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‘75% of disengagement problems sorted out with China’

Jaishankar also underlined how India and China never had an easy relationship in the past.

Highlighting the progress on border talks with China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that 75 per cent of disengagement problems with Beijing are sorted out; however, the two nations “still have some things to do.”

Jaishankar also underlined how India and China never had an easy relationship in the past.

“We did not have an easy relationship in the past. What happened in 2020 was in violation of multiple agreements, the Chinese moved a large number of troops to the Line of Actual Control. We, in response, moved our troops up.. Some progress on border talks with China. 75 per cent of disengagement problems are sorted out. We still have some things to do,” Jaishankar said during his conversation with Ambassador Jean-David Levitte at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy on Thursday.

“If there is a solution to disengagement and there is a return to peace and tranquillity, we can look at other possibilities. That is the immediate issue,” he further added.

Jaishankar said that the two countries had a difficult relationship in the past and spoke about 2020 when the Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan Valley.

He also described the India-China relationship as “complex” and highlighted the long-standing struggle in the trade issues between the two nations and said that the economic relationship with China has been “unfair and imbalanced.”

The EAM said, “It (India-China relations) is a very complex relationship… They had bad periods in history. Both of them are reviving and are rejuvenating in a way… They are the only two countries that have a population of more than a billion. And what happens normally when any country rises is that it has a ripple effect on the neighbourhood. These two countries also have the honour of being each other’s neighbours. So each one’s rise has a ripple impact… So if you take the totality of this, you can understand why I selected a safe expressive word like complex.”

Notably, India and China held the 31st meeting of the WMCC in Beijing on August 29, and the two sides had decided to jointly uphold peace and tranquillity on the ground in border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements and protocols.

The two sides had a “frank, constructive and forward-looking” exchange of views on the LAC situation and also agreed to intensify contact through diplomatic and military channels, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Meanwhile, the EAM further said that apart from border issues, the two nations also face difficulties in other sectors, including technology, telecom, and digital.

“I think there are larger issues in respect of India-China. We have a long struggle with the trade issue… The economic relationship with China has been very unfair. It has been very imbalanced that we don’t have market access there. They have much better market access here in India. We have many concerns today in various areas, like technology, telecom, and digital.”

Jaishankar arrived in Switzerland on September 12 after concluding his visit to Germany and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin and conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal greetings to him there. (ANI)

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US Reaffirms India’s Sovereignty in Arunachal Amid Regional Dynamics

India considers Arunachal Pradesh to be an essential part of the country and insists that using different names for the area does not change the fact that it belongs to India, writes Dr. Maheep

In a clear statement on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department confirmed that the U.S. government considers Arunachal Pradesh to be an integral part of India. They went further to express strong opposition to any one-sided actions taken to claim territory within this northeastern Indian state, which borders China. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, speaking at his daily press conference, observed that the United States recognized Arunachal Pradesh as Indian Territory strongly opposed “any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions or encroachments, military or civilian, across the Line of Actual Control.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to forward areas in Arunachal Pradesh

This has been the consistent position of USA on the question for some time now. Earlier in March 2023, the United States Senate passed a bipartisan resolution that recognizes the McMahon Line as the official border between China and Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian state. This resolution signified that the U.S. considered Arunachal Pradesh to be an inseparable part of India. Senator Bill Hagerty, who introduced the resolution, highlighted the importance of the United States supporting India, a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in light of ongoing Chinese threats.

The recent reaffirmation of India’s stance on Arunachal Pradesh by the United States follows China’s renewed claim to the region after the Indian Prime Minister’s visit. China asserts Arunachal Pradesh as part of Tibet and disputes its status as an Indian state. The United States now unequivocally opposes any Chinese attempts to assert control over the area.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during discussions at an Informal Summit, in Tamil Nadu’s Mahabalipuram. (Photo: PIB)

The Indian government had earlier firmly denied China’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Arunachal Pradesh. They emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will always be an official part of India. This position has been clearly communicated to China by the Ministry of External Affairs on multiple occasions. Responding to questions from the media about China’s disapproval of Indian leaders visiting Arunachal Pradesh, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson from India’s Ministry of External Affairs explained that Indian leaders routinely visit Arunachal Pradesh, just like they visit any other state in India. He argued that China’s objections to these visits, or to India’s development projects in the region, defied sense.

China had officially complained to India about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. This complaint stems from Modi inaugurating the Sela tunnel, a key infrastructure project in the region. China, which still refers to Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, claimed that India’s actions in Arunachal Pradesh make resolving the border dispute between the two nations more difficult.

PM Narendra Modi being welcomed by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Brigadier (Retd.) (Dr.) B.D. Mishra, in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on February 15, 2018.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sela Tunnel on March 9th. Located at a high altitude of 13,000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh, the tunnel is a game-changer for connectivity. It will provide year-round access to Tawang, a strategically important town near the border. This will also significantly improve the movement of troops and supplies in the region.

China believes this action made it harder to resolve the ongoing boundary disagreement between the two countries. The official statement used terms like “strongly dissatisfied” and “firmly opposed” to describe China’s position on the visit. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin claimed India had no right to arbitrarily ‘develop’ Zangnan, which is an alien province. Zangnan is the name China has given to Arunachal Pradesh.

In the past too, China has raised objections to visits by Indian statesmen to the region. However, India considers Arunachal Pradesh to be an essential part of the country and insists that using different names for the area does not change the fact that it belongs to India.

While the Indian government responds to China’s claims on Arunachal Pradesh, some believe China is trying to provoke India and keep tensions high. China’s economy and its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are facing challenges, with some countries struggling to repay loans. In contrast, India’s economy and international standing are growing. India avoids directly challenging China’s “One China” policy but also doesn’t fully accept it. India engages with Taiwan and the South China Sea, showing its independence. China’s stock market decline and high BRI debt raise concerns about its economic health. China may need to forgive some debt or accept lower repayments to keep borrowers afloat. This economic pressure, along with a more critical US and a cautious Europe, could weaken China’s position.

Rajnath Singh during his visit to forward areas in Arunachal Pradesh

In essence, the recent US endorsement of India’s stance on Arunachal Pradesh signifies international recognition of its integral status within India. This support is coupled with India’s strategic infrastructure developments such as the Sela Tunnel that highlights a growing assertiveness and sovereignty assertion in response to Chinese provocations. China’s economic challenges and global scrutiny further weaken its position while India’s expanding international stature and cautious yet independent engagement signal a shifting regional dynamic. These developments suggest a potential diminishing of China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region as India strengthens its regional standing and partnerships.

*Dr. Maheep is an analyst of International Relations and Global Politics. He has been teaching and conducting research for over a decade

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India-China talks focus on border protocol

The discussions also included not increasing troops by both countries along the LAC…reports Asian Lite News

 Mutually agreeing that no new posts are constructed in close proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and identifying specific limits of patrolling, were some of the issues discussed in the Major General-level talks held between India and China at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and Chushul, as per media sources.

The discussions also included not increasing troops by both countries along the LAC. 

Sources said that both the countries have agreed to refrain from violating any airspace by drones, defining ‘boundaries’ of patrolling, exchanging prior information about each other’s patrols, strictly following border protocols and where troops from both sides have been reduced since maintaining the integrity of such buffer zones.

The meeting between India and China took place at the Chushul-Moldo border point on the Indian side of the LAC. Since the border standoff started in May 2020, the armies of both countries have disengaged from the northern and southern flanks of the Pangong Tso, Gogra and Hot Springs area, though tensions remain in the Depsang plains and Demchok region.

With respect to Depsang and Demchok, both sides have failed to make any significant progress. The Indian side is looking for a solution to resolve the boundary issues at Depsang Point and CNN Junction.

The talks were held to resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh, in which India was represented by Major General PK Mishra and Major General Hariharan. The talks were held to resolve the ongoing deadlock in Ladakh’s Depsang ground and Demchok area.

Army said that the talks took place in a clear and practical environment. 

Both sides held positive, constructive and in-depth discussions on resolution of outstanding issues along the LAC in the Western Sector. In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, the Indian and Chinese army exchanged views in an open and forward-looking manner.

On August 14, 19th round of Corps Commander-level talks were held between the Indian Army and the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). During the talks, the withdrawal of troops in the tense area in eastern Ladakh and reducing the tension were discussed. The Depsang and Demchok areas were discussed by the Indian side.

Significantly, BRICS summit will also take place from Tuesday in South Africa. Defence experts believe that the conversation between the two armies is of special importance in view of the BRICS summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping may meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

There is a standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers at certain places in eastern Ladakh. For the last three years, there is confrontation between the armies of India and China. However, during this time both sides have ensured withdrawal of troops from many areas after extensive diplomatic and military talks. Despite this, tension still persists in Depsang and Demchok.

The Corps Commander-level talks were initiated in 2020 after China’s PLA raised tensions in eastern Ladakh after the latter violated agreements at several places and violated the LAC. India has sought de-escalation, which includes withdrawal of all additional troops and equipment in the forward areas of the LAC to its pre-April 2020 position.

However, no inclination has been shown so far from the Chinese side. China wants to consider the current holding position as the new status quo.

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NSA talks tough with Yi over LAC situation

Johannesburg [South Africa], July 25 (ANI): National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval poses for a group picture with Russian NSA Nikolai Patrushev, South African Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and others during the 13th BRICS NSA meeting, in Johannesburg on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

In a meeting with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, Doval stressed the significance of continuing efforts to thoroughly address the issue and re-establish peace in the border regions…reports Asian Lite News

In a stern message to China on the sidelines of the 13th BRICS National Security Advisor’s (NSA) meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday, NSA Ajit Doval said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has eroded the strategic trust between the two nations.

In a meeting with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, Doval stressed the significance of continuing efforts to thoroughly address the issue and re-establish peace in the border regions. “During the meeting, NSA conveyed that the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China boundary since 2020 had eroded strategic trust and the public and political basis of the relationship,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated in an official release.

“NSA emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to fully resolve the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, so as to remove impediments to normalcy in bilateral relations. The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not only for the two countries but also for the region and world,” the release added.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met the Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the CPC Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs’ Meeting in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

India and China have time and again faced border disputes dating back to 1962. The most recent clash was in June 2020, when Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a scuffle in the Galwan valley.

Earlier, on July 24, Doval participated in the ‘Friends of BRICS’ meeting in Johannesburg.

According to sources, he said the gravity of cyber risks will increase exponentially with the advent of disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Internet of Things.

Doval also held a working meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev and discussed the cooperation between the two countries in the field of security and economy, the Russian embassy in India said in a statement.

He added that terrorism remains one of the key threats to national peace and security.

Asserting that terror organisations in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region continue to operate with impunity, he added that listing terrorists and their proxies under the United Nations counter-terrorism sanctions regime is an area on which BRICS can work together.

Doval said it was important that the decision-making of the UN Security Council sanctions committee is free from politicisation and double standards, adding that the meeting is being held at a time of great churn in the international security environment.

The NSA said further the global security situation is marked by uncertainty and rising tensions. The global economy is still covering the aftereffects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also appreciated the cooperation extended by South Africa for India’s G20 Presidency, assuring India’s continued support for South Africa’s BRICS chairship this year.

Iran’s security chief meets Doval, discusses Chabahar  

Acknowledging India’s growth as an emerging power, Tehran has urged New Delhi to accelerate the process of Iran’s admission to the powerful five-member BRICS grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Iran’s new security chief Ali Akbar Ahmadian discussed the matter in detail during his meeting with Doval on the sidelines of the BRICS NSA and ‘Friends of BRICS’ gathering in Johannesburg that was also attended by national security secretaries and advisors of Iran, Burundi, Egypt, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, UAE and Belarus.

Earlier this month, Iran – an observer state till now – got a full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) under the rotating chairmanship of India while the official procedure for Belarus’ admission to the grouping has also begun.

This was the first meeting between NSA Doval and Ahmadian who was appointed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as the Secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council on May 22. He replaced Admiral Ali Shamkhani who held the top position for 10 years.

Before his appointment, Ahmadian was in charge of the strategic centre of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a permanent member of the Expediency Council, an advisory body assisting the country’s leader.

During Monday’s meeting with NSA Doval, Ahmadian praised India’s growth as an emerging power and “a large economy in the global arena based on multilateralism” while pointing to the historical relations and the numerous cultural and civilizational commonalities that binds both nations.

He referred to Chabahar port being built with India’s help in Iran, as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries and emphasised on accelerating the implementation of agreements between the two countries in the field of transportation, energy and banking cooperation. Any obstacles in the path to develop bilateral relations in all fields, stated Ahmadian, should be prioritized and resolved quickly.

The two security chiefs also also discussed common positions and concerns in the fight against terrorism and drug production and trafficking.

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India, China agree to expedite resolution of LAC standoff

The 18th round of Corps Commander Level talks ended on Sunday. Several rounds of talks have led to the withdrawal of troops from several places along the LAC…reports Asian Lite News

The Chinese defence ministry announced that senior military officials from India and China had agreed to “speed up” the resolution of “relevant issues” related to the prolonged border standoff in eastern Ladakh.

The officials also pledged to safeguard peace in the border areas. This development is a positive step towards de-escalating the tensions between the two nations, who have been engaged in a long-standing border dispute.

The conflict has become increasingly volatile in recent years, and it is crucial that both nations work towards finding a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to avoid further escalation. While the statement by the Chinese defence ministry is encouraging, it remains to be seen how both countries will follow through on their commitments.

The 18th round of Corps Commander Level talks ended on Sunday. Several rounds of talks have led to the withdrawal of troops from several places along the LAC.

According to sources in the know of things, both India and China have been stopping each other to patrol beyond the ‘Bottleneck’ area.

Armoured vehicles, artillery and military equipment are still stationed at the forward posts.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement said: “The two sides had a frank and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, which will enable progress in bilateral relations.

“In line with the guidance provided by the State leaders and further to the meeting between the two Foreign Ministers in March 2023, they had an exchange of views in an open and candid manner,” it added.

The MEA statement noted that both sides agreed to maintain security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector.

“The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” it said.

India has sought de-escalation in which additional troops and equipment will be withdrawn to resume the status of April 2020. However, China has not agreed and wants the present holding positions to be recognised.

At the meeting on Sunday, the Ladakh-based Fire and Fury Corps Commander Lt Gen Rashim Bali led the Indian side.

It is understood to have raised the issue of the Depsang plains, Demchok and disengagement by both sides.

The 18th Corps Commanders-level talks were held days before the meeting of the Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Delhi this week.

Amid the SCO Defence Ministers’ in-person meeting on April 27-28, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also likely to hold bilateral talks with his newly-installed Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, and the situation on the LAC is likely to figure in these.

The SCO comprises Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.

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MEA: China’s attempts to alter LAC status quo impacted ties

This might involve direct threats to US persons and interests, and calls for US intervention, according to the US Intelligence Report…reports Asian Lite News

Continued unilateral attempts by China to change the Line of Actual Control (LAC) status quo have impacted India-China bilateral relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in its Annual Report 2021-22 released on Monday.

According to the MEA report, China has since April-May 2020, undertaken several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC in Western Sector, which seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity along the LAC. These attempts by China were invariably met with an appropriate response from Indian Armed Forces, the MEA said.

According to the MEA report prepared by the Policy Planning Division of the ministry, India’s engagement with China is complex. The two sides have, however, agreed to manage their differences and not allow differences on any issue to become disputes.

Further, the two sides agreed that pending the final settlement of the boundary question, maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is an essential basis for the overall development of the bilateral relationship.

Both sides have agreed to resolve the issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh through peaceful dialogue. Consequently, discussions have continued with the Chinese side to achieve complete disengagement from all friction points and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the India-China Border Areas at an early date.

According to the MEA, India has maintained its engagement with China both through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest so as to restore peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on September 16, 2021, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on the sidelines of the 21st SCO Meeting of the Head of States. The two Ministers exchanged views on the border situation along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, the MEA said.

The two had also met earlier in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in July 2021. Military and diplomatic officials of the two sides are meeting regularly to continue their discussions on resolving the remaining issues at the earliest. Both sides agreed that a prolongation of the existing situation was not in the interest of either side as it was impacting the relationship in a negative manner.

Meanwhile, US Intelligence Community’s recent Annual Threat Assessment report said that expanded military postures by both India and China along the disputed border elevate the risk of armed confrontation between the two nuclear powers.

This might involve direct threats to US persons and interests, and calls for US intervention, according to the US Intelligence Report.

The report said that India-China relations will remain strained in wake of the countries’ lethal clash in 2020, the most serious in decades.

This comes despite the two countries engaging in bilateral border talks and resolving border points. (ANI)

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Jaishankar, Chinese FM discuss border tensions

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday held bilateral meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' meet.

This was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Qin after the latter became the Chinese foreign minister in December, reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday held bilateral meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meet.

The meeting between the two was focused on issues related to border areas.

“Met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of #G20FMM this afternoon. Our discussions were focused on addressing current challenges to the bilateral relationship, especially peace and tranquillity in the border areas,” the Minister tweeted.

It was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Qin after the latter became the Chinese foreign minister in December.

The talks came nearly eight months after Jaishankar held a meeting with the then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Bali on the sidelines of a G20 meeting.

The meeting gained significance in view of continuing US-China tensions and the military standoff between the two sides in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control.

Following the June 2020 clash at Galwan Valley, the relations between the two countries have been the most tense in the past many years.

Earlier on Thursday, Jaishankar also met his US counterpart Antony Blinken, wherein the two held discussions on bilateral ties and pressing global issues including the Ukraine conflict.

Earlier, on February 22, the 26th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held in person in Beijing.

As per the External Affairs Ministry, the two sides reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining areas in an open and constructive manner, which would help in restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in Western Sector and create conditions for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations.

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India, China agree to maintain stability along LAC  

New Delhi, June 10 (ANI): Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande is on a three-day visit to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to review the security situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in this sector on Friday. (ANI Photo)

Corps commanders of the two countries held talks on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on December 20, just 11 days after several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in a clash along the Line of Actual Control at Yangtse…reports Asian Lite News

Against the backdrop of India-China border tensions spreading to the Arunachal Pradesh sector, senior military commanders of the two sides held talks this week but there was no indication of forward movement in addressing the 30-month face-off in Ladakh sector.

Corps commanders of the two countries held talks on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on December 20, just 11 days after several Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in a clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Yangtse, located near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

The two sides agreed at Tuesday’s meeting to maintain “security and stability on the ground in the Western Sector” of the LAC, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday. “The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest,” the statement added.

People familiar with the matter said the meeting of military commanders had been in the pipeline for some time before the clash at Yangtse, and the two developments were not linked. The Indian side had been seeking dates for the meeting, which largely focused on the Ladakh sector, the people said.

This was the third meeting of the military commanders of the two sides this year and the 17th round of talks overall since the standoff in Ladakh sector began in May 2020. A brutal clash at Galwan Valley in June 2020, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, took bilateral relations to an all-time low from which they are yet to recover.

The military commanders built on progress made after their last meeting on July 17 and exchanged views on the “resolution of the relevant issues along the LAC in the Western Sector in an open and constructive manner”, the joint statement said.

The statement described the discussions as “frank and in-depth” and in line with guidance provided by the State Leaders to work for the resolution of remaining issues at the earliest in order to help restore “peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western Sector and enable progress in bilateral relations”, the statement added.

The meeting of military commanders in July resulted in disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops at Hot Springs in September. Dozens of rounds of diplomatic and military talks have resulted in disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake, Galwan Valley and Gogra. However, there has been no breakthrough on friction points such as Depsang and Demchok and the two sides have more than 60,000 troops each and advanced weaponry deployed in Ladakh sector.

The December 9 Yangtse clash turned the spotlight on lingering issues with China on the eastern frontier at a time when the Chinese side is engaged in a major push to build up military infrastructure such as airfields and missile sites in the western sector. This infrastructure includes hardened aircraft shelters, surface-to-air missile sites, a robust radar network, and more hangars and runways at airbases.

New Delhi has said Chinese troops tried to transgress the LAC at Yangtse and change the status quo along the contested border but were pushed back by Indian soldiers. “The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts,” defence minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament.

Air Vice Marshal (retired) Manmohan Bahadur said the Indian side would have pushed for disengagement at Depsang and Demchok. “These areas are critical but the joint statement implies nothing has happened. The prolonged deployment is taking a toll on manpower and equipment but our services have planned for this. Ultimately, it boils down to the numbers in terms of funding and manpower,” he said.

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China’s ‘salami-slicing’ technique to alter status-quo along border

Disengagement-process-in-progress-in-south-of-Pangong-Lake

The Civil-Military Integration (CMI) strategy in land and border defence could mean adverse implications for India. For instance, Chinese forces could prevent the development of infrastructure, along with its border, by India, according to Policy Research Group (POREG).

China is using the “salami-slicing” technique to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in which it tests the other claimants through aggressive actions, then back off when it meets significant resistance, according to a report.

China ‘Land Border Law (LBL)’, adopted in October 2021, came into force on January 1, 2022, amid growing tensions with its neighbours, such as India. The Law is at best seems assertive and provocative. Through LBL, China has asserted that it will “resolutely defend territorial sovereignty and land border”, reported the Policy Research Group (POREG).

The LBL strengthens the ‘Civil-Military Integration (CMI)’ strategy, generating synergy among key Chinese bureaucracies including Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Custom and Immigration Administration, and the Local Governments.

The Law underscored that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Paramilitary People’s Armed Police (PAP), both under the command of the Central Military Commission, will play a central role, including safeguarding land borders, resisting armed invasion, and responding to major contingencies.

Needless to say, the CMI strategy in land and border defence could mean adverse implications for India. For instance, Chinese forces could prevent the development of infrastructure, along with its border, by India, said POREG.

Moreover, the Chinese Communist Party is also pushing Tibetan nomads into villages in border districts, converting key border prefectures, such as Shigatse and Lhoka into Chinese zones in the ‘Tibetan Autonomous Region’s (TAR)’.

China has also undertaken the expansion of border towns in bordering areas of Nepal and Bhutan under the “Salami Slicing” technique. Way back in October 2015, China touted as a success story its new village called Gyalaphug, technically in Bhutan, south of the TAR.

The Party, in an effort to rein in Chinese ‘citizens’ for moving them towards the ‘model villages’ has been carrying out propaganda through the media, added POREG.

A villager in a model Xiaokang BDV claimed, in an article in the ‘Tibet Daily’, that he had received a ‘Border Annual Subsidy’ of Yuan 5,000, in addition to an ecological subsidy of Yuan 8,871.

People’s Liberation Army

The article revealed that it is planned to construct over 62,000 houses to house about 240,000 people under the Tibet BDVs scheme. These houses will have the provision of water, electricity, communication, networks, schools, health and insurance besides roads.

To project a ‘warm’ and ‘close’ cooperation between the border residents, another story was floated (August 2019) on Chinese instant messaging apps and websites, said the Policy Research Group.

The report highlighted border patrols and life in Geru village in Shigatse prefecture sharing ‘bond’ with the local residents being as “deep as the fish and water.” It was shown that, about 100 people from the village conducted regular border patrols on motorcycles to assist border defence forces.

Every Monday, Chinese personnel stationed in Geru organized a ceremony at the border pillar to hoist the Chinese flag and to sing the national anthem.

China, besides, using the tactic of CMI to further tighten its grip on Tibet, would also, exploit local inhabitants to expand its settlements across the LAC supplanting them as settlers under the nomadic cover, so that they go unnoticed as military structures.

The CMI strategy, being used to push through the LBL, is an attempt by the PLA to alter the status quo along the LAC, by placing measures to use border villages in buttressing Beijing’s territorial claims using “salami-slicing” technique. (ANI)

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MEDIA SCAN: Peace in the horizon and Modi shocks Tesla

Indo-China conduct 14-hour border talks and Pakistan seeks 100 years peace with India … writes Joyeeta Basu

India and China military delegates deliberated for more than 12 hours on disengagement at Patrolling Point 15 on Wednesday. The meeting at Moldo, in China, was the 14th round of military talks between the neighbouring countries to resolve the border dispute.

“We hope to resolve Patrolling Point 15 in the current round of talks,” said Indian Army chief General MM Naravane, according to reports.

India-UK trade: The British International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan launched talks for a Free Trade Agreement with India today. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier said: “We are seizing the opportunities offered in growing economies of the Indo-Pacific to cement our place on the global stage.”

UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan meets India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal

COVID-19 cases: In other news, India recorded 2.47 lakh new COVID-19 cases, driven by Omicron. It is the highest single-day rise in the ongoing wave, bringing the country’s tally to 3.63 crore cases, reported NDTV.

Business news

Rupee appreciates: The rupee is expected to appreciate further amid weakness in the dollar and optimistic global market sentiments, the Financial Times has reported. Also, data showed inflation surged to a five-month high to 5.59% in December 2021 but remained under RBI’s comfort zone.

Tesla to skip entry to India: Meanwhile, Elon Musk has ruled out Tesla entering the Indian market due to ‘challenges with the government’. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been in talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration for years, but disagreements over a local factory and the country’s import duties of 100% have led to an impasse, reported NDTV.

(Source IANS)

Pakistan

Pakistan’s new national security policy has sought 100 years of peace with India. It has also proposed normalisation of trade and economic ties without waiting for a final resolution of the Kashmir issue, reported the Times of India.

The first of its kind “codified” policy will be released by Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Friday.  

Bangladesh

Eleven-point restrictions to curb Omicron transmission have been put in force by the Dhaka government today. This includes wearing masks at all public places, public transport carrying passengers at half capacity, and increased scanning at land, sea, and airports.

The restrictions will be in place until further notice, reported the thedailystar.net.

Sri Lanka

One-billion-dollar loan: Sri Lanka has sought a one-billion-dollar loan from India, reported the Financial Express. The governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal confirmed the news on Wednesday, as the crisis-hit country faces a shortage of almost all essential commodities.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Sri Lanka has been facing a fiscal deficit and trade deficit for a major part of the last decade. The cumulative foreign debt of the country was estimated at USD 33 billion in 2019, according to the Hindustan Times.

Nepal

COVID-19 cases surge: The Covid-19 infection rate in Nepal has soared by about 69 per cent in the last 24 hours forcing authorities to clamp restrictions as the Himalayan Nation braces for the third wave of the pandemic.

In the last 24 hours, Nepal logged 2,444 new cases of coronavirus while on Monday, the country had confirmed a total of 1,446 new cases, according to the Times of India

On a lighter note…

Bollywood director Karan Johar has today launched a teaser of Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi’s movie called Selfiee. The film directed by Raj Mehta will go on floors soon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYqDxiJKreM/

@Taapsee Pannu has also launched the date of her upcoming movie trailer in a unique way.  Sharing a poster from the film, she said: “Choose the date u want the trailer on!!!! The audience can choose when the trailer should drop on their Netflix, it’s exciting right!?”

Looop Lapeta is a thriller drama and is helmed by Aaksha Bhatia. It will release on Netflix on February 4.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYn_oKOB6-T/

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