to continue would keep attrition at bay for Moscow’s forces and put Ukraine’s goal of a counterattack next spring out of reach.

    Now, the Treasury Department has already begun taking action.

    Last month, it announced sanctions against ten organisations and 12 individuals linked to Belarus that are accused of helping Russia’s arms industry procure components.

    These included Shenzhen 5G High-Tech Innovation, a China-based company founded by a person linked to the Belarusian government, Nikkei Asia reported.

    As reported earlier in February, Shenzhen 5G had procured precision instrument parts from Japan and elsewhere at the request of Russia and Belarus and supplied them to the Russian munitions industry via Belarus.

    According to internal documents obtained by Belpol, a Belarusian opposition organisation, since spring 2023, Moscow has acquired sights for 3,000 tanks from China through Belarus, despite American and European sanctions.

    Additionally, Russia’s military is expected to field over 1,000 tanks equipped with these sights in a large-scale operation as soon as late May, Nikkei Asia reported.

    Moreover, the potential Chinese bank sanctions would also likely be intended to stem Russian energy exports to China, which have provided vital funding for its war effort.

    However, Russian financial institutions that were shut out of the SWIFT global payments system in 2022 have opened accounts at Chinese banks to continue doing business.

    Notably, the pressure is starting to have an effect as the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and other major Chinese commercial banks are refusing to accept yuan payments from Russia, according to Russian media, with more transactions being blocked since late March.

    Russian companies are also reportedly having trouble making payments for electronics such as computers and storage systems.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged these issues last month, as reported by Nikkei Asia.

    Furthermore, financial institutions in third-party countries like China, where most trade transactions with countries other than Russia are settled in dollars, are in the position of wanting to avoid US sanctions at all costs due to potentially severe impacts on their business.

    Earlier on Monday, Xi promised French President Emmanuel Macron to strictly control the export of materials that can be used for military purposes, according to a statement from the French government.

    It is pertinent to mention that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on April 25 that he would visit China sometime in May. (ANI)

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  • US slaps curbs on 37 Chinese entities over spy ballon incident

    US slaps curbs on 37 Chinese entities over spy ballon incident

    Among them are entities allegedly linked to the spy balloon incident that stirred controversy last year, further fuelling tensions between the two global powers…reports Asian Lite News

    In a move intensifying the already strained relations between Beijing and Washington, the Biden administration announced the addition of 37 Chinese entities to a trade restriction list on Thursday.

    Among them are entities allegedly linked to the spy balloon incident that stirred controversy last year, further fuelling tensions between the two global powers.

    The Commerce Department’s decision included certain units of China Electronics Technology Group, accused of seeking American technology to enhance China’s quantum technology capabilities with potential military applications, posing significant concerns for US national security.

    Media reports have identified China Electronics Technology Group as a major supplier of military equipment for the Chinese government, although the group has yet to respond to the allegations.

    “Today’s action is another decisive step in addressing challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China and its military modernisation,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan F. Estevez. “We must remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent entities such as these from accessing U.S. technologies that could be used in ways that harm our national security.”

    US-China flag

    Reacting strongly to the move, the Chinese embassy in Washington condemned it as “blatant economic coercion and bullying in the field of technology,” affirming China’s determination to defend the legitimate rights of its firms and institutions.

    The Biden administration’s action signifies its persistent response to the spy balloon incident, which occurred in February 2023, triggering political uproar in the US and leading to the cancellation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s planned trip to China.

    The Commerce Department had previously added five companies and a research institute to the entity list for their purported support of China’s military modernization efforts, particularly the People’s Liberation Army’s aerospace programs.

    Recently, the Biden administration had issued a probe into Chinese-made electric vehicles, or EVs, and calls to increase tariffs on the import of solar panels from China to protect domestic producers.

    The Biden administration has said it would investigate Chinese-made digitally connected vehicles, citing potential national security risks and concerns over their capability to collect sensitive information about American users, VoA reported.

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  • US halts computer chip sales to Huawei Technologies

    US halts computer chip sales to Huawei Technologies

    Huawei has been on the radar of other US federal agencies like the Federal Communications Commission…reports Asian Lite News

    The US Commerce Department on Tuesday restricted the sale of American technology to China’s leading high-tech firm, Huawai Technologies and revoking certain allowances of US chip sales amid renewed scrutiny of company in Washington, The Washinton Post reported.

    “We are not commenting on any specific licences, but we can confirm that we have revoked certain licences for exports to Huawei,” the department said in a statement.

    Furthermore, the new orders will prevent US-based manufacturers like Intel and Qualcomm from selling chips for computing devices to Huawei, The Washington Post reported citing three people familiar with the matter.

    Huawei has been on the radar of other US federal agencies like the Federal Communications Commission, additionally, the Biden administration has been pushing to establish more companies in the US that can compete with Huawei Technologies.

    The China-based manufacturer has been at the center of US-China rivalry because it is China’s most proficient technology company. Moreover, the firm also has significant sales of internet and phones in rural parts of the US. These networks interest intelligence agencies due to the data they carry.

    The Washington Post reported that US experts on the matter fear that these devices may be more susceptible to infiltration by Chinese intelligence agencies. And the report further claims that, despite years of US efforts to stymie its advance, Huawei was still the world’s No. 1 company in 2023 in terms of the number of patent applications filed. It is also still the world’s top seller of the pipes that make up internet and phone networks, and remains a major player in consumer gadgets like smartphones.

    Separately on Tuesday, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced USD 420 million in grants for companies from the United States and ally nations to build phone network gear that can compete against Huawei’s. The NTIA included a requirement for grant recipients to pair up with a network operator to help ensure their products can secure a major buyer when they go to market, according to the report.

    The initial bans and sanctions on Huawei were introduced under the Trump administration, as US vendors were allowed to make sales, which at that time had forced the company to switch to China-based manufacturers for their demand. However, US companies were allowed to sell Huawei the components that were deemed less sensitive following the laws made during the Trump administration. (ANI)

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  • India-Taiwan Economic Partnership Soars

    India-Taiwan Economic Partnership Soars

    Of the $8 billion bilateral trade, Taiwan exports $6 billion and imports hardly $2 billion from India….reports Asian Lite News

    As India-Taiwan economic partnership grows significantly in recent years, the trade between the two countries may reach $25 billion via investment and technology sharing, industry leaders have said.

    Peter Huang, specialist of South Asia section (Market Development Department), Taiwan External Trade Development Council, who led a high-level delegation here, said that India is a friendly and hospitable country for Taiwanese industry.

    “Our commercial relation is growing from strength to strength and this is our 15th business delegation to India,” Huang said.

    “India is still an untapped market for Taiwanese firms and there is huge trade and investment potential in India, especially in electronics, auto-components, machineries, food processing, medical devices and other sectors,” he emphasised.

    Taiwan has considered India as a critical partner under its ‘New Southbound Policy’ and both countries have also signed migration agreements to allow Indian workers to be employed in Taiwanese industries.

    Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, said that India-Taiwan economic relation is at an inflection point.

    “For the first time, India conferred Padma Bhushan award to CEO of Foxconn, Young Liu, which is testimony to the strengthening of our bond,” he mentioned.

    The Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) is also planning to set up a third office in India.

    “Both the countries should grow bilateral trade to $25 billion, from the current level of $8 billion through partnership in investment and technology cooperation,” industry leaders noted.

    Of the $8 billion bilateral trade, Taiwan exports $6 billion and imports hardly $2 billion from India.

    “In future, we are committed to facilitating our commercial partnerships in electronics, shipbuilding, and other sectors of mutual interests,” Kalantri said.

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  • China Sees Europe as Key Partner: Xi Jinping

    China Sees Europe as Key Partner: Xi Jinping

    Xi stated that China consistently views its relations with the European Union (EU) through a strategic and enduring lens…reports Asian Lite News

    China regards Europe as an important dimension in its major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and an important partner on its path toward Chinese modernisation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday.

    Xi made the remarks at a China-France-EU trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Elysee Palace, Xinhua news agency reported.

    Expressing his delight in meeting with Macron and von der Leyen again, Xi noted that France is the first stop of his overseas visit this year and that the trilateral meeting amplifies the Europe-wide significance of this visit.

    China always approaches its relations with the European Union (EU) from a strategic and long-term perspective, Xi said.

    It is hoped that China-France and China-EU relations would reinforce each other and thrive together, he added.

    As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, China and the EU, as two major forces in the world, should continue to see each other as partners, stay committed to dialogue and cooperation, deepen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, build strategic consensus, carry out strategic coordination, work for the steady and sound growth of China-EU ties, and continue making new contributions to world peace and development, Xi said.

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  • Xi in France for Macron talks on Ukraine

    Xi in France for Macron talks on Ukraine

    French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News

    President Xi Jinping has lauded China’s ties with France as a model for the international community, as he arrived in Paris for a rare visit against a backdrop of mounting trade disputes with the EU.

    French President Emmanuel Macron is set to urge Xi to reduce trade imbalances and to use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine. Xi is due to meet Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday.

    Xi, who was welcomed in Paris by prime minister Gabriel Attal, said in a statement released on his arrival that ties between China and France were “a model for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems”.

    In a separate op-ed published in the French daily Le Figaro, the Chinese president said he was coming to France with three messages: that Beijing was committed to opening up “new vistas” in its relationship with France; opening up “ever wider” to the world and to upholding world peace and stability.

    “While opening up itself, China also encourages Chinese companies to go global,” Xi wrote. “France is advancing re-industrialisation based on green innovation, whereas China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.”

    On the war in Ukraine he wrote that China “understands the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis on the people of Europe”. He emphasised that Beijing is not “a party to or a participant in it”, adding that “China has been playing a constructive role in striving for peaceful settlement of the crisis”.

    One of Macron’s key priorities will be to warn Xi of the danger of backing Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, with western officials concerned Moscow is already using Chinese machine tools in arms production.

    The west wants China above all not to supply weapons to Russia and risk tipping the balance in the conflict.

    “It is in our interest to get China to weigh in on the stability of the international order,” said Macron in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday. “We must, therefore, work with China to build peace,” he added.

    France is also backing a European Union probe into Chinese electric vehicle exports, and in January, Beijing opened an investigation into mostly French-made imports of brandy, a move widely seen as a tit-for-tat retaliation for EU probes.

    “We want to obtain reciprocity of exchanges and have the elements of our economic security taken into account,” Macron said in an interview with French newspaper La Tribune ahead of Xi’s two-day visit, his first trip to the region in five years.

    Von der Leyen said Monday she will press for “fair” competition with China in talks with Xi.

    “We have to act to make sure that competition is fair and not distorted,” she said, adding, “I have made clear that the current imbalances in market access are not sustainable and need to be addressed”.

    The European Commission, the European Union’s authority on trade issues, has opened a slew of competition probes targeting China in recent months.

    Beijing has reacted furiously to the most recent investigation, into suspected inequitable access to China’s medical devices market, calling it a sign of EU “protectionism”.

    The EU’s 27 members – in particular France and Germany – are divided on their attitude towards China. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not join Macron and Xi in Paris due to prior commitments, sources said.

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  • Xi’s France Visit Met with Protest, Tibet, Xinjiang Rights in Focus

    Xi’s France Visit Met with Protest, Tibet, Xinjiang Rights in Focus

    Activists advocating for Tibet and Xinjiang, regions where the United Nations has raised concerns about potential crimes against humanity, were also present on the streets of the capital….reports Asian Lite News

    Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival in France, Paris on Sunday witnessed a display of activism as campaigners for Tibet and Xinjiang gathered to highlight concerns over human rights abuses in these regions.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping is on his first journey to Europe in half a decade, with the visit expected to revolve around Russia’s war in Ukraine and economic tensions between Beijing and Brussels. His itinerary commences in France, where he is scheduled to engage in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday in Paris, before proceeding to the Pyrenees region, Al Jazeera reported.

    Following his time in France, Xi will journey to Serbia and Hungary, nations that have preserved strong connections with Russia despite its extensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    Chinese state media reported on Xi’s arrival in Paris, depicting streets adorned with both Chinese and French flags and groups of Chinese nationals welcoming their president. However, amidst the festive atmosphere, campaigners for Tibet and Xinjiang, where the United Nations has raised concerns about potential crimes against humanity, also took to the streets of the capital.

    Activists advocating for Tibet and Xinjiang, regions where the United Nations has raised concerns about potential crimes against humanity, were also present on the streets of the capital.

    The European Union’s imposition of targeted sanctions on certain Chinese officials and companies over the situation in Xinjiang in March 2021 elicited strong reactions from Beijing.

    Human Rights Watch urged French President Macron to publicly address these issues during Xi’s visit to Paris, calling for the release of individuals arbitrarily detained, including Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist and recipient of the Sakharov Prize.

    The organisation emphasised that Macron should also raise concerns about Tibet and Hong Kong, highlighting the repression faced by Tibetan children in boarding schools and the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong due to draconian security laws.

    “President Macron should make it clear to Xi Jinping that Beijing’s crimes against humanity come with consequences for China’s relations with France,” Maya Wang, the acting China director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement. “France’s silence and inaction on human rights would only embolden the Chinese government’s sense of impunity for its abuses, further fuelling repression at home and abroad.”

    In a meeting at the Elysee Palace on April 30, Macron was pictured with Penpa Tsering, the president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, who urged him not to forget Tibet. The agenda between the two presidents was expected to address various international crises, but advocates stressed the importance of including discussions on human rights issues.

    “We understand that the agenda between the two presidents will be dense given the many international crises such as in Ukraine and in the Middle East, but this must not be done at the expense of exchanges on human rights, which are in a deplorable state throughout the country as well as in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, where a latent conflict has been going on for over 60 years and poses a threat to regional and international security,” Vincent Metten, the EU policy director for the International Campaign for Tibet said in a statement, as reported by Al Jazeera.

    Freedom House’s 2024 report on Freedom in the World revealed Tibet’s dismal score of zero out of 100, indicating a severe decline in freedoms over the past eight years.

    Maryse Artiguelong, the vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), said: “The conflict in Ukraine highlights the threat posed to international order and security by authoritarian regimes such as Russia and the People’s Republic of China. Their aggressive foreign policies and repressive domestic policies are inextricably linked: Anyone who does not oppose China’s human rights violations risks one day facing its aggressive foreign policy.”

    France has emphasized that the conflicts in Ukraine and other regions, including Beijing’s neutral stance on Ukraine but failure to condemn Moscow’s invasion, will be significant topics of discussion during the talks, Al Jazeera reported.

    Macron, known for his assertive stance on European security, will urge Xi to exert influence on Russian President Putin regarding the situation in Ukraine.

    To underscore European unity, von der Leyen will participate in Monday’s discussions, scheduled to commence shortly after 11 am (09:00 GMT). Besides the Ukraine conflict, Europe is troubled by Chinese commercial activities, prompting an inquiry into China’s subsidies for electric vehicle makers amid worries about unfair competition and adverse effects on European firms.

    Prior to Xi’s departure last week, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Beijing was ready to “work with France and the EU to take this meeting as an opportunity to make the China-EU relations more strategic, stable, constructive and mutually beneficial, promote steady and sustained progress in China-EU relations, and contribute to the prosperity of both China and Europe and a peaceful world.”

    Following his visit to France, Xi will travel to Serbia, arriving in Belgrade on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy. He will engage in discussions with President Aleksandar Vucic. The bombing occurred during the NATO air campaign against Serb forces in Kosovo, resulting in three casualties and sparking outrage in China.

    Despite not being an EU member, Serbia has attracted substantial investment from China, which is now its largest single source of investment. Ahead of the trip, Lin, the MOFA spokesperson, described the relationship between the two countries as “ironclad,” according to Al Jazeera.

    “The bombing remains a significant topic for Chinese officials, who use it to support narratives that question the values of liberal democracies,” Stefan Vladisavljev, programme director at Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society wrote in an online analysis, adding, “For Serbia, the visit presents an opportunity to strengthen its position as China’s main partner in the Western Balkans.”

    Xi will proceed to Budapest on May 8, marking the conclusion of his Europe trip. There, he will hold talks with Hungarian President Viktor Orban, known for his close ties with Russia within the EU.

    Hungary’s policies, which have drawn concern from other EU members, have seen the country aligning more closely with Beijing and Moscow. Recently, Hungary signed a security cooperation agreement with China permitting Chinese police officers to operate in areas with significant ethnic Chinese populations or popular Chinese tourist destinations. This move has sparked apprehension, particularly among exiles and dissidents elsewhere in Europe.

    Additionally, Hungary is a member in China’s Belt and Road Initiative since 2015. Discussions between Xi and Orban are expected to cover topics such as the ongoing construction of a high-speed rail link between Budapest and Belgrade, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

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  • China among most dangerous countries for media professionals

    China among most dangerous countries for media professionals

    Five countries in the region — Myanmar, China, North Korea and Vietnam — are among the world’s 10 most dangerous countries for media professionals in the 2024 rankings…reports Asian Lite News

    China is among the world’s 10 most dangerous countries for media professionals in the 2024 rankings, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

    Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that press freedom in Asia continues to see a decline, with 26 out of 31 countries falling on its annual index.

    According to the group’s latest press freedom index, Asia is the second-most difficult region for practicing journalism.

    Reportedly, five countries in the region — Myanmar, China, North Korea and Vietnam — are among the world’s 10 most dangerous countries for media professionals in the 2024 rankings, VOA reported.

    Moreover, none of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region are in the top 15 ranking for press freedom.

    Three of the world’s remaining communist governments, China, North Korea and Vietnam, have long been near the bottom of RSF’s press freedom index ranking of 180 countries.

    This year, China was ranked 172, Vietnam 174 and North Korea 177, according to VOA.

    Overall, these countries and territories that have shown a drop in press freedom in recent years, contributing to East Asia becoming a difficult place for media to operate.

    Additionally, Hong Kong was once a model for press freedom in the Asia region, but the city’s ranking recently dropped from 80 to 148 following political unrest and new laws that affect media freedoms.

    Since Beijing’s move to impose national security law in 2020, at least a dozen media outlets have closed.

    Beijing said that the law has been necessary to stabilize the city following mass political unrest in 2019, reported VOA.

    Aleksandra Bielakowska, an advocacy officer at RSF, emphasised that Hong Kong’s media freedoms still haven’t improved.

    “The worst for Hong Kong is the political and legal factors. Hong Kong’s position is very low; the situation remains very difficult,” she said.

    UNGA president invokes Gandhi

    Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s statement that “freedom of the press is a precious privilege that no country can forego”, General Assembly President Dennis Francis has called for reaffirming commitments “to protecting journalists and media workers worldwide”.

    After posting the comment on the social media X on World Press Freedom Day, Friday, Francis issued a joint statement with Presidents Simona Mirela Miculescu of the UNESCO General Conference, Paula Narváez of the UN Economic and Social Council, and Omar Zneiber of the Human Rights Council, focusing on journalists covering the environment.

    “We advocate for the strengthening of policies that promote free, independent, and pluralistic media, thereby fostering a vibrant and robust public sphere, a pillar of peaceful, just, inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous societies,” they said.

    “We also recognise the role of journalists and media workers, including women, in raising public awareness about climate change, environmental and disaster issues,” they said.

    According to Francis’s Spokesperson Monica Grayely, the World Press Freedom Day this year “is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis”.

    Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message, “The world is going through an unprecedented environmental emergency which poses an existential threat to this and future generations.”

    “People need to know about this – and journalists and media workers have a key role in informing and educating them,” he said.

    He said, “It is no surprise that some powerful people, companies and institutions will stop at nothing to prevent environmental journalists from doing their jobs. Media freedom is under siege. And environmental journalism is an increasingly dangerous profession.”

    UNESCO reported that in the past 15 years, there have been about 750 attacks on journalists and news outlets reporting on environmental issues.

    Guterres said that other journalists are also facing risks.

    “Around the world, media workers are risking their lives trying to bring us news on everything from war to democracy,” he said.

    “I am shocked and appalled by the high number of journalists killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza,” he said.

    He said, “I call on governments, the private sector and civil society to join us in reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding press freedom and the rights of journalists and media professionals around the world.” (ANI/IANS)

    Chinese media revoke entries from S. Asian journalism awards

    A Chinese media organisation, Caixin Media, is distancing itself from participating in Asia’s high-profile journalism award, Nikkei Asia reported.

    According to the same news report, this move is being initiated by the Chinese media organisation due to rising domestic pressure on those seen to be cooperating with foreign entities.

    While quoting senior members Nikkei Asia report mentioned that Caixin Media, which won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) awards for five straight years from 2014 to 2018, has stopped submitting entries in recent years “for obvious reasons,” two senior staff members at the company told. “We cannot submit, even if we get invitations from overseas organizations, we just cannot participate,” said one of them.

    SOPA was founded in Hong Kong as a not-for-profit organisation in 1982, aiming to champion the best journalism practices in the Asia-Pacific region. Its members include Bloomberg, The New York Times, and several Taiwanese media outlets. State media China Daily used to be a member too.

    Similarly, Shanghai-based Sixth Tone, launched by The Paper, a digital news outlet run by the state-owned Shanghai United Media Group in 2016, also did not submit any entries this year.

    Both The Paper and Sixth Tone dropped out of SOPA membership this year as well. The change follows a management overhaul late last year when Shanghai United Media Group set up a Shanghai Global News Network in October. Sixth Tone has since been a part of the network and is no longer under the supervision of The Paper, a senior executive from Shanghai United Media Group told Nikkei.

    In reference to another media organisation ‘The World of Chinese’ dropping out Nikkei Asia quoted local sources claiming that “In the current political atmosphere, participating in overseas awards certainly carries political risks. I understand the choice made by the Chinese media, as survival is more important,” said one prominent journalism professor in Hong Kong, who asked not to be named.

    Furthermore, the professor also claimed that “there are not many Chinese-language entries in SOPA already. If more Chinese language media drop out of the awards, it may have some impact on the authority of SOPA itself.” However, the SOPA did not comment when asked for a comment by Nikkei Asia.

    The same report claimed that, Chinese media organisations Caixin and Sixth Tone have come under serious scrutiny from nationalists for their sometimes critical reporting of Beijing. Moreover, Caixin’s investigative reporting has been repeatedly attacked by nationalists for “handing a knife” — a Chinese idiom referring to providing someone with weapons to fuel criticism of another party — to the West to “smear China.”

    Sixt Tone on the other hand, in several of its reports reviewing the oppressive Zero-COVID measures, used words like “baby bust,” “housing crisis,” “gender violence,” and “COVID” which highlighted a gloomy picture of the country. The project triggered a backlash from nationalists, who attacked the outlet for “frequently winning the West-acknowledged international awards such as SOPA” with “a clear Western filter that smears China.”

    “The current situation is that submission for international awards like SOPA is not allowed from above, and those below are also scared to submit” a senior executive of Sixth Tone stated. He also informed Nikkei Asia that after the attack by nationalists on their outlet Shanghai, the authorities asked to write self-reflections.

    Luwei Rose Luqiu, an associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, said Chinese media’s distance from SOPA indicates a further tightening of press freedom in the country, to the point where even the space for Chinese English media, which used to be relatively lenient and aimed to align with international peers, is narrowing, the report mentioned. “However, for Chinese media, whether to participate in SOPA has little impact because such awards do not affect their readership,” she added. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Pakistan, Iran, China Plan Trilateral Defence Talks

  • SHAKSGAM VALLEY: China-Pakistan Nexus and India’s Strategic Imperatives

    SHAKSGAM VALLEY: China-Pakistan Nexus and India’s Strategic Imperatives

    New satellite images from the European Space Agency reveal a Chinese road has been built through the Aghil Pass and now stretches into the lower Shaksgam Valley. The Indian government has consistently claimed the Shaksgam Valley, which is currently controlled by China, as part of its territory. This includes the region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)…. writes Dr. Anjali Sehrawat

    Satellite images show China is building a road in Shaksgam Valley, a part of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan and ceded to China in 1963. This raises security concerns for India, particularly given the proximity to the Siachen Glacier, a strategically important area visited by the Indian Defense Minister recently. The road branches off from a highway in China’s Xinjiang province and disappears into the mountains around 50 kilometers north of the Siachen Glacier. The groundwork for this road appears to have been laid between June and August of last year.

    New satellite images from the European Space Agency reveal a Chinese road has been built through the Aghil Pass (4,805 meters) and now stretches into the lower Shaksgam Valley. This places the end of the road, or the “road-head”, worryingly close to Siachen, just 48 kilometers away. Given China’s rapid construction abilities, this distance is easily bridgeable. The Aghil Pass has historical significance as the border between Kashmir and Tibet. Construction seems to have begun in the summer of last year.

    Ladakh, Jan 03 (ANI): Captain Shiva Chauhan of Fire and Fury Sappers became the first woman officer to be operationally deployed at the highest battleground in Kumar Post on the Siachen glacier, on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

    The road runs through the Trans-Karakoram Tract. Indian defence experts argue that any alteration in the status quo here infringes upon India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, fearing that such changes could disrupt the existing security dynamics in this mountainous terrain. India’s apprehensions are compounded by reports of increased military collaboration in the area. In 2021, Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan province unveiled plans for a new road linking Muzaffarabad to Mustagh Pass, bordering Pakistan’s Shaksgam Valley. This road is proposed to connect with Yarkand in Xinjiang, suggesting a potential route through Shaksgam Valley to link with China’s G219 national highway.

    Some experts believe these roads might be used to transport minerals, possibly uranium, from nearby Gilgit Baltistan to China’s Xinjiang province. There is also the worry that these roads could be used by Pakistani and Chinese militaries. The road’s location is significant. It enters the disputed territory at Aghil Pass, which historically marked the border between Kashmir and Tibet. This fact was even acknowledged by past Chinese rulers. India frequently cites Aghil Pass and the Shaksgam Valley in border negotiations with China, pointing to historical evidence to support its claim. This evidence includes Indian government maps, dating back to 1907, that consistently showed the area as Indian Territory. Interestingly, archival Chinese maps from the early 20th century also seemed to agree, according to a website by a scholar specialising in Tibet.

    The Indian government has consistently claimed the Shaksgam Valley, which is currently controlled by China, as part of its territory. This includes the region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In a 2019 speech, Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed this position, stating that the Indian constitution defines Jammu and Kashmir to include both Pok and Aksai Chin (another disputed territory with China).

    However, the situation is complex. A 1963 agreement between China and Pakistan grants China temporary control of the Shaksgam Valley until the Kashmir issue is resolved. India has not signed any similar agreement with China regarding the valley. Despite China’s control, India has actively protested Chinese actions in the region. These protests include objecting to Chinese infrastructure projects and the portrayal of Aksai Chin as Chinese territory.

    This infrastructure could potentially threaten Indian troops stationed in Ladakh in the coming years. This latest development adds to China’s ongoing strategy of pressuring India through incursions across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – the disputed border between the two countries. While these incursions have been noted internationally, a recent study suggests they are part of a larger Chinese plan to establish a permanent military presence in the contested areas.

    India has documented frequent border violations by China along their 3,488 km border. However, a more concerning development is happening in the PoK. According to Pardafas, a news portal from Nepal, China has been building military infrastructure and roads in the Shaksgam Valley as a strategic move to distract India from its land grab in PoK, a region over which India has territorial claims. China and Pakistan’s collaboration on building infrastructure in this 590 km long area disregards India’s rights and creates a direct military threat, as reported by Pardafas. Satellite imagery suggests this road construction may have begun in mid-2017, after a border stand-off between India, Bhutan and China.

    There have been concerns that Pakistan might lease Gilgit-Baltistan, a region in the PoK, to China for 50 years, despite denials from both countries. This possibility gains weight considering China’s huge investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). There are already reports of Pakistan leasing land in Gilgit to China for CPEC projects and providing security for them.

    Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a strategically vital region for India, but control of parts of it has been contested with Pakistan for a long time. India has avoided direct conflict to reclaim these areas, while Pakistan has used military force. China has complicated the situation by making deals with Pakistan on disputed land, supporting Pakistan in some ways but not others, and even funding projects within the contested territories. When India revoked J&K’s special status and reorganized the region, China sided with Pakistan and called Kashmir “disputed.” Currently, China seems to be mainly backing Pakistan publicly, helping them get international attention for the issue, and putting troops near the Ladakh border to put pressure on India. The long-term effects of China’s actions on India’s claim to the entire region are uncertain. There are two possibilities: Pakistan might formally take complete control of Gilgit-Baltistan, potentially allowing China’s military in, or China might itself take over the Shaksgam Valley, even though they agreed not to in a past deal. Both options would ignore India’s claim to these lands.

    While there isn’t an immediate military threat to Indian troops on Siachen Glacier from China’s activity in Shaksgam Valley, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) actions are seen as provocative. The PLA has a history of aggressive behavior in the region, including blocking Indian patrols and deploying troops near the border. Additionally, China’s military exercises and airbase development near the Himalayas, along with Pakistan’s involvement, raise concerns about a potential threat to India’s national security.

    The collaborative infrastructure projects between China and Pakistan in the Shaksgam Valley directly threaten India’s sovereignty and security, especially given their proximity to the Siachen Glacier. This necessitates a proactive defence strategy. India’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir’s territorial integrity faces challenges amid China’s strategic maneuvers and Pakistan’s military cooperation. The potential leasing of Gilgit-Baltistan to China for economic gains further amplifies regional tensions. The strategic significance of the Siachen Glacier underscores the urgency for India to fortify defenses and pursue diplomatic solutions. A robust defense strategy, strategic alliances, and diplomatic agility are imperative to safeguard India’s interests and counter evolving threats, ensuring regional stability and sovereignty.

     (Dr. Anjali Sehrawat is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Sushant University, Gurugram. She holds a doctorate in International Relations with a specialization in Central Asia from JNU, New Delhi)