Newsletter 1 September

Sino-Indian Standoff: China will not be first to escalate China-India border Situation volatile near Pangong Tso Global Times Warned India to face adverse consequences. Defense Minister took a Brief of situation before leaving for Moscow

So far a sum of 6 statements have been issued from various sources from Beijing.

In a fresh statement “Chinese Embassy demands India withdraw troops who illegally trespass LAC”.

“Indian troops illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control near the south bank of Pangong Lake on Mon, destroying the previous consensus reached via different levels of bilateral talks, openly provoking and stirring tensions in the border area”, Counselor Ji Rong, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy to India, told media on Tue.

Global Times, (Chinese State Media), warned by quoting experts, that “Indian action this time will definitely escalate tensions, as China has been forced to be tough and would take action; otherwise the Indian provocation would be endless.”

Channels of dialogue open, China will not be first to escalate China-India border dispute: Wang Yi

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that China has always been committed to maintaining stability along the China-India border and will not be the first to complicate or escalate the situation.
China is ready to work with its neighbors to resolve issues left over from history through friendly consultation in the spirit of building friendship and partnership said Wang.
In another development, China’s Western Theatre Command said that Indian troops once again illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control near the south bank of the Pangong Lake and Reqin mountain pass on Mon, a blatant provocative move that seriously infringed on China’s territorial sovereignty, and undermined peace and stability in the China-India border area.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Mon said Chinese border troops have always strictly observed the Line of Actual Control and have never crossed the line. The border troops of the two countries have been in communication over territory issues.
“If both China and India can develop, the 2.7 billion people in the two countries will move towards modernization together, which will be a spectacular sight that is unprecedented in the cause of human progress. I hope India can see and deal with problems from that perspective,” Wang said.
“Modus vivendi with China is consequential for both India and China… If you have two countries rising, a billion people each, it is very important that they reach an understanding…”: EAM Jaishankar at an American think tank forum.

Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aggression in Pangong resumes, Indian Special Forces launch a counter

The failure of 3 months of military and diplomatic dialogue in persuading Beijing to withdraw its troops from Eastern Ladakh was underlined on Sun, when hundreds of soldiers of PLA crossed into the Indian side of the LAC south of Pangong Tso, occupied a mountain called Helmet Top and began building fortifications.
As Specialized elements of the Indian Army outflanks China on southern banks of Pangong Tso, PLA issues verbal warning
Despite the presence of cameras and surveillance equipment deployed by the PLA Army near the height close to Pangong Tso southern bank, the Indian Army troops managed to occupy it before PLA.
Sources said the cameras and surveillance equipment has been removed after the Indian side occupied the dormant height within its territory.
ANI said the Indian side has prepared very well for responding to the Chinese reaction in view of the action by own troops including a Special Operations unit and Sikh Light Infantry troops there.
The Indian side has also done heavy deployment of armored regiments including the BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles and different types of tanks flown in from armored divisions from the plains.
The preparation for the action had been done by the Indian Army recently as the heavy movement of logistics and equipment was done by the force.
One Indian Army jawans also lost his life in an anti-personnel mine explosion while patrolling in the area.
PLA’s Western Theatre Command issues statement accusing Indian Army of violating consensus reached at multi-level talks between the countries.
Indian Army is dominating at least 4 locations claimed by both sides near the southern bank of the Pangong Tso.

Control of heights

Elaborating on the Army statement, a source said after picking up intelligence about Chinese movement at around 11 pm on Sat to “capture fresh territory in the cover of darkness”, Indian troops moved in faster and occupied the heights that are claimed by both countries.
“The Chinese had planned to capture these heights, which would have given them an advantage. In such terrain, anyone who has the heights holds the upper hand.”
However, the PLA denied any such move, saying Chinese troops are taking necessary measures in response to Indian troops’ “provocations”, and will closely follow the situation and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, peace and stability at the border.
Government sources said the Army deployed troops in certain key areas, including Rezang La, and carried out reconnaissance of other important heights in the vicinity over the past several days.
With heights being dominated now, the Army has also moved in additional troops, who have been brought in from the reserve columns that were deployed in eastern Ladakh after the stand-off with China began in early May.
However, there was no physical clash between the two sides, reported.
PLA Western Theater command has warned Indian Armed Forces to withdraw from the recent heights immediately or situation will escalate.
Even though formal talks between the two sides have not made any headway since July, China continues with its massive military build-up along the LAC, which includes construction of new heliports and surface-to-air missiles sites.
However, India’s occupation of the Chushul heights the past weekend wasn’t truly a retaliatory intrusion into Chinese-held territory, but rather a preemptive move in territory it perceives as its own so as to gain a tactical advantage and forestall PLA from seizing the unoccupied heights.

At US-India dialogue in Oct, China and defense cooperation will be high on agenda

At US-India dialogue in Oct, China and defense cooperation will be high on agenda.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar says Washington and New Delhi are now thinking of how to ‘secure the world and make it a better place’
His comments come hours after Indian and Chinese militaries accuse each other of provocation on their disputed Himalayan border.
“These talks will cover many important things, from the intentions of China, air and defense missile systems, anti-submarine warfare, from the Indo-Pacific.
Broader cooperation could consist of talking about the Quad and expanding the Quad,” Roemer said, referring to an informal maritime security grouping between the US, India, Japan and Australia.
“A disjointed Indian intelligence system appears to have permitted China the crucial time window to initially move forces into the contested areas of Ladakh,” writes –Foreign Policy. [1]

US seeks formal alliance similar to NATO with India, Japan and Australia, State Department official says

Washington’s goal is to get countries in the Indo-Pacific region to work together as a bulwark against ‘a potential challenge from China’, says the US official
He says the four nations are expected to meet in Delhi sometime this autumn
Washington aims to formalize its closer Indo-Pacific defense relations with India, Japan and Australia – also known as “the quad” – into something more closely resembling the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a senior US State Department official said on Mon.
“The Indo-Pacific region is actually lacking in strong multilateral structures,” he said. “They don‘t have anything of the fortitude of NATO or the European Union.
The strongest institutions in Asia oftentimes are not, I think, not inclusive enough and so … there is certainly an invitation there at some point to formalize a structure like this.”
“Remember even Nato started with relatively modest expectations and a number of countries [initially] chose neutrality over Nato membership,” Biegun added.
Speaking with former US ambassador to India, Richard Verma, in an online discussion organized by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, Biegun also said the group of four nations were expected to meet in Delhi sometime this autumn and cited Australia’s possible participation in India’s Malabar naval exercise as an example of progress towards a more formal defense bloc.
The naval exercises, taking place mostly in the Bay of Bengal, have been run annually by the US and India since 1992, and have included Japan since 2015.
Australia had taken part in the Malabar games once, in 2007, “but Beijing pushed back, meaning that India demurred on repeating the invitation, ostensibly for fear of needlessly antagonizing China, despite Canberra’s clear willingness to take part,” the Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute said in a July report. Singapore also took part in 2007.
U.S. Secretary of State Dept, M Pompeo said “China is working to take down freedom all across the world”.

Former President, “Bharat Ratna’ Pranab Mukherjee laid to rest with full military honors. His last rites were performed at Lodhi crematorium today, under restrictions for COVID19. President, RN Kobind, PM Modi and other eminent leaders paid their tributes, at his home, 10 Rajaji Marg.

UNSC reform talks being ‘held hostage’: India

India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu, on Mon wrote a letter to President of the 74^th Session of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, expressing New Delhi’s strong disappointment over the decision regarding roll-over of the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN) on UNSC reforms into the next session of the General Assembly that begins this month.
The IGN on SC reform are being “held hostage” and used as a “convenient smokescreen” by countries that do not wish to see any changes in the most powerful UN organ, India has said, demanding tangible action to achieve the long-delayed reforms.
India also underlined that it will take steps to see how the goal can be realized in the next session of the UN General Assembly.
India has maintained that the roll-over decision must “capture clearly” the tangible progress made in the two IGN meetings held earlier this year.
# India underscored that one of the areas in which clear progress was made during the year was the increasing support among member states for the Common African Position as well as for the urgent need for transparency and application of the General Assembly’s rules of procedure to the IGN.
Naidu expressed India’s disappointment that the current draft roll-over text has fallen well short of capturing the progress in the two IGN meetings held this year, particularly in the areas of the growing support for the Common African Position and other important issues.
“However, strangely enough, instead of reflecting the views of ‘pro-Reformists’ like India and others, by putting a draft roll-over decision in this fashion, it is actually providing the ‘pro-Reformists’ with a Hobson’s choice. This is indeed unfortunate,” he said.
Naidu said not only are the discussions dubbed as informal, no attempt has been made to capture the discussions, ongoing since 2009, in a single consolidated text for negotiations.
“Consequently, there is a need to ensure that the IGN process is not held hostage, procedurally and substantially, by those who do not wish to bring about reform in the UNSC. If this happens, and there are indications that this is already happening, those who demand reform will be forced to look for other ways to achieve the same end outside the IGN process,” he said in the letter.
Naidu underscored India’s “abiding commitment” to reformed multilateralism, saying that to strengthen this in the UN, India will continue to voice its strong support for tangible action towards an expanded and reformed Security Council that reflects today’s world and realities”.
Muhammad-Bande had placed under silence procedure until the evening of Aug 31^st the draft decision entitled ‘Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the UNSC and other matters related to the UNSC, regarding the roll-over of the IGN into the 75^th Session of the UNGA that begins this month.
Naidu also wrote separately to Muhammad-Bande on behalf of the G4 group — Brazil, Germany, Japan and India — on the roll-over decision, raising similar concerns.
India will join the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for a two-year term beginning Jan 1^st, 2021.
India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the Council, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the century.
Naidu also highlighted that the Non-Aligned Movement comprising 120 member states expressed support at the highest level for the Common African Position.
Other key groupings such as the G4, L69 and the African Group have also expressed support for greater representation of Africa in a reformed and expanded SC.
Naidu said India is fully and unequivocally in support of greater African representation in the UN Security Council and will continue to be vocal in our support.

So far, over 12.5 lakh Domicile Certificates have been issued. These have been issued mostly to those who were erstwhile permanent residents or holders of Permanent Resident Certificates. Process will be further accelerated: Rohit Kansal, J&K Principal Secretary.

Suspicious Movement of persons detected along the LoC in Rampur Sector, Baramulla district

On Aug, 30^th Movement was from a village close to LoC & suspects had crossed into Indian Territory. Their move was kept under constant surveillance, said Chinar Corps, Indian Army
The area has villages ahead of Anti-infiltration fence. The modus operandi is to leave War Like Stores in caches along LoC; which is subsequently picked up by OGWs or terrorists for further transportation into hinterland to be used for terror activities.
These attempts expose the desperation of Pakistan based terror groups to infiltrate weapons into J&K, with active connivance of Pakistan Army.
Robust surveillance and LoC domination will continue to deny all such misadventures.
5 AK series rifles, 6 pistols, 23 grenades & more than 1200 rounds of ammunition recovered in Rampur sector along LoC.
Pak’s modus operandi is to dump weapons close to LoC, thereafter, they task OGWs to smuggle these weapons into Kashmir: said Virendra Vats, GOC, 19^th Division, Baramulla

JnK: Terror Hideout busted, a joint mission by Army & Police

Almost two weeks after a terror hideout was busted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian, another terror hideout has been busted by the joint efforts of Army and the JnK police in the remote forest area of Poonch.
The forces received an Intel input and the operation led to the recovery of ammunitions as well.
The material included two AK- 47 rifles and some incriminating material.
The materials recovered indicate that terrorists were in planning to carry out some activity in the area of Poonch.
During the last two months, almost 20 hideouts have been busted by JnK police and the Army.

Australia-India-Japan Ministers’ meeting on Supply Chains Resilience held

Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Mr Simon Birmingham, and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Kajiyama Hiroshi held a ministerial video-conference today.
Ministers reaffirmed their determination to take a lead in delivering a free, fair, inclusive, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment and in keeping their markets open.
In light of the COVID19 crisis and the recent global-scale changes in the economic and technological landscape, the Ministers underscored the necessity and potential to enhance the resiliency of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region: Ministry said.
Describing Australia, India and Japan as crucial players in the region, Shri Goyal said that during 2019, the cumulative GDP was $ 9.3 trillion while cumulative merchandise goods and services trade were $ 2.7 trillion and $0.9 trillion respectively.
“With such a strong baseline, it is important that we use this opportunity to work towards enhancing the share of our trade and investment in the region”, the Minister said.

Today, Delhi High Court grants bail to ‘Pinjra Tod’ member Devangana Kalita in connection with a case related to Delhi violence in February this year. She will be released on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount, to the satisfaction of Trial Court.

While, on Aug 29^th, Court Dismisses Bail Plea Of Pinjra Tod Member In Delhi Riots Case

The court said the statements of protected witnesses in the case reflected the role of many accused including Devangana Kalita in planning the activities at the anti-CAA protest sites as part of a “conspiracy” which led to the riots.

The Supreme Court on Tue granted 10-year time to telecom firms

Telecom firms like Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices for paying the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR)-related dues to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) with certain conditions.
The apex court said telecos should pay 10% of the AGR-related dues by Mar 31, 2021.
A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra held that the demand made by the DoT and the verdict delivered by the top court in the matter are final.
The bench asked the Managing Director (MDs) or Chief Executive Officer (CEOs) of telecos concerned to furnish undertaking or personal guarantee within 4 weeks for payment of dues.
It cautioned the telecom firms and said that failure to pay installments of AGR-related dues would incur penalty, interest and contempt of court.
The top court said that issue of sale of spectrum by telecos facing insolvency proceedings shall be decided by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

China Is Taking Advantage of India’s Intelligence Failures