Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on his way to brief members of the cabinet at the weekly Cabinet meeting inside No10 Downing Street, on the day the Chancellor delivers his summer statement to the House during the coronavirus. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
The chancellor said he had already allocated a £24bn cash increase for military spending over four years, while allies said his spring statement was not a moment to announce more, reports Asian Lite News
Rishi Sunak is resisting pressure for a big increase in defence spending this week in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as he attempts to free up money for cuts in fuel duty and taxes to ease the crisis in the cost of living.
Sunak has told ministers he is turning off the spending taps and they will have to make do with the money they have got, ordering a search for £5.5bn of efficiency savings.
He has vowed to cut taxes but has warned that reductions must be funded by controlling public spending. Sunak’s allies believe the defence and health budgets are particularly badly managed.
The chancellor said on Sunday he had already allocated a £24bn cash increase for military spending over four years, while allies said his spring statement on Wednesday was not a moment to announce more.
“This is not a spending review,” said one ally of the chancellor. Sunak told the Mail on Sunday: “Let’s not be spending any more money — let’s make sure the money we’re spending is spent really well.”
Sunak argued that he increased the military budget before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, telling the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme that was “a good thing”.
He insisted the government’s integrated defence and foreign policy review last year recognised the Russian threat, although critics claim the document was overly preoccupied with a “tilt to the Asia-Pacific”.
With Sunak attempting to hold down public spending, he is expected to use his spring statement to start mitigating cost-of-living pressures, as households confront soaring energy prices and rising inflation.
The chancellor said he would help families struggling with the cost of living when he presents updated economic forecasts on Wednesday, saying: “Where we can make a difference, of course we will.”
Sunak admitted that energy prices were “the number one priority” for people at the moment and that, as MP for the rural Yorkshire constituency of Richmond, he knew fuel prices were “a big issue”.
“It’s something that’s challenging to families, I get that,” he said, hinting at fuel duty cuts. He said his policy was to take “targeted action where we think there is most acute pressure”.
Sunak is under pressure to go further and cut taxes more generally, and said they would come down “over time”. He blamed the pandemic for the fact Britain has its highest overall tax burden since the 1950s.
But he refused to say whether he would cut income tax or change the threshold for the payment of national insurance in the spring statement, as many Tory MPs would like.
The chancellor said his priority was to cut taxes over the rest of the parliament, after analysis showed he had raised taxes more in two years than Gordon Brown, former Labour chancellor, did in a decade.
Sunak insisted that Brown had not had to contend with a pandemic, but his credibility with Conservative MPs now rests on his ability to control spending and push down taxes before the election.
The Labour party is calling for a reversal of the £12bn national insurance rise, which Sunak insisted would go ahead in April to help fund the NHS and deal with a treatment backlog. Labour also wants a windfall tax on North Sea oil companies.
Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, said it was about time Sunak lived up to his rhetoric about wanting to cut taxes and said Labour would not “stand in the way” if he decided to cut fuel duty by 5p a litre.
The top court was hearing a plea by Kush Kalra, which was filed last year, seeking the induction of women in the NDA….reports Asian Lite News
The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the Indian Navy has decided to induct women cadets into three branches or cadres through the National Defence Academy (NDA).
The Indian Navy, in an affidavit, said: “Given the intent of the interim directions from the court, Navy has decided to induct women into three Branches/Cadres through NDA. There are total of four Branches and four Cadres in the Navy which are further sub-divided into 23 subspecialisations.”
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh was informed that all cadets inducted through the UPSC examination post 10+2 into the NDA are trained towards executive (general service) which is not open for induction of women officers.
“In fact, Navy does not have any direct induction of men and women through NDA (UPSC) entry post 10+2 for the Branches! Cadres! Specialisations which are open for induction of women,” added the affidavit.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, submitted that the Navy does not have direct induction of women or men through the NDA. She added however, against the backdrop of Supreme Court direction to give Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in services, they are allowed entry.
The affidavit added that given the intent of directions by the Supreme Court, Navy decided to have intake of women as PC officers through UPSC examinations into logistics, the Naval Armament Inspectorate (NAI) and the education branch.
“It is important to note that this would be the first instance (whether for male or female) that a cadet will be trained at NDA for direct induction as PC officer into Education Branch, Logistics and NAI Cadres. There are presently no PC male officers being directly inducted into these branches through NDA,” added the affidavit.
The top court noted Centre’s submission that on an average, 20 to 25 women are already being inducted through IN every six months for all the branches/cadres, which are open for their induction
“That at NDA, there will be an economy of training effort with total induction of 19 women cadets per term {after three years the total number will be 114 women cadets (19 women x 2 batches/years x 3 years)}. Upon passing out from NDA, all cadets who are inducted as Naval cadets report at Indian Naval Academy for Navy specific training of 6-12 months (depending on Branches/Cadres/ Specialisations). So effectively, these women cadet trainees are also being routed through IN,” added the affidavit.
The Centre’s response came after senior advocate Chinmoy Pradip Sharma and advocate Mohit Paul complained against a fresh notification issued by the Union Public Services Commission for the NDA-I exam in 2022, which limited the intake of women cadets to just 19.
The top court was hearing a plea by Kush Kalra, which was filed last year, seeking the induction of women in the NDA. In August, 2021, the apex court allowed women to appear in entrance tests conducted for the NDA.
Furthermore, this is the seventh year in a row where the defence budget has risen in only single-digit percentages, underscoring that the halcyon days of double-digit growth are long gone….reports Asian Lite News
Amidst the gravity of bitter fighting in Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin prosecutes his invasion, China announced its defence budget for 2022 on the opening day of its fifth annual session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC). Usually, these annual announcements of Chinese military spending grab headlines, but in 2022 the 7.1 per cent rise in Beijing’s defence expenditure is overshadowed by war in Europe.
In monetary terms, China’s 2022 defence spending is CNY1.45045 trillion (USD229.39 billion). Indeed, the budget revealed on 5 March confirms a continuing rebound in expenditure. Last year, China increased spending by 6.8 per cent to CNY1.355 trillion (USD209.4 billion).
The overall increase of approximately USD20 billion this year is actually the largest ever (the second largest was USD13.4 billion in 2021, and the largest was USD13.6 billion in 2014).
Two years ago, China approved just a 6.6 per cent increase in defence spending, which represented a dip due to the onset of COVID-19. In preceding years, the budget had risen 7.5 per cent (2019) and 8.1 per cent (2018) annually.
Furthermore, this is the seventh year in a row where the defence budget has risen in only single-digit percentages, underscoring that the halcyon days of double-digit growth are long gone.
The pretty consistent year-to-year gains for defence expenditure also underscore that the PLA is at heart a political entity. Threat perceptions may change over time, but China continues to prioritize spending on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) no matter what reason it ascribes to the growth. Typically it paints a narrative that China is merely reacting to events around it, rather than the fact that Chinese spending is ringing alarm bells across the world.
Anonymous “analysts” quoted by China’s parochial Global Times said the budget was “steady and reasonable at a time when China needs to modernize its military capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity amid severe external threats and an unstable security environment”. Chinese commentators also quoted “provocative” US actions such as sailing warships – entirely legally, it must be added – through the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea. The border stand-off with India has not been solved either, even after nearly two years, and this requires money to sustain.
Chinese analysts asserted that, despite “military threats posed by the US and others, China is not interested in joining an arms race, and the country’s defence policy is defensive in nature”.
Photo taken on July 30, 2017 shows a formation of tanks during a military parade at Zhurihe training base in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Xinhua_Li Gang_IANS)
Such an argument is not sustainable, however. Putting it in perspective, this year’s USD20 billion lump-sum increase eclipses Taiwan’s total defence budget of USD15.4 billion. To compare further, current Chinese spending is greater than that of India (USD64.8 billion), Japan (USD55 billion), Russia (USD66.8 billion), South Korea (USD48 billion) and Taiwan combined.
In future, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will expect more from the PLA in terms of military capabilities, so it can maintain pressure on neighbours like India, South China Sea claimants and the USA. Chinese leaders affirm they are willing to use violence to maintain (i.e. extend) their territory, so the PLA must be a credible tool and deterrent. The PLA must be ready to achieve the CCP’s political objectives, plus it will demand ever greater political loyalty and commitment.
There is a stark difference between the PLA and the quality of confused Russian conscripts who now find themselves in Ukraine. It is drummed into the PLA that they must serve Xi Jinping, the CCP and nation. With such strong ideological indoctrination, there will be no hesitation among Chinese soldiers if ordered to attack
Taiwan, for example.
Incidentally, Chinese central government spending on public security will increase 4.7 per cent to CNY194.993 billion in 2022. However, this figure does not incorporate considerable provincial spending on public security and policing. If regional spending is included, the internal-security budget would overtake total PLA spending.
The defence budget is yet to be approved by Chinese lawmakers, but this will be a mere formality for a rubber-stamp Congress that has no real power.
China possesses the second-highest defence budget in the world behind the USA, though Beijing still spends less than a third of what the USA does. President Joe Biden is seeking a budget of some USD770 billion for the forthcoming fiscal year. In fact, the USA spends more than the rest of the ten highest countries combined, which is a sign that the USA remains the only true superpower.
Of course, it is difficult to directly compare China and the USA. The PLA benefits from a non-market economy, where equipment is cheaper and the military has greater purchasing power than in competitive markets like the USA. Consider that the USA also deploys troops and assets globally, whereas China’s primarily remain at home.
Shrouded in secrecy, China gave no details as to how money will be allocated. It is estimated that approximately 40 per cent goes on equipment, both new material and to sustain existing inventories.
Total secrecy makes it impossible to accurately guess what China’s actual defence budget is. Many areas such as China’s space program, extra-budgetary revenues from military-owned commercial enterprises, defence mobilization funds and provincial military base operating costs are not reported in its defence budget.
Supplemental funding like military pensions and benefits, civilian/dual-use research and development, and Central Military Commission responsibilities like the People’s Armed Police and China Coast Guard are not part of the defence budget either. Both the latter paramilitary organizations would support the PLA in time of war.
Foreign analysts agree that the true budget is much higher than the declared amount, though there is debate as to how much. Some estimate the real budget is 25 per cent more than claimed, while others argue it could be nearly 40 per cent. Undoubtedly, the difference between Chinese and American spending is a lot less than appears on paper.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict had no bearing on China’s budget, for it was drafted before Putin invaded Ukraine. In fact, China’s financial year starts on 1 January, so the defence budget was decided well in advance of the NPC session.
Beijing stated in its Government Work Report: “In 2021, China made major strides in strengthening national defence and the armed forces, getting off to a good start in this endeavor in the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and in 2022, China will work toward the goals for the centenary of the PLA in 2027, enhance military training and combat readiness, stay firm and flexible in carrying out military struggle, and safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”
That work report added that the PLA would move faster to modernize military logistics and asset management systems; build a modern weaponry and equipment management system; continue to reform national defence and the military; step up innovations in defence science and technology; implement a strategy of strengthening the military by training competent personnel in the new era; run the military in
accordance with the law and strict discipline; promote high-quality development of the military; and improve the layout of defence science, technology and industry.
Fruit to be seen this year will be the launch of the PLA Navy’s next-generation aircraft carrier, the Type 003, currently under construction. It differs from two in- service carriers in that it dispenses with a ski jump ramp and instead uses catapults to launch aircraft. Other 2022 priorities are increased production of J-20 stealth fighters and modernization of the PLA Rocket Force’s nuclear arsenal.
The PLA and its political masters will be watching the war in Ukraine with acute attention. Just as China carefully studied lessons from two US-led wars against Iraq in 1990-91 and 2003, so too for years it will be combing over the results of this bitter war between two near-peer adversaries.
Xi already looked down on Russia for the way communism succumbed and crumbled there. The CCP will probably view with disdain the Russian military and how it has atrophied through low morale, lack of political purpose and under investment. On paper, the Russian armed forces look strong, but in fact the military’s capability has been somewhat hollowed out.
CCP buzzwords are mechanization, informationization and intelligentization, three prongs of the PLA’s modernization as it seeks to dominate the digital, cyber and networked world of military operations. These are some of the areas where Russia is falling down, particularly in terms of joint warfare. The latter is a priority for the PLA, even if it still has a long way to go to coordinate land, sea and air forces into a coherent and integrated force.
In other lessons, Russian logistics have performed poorly, with vehicles bogging down off main roads, supply columns ambushed and vehicles running out of fuel.
This is despite the fact that the Russian Army was able to launch its invasion by simply driving across land borders. This is far different for China in any operation against Taiwan, where the 180km-wide Taiwan Strait must first be crossed by air or water.
Poor use of Russian airborne troops has ended in ignominious defeats, which will be another lesson closely observed by the PLA. Russia is yet to launch a concerted amphibious invasion, something that China will be keen to observe, even if it comes at steep Russian expense.
Putin’s choice of strategy will also be questioned. He did not set the prerequisite political and social conditions for an invasion of Ukraine, as evinced by mass protests by the Russian populace. China certainly will not make that mistake, as for years it has been warmongering and shaping Chinese people’s acceptance of the need to subjugate Taiwan militarily if necessary.
Nor did Russia kick off its campaign with “shock and awe” operations, which means Ukrainian aircraft and air defences are still active days into the war. Inadequate stocks of cruise missiles and air-to-ground precision-guided munitions are also evident, along with a need for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Ukraine is 16 times Taiwan’s size, yet Russia fired only 600 or so cruise or short-range ballistic missiles in the first ten days. China would be able to concentrate against Taiwan this amount of missiles in a first attack wave alone.
The PLA has prioritized airborne command and control over the past couple of decades with platforms like the KJ-500 aircraft, plus it is introducing electronic warfare aircraft like the J-16D and various Y-8/Y-9 types. The PLA Air Force has more than 700 modern fighters in service already.
China has many air-launched cruise missiles and ballistic missiles but, significantly, its stocks of precision-guided munitions are limited. It has only one type of 500kg laser-guided bomb in service, for example. For many tasks, a 500kg bomb is overkill, and China is yet to commit to a line of 250kg and 100kg precision-guided munitions so it would have to rely on dumb bombs and unguided rockets.
Therefore, smaller bombs mounted on racks are a desirable package for Chinese strike aircraft, with advantages that more individual bombs can be carried per sortie, and leaving larger and expensive missiles for more important targets. Perhaps we will see China boost its precision-guided munitions stocks in the wake of Russian failings, especially since Chinese industry already has smaller precision-guided munitions available for export.
The PLA has plenty of strike aircraft to carry such precision-guided weapons, including nearly 100 J-20, 200 J-16, 250+ J-10B/C and 300+ J-10A fighters; 200+ JH-7A fighter-bombers; and 120 H-6J/K/N bombers, many with targeting pods. Add to this, drones like the WZ-7 and Wing Loong 1/ 2 family, and one can see that China could deliver a deluge of weapons on Taiwan early on in a future conflict.
Another surprise for Russia and China is the severity of international opprobrium at an unprovoked war, and how NATO and Europe have closed ranks in support of Ukraine. This goes somewhat against the Chinese and Russian narrative that the West is in decline, and that the East is inexorably rising. (ANI)
This significant investment will help to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of space innovation and one step ahead of our competitors.”…reports Asian Lite News
Following publication of the National Space Strategy in September last year, the Defence Space Strategy (DSS) outlines how Defence will protect the UK’s national interests in space in an era of ever-growing threats, stimulating growth across the sector and supporting highly skilled jobs across the UK.
As part of the new £1.4 billion investment, over the next ten years £968 million will be committed to deliver a multi-satellite system to support greater global surveillance and intelligence for military operations – known as the ISTARI Programme. A further £61 million will explore cutting-edge laser communications technology to deliver data from space to Earth at a speed equivalent to superfast broadband.
This substantial investment in space defence is on top of the existing £5 billion already upgrading the UK’s Skynet satellite communications capability – providing strategic communication services to the UK Armed Forces and allies.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said, “It’s crucial we continue to push the frontiers of our defence space ambitions, enhancing our military resilience and strengthening our nation’s security. This significant investment will help to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of space innovation and one step ahead of our competitors.”
Through close international collaboration with our allies and NATO, the DSS outlines how the UK will protect our space interests, build stability, increase resilience and prevent conflicts from extending into space. In addition to projects funded by £1.4 billion, a series of supporting programmes funded through existing investment will launch as part of the DSS to provide cutting-edge technologies for intelligence, surveillance, situational awareness, and Command and Control. These include:
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said, “With this strategy, the Ministry of Defence will protect and promote the United Kingdom’s interests in space, and take a leading role in the coalition of like-minded nations and organisations who have come together to ensure space is there for the benefit of all.”
In a separate development, Oxford Space Systems has today announced an investment round of £4 million which, subject to final completion, will accelerate the build of their innovative Wrapped Rib Antenna. Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and backed by UK venture capital investors and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund, the project will create up to 50 new jobs. The technology will enable high-resolution imaging from small satellite earth observation missions, irrespective of weather conditions or daylight.
The UK has been operating in space continuously since 1988 and boasts a world-leading sovereign satellite communications capability. UK Space Command, established in July 2021, will lead our Defence space approach, harnessing the energy and adaptability of the country’s space sector, while driving integration, innovation and conducting day-to-day space operations, all under a single command.
The DSS reinforces objectives outlined in the 2021 Integrated Review: to build resilience, shape the international order of the future; sustain strategic advantage through science and technology; and strengthen security and defence at home and overseas.
The relations between the UAE and the Republic of Korea have witnessed significant progress in a number of vital sectors, with the volume of non-oil trade between the two countries reaching $4.8 billion in 2020, reports Asian Lite News
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today met with the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in and his accompanying delegation at Expo 2020 Dubai.
During the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid praised the strategic partnership between the UAE and the Republic of Korea, and the keenness of both countries to further boost bilateral relations in various areas.
“The strategic partnership between the UAE and the Republic of Korea provides many opportunities to enhance cooperation in various fields, including the economy, trade, food security, health, culture, space, energy and tourism,” His Highness said, noting that the UAE is the Republic of Korea’s top trade partner in the region.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
“We are proud of the strategic cooperation between the UAE and the Republic of Korea. Prominent strategic projects such as the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant are proof of the depth of relations between the two friendly nations. We also appreciate the active participation of the Republic of Korea pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai,” H.H. Sheikh Mohammed added.
The relations between the UAE and the Republic of Korea have witnessed significant progress in a number of vital sectors, with the volume of non-oil trade between the two countries reaching $4.8 billion in 2020, His Highness said. “During the next phase, we plan to draw up plans to further expand cooperation in areas of common interest, as well as explore development opportunities in priority sectors,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Attending the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Airline & Group; H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
President Moon Jae-in thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for the hospitality, highlighting the strong ties between the two friendly countries.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and President Moon Jae-in witnessed the signing of agreements and several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s). An MoU was signed between the UAE Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) on medium and long-term cooperation in the fields of defence industries and technology. The MoU was signed by Major General Dr. Mubarak Ghafan Al Jabri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Support and Defence Industries at the UAE Ministry of Defence and Kang Eun-Ho, Korea’s Minister of Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA).
UAE’s Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun) signed an MoU with Korea’s LIG Nex1 Co. The MoU was signed by Muammar Abdulla Abushehab, CEO of Tawazun Technology and Innovation (TTI) and Hyeonsoo Lee, Executive Vice President of Global Business Group.
Two MoU’s between UAE’s Tawazun and Korea’s Hanwha Systems Co. were signed by Muammar Abdulla Abushehab and Son Jae-il, CEO of Hanwha Systems.
Additionally, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and President Moon Jae-in witnessed the signing of three agreements between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and a number of Korean entities. They include a Framework Agreement between ADNOC and the Export – Import Bank of Korea signed by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and Moon –Kyn Bang, Chairman and President of The Export – Import Bank of Korea.
A Joint Study Agreement was signed between ADNOC, KNOC and SK Gas hydrogen/ammonia and another agreement between ADNOC and KNOC on ammonia cargo.
Tangkhul Nagas of NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah have substantial presence in Manipur, which again goes to the polls by February-March along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa. …reports Nirendra Dev
Things have perhaps started falling in their places. Have they?
Close on the heels of Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla taking up with Myanmar’s military rulers on the now infamous Churachandpur ambush in Manipur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a crucial late night meeting with Chief Ministers of Assam and Nagaland Himanta Biswa Sarma and Neiphiu Rio, respectively.
Home Minister Shah is likely to brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his talks with the northeastern leaders especially in the context of security implications in taking any decision on AFSPA.
Assam Chief Minister Sarma has favoured continuing with the enforcement of AFSPA in his state.
Recently, RSS leader Indresh Kumar told reporters that even in Kashmir the deployment of forces were automatically minimised once situation improved and the Article 370 was abrogated.
Sources close to the NNPGs, an umbrella of 7 militant groups, leadership have said only a final peace pact can bring a ‘natural end’ to all controversies pertaining to AFSPA and deployment of security forces in Nagaland and other Naga inhabited areas.
Tangkhul Nagas of NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah have substantial presence in Manipur, which again goes to the polls by February-March along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.
BJP floor leader in Nagaland and Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and a former Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang (of NPF) were also present in the meeting with Shah. Patton is also the state Home Minister and a section of BJP leaders in Delhi were not impressed with his performance especially in the context of Oting shooting down.
The deliberations between Shah and northeastern leaders were vital as these took place days after the Nagaland assembly adopted a resolution for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).
The summoning of the leaders from Nagaland especially on the eve of Christmas and their arrival in the capital along with Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sarma signified that talks were sensitive and essential.
The meeting between Shah and the northeastern leaders took place within hours India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on a two-day visit to Myanmar raised matters relating to India’s security with Myanmar military rulers especially in the light of the “recent incident in Churachandpur” district in southern Manipur.
The ambush on November 13 claimed the lives of Col Viplab Tripathi, his wife and nine-year-old boy and four jawans. Subsequently, the killing of Naga civilians by security forces in Mon district in a botched up anti insurgency operation has now led to demand for the withdrawal of the AFSPA from Nagaland.
“Entire Naga society has been calling for repeal of AFSPA and that voice is at its loudest today,” said Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on December 20 while piloting forcefully an official resolution in the Assembly seeking immediate repeal of the controversial law that gives some impunity to armed forces.
Assam Chief Minister Sarma for his part, however, said AFSPA will continue in his state. The argument being the withdrawal of AFSPA cannot be a call of the government alone. It has to depend on the overall situation, law and order situation of the state.
“Now suppose I withdraw, will that be reciprocated by the militant organisations?” he said in Guwahati a few days back.
The Oting killing of Konyak Naga civilians and subsequent violence in Mon town on December 5 have led to the demand for withdrawal of the AFSPA, considered an essential piece of legislation for army operations in north east and in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the Churachandpur ambush on November 13, one colonel Viplab Tripathi, his wife and nine-year boy were killed along with four jawans. Six others were injured when PLA and little known Manipur Naga People’s Front militants attacked the forces at Behiang in Churachandpur district.
Aprehensions were expressed in certain quarters that Oting killing and subsequent developments could even lead to derailment or stalling of the hard-owned Naga peace talks that had begun in August 1997.
The Oting killing of Konyak Naga civilians and subsequent violence in Mon town on December 5 have led to the demand for withdrawal of the AFSPA, considered an essential piece of legislation for army operations in north east and in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the Churachandpur ambush on Nov 13, one colonel Viplab Tripathi, his wife and nine-year boy were killed along with four jawans.
Six others were injured when PLA and little known Manipur Naga People’s Front militants attacked the forces at Behiang in Churachandpur district.
Apprehensions were expressed in certain quarters that Oting killing and subsequent developments could even lead to derailment or stalling of the hard-owned Naga peace talks that had begun in August 1997.
As it is the NSCN (IM) has stuck to its demand for Flag and a Separate Constitution that has only lingered the peace talks.
In 2019, the then Nagaland Governor R N Ravi had said the peace talks were over and final pact was to be inked. However, the NSCN (IM)’s twin demands have posed hurdles although NNPGs, a conglomeration of 7 Naga groups operating in Nagaland, were keen for an early signing of the peace agreement.
Meanwhile, a four-member panel of party leaders Gaurav Gogoi, Jitendra Singh, Ajoy Kumar and Anto Antony submitted a report on Nagaland situation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Notably, K. Therie, the president of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, has blamed Chief Minister Rio for the recent Oting incident. “It is a game plan to derail the peace process,” Therie has alleged.
“Nothing can happen in the state without the knowledge of the Chief Minister and state Home Minister as the law and order is a state subject,” he said and maintained the movement of 21 para troopers from Assam in Nagaland on the fateful day, December 4, was not possible without the knowledge of authorities in Nagaland.
(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of books, ‘The Talking Guns: North East India’ and ‘Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth’)
The Defence Minister was addressing the 94th Annual General Meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), on the theme ‘India Beyond 75’…reports Asian Lite News.
The government has told countries like the US, Russia & France that it wishes to manufacture defence equipment in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.
Inviting every country to ‘Make in India, Make for India and Make for the world’, Defence Minister Singh said, “national security is our top priority”.
In this context, he mentioned the recent agreement with Russia, worth more than Rs 5,000 crore, to manufacture over six lakh AK-203 Rifles in Amethi.
The Defence Minister was addressing the 94th Annual General Meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), on the theme ‘India Beyond 75’.
The Government’s vision is to make India a global defence manufacturing hub, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
The focus is to modernise the Armed Forces and create a strong & ‘Aatmanirbhar’ defence industry which can help in safeguarding the country from conventional and non-conventional, present and future security threats, he said.
“On one side, there is one country born out of the partition and is worried seeing the progress of India, while on the other, there is a nation which keeps on creating new plans,” he pointed out.
Defence Minister Singh said India cannot depend on other countries for defence technologies due to its stature, its geographical location as well as the security challenges it faces.
“For the security of India and its people, it is necessary that we develop our defence capacity and capability that even the most powerful country in the world has to think a thousand times before planning anything that endangers our interests. Our government’s aim is not to attack anyone, but prepare our Armed Forces to be ready at all times to give a befitting reply to the country’s enemies,” he said.
Singh listed out measures taken by the Government to promote foreign investment, including increasing the FDI limit to 74 per cent through automatic route and 100 per cent through Government route under certain circumstances.
Foreign investment will help to create an ecosystem of defence manufacturing in the country and achieve ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he noted.
The Defence Minister also spoke about the initiatives taken by the Government to reduce dependency on imports, such as notifying two positive indigenisation lists of over 200 items.
“The items in ‘Positive List’ will cross the 1,000-mark in this decade. This is our vision of ‘India Beyond 75’,” he said.
Voicing the Government’s aim to tap the potential of MSMEs and ensure their progress, Shri Rajnath Singh said, a series of steps have been taken to encourage indigenisation, development & design in the defence and aerospace sector.
“At present, India’s defence and aerospace manufacturing market is worth Rs 85,000 crore. I believe, in 2022, it will increase to Rs one lakh crore. When I talk about ‘India Beyond 75’, I see defence and aerospace manufacturing market in India to be Rs five lakh crore by 2047. The present contribution of private companies is Rs 18,000 crore in the market of Rs 85,000 crore. According to the current situation, more than Rs one lakh crore will be the contribution of the private sector in the market Rs five lakh crore in the future,” he said.
Bhatt was speaking at the State Policy Conclave 2021 on the theme ‘Role of states in making Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, organised by apex industry body PHDCCI…reports Asian Lite News.
India has eliminated all the bottlenecks in the defence manufacturing sector, which is attracting investors from various countries, Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Defence and Tourism, said while addressing the State Policy Conclave 2021 on Tuesday.
Bhatt said that the country is exporting defence products to around 75 countries at present, adding that around 200 defence products, which were earlier imported from other countries, are now reserved for manufacturers from India. He expressed hope that the step would give a huge boost to the local industries.
Bhatt was speaking at the State Policy Conclave 2021 on the theme ‘Role of states in making Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, organised by apex industry body PHDCCI.
In his address, the minister assured the private sector that if they can manufacture quality products, the government would buy products from them, adding that the Centre is developing two defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
“We have made seven defence public sector undertakings (PSUs) through the restructuring of 41 ordnance factories, whose products will be bought not just by the Indian government, but they can alos export them to the other countries across the globe. We are moving towards an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and the whole world is watching us with curiosity,” he said.
“The government has introduced complete transparency in the sector by opening it up. Transacting with states have become an easier task now due to the ease of doing business measures taken by the individual states,” Bhatt said.
Once the investor shows interest, the government will ensure that all the follow-ups happen at its end, he added.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with French President Emmanuel Macron
The UAE has placed an order for 80 Rafale fighter planes and 12 Caracal H225 helicopters, reports Asian Lite News
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sealed a contract with France to buy fighters and military helicopters.
The deal was inked Friday as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in Dubai.
At the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed, President Macron, visited the UAE on Friday.
According to the deal, the UAE has placed an order for 80 Rafale fighter planes and 12 Caracal H225 helicopters, the French president said in a tweet.
French President Emmanuel Macron with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Photo: Twitter@Elysee
The order for Rafale jets is the largest overseaorder for the warplane since its introduction in 2004. French Defence Minister Florence Parly hailed the deal as “historic” in a tweet.
Macron kicked off a two-day tour to the Gulf region, where he will also visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Mohamed and President Macron toured EXPO 2020, emphasising the importance of this event in building bridges and promoting partnerships.
Macron conveyed his congratulations to Sheikh Mohamed on the occasion of the national day and the Golden Jubilee of the UAE on 2 December, and praised the achievements made by the country in the preceding 50 years.
He also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed and the people of the UAE on hosting the Conference of the Parties in 2023 (COP28) which would be of special significance.
Aux équipes qui font rayonner la France à l’Exposition universelle de Dubaï : pic.twitter.com/TZhmMtz9rS
He highlighted the opportunity for France and the UAE to work jointly to tackle the global threat of climate change, as well as finalising the Paris Agreement rulebook and mobilising finance for developing countries most affected by climate change.
Sheikh Mohamed stated that the UAE looks forward to working with France and the international community to accelerate global efforts to address climate change and environmental protection and to create a more sustainable economic future. The French President emphasised the ambitious commitments taken by the European Union to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and to reduce net emissions by at least 55% by 2030. In a joint communique marking the visit of the French president, the UAE and France highlighted their commitment to align their support to developing countries with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and to increase their support to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Solar Alliance.
The two leaders reaffirmed the expansion of this partnership, with France supplying 80 Rafale fighter jets to the UAE Air Force Squadron in addition to 12 Caracal H225 Helicopters including weaponising, training and spare parts, with contracts worth 16.6 billion euros.
Meanwhile, both leaders have also discussed the Iranian nuclear program and underscored the importance of a negotiated solution.
In the field of culture, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the success of Louvre Abu Dhabi as the emblem of the strategic cultural cooperation and an enduring legacy of the close ties that link the two countries. They welcomed an extension of the intergovernmental agreement that will enshrine for the future the position and the development of this unique museum in the region. Both leaders called for new projects to further propel cultural cooperation.
The two leaders highlighted their shared economic interests and enhance their competitiveness through cooperation and investment in future-looking sectors. Both leaders witnessed the signing of economic agreements with a total value of more than 15 billion euros to strengthen the strategic investment partnership between the UAE and France, targeting sectors of mutual priority and interest, including sectors identified in the ‘France2030’ economic program, such as renewable energies, innovation, technologies and 4.0 industries.
An extension of the current co-investment programme between Mubadala Investment Company and Bpifrance was signed, for a total joint amount of 4 billion euros, to be deployed in line with the previous strategy of both Franco-Emirati Fund and the Innovation Partnership. Mubadala Investment Company signed as well a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, to explore investments in French funds for a total amount of 1.4 billion euros.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with French President Emmanuel Macron
Furthermore, Masdar, one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies, and ENGIE, a global energy player in low-carbon energy and services have signed a strategic alliance agreement to explore the co-development of a UAE-based green hydrogen hub. The two companies are looking to develop projects with a capacity of at least 2 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, with a total investment in the region of around 4.4 billion euros.
An investment agreement was also signed between ADQ, through its portfolio companies, and the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Recovery to explore investment opportunities with France in the fields of mobility and logistics, food and agriculture, clean energy, life sciences, and healthcare with a total amount of up to 4.6 billion euros.
These simulators would be installed at Air Force Stations in Jamnagar and Gorakhpur….reports Asian Lite News
The Defence Ministry inked a deal worth Rs 357 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for procurement of two fixed base full mission simulators for Jaguar aircraft for Indian Air Force.
The government has signed a contract for procurement of two Fixed Base Full Mission Simulators (FBFMS) for Jaguar Aircraft from HAL for IAF with five years Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC) at a combined total cost of Rs 357 crore.
These simulators would be installed at Air Force Stations in Jamnagar and Gorakhpur.
Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self Reliant India), India is continuously growing in its power to indigenously design, develop and manufacture advanced cutting-edge technologies and systems in the Defence Sector.
IAF Pic credits @IAF_MCC
The manufacturing of Fixed Base Full Mission Simulator (FBFMS) by HAL will give a further push to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative and boost indigenization of defence production and the defence industry in the country.
“The commissioning of the first FBFMS with associated equipment shall be completed within 27 months from the contract at Air Force Station Jamnagar and the 2nd FBFMS shall be completed within 36 months from the contract at Air Force Station Gorakhpur,” the ministry said.
With the procurement of these simulators, IAF will enhance the quality of flying training to higher standards by exposing the pilots to various contingencies in the entire operating envelope including simulation of advanced long-range weapons.
