Blinken is scheduled to travel to New Delhi and Kuwait on July 26-29 and will meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two day visit starting July 27, reports Nikhila Natarajan
The US government is pointing to the first leader level Quad summit earlier this year to headline its “high priority” status for the US-India partnership, ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to India next week to discuss China, the coronavirus response and Afghanistan.
Blinken is scheduled to travel to New Delhi and Kuwait on July 26-29 and will meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two day visit starting July 27. This is Blinken’s first visit to India after assuming charge as US Secretary of State and comes barely a month ahead of US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“I think it’s fair to say that we see the relationship continuing at a very high level and India will, of course, remain an incredibly important partner. We’re going to continue pursuing our global comprehensive strategic partnership,” Dean Thompson, the top US diplomat for South and Central Asia, told reporters Friday.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in London
The US Secretary of State will be seeking India’s support in a “stable and secure” Afghanistan, Thompson said. The US launched multiple airstrikes this week in support of Afghan government forces fighting the Taliban. The Biden administration has not said whether it will continue that support after the pullout is complete, on August 31.
In response to questions on the Trump-Modi vs Biden-Modi relationship, Thompson said the Quad partnership “sets the tone” for what the US thinks it can achieve and accomplish with India as well as the other Quad partners Australia and Japan.
Leaders from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – the so-called Quad- met virtually on March 12 this year and declared a new era for Indo-Pacific competition and collaboration. It was the first leader level summit for the grouping at a time when China continues to expand its clout in the Indo Pacific.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President (then Vice President) Joe Biden.
“You know, the relationship with India is a strong one it has, has endured through administrations of all colors and stripes in the US and will continue to do so,” noted Thompson. “So we’re looking forward to this opportunity for the Secretary to talk with Prime Minister Modi.”
Blinken is said to be considering an in person meeting of the Quad by year end — but details about timing and format are still unclear.
After the India visit, Blinken travels to Kuwait. Thousands of Afghans who worked for the US are hoping to be relocated there and in Qatar before the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan is through.
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington. (Photo DrSJaishankar_twitter)
India’s External Affairs Minister said QUAD – Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements, reports Reena Bhardwaj
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a five-day US visit, discussed wide range of issues related to shared priorities and regional security challenges including Quad during his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Regarding Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) consisting of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Jaishankar said “the strategic group has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements.”
“Quad fills a very important gap that has emerged in contemporary times,which cannot be filled by a single country, which cannot even be furthered by one bilateral relationship, and which is not being addressed at the multilateral level, Jaishankar added.
Quad alliance is seen by Beijing as a part of efforts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. In an effort to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad, the alliance had earlier discussed maritime security, connectivity, including technology issues, supply chain issues, vaccine production.
President Joe Biden during the QUAD leaders virutal summit
“So, there are a whole set of issues in the world have many, many concerns, you know, the many concerns have to be addressed by somebody, I mean, big countries can do a large portion of it, big relationships can add to it. But at the end of the day, most things work better if a group of countries sit together and say, okay, we all have similar positions and similar interest, and why don’t we all sit and address those sets of issues? So that’s how we see Quad we see what I mean, is an expression of the convergence of interests of many countries, it is, in many ways, a reflection of the contemporary nature of the world,” said Jaishankar.
He also said that both the countries have also shared their concerns over China’s problematic activities, coup in Myanmar and COVID-19 origin tracing.
“On China, we shared concerns about Southern China’s problematic activities in the region, and it becomes increasingly like-minded on these issues. On the coup in Burma, the US and India have called for an end to the violence, urged the release of political prisoners, and called for the restoration of democracy,” informed DeanThompson, the Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in his briefing to reporters.
Talking about Afghanistan, Jaishankar said, “There is a recognition, clearly in the United States as indeed in many other countries. You know, when you talk about the future of Afghanistan, India, is an important part of that conversation. Just as when we look at Afghanistan, clearly, you know, given the American presence over many years, it is something that we will be discussing.”
During his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the issue of Afghanistan came up.
US troops will be withdrawing from Afghanistan by September 2021 and many fears that the withdrawal of foreign troops will lead to unrest in the war-torn country.
“The possible scenarios, once the US military draws down is obviously something which is, which matters us, it matters very much. It matters to the United States, and it has a larger regional presence. So, in one of these meetings, this subject came up. I don’t think it was so much an issue of what is India’s role, I mean, India has interest, India has influence, India has stakes, India has a history.”
India had offered Afghanistan, a nascent democracy, an assistance package of USD 1 billion. It is the 5th largest donor to Afghanistan, providing development reconstruction assistance of USD 2 billion since 2001. Also, it supports Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled development of the war-torned nation.
Regarding, India’s position on COVID-19 origin tracing, Jaishankar said that WHO convened a global study on origin of COVID-19 and that is an important first step.
“The probe stressed the need for next phase of studies to reach robust conclusion. So, that is the position which we have taken and the matter,” said Jaishankar. (ANI)
India’s External Affairs Minister said QUAD – Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements, reports Reena Bhardwaj
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a five-day US visit, discussed wide range of issues related to shared priorities and regional security challenges including Quad during his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Regarding Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) consisting of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Jaishankar said “the strategic group has filled the gap that has emerged in contemporary times where there are global or regional requirements.”
“Quad fills a very important gap that has emerged in contemporary times,which cannot be filled by a single country, which cannot even be furthered by one bilateral relationship, and which is not being addressed at the multilateral level, Jaishankar added.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington. (Photo:https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar)
Quad alliance is seen by Beijing as a part of efforts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. In an effort to strengthen Indo-Pacific cooperation through the Quad, the alliance had earlier discussed maritime security, connectivity, including technology issues, supply chain issues, vaccine production.
“So, there are a whole set of issues in the world have many, many concerns, you know, the many concerns have to be addressed by somebody, I mean, big countries can do a large portion of it, big relationships can add to it. But at the end of the day, most things work better if a group of countries sit together and say, okay, we all have similar positions and similar interest, and why don’t we all sit and address those sets of issues? So that’s how we see Quad we see what I mean, is an expression of the convergence of interests of many countries, it is, in many ways, a reflection of the contemporary nature of the world,” said Jaishankar.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
He also said that both the countries have also shared their concerns over China’s problematic activities, coup in Myanmar and COVID-19 origin tracing.
“On China, we shared concerns about Southern China’s problematic activities in the region, and it becomes increasingly like-minded on these issues. On the coup in Burma, the US and India have called for an end to the violence, urged the release of political prisoners, and called for the restoration of democracy,” informed DeanThompson, the Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in his briefing to reporters.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar meets NSA Jake Sullivan (Credit: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Talking about Afghanistan, Jaishankar said, “There is a recognition, clearly in the United States as indeed in many other countries. You know, when you talk about the future of Afghanistan, India, is an important part of that conversation. Just as when we look at Afghanistan, clearly, you know, given the American presence over many years, it is something that we will be discussing.”
During his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the issue of Afghanistan came up.
US troops will be withdrawing from Afghanistan by September 2021 and many fears that the withdrawal of foreign troops will lead to unrest in the war-torn country.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
“The possible scenarios, once the US military draws down is obviously something which is, which matters us, it matters very much. It matters to the United States, and it has a larger regional presence. So, in one of these meetings, this subject came up. I don’t think it was so much an issue of what is India’s role, I mean, India has interest, India has influence, India has stakes, India has a history.”
India had offered Afghanistan, a nascent democracy, an assistance package of USD 1 billion. It is the 5th largest donor to Afghanistan, providing development reconstruction assistance of USD 2 billion since 2001. Also, it supports Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled development of the war-torned nation.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar eets US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (Photo @DrSJaishankar/Twitter)
Regarding, India’s position on COVID-19 origin tracing, Jaishankar said that WHO convened a global study on origin of COVID-19 and that is an important first step.
“The probe stressed the need for next phase of studies to reach robust conclusion. So, that is the position which we have taken and the matter,” said Jaishankar. (ANI)
The expansion of the Djibouti base comes at a time when the QUAD pushes for a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” making the Indian Ocean a focal point of the great power competition between China and the US, reports Atul Aneja
China is digging in Africa with an eye on setting up military bases both along the Indian Ocean in the east and the Atlantic in the west.
China has already established its first military base in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa close to strategic sea lanes that radiate from here in multiple directions towards Asia and Europe.
But a senior US military commander told Associated Press in an interview that China is now also scouting for another base along Africa’s Atlantic Ocean coastline in the west, with an eye on the US.
Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of the US Africa command said that in its search for a naval base, China has approached several countries stretching from Mauritania to south of Namibia.
Other military sources told AP that Beijing is also on the lookout for a naval base in the Gulf of Guinea.
Townsend said Beijing was looking to establish a large navy port that could host submarines or aircraft carriers along Africa’s western coast.
“They’re looking for a place where they can rearm and repair warships. That becomes militarily useful in conflict,” he observed.
The General said that the Atlantic coast concerned him greatly, because of its proximity to the US west coast. In nautical miles, a base on Africa’s northern Atlantic coast could be substantially closer to the US than Chinese military facilities at home in the Pacific.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
But Washington’s other partners in the Indo-pacific QUAD – India, Japan and Australia, would be even more concerned about Chinese search for basing areas along the Indian Ocean coast, starting in Africa and heading in the direction of Myanmar.
Townsend said that China’s first overseas naval base in Djibouti can station as many as 2000 military personnel at the base, including hundreds of Marines.
“They have arms and munitions for sure. They have armoured combat vehicles. We think they will soon be basing helicopters there to potentially include attack helicopters,” said Townsend.
Nikkei Asia is reporting that the Chinese base in Djibouti is being expanded to dock aircraft carriers and other big amphibious warships.
According to Nikkei, the facility is now also capable of handling China’s new Type 075 amphibious assault ships. These vessels have large decks that can accommodate aircraft with short-take off and vertical-landing capabilities.
The first Type 075 was commissioned last month in Hainan at a ceremony that was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The second ship of this class is expected to be commissioned later this year, while another one was launched in January.
The expansion of the Djibouti base comes at a time when the QUAD pushes for a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” making the Indian Ocean a focal point of the great power competition between China and the US.
East of Africa, Chinese companies have been developing and operating other Indian Ocean deep water ports including Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Kyaukphyu in Myanmar. These are on surface only commercial ports, but analysts say that it is possible to add a dual use military dimension to them.
President Joe Biden during the QUAD leaders virutal summit
India-Africa vaccine alliance
India and Africa must forge a vaccine alliance to consolidate gains following US President Joe Biden’s decision to suspend patents that come in the way of mass producing Covid-19 vaccines.
The Biden administration’s brave move, which implies taking on the powerful and highly organised Big Pharma, follows intense lobbying by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization (WTO), along with 60 other countries.
The two emerging economies had called for the temporary lifting of intellectual property rights held by big pharmaceutical companies so that inexpensive Covid-19 vaccines could be mass produced locally.
India, especially, has been hit hard by a massive second wave of Covid-19, forcing it to do away with some of its international obligations to export vaccines, because of an unexpected surge in demand at home.
Unsurprisingly, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had last month discussed lifting the patent protections of coronavirus vaccines during a conversation with Biden, in order to augment supplies.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi also informed President Biden about India’s initiative at the WTO for a relaxation in the norms of the Agreement on TRIPS to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for developing countries,” said an official statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs after the dialogue.
China digs in Africa with an eye on its coastline for military bases.(Photo indianarrative)
After Biden’s move, Africa is now celebrating the patents breakthrough, though there are hurdles ahead because of the Big Pharma’s influence in the European Union. Unless all members are on board, including the Europeans, it would not be possible to act upon Biden’s waiver, as the WTO decisions are taken only by consensus.
“This is leadership in action! History will remember this decision as a great act of humanity,” tweeted John Nkengasong Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control & Prevention.
African Union officials are singling out three countries � South Africa, Senegal and Rwanda � as vaccine hubs for Africa. That includes producing mRNA-type jabs that are being viewed as products based on innovative technology to fight Covid-19.
Both Rwanda and South Africa have already shown intent to bond with India to produce life-saving vaccines.
Speaking virtually at the 6th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics held last month, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda praised New Delhi for the solidarity it had shown with Africa on vaccinations.
“India, despite its own challenges, has produced most of the vaccine doses sent to Africa under Covax and related programmes. Without India’s production capacity and spirit of solidarity it is possible that Africa would not yet have received much vaccine at all,” he said.
He signalled that more ambitious private sector investments between India and Africa were required in the pharma sector.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is also a strong advocate of a vaccine alliance among developing countries, including India. “Developing countries must be made to internalise that hoarding available vaccines and not waiving vaccine patents will lead to immense suffering and tremendous loss of human life. None of us are safe until all of us are safe,” he tweeted on May 1.
Ramaphosa said during May day celebrations that the rise in the number of coronavirus infections and Covid-19- related deaths in India as well as the looming crisis in Brazil make a strong and an urgent case for developing countries to produce vaccines themselves.
“Many developing countries have the capacity and will be able to manufacture their own vaccines much more quickly, efficiently and much cheaper. South Africa in particular must be alive to the real risk of experiencing a third wave of Covid infections during winter,” he observed.
The Financial Times is reporting that South Africa has some of Africa’s most advanced vaccine knowhow, including Aspen, a Durban-based company. The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, also has vaccine-producing experience, making small quantities of yellow fever jabs each year.
That gives plenty of option for collaboration between India’s vast vaccine infrastructure and Africa’s significant capability to scale up the production of jabs on an international scale.
Quad-plus looks to rope in Bay of Bengal countries — home to about 1.4 billion people — much to Beijing’s dislike, writes Mahua Venkatesh
China’s attempt to bulldoze its influence in Bangladesh and Myanmar is raising an important question-should countries along the Bay of Bengal rim become part of an expanded Indo-Pacific Quad, which currently comprises India, Japan, Australia and the United States?
During the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the expansion of Quad to Quad-plus to include countries including South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand to promote Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is already on the radar. Should Bay of Bengal countries — home to about 1.4 billion people — also become part of the Quad-plus?
The Chinese are already alarmed at such a prospect. The chances are that Beijing’s pressure on countries such as Bangladesh is only going to mount. It is not inconceivable that the situation may reach an inflection point, forcing countries such as Bangladesh to make a geopolitical choice, as the scope for fence sitting may be drying up soon. Bangladesh already has a key strategic relationship with India, but given China’s growing heft and ambition, it may like to look at the Quad collective to ensure regional strategic balance.
Among the Quad, India has huge stakes in a friendly Bay of Bengal community, connected through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) framework. Earlier, the development of the northeast is crucial so that it does not become the recipient of cheap goods.
“Access to the Bay of Bengal and the rest of India with Bangladesh is also very essential for harnessing the unutilized economic capability in the northeastern states of India,” Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, distinguished fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation, earlier said.
Early signs of an upcoming geopolitical contest brewing in the Bay of Bengal rim are already visible. Last week, China sternly warned Bangladesh not to flirt with the Quad. “Bilateral relations with Bangladesh would be substantially damaged if it joins hand with [Quad] initiatives,” Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said during a media event.
A proud Bangladesh lodged a strong protest, unveiling the new frictions that are developing in ties between Dhaka and Beijing. “It’s very regrettable,” Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said, in response to the Chinese envoy’s remarks. He added: “We’re an independent and sovereign state. We decide our [own] foreign policy. But yes, any country can uphold its position.”
Myanmar may become another battleground between China and the Quad, if the ongoing civil war in the country is not arrested soon, through a dialogue between the military and the civilian stakeholders. Anti-China sentiment in Myanmar is growing as is evident from the attacks on Chinese factories in the country. Myanmar military’s use of CH-3A Chinese drones to counter protests which are threatening to mutate into an armed struggle has futher hardened anti-China sentiments, which may open the door for a counterforce to emerge.
Two experts India Narrative spoke to said that the success of the Quad would largely be determined by the co-operation and foreign policies of the countries dotting the Bay of Bengal region.
“There is no way countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and others can be left out even as Quad becomes the epicentre of activities. The inclusion and co-operation of these countries are absolutely necessary and this must be kept in mind,” an analyst said.
A recent study by the US based East West Center noted that despite several contradictory challenges to the region, “the need for a Bay of Bengal community will only further grow.”
Due to its strategic, integrated location, historically the Bay has been a connector for the diverse peoples of South and Southeast Asia via trade and cultural interactions, it added. In fact land-locked countries such as Nepal and Bhutan too depend on the Bay of Bengal for trade. Several transboundary rivers flowing across offer the necessary connectivity to these Himalayan nations.
Highlighting that after decades of neglect, the Bay of Bengal is reassuming strategic and economic salience, the study said that the region, if reconnected, could help address common economic, ecological, and security challenges.
“Today, the Bay of Bengal can be seen as a crucial part of the Indian Ocean with growing strategic interest and importance to global actors,” it said.
Mozambique has 3,000 Indian nationals, representing various Indian companies or working as professionals in Mozambican companies. Besides, there is 20000 strong Indian diaspora population tracing is roots to Gujarat, Goa, Daman& Diu, reports Atul Aneja
India and France with backup support from Japan and the United States — key members of the Indo-Pacific QUAD, which also includes Australia — may need to focus on Mozambique to counter the deadly Islamic State terror group.
Alarming reports are emerging about the rise of the Islamic State (IS) in Mozambique, a country with vast natural resources. Specifically, the IS appears to be eyeing Mozambique’s energy reserves, including oil and gas, to fuel a prolonged conflict, if not emergence of a new Caliphate in Africa.
The IS has already acquired considerable experience in Syria of taking over oil wells and fuelling its operations by selling energy through grey-zone channels. After its displacement from West Asia, the IS can now leverage that experience, and knowledge of underground networks to monetise illegal sales, in its new geographical setting.
The IS was essentially thrown out of Syria and Iraq. Consequently, it has discovered new safe havens in parts of Afghanistan, Central Asia and Africa, including Mozambique.
The IS has been digging in, in the impoverished Cabo Delgado region in the northern part of Mozambique. In March, it overran the resort town of Palma, not far from an energy project run by Total, the French energy major.
In an opinion article in The Hill, Kelly Alkhouli a political consultant at the Center of Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA), points out that apart from energy, the Cabo Delgado area is a significant trafficking route for ivory, timber, rubies, arms and, most importantly, heroin.
Heroin, he says, is largely produced in Afghanistan and then trafficked into Iran and Pakistan; from there it follows various routes to the international market.
Over the past three decades, northern Mozambique has become increasingly significant in the southern trafficking route, where heroin produced in Afghanistan and into Iran and Pakistan is then transported to South Africa and shipped off to Europe.
According to a recent study, roughly USD 600 million to USD 800 million worth of heroin is trafficked through northern Mozambique, says the report.
Where does India fit into the picture and what is its interest in denting the IS’s hold in the country?
The marginalisation of the IS in Mozambique is important to India for several reasons. For instance, Mozambique has 3,000 Indian nationals, representing various Indian companies or working as professionals in Mozambican companies. Besides, there is 20000 strong Indian diaspora population tracing is roots to Gujarat, Goa, Daman& Diu. This Indian-origin community is mostly engaged in wholesale and retail trade in Mozambique, according to an Indian embassy posting.
Second, India has invested billions of dollars in Mozambique, but these investments are now being endangered by the IS forays. India’s ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) and Oil India Ltd. (OIL) have invested heavily in the $24.1 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on the Afungi peninsula in Mozambique, which was being led by French energy titan Total SE. The project is meant to yield 12.88 million tonnes of LNG per annum. But following the IS attack in March in the Cabo Delgado region, Total has pulled out of the Afungi project.
Further entrenchment of the IS in Cabo Delgado would also mean that the terror group could permeate its influence in neighbouring Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa, along the Indian Ocean coastline.
With the IS impinging significantly on Indian interests, as well as that of the France, certain contingency plans may have to be drawn. But Kelly Alkhouli in his article in The Hill advises against any form of direct military action by foreign powers in Mozambique. “A foreign military intervention should be avoided at all cost; it would only be an expensive advertisement for global jihad in southern Africa,” he observes.
Instead, he suggests that certain countries with experience in combating terrorism could provide substantive support by training Mozambican forces on the ground and increasing security cooperation with Mozambique, especially along the Tanzanian border.
Analysts say that in order to impose psychological pressure on IS, without arming it with any propaganda mileage, India can team up with France and two other QUAD members, Japan and the United States, to locally train and provide backup support to the Mozambican forces. France, Japan and the United States all have military bases in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. France can also provide assistance to Mozambique from its territories of and La Réunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.
(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Since World War II, Kiribati has allied with western powers, but this has been challenged by a rising China, which is expanding its geopolitical footprint around key pivots in the oceanic as well as continental domains, reports Atul Aneja
China is planning to revamp a remote but strategically located airstrip on a remote island in Kiribati, a move that has jolted two key countries belonging to the Indo-Pacific QUAD, the US and Australia.
The Chinese are eying a World War-II vintage military airstrip, which is 3,000 km southwest of Hawaii. It is also not far from busy commercial shipping lanes running from the US to Australia and New Zealand. In a paper written last year, The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) sounded the alarm. “During World War II, Japan’s attempts to block the same lanes were defeated, starting with the Battle of the Coral Sea and then the taking of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands. Today, China is moving to achieve control over the vital trans-Pacific sea lines of communication under the guise of assisting with economic development and climate-change adaptation,” the ASPI paper observed.
The Chinese moves are part of its plan at global assertion, including the Indo-Pacific region, with the QUAD, comprising India, Japan, Australia and the US as the spearhead.
Reuters is reporting that China’s plans, which have not been made public so far, involve construction on the tiny island of Kanton (also spelled Canton), a coral atoll strategically located midway between Asia and the Americas.
The airstrip is also not far from busy commercial shipping lanes running from the US to-Australia and New Zealand.
The report quoted Kiribati opposition lawmaker Tessie Lambourne as saying that she was concerned about the project, and wanted to know whether it was part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Kiribati lawmaker was referring to China’s trans-continental connectivity initiative which included the ever-evolving Maritime Silk Road, with radials heading the direction of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
“The government hasn’t shared the cost and other details other than it’s a feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the runway and bridge,” Lambourne said. “The opposition will be seeking more information from the government in due course.”
The Chinese have apparently planned their inroads in Kiribati, by cultivating incumbent President Taneti Maamau.
This is not surprising, given Kiribati’s unique geographic location. Despite its small size, Kiribati has only 120,000 residents, the archipelago has compelling strategic attributes. Specifically, it controls one of the biggest exclusive economic zones in the world, spanning more than 3.5 million square kilometres of the Pacific.
Since World War II, Kiribati has allied with western powers, but this has been challenged by a rising China, which is expanding its geopolitical footprint around key pivots in the oceanic as well as continental domains.
“The island would be a fixed aircraft carrier,” Reuters quoted one unnamed adviser to Pacific governments.
Kiribati’s pro-China turnaround became evident in 2019, when it terminated its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Instead, it recognised China under Maamau, who had earlier narrowly won an election on a pro-Beijing ticket.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (IANS)
China’s growing influence has been a military setback for the US, which was using Kanton to track missiles and using its two-kilometre-long runway for flying long-range bombers.
Analysts point out that Kiribati was the second domino to fall after China began to cherry pick locations across the globe, which it could manoeuvre to expand its international reach.
In September 2019, the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, had also switched diplomatic allegiance from Taiwan to China.
China’s moves in the Pacific islands signal that the Indo-Pacific is likely to emerge as a prime area of geopolitical frictions, which are likely to test the resolve of the QUAD.
Developing bioweapons?
The May 7 article in The Australian newspaper revealing that bioweapons were on the radar of Chinese academics and military scientists since 2015 has triggered a legitimate demand for sanctioning Chinas science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) researchers.
The daily brought into global spotlight the existence of a Chinese military paper that discusses the potential of bioweapons based on SARS coronaviruses. Covid-19 is also a mutant of SARS coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. The findings by the Australian have reopened the debate about the origins of Covid-19, driving holes in the theory that a wet market in Wuhan, a stone’s throw from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, was the ground zero from where Covid-19 radiated across the globe. Reuters is reporting that the virus has already killed nearly 6.9 million people across the world– more than double the number officially recorded, according to an estimate by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
J-20 at Airshow China 2016
The Chinese military paper titled Unnatural Origin of SARS and New Species of Man-Made Viruses as Genetic Bioweapons, points out that World War III, if it materialises, will be decided by new age biological weapons. They argue that the future of warfare is biological weapons, signalling that it was therefore necessary for China to develop these weapons of mass destruction. They predict that a “new era of genetic weapons” that can be “artificially manipulated into an emerging human �disease virus, then weaponised and unleashed in a way never seen before,” is on the horizon.
The authenticity of the 263-page Chinese military paper, authored by 18 top experts, including those drawn from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has been established by digital forensics specialist Robert Potter. The US Department of Science got hold of the document May 2020, whose details will be published in an upcoming book, to be released in September, titled What Really Happened in Wuhan, authored by Sharri Markson.
The Chinese paper asserts that the new means of delivering bioweapons have been developed. “For example, the new-found ability to freeze-dry micro-organisms has made it possible to store biological agents and aeresolise them during attacks.”
The document points out that impact of a bioweapon attack will be overwhelming. It says that a sudden flood of patients into hospitals during a biological weapons attack “could cause the enemy’s medical system to collapse”.
It further examines the ideal conditions for delivering a bioweapon attack. “Bioweapon attacks are best conducted during dawn, dusk, night or cloudy weather because intense sunlight can damage the pathogens,” according to the document. “Biological agents should be released during dry weather. Rain or snow can cause the aerosol particles to precipitate. A stable wind direction is desirable so that the aerosol can float into the target area.”
An opinion article in Epoch Times authored by Ander Corr, Publisher of the Journal of Political Risk spotlights that turn to bioweapons would be a logical extension of China’s track record.
“The document is consistent with significant prior evidence of offensive Chinese biowarfare research that can access technologies such as gene-editing and viral “gain-of-function” (GOF) processes. Chinese military researchers have also shown an interest in bioweapon genetic targeting,” says the article.
The writeup goes on to explain that gene-editing, such as CRISPR technology, could target “specific ethnicity”. facilitate such targeting. “GOF produces new viruses that are more transmissible and lethal than their progenitors, for example, use of an avian influenza virus to evolve, in the lab, a virus that can infect humans. If China can put these technologies together, and has the will to do so, it could design a killer virus that only infects a particular race that China considers to be an enemy.”
For years, China has been suspected of developing bioweapons. In June last year, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) expressed concern that China was violating the Biological [and Toxin] Weapons Convention (BWC or BTWC) of 1984 by researching dual-use technologies. That suspicion of engaging in dual use technology can be traced to 2005, when DoS alleged that “China maintains some elements of an offensive [biological weapons] capability in violation of its BTWC obligations.” The DoS has consistently echoed this theme in subsequent years.
In arguing for sanctioning China’s STEM researchers, analysts point out that the Beijing can benefit from western research, and use it for developing bioweapons.
“Chinese military researchers have closely examined American initiatives and international advancements, which have seemed to inform and inspire the direction of developments underway in China today,” says Elsa Kania at the Center for a New American Security, and consultant Wilson VornDick, as quoted in the Epoch Times article. “So too, at a time when Chinese universities and enterprises are pursuing investment and expanding global research collaborations in such fields, it is important that their foreign partners remain cognizant of the interests and involvements of their counterparts. For instance, although biomedical research involves numerous promising applications in medicine and therapeutics, there are also reasons for concern about some of the ethical and security externalities of these research engagements.”
Momen made the remarks while speaking at state guesthouse Padma on Tuesday, a day after Jiming said any sort of participation in the Quad alliance would “substantially damage” bilateral relations with China….reports Sumi Khan
A day after China warned Bangladesh of grave consequences if the latter joined any initiatives under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, A.K. Abdul Momen, said on Tuesday that the country will take a decision based on a neutral and balanced foreign policy.
On Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Li Jiming, was quoted as saying: “Bilateral relations with Bangladesh would be substantially damaged if it joins hand with [Quad] initiatives.”
“We’ll decide what to do or what not to do for the betterment of the people of this country. And we’ll decide it based on our principled position,” Momen said.
“They can say whatever they want. He (Li Jiming) represents a country in Bangladesh… may be they don’t want it, and so they will naturally say this. The organisation he speaks of has shown no interest in us, so the statement was presumptuous.”
XI CHINA
Momen made the remarks while speaking at state guesthouse Padma on Tuesday, a day after Jiming said any sort of participation in the Quad alliance would “substantially damage” bilateral relations with China.
Quad is a “small group of elites” working against China, Jiming said at an event organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh, on Monday.
Jiming also said, “Obviously, it will not be a good idea for Bangladesh to participate in this small club of four because it will substantially damage our bilateral relationship.”
Responding Jiming’s remarks, Momen said, “This is a matter of the interest of our country. We do things we need to for the welfare of the nation. You have seen the Prime Minister, we maintain a non-aligned and balanced foreign policy, and we will continue to do the same.”
“We are an independent and sovereign state. We determine our foreign policy. But yes, any country can present its view. We will take that into account with due respect,” he added.
First established in 2007, Quad is an informal strategic dialogue established between the US, Japan, Australia and India. The initiative is widely regarded as a response to the growing economic and military power of China.
Momen said the organisation mentioned by the Chinese envoy has not told them anything yet.
“That’s why I think he (the ambassador) has said taken things a little further. We have no special statement to make about this,” he said.
India has deployed its advanced stealth frigate INS Satpura and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, along with P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, reports Asian Lite News
India and the three other Quad countries kicked off a major naval exercise with France in the Bay of Bengal, underlining the growing strategic congruence in ensuring a secure and stable Indo-Pacific in face of China’s belligerence in the region.
India deployed its advanced stealth frigate INS Satpura and anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, along with P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, for the three-day “La Pérouse” exercise led by France.
Meanwhile, an influential American lawmaker Brad Sherman applauded the beginning of the exercise and said that the war games will advance US-India defence relationship, particularly in support of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
India and three other Quad member nations — the US, Australia and Japan joined France in kick-starting a three-day naval wargame in the eastern Indian Ocean in reflection of their growing maritime cooperation amid China’s growing efforts to expand influence in the region.
“Great to see the US and India participating in the Quad France naval exercise beginning today in the Bay of Bengal,” Congressman Sherman said in a tweet.
Sherman is the co-chair of the India Caucus in the US House of Representatives. Congressman Steve Chabot is the other co-chair.
The Indian Navy ships and aircraft will exercise at sea with ships and aircraft of the French Navy (FN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and the United States Navy (USN) during the three-day exercise at sea, it said.
The exercise La Pérouse, led by the French Navy, has participation by FN Ships Tonnerre, an amphibious assault ship and frigate Surcouf. United States Navy is represented in the exercise by amphibious transport dock ship Somerset.
Her Majesty’s Australian Ships (HMAS) Anzac, a frigate and tanker Sirius have been deployed by RAN for participation in the exercise while Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) is represented by the destroyer Akebono. In addition to the ships, integral helicopters embarked onboard ships will also participate in the exercise.
Exercise La Pérouse will witness complex and advanced naval operations including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air defence exercises, weapon firing exercises, cross deck flying operations, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea.
The exercise will showcase high levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the friendly navies. Participation by the Indian Navy in the exercise demonstrates the shared values with friendly navies ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.
This came a day after Russia said it attached great importance on “rejection of confrontation and bloc-type approaches”, thought to be a reference to Quad and the Indo-Pacific initiative, both of which it views as “divisive” and aimed at containing China.
