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For India, Trump win may pave way for FTA talks

The US is India’s largest trading partner and the bilateral trade between the two nations stood at $128.78 billion in 2023

Donald Trump’s re-election as the 47th President of the US has raised expectations about the resumption of some partnerships which were paused during President Joe Biden’s term. This includes the possibility of an India-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

“President Trump’s comeback to power could lead to India-US FTA negotiations (which made no headway during President Biden’s tenure) which will provide both sides with greater market access,” former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

The US is India’s largest trading partner and the bilateral trade between the two nations stood at $128.78 billion in 2023 compared to $119.48 billion in 2022.

“India has successfully engaged with President Trump in the past and there is a good equation between PM Modi and President Trump. Trump is in favour of ending the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. This also ties in with our own desire to see an end to this era of conflicts and PM Modi’s efforts in this endeavour,” Shringla added.

Indians legally living in the US are optimistic that their visa issues will be dealt with more fairness now.

India is expected to be a key partner of the US like it was during the previous Trump government. “In the long term, India’s relationship with the US will flourish. If you recall the Indo-Pacific strategy, India played a significant role during the time of the Republican government. The Quad too will be strengthened further,” Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Ambassador to the US said.

“We are optimistic that the US will support India in its voice against terrorism and increasing radicalisation. The naming of India in human rights reports is likely to be reduced. Also, President Trump a week before the elections had talked about the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh so there is likely to be some semblance of peace around India’s borders,” said an expert on India-US relations, adding that India is hopeful that the situation in Bangladesh will be re-assessed by the US.”

Despite the recent thaw in relations due to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) patrolling agreement, India and China still have miles to go before restoring mutual trust and normalcy at their militarised boundary. New Delhi, therefore, cannot afford to let its guard down, and the likelihood of President Trump being tougher on China than his predecessor, Joe Biden, could play out in its favour.

However, there are some important caveats to consider. Back when Biden was still in the race, Chinese experts had publicly stated that whoever the winner would be, both candidates — Trump or Biden — were “poison” for China, writes Yun Sun, a senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia Program and director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, in her piece for American think tank Brookings. Given that a Harris victory was widely considered to mean a continuation of Biden’s policies, the same could have been said of her impact on China too, had she won.

According to Yun, Chinese experts were of the view that while a second Biden term might have brought more stability to bilateral relations, his “competition strategy” had been “quite effective economically and diplomatically” against China.

In comparison, while they saw Trump’s position on US alliances and partnerships as serving China’s strategic agenda in the long run, in the short term, they were of the opinion that Trump’s “unpredictability and his use of maximum pressure” would put China in an “extremely difficult” position. Trump, thus, was viewed as “the less desirable option from China’s perspective”.

No US President before Trump had explicitly framed China as a strategic threat and rival. His actions were seen as a departure from decades of US policy ambiguity when it came to restraining Beijing’s rise. Notably for New Delhi, the Quad grouping, which comprises the US, India, Japan, and Australia, and aims to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, was revived when Trump was in office in 2017. However, it should also be noted that Biden elevated the Quad to a leaders’ level format.

The US-India Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership, driven and bolstered in recent times by mutual concerns over an increasingly assertive China, enjoys bipartisan support in the US. Experts and media commentary thus do not foresee a departure from its current trajectory in the foreseeable future. The growing defence ties under this partnership are also unlikely to be affected by Trump’s victory.

The mainstream of the US’ foreign policy establishment views Trump as a “dangerous neo-isolationist”, and there are fears that his second term could see him “dismantle the liberal order” that the US and its allies have built and defended since World War II, writes Charles Kupchan, professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, in his piece for the Foreign Affairs magazine.

ALSO READ: Trump Vows Deeper Ties with India

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B-52 Bombers, Missile Destroyers: Pentagon Orders New Middle East Deployments

The forces will begin to arrive in the region in the coming months to replace the departing USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, reports Asian Lite News

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defence destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several B-52 long-range strike bombers to the Middle East region.

Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement on Friday that the deployments are in line with the US’ commitments to the protection of its citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defence of Israel, and de-escalation through “deterrence and diplomacy”.

The forces will begin to arrive in the region in the coming months to replace the departing USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, he said.

“These deployments build on the recent decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system to Israel as well as DoD (Department of Defense)’s sustained Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) posture in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said, adding that these movements demonstrate the “flexible nature of US global defence posture and US capability to deploy world-wide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats”.

The Pentagon Press Secretary said that Defence Secretary Austin “continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people”.

ALSO READ: US Unveils $425M Military Aid For Ukraine

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Philippines, US conduct search, rescue exercises in SCS

The bilateral exercise included defence personnel from the US and Philippines naval vessels…reports Asian Lite News

The US Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday conducted a bilateral search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea, a statement by US Indo-Pacific Command said.

In a post on ‘X’ the US Indo-Pacific Command “@USCGPACAREA conducts a search and rescue exercise alongside @coastguardph, strengthening relationships and exchanging tactics that maintain peace in the #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific. @USCG | @USCGHawaiiPac | @uscgfmsg.”

The bilateral exercise included defence personnel from the US and Philippines naval vessels namely the US Coast Guard Legend-class vessel USCGC Waesche and the Philippine Coast Guard Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel BRP Melchora Aquino.

The commanding officer of Waesche Captin Tyson Scofield, “It was an honour to train with our partners in the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure that we are always ready to respond to save lives on the high seas. We look forward to fostering our relationship as we strive to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. Sharing lessons learned and best practices through person-to-person exercises is the best way to improve our ability to operate together on the unforgiving ocean”, the US Indo-Pacific Command.

The commanding officers of U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class cutter USCGC Waesche and the Philippine Coast Guard Teresa Magbanua-class patrol vessel BRP Melchora Aquino participated in joint training scenarios which included training related to joint sailing by conducting search and rescue (SAR), personnel transfer evolutions, and bilateral sailing.

According to the same statement by the Indo-Pacific Command Waesche is a vessel assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (ANI)

ALSO READ: US, Japan, S. Korea vow to boost ties amid rising security risks

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US, South Korea sign nuclear guideline strategy

The guideline formalizes the deployment of US nuclear assets on and around the Korean peninsula to deter and respond to potential nuclear attacks…reports Asian Lite News

The US commitment to deterrence against North Korea is backed by the full range of US capabilities, including nuclear, US President Joe Biden told South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a meeting on Thursday on the sidelines of a NATO summit.

The two leaders also authorized a guideline on establishing an integrated system of extended deterrence for the Korean peninsula to counter nuclear and military threats from North Korea, Yoon’s office said.

The guideline formalizes the deployment of US nuclear assets on and around the Korean peninsula to deter and respond to potential nuclear attacks by the North, Yoon’s deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo told a briefing in Washington.

“It means US nuclear weapons are specifically being assigned to missions on the Korean Peninsula,” Kim said.

Earlier Biden and Yoon issued a joint statement announcing the signing of the Guidelines for Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Operations on the Korean Peninsula.

“The Presidents reaffirmed their commitments in the US-ROK Washington Declaration and highlighted that any nuclear attack by the DPRK against the ROK will be met with a swift, overwhelming and decisive response,” it said.

DPRK is short for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. ROK refers to South Korea’s formal name, the Republic of Korea.

Cheong Seong-Chang, a security strategy expert at the Sejong Institute and a strong advocate of South Korea’s own nuclear armament, said the new nuclear guideline is a significant progress that fundamentally changes the way the allies will respond to a nuclear threat from North Korea.

“The problem is, the only thing that will give South Korea full confidence is a promise from the US of an immediate nuclear retaliation in the event of nuclear use by the North, but that is simply impossible,” Cheong said.

“That is the inherent limitation of nuclear deterrence,” he said, adding whether the nuclear guideline will survive a change in US administration is also questionable.

Yoon’s office said the guideline itself is classified.

North Korea has openly advanced its nuclear weapons policy by codifying their use in the event of perceived threat against its territory and enshrining the advancement of nuclear weapons capability in the constitution last year.

Earlier this year, it designated South Korea as its “primary foe” and vowed to annihilate its neighbor for colluding with the United States to wage war against it, in a dramatic reversal of peace overtures they made in 2018.

Both Seoul and Washington deny any aggressive intent against Pyongyang but say they are fully prepared to counter any aggression by the North and have stepped up joint military drills in recent months.

Yoon reaffirmed South Korea’s support for Ukraine, pledging to double its contribution to a NATO trust fund from the $12 million it provided in 2024, his office said. The fund enables short-term non-lethal military assistance and long-term capability-building support, NATO says.

It made no mention of any direct military support for Ukraine. Yoon’s office has said it was considering weapons supply for Kyiv, reversing its earlier policy of limiting its assistance to humanitarian in nature.

ALSO READ: Biden campaign quietly tests Harris vs. Trump in voter survey

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Britain, US, Canada accuse Russia of plot to sway Moldova election

Russia flag(twitter)

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment…reports Asian Lite News

The United States, Britain and Canada accused Russia on Thursday of carrying out a plot to sway the outcome of the Moldovan presidential election in October and incite protests if a pro-Moscow candidate should lose.

Russia is working to exacerbate societal tensions and foment negative perceptions of the West and the incumbent team of Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu through disinformation and online propaganda, they said in a statement issued by the State Department in Washington.

“We are taking this step to warn our democratic partners and allies that Russian actors are carrying out a plot to influence the outcomes of Moldova’s fall 2024 presidential election,” they said.

The plot, they said, is part of wider attempts by Moscow to subvert democratic elections to “secure results favorable to the Kremlin.”

The threat is especially relevant this year as hundreds of million of voters in Europe and North America cast ballots in national, regional and local elections, the statement said.

The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said on social media platform X that he was grateful for support from the three allies and vowed that the “Kremlin’s attempts to undermine our sovereignty and incite unrest will not succeed.”

Moldova, a former Soviet republic of 2.5 million people, has fiercely condemned Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, accused Moscow of plotting the Moldovan government’s overthrow and expelled Russian diplomats.

Russia, the allies said, is backing presidential candidates in Moldova and unidentified pro-Russia actors are “actively using disinformation and propaganda online, on the air and on the streets to further their objectives.”

These actors are fanning criticism of Sandu and her Party of Action and Solidarity to incite protests and plan to spread lies about her character and “supposed electoral irregularities.”

The allies issued the statement a day after the United States imposed sanctions on Evgenia Gutul, the pro-Russia governor of Moldova’s Gagauzia region.

Gutul faces criminal allegations of channelling funds from Russia to finance the now-banned Shor Party set up by Ilan Shor, an exiled pro-Russia businessman convicted of fraud in Moldova.

She denies the allegations as fabricated.

During a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Chisinau last month, Sandu accused the Kremlin of using criminal groups in Gagauzia to bring in Russian money to finance de-stabilizing activities and attempts “to bribe the elections.”

In the joint statement, the allies said they shared Sandu’s concerns that the Kremlin is using criminal groups to finance political activities.

Moscow’s political interference, they said, dates back years, and they cited as an example “direct support” that employees of Russia’s state-funded RT media network have provided to Shor.

ALSO READ-Moldova turns to Russia to seek extradition of convicted politician

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US ‘Doubling Down’ On Boosting Trade With India

Washington, D.C., June 23 (ANI): United States President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchange greetings during a meeting with American and Indian Business leaders, at the White House, in Washington, D.C. on Friday. (ANI Photo)

“India has become an even more critical partner for the US,” according to a senior US trade official.

 India has emerged as a “critical partner” for the US which is “doubling down” on it for trade and working on further boosting economic ties, according to a senior US trade official.

Assistant Commerce Secretary Arun Venkataraman said, “I genuinely believe that this is very much a heyday of this bilateral economic relationship” between India and the US.

“We are doubling down on India and finding more ways to collaborate and grow that economic integration,” he told reporters on Thursday ahead of the World Trade Week in New York.

India “has become an even more critical partner for the US,” he said.

“We are amazed by the incredible deepening of the collaboration that’s happened in the last few years with India.”

According to the US International Trade Administration, total trade in goods and services between India and the US topped $191 billion in 2022, almost doubling from 2014.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) from the US reached $103 billion during the 2022-23 fiscal year, while Indian FDI flows to the US reached $14.4 billion in 2021 providing for more than 72,000 US jobs.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal exchanges greetings with the United States (US) Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo at a joint press conference, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo)

Asked by a reporter if the US would consider a free trade agreement with India, Venkataraman did not directly address the possibility, instead pointing to India’s participation with the US and 12 other countries in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) launched in 2022.

“Free trade agreements are a fantastic tool and can be very effective, but I think we should also remember the free trade agreements are only one tool in the toolkit,” he said.

Right now, he said that the IPEF “is addressing key elements that you don’t find in free trade agreements, addressing the urgencies of the day”.

“We’re focused on getting that (IPEF) implemented” and making sure “that we avoid some of the vulnerabilities that we all learned during the pandemic,” he added.

While most of the attention to keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open has been focused on strategic issues, Venkataraman emphasised the critical role of the IPEF.

“We are proud of the fact that in short order we have managed collectively, with Japan’s help and all of our Indo-Pacific partners, to be in a position to move aggressively towards implementing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework,” he said.

The IPEF has made headway in one key aspect, making the supply chain resilient, he added.

The IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement came into force in February and “we will soon be setting up the institutions to operationalise” it, he said.

It “is really going to be critical to mitigating supply chain disruptions going forward and helping make our economies collectively more resilient to the threats that could occur from supply chain disruptions,” Venkataraman added.

He said that substantial progress has been made in negotiations on two other elements of the IPEF, ensuring a clean and fair economy.

These are aimed at “ensuring a transparent environment free of corruption” and efficient tax administration, he added.

At the first IPEF ministerial meeting in Singapore in June, there will also be a “clean investor forum” bringing together entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government agencies, and others to strategise on increasing investment in sustainable infrastructure, he said.

The Tamil Nadu-born Venkataraman holds the Global Markets portfolio in the Commerce Department in addition to being the Director-General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service.

ALSO READ: US Denies Meddling in Indian Elections

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US, Philippines start drills in SCS

The U.S. military’s deployment of a missile system adds a new dimension, drawing attention to the exercise’s broader geopolitical implications…reports Asian Lite News

In the Philippines, nearly 17,000 Filipino and American troops commenced a three-week joint combat training exercise, including maritime drills in the contentious South China Sea. The involvement of France and Australia, bolstering defence ties with Manila amidst China’s assertiveness, underscores the strategic importance of the region.

Notably, this year’s Balikatan exercises mark a departure from tradition, with allies sailing beyond the Philippines’ baseline off western Palawan, challenging territorial boundaries in the South China Sea, according to Reuters report.

The U.S. military’s deployment of a missile system adds a new dimension, drawing attention to the exercise’s broader geopolitical implications.

While Philippine military officials emphasize the drills’ logistical nature, retired PLA researcher Cao Weidong interprets them as a signal of strategic intent, prompting considerations of potential responses from China. Maritime encounters between the Philippines and China underscore the tensions underlying the exercises, though officials stress their defensive nature.

Simulated scenarios, including sinking an “enemy ship” and retaking Philippine islands, demonstrate the exercise’s scope, aiming to enhance military interoperability and readiness. The involvement of air and missile defense systems underscores the exercise’s complexity and strategic relevance.

U.S. Lt. Gen. William Jurney emphasizes the exercises’ adherence to international law and norms, rejecting the notion of aggression. However, Beijing perceives them as provocative, exacerbating regional tensions and challenging its maritime claims.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling against China’s claims adds legal weight to the Philippines’ position, but China’s military build-up in the region continues unabated. As joint exercises simulate scenarios near Taiwan and in the South China Sea, they serve as a display of military prowess and a reaffirmation of commitment to regional stability.

Overall, the Balikatan exercises reflect the intricate dynamics of the South China Sea dispute, balancing military deterrence with diplomatic maneuvering amidst growing assertiveness from Beijing.

ALSO READ-US, Japan, Philippines, rebuke China over South China Sea moves

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Philippines, US, Japan and Australia to hold joint drills in SCS

Set to be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive territorial claims, the exercises signify a unified response to regional security challenges…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia, are all set to conduct joint naval drills, reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen military alliances and counterbalance China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Set to be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive territorial claims, the exercises signify a unified response to regional security challenges.

This collaborative effort comes just ahead of the inaugural trilateral summit involving US President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, demonstrating a collective commitment to addressing shared concerns.

The significance of these drills lies not only in their timing but also in their symbolism. They serve as a visible manifestation of the growing cooperation among these nations and their resolve to uphold maritime security and stability.

While tensions in the region have escalated due to China’s assertiveness, particularly in disputed waters claimed by the Philippines, Japan, and others, this joint military exercise sends a clear message of deterrence and unity.

The Philippines’ strategic location and its status as a key ally of the United States in the region make it a focal point for regional security efforts. The visit of the Australian warship HMAS Warramunga to Palawan earlier in the week underscores the importance of enhancing military relations with partner nations.

These engagements not only bolster defense capabilities but also signal a commitment to upholding international norms and the rule of law in the face of growing challenges.

Furthermore, ongoing discussions between the Philippines and Japan regarding a defense pact that would enable troop deployments on each other’s territory highlight the evolving nature of security cooperation in the region.

With existing defense agreements in place with Australia and the United States, Manila is seeking to broaden its network of security partnerships to address emerging threats effectively.

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Europe and US need each other, says Stoltenberg  

Lacking air superiority and faced with formidable Russian defences, Ukraine’s counter-offensive ground to a halt last year and is now at risk of being outgunned on the front line in the east…reports Asian Lite News

Europe and the US need each other and are “stronger together”, the secretary-general of Nato has said. Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at a ceremony marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary.

While the US provided Europe with security, he said it also needed the militaries, intelligence and diplomatic leverage of its European allies.

“I don’t believe in America alone just as I don’t believe in Europe alone,” Stoltenberg said. “I believe in America and Europe together in Nato, because we are stronger and safer together.”

The Nato chief’s remarks came as the alliance considered a €100bn (£86bn) five-year fund to provide long-term military support for Ukraine, so aid to Kyiv is not jeopardised by political changes either in the US or other Nato states.

A US package worth $60bn (£47bn) has been stalled in Congress for months because of resistance from Republican lawmakers, as well as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has spoken of ending the war “in one day”.

During his speech, Stoltenberg said Nato must be “doing something right”, as it had grown from 12 countries at its inception to 32. Its newest members Sweden and Finland abandoned their neutrality and joined the alliance as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to the speech that relations between Russia and Nato had “slid to the level of direct confrontation” as the alliance was already “involved” in the conflict around Ukraine.

Although Nato is a defensive alliance Peskov alleged it “was conceived, configured, created and controlled by the US as a tool of confrontation” and was now a “destabilising element”.

The 32-member alliance has agreed to initiate planning for long-term military support for Ukraine.

Several countries have only backed the initiative in theory. Hungary, which has kept close ties with Russia, has warned it will not back “any Nato proposals proposals that might draw the alliance closer to war or shift it from a defensive to an offensive coalition”.

The Hungarian government has long sought to distance itself from international initiatives to fund Ukraine’s fight against Russia, and for a period blocked a EU plan to provide a €50bn (£43bn) aid package for Ukraine.

Stoltenberg acknowledged the framework of support was yet to be decided, but said Nato foreign ministers had agreed on the principle: “Make no mistake, Ukraine can rely on Nato support now and for the long haul.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters support for Ukraine within the alliance is “rock solid” and that he believes Ukraine will eventually become a member of Nato, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters at Nato headquarters that while he did not want to “spoil [Nato]’s birthday party”, his country needed help in improving its air defences – specifically Patriot missiles.

“Saving Ukrainian lives, saving the Ukrainian economy and saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems,” Kuleba said.

Lacking air superiority and faced with formidable Russian defences, Ukraine’s counter-offensive ground to a halt last year and is now at risk of being outgunned on the front line in the east.

The US has given Ukraine more financial aid than any other Nato state- more than $44bn (£34bn) since the 2022 invasion, according to the White House in December. However, its aid has now become caught up in a political row months before the presidential election.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has often criticised the level of spending. He has also long complained that the US has shouldered a greater financial burden than the rest of the alliance.

Fewer than two-thirds of Nato members are on course to reach their 2% funding goal.

Highlighting the importance of Nato’s European allies to the US, Stoltenberg noted it was America’s allies that came to its help after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. That was the only occasion that a key principle of the alliance has been invoked, in which an attack on one ally is seen as an attack on all.

Nato allies closest to Russia have stepped up efforts to boost their armed forces.

Norway is increasing its number of conscripted soldiers, while Denmark says it intends to extend conscription to women and increase the duration of service. Latvia and Sweden recently restarted military service, while Lithuania brought it back after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Norway is increasing the number of conscripted soldiers, while Denmark says it intends to extend conscription to women and increase the duration of service. Latvia and Sweden recently restarted military service, while Lithuania brought it back after Russ

ALSO READ-Cameron calls for increased NATO spending amid Ukraine conflict

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US, EU Sanctions Extend to China Firms Supporting Ukraine War

US-China flag

While primarily targeting Russians and Russian entities, US and EU sanctions also included mainland Chinese individuals and firms, including those in Hong Kong, for aiding the Russian military.

The sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union on Friday, against several people and companies for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine also included several companies from China, the Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Although most of the sanctions were against Russians and Russian firms, the US and EU measures also included Chinese individuals and companies based in mainland Chinese cities as well as Hong Kong for supplying the Russian military.

Moreover, they also included sanctions against Russian prison officials over the suspicious death of opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

Russia’s foreign ministry denounced the sanctions as “illegal” and said it would respond by banning some EU citizens who provided military assistance to Ukraine from entering Russia, according to VOA.

Chinese officials did not issue an immediate response to the sanctions.

However, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, commented on the expected sanctions on Tuesday at a regular briefing and said China follows an “objective and impartial position on the Ukraine crisis” and has “worked actively to promote peace talks.”

She further said that they “have not sat idly by, still less exploited the situation for selfish gains.”

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning (Screengrab from X)

Moreover, Ukrainian officials and media reports have also accused Chinese companies of supplying key electronics and dual-use technologies, including drone components, to Russia’s military since its invasion of Ukraine two years ago. However, Beijing has denied their claim, according to VOA.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen preempted Friday’s official announcement on social media, stating, “I welcome the agreement on our 13th sanctions package against Russia. We must keep degrading Putin’s war machine. With 2000 listings in total, we keep the pressure high on the Kremlin. We are also further cutting Russia’s access to drones.”

Reportedly, the sanctioned individuals and companies are banned from doing business with US or European firms.

However, legal and political analysts disagreed on the effectiveness of the sanctions.

Lawyer Mark Handley, a partner at the Philadelphia-headquartered law firm Duane Morris LLP, said being sanctioned will certainly affect their international business. “Things like international insurance companies or shipping could get very complicated once they are on the sanctions list.”

However, Pieter Cleppe, editor-in-chief for BrusselsReport.eu, told VOA, “Historical research has shown that sanctions mostly fail, especially when prolonged, as is the case with Russia. The targeted country learns to cope with them.”

He added, “While sanctions may impoverish ordinary Russians, they have failed to halt the Russian offensive, which should be the goal.”

The Yermak-McFaul International Working Group on Russian Sanctions and the Ukrainian think tank KSE Institute published a report in January, showing that sanctioned technology has still been reaching Russia’s military through third-country intermediaries, which the EU and the US hope the fresh measures will stop.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.(photo;twitter.com/vonderleyen)

Junhua Zhang, senior assistant researcher at the Brussels-based European Institute for Asian Studies, said the EU’s highest expectation “is for China to align with the EU in resisting Russia’s aggression, which is unrealistic. The EU’s minimum expectation is for Chinese companies not to work for Russia, but strictly speaking, only fools would have such an expectation.”

“Just consider (Chinese President) Xi Jinping sees Putin as his best friend, and those below him will act accordingly, a point that Europeans also recognize,” Zhang added, as reported by VOA.

However, others argued that sanctions on Chinese firms could push Beijing to reconsider.

Aliona Hlivco, a former Ukrainian lawmaker and managing director at the London-based think tank the Henry Jackson Society, said that sanctions against Chinese companies could prove useful in deterring Russia’s war on Ukraine.

“China is currently attempting to improve relations with the West, so reinforcing China’s compliance with international norms could be opportune,” Hlivco said.

It is pertinent to mention that the EU is China’s second-largest trading bloc partner after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In 2023, while Russia lost most of its European market owing to the sanctions, the bilateral trade between China and Russia hit a record high of USD 240 billion, a year-on-year increase of 26.3 per cent, VOA reported.

However, trade between the US and China in 2023 fell for the first time since 2019 by 11 per cent to USD 664 billion, according to customs data.

According to the Commerce Department, the US imported more goods from Mexico than China for the first time in 20 years. (ANI)