Newsletter 23 October

Sino-Indian Standoff: India rejects China’s demand, but Talks on

War must be fought to deter invaders, Chinese nation will never cower before threats: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Chinese people will never sit idly by while China’s sovereignty, security and development interests are undermined, and if such situations occur, they will certainly deal with them head-on, reported by Chinese State Media, Global Times.
It is necessary to speak to invaders in the language they know: that is, a war must be fought to deter invasion, and violence must be met by violence, Xi said, adding that a victory is needed to win peace and respect.
Xi made the remarks at a meeting commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) army’s entry into the DPRK in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea in Beijing on Friday.
Xi said that China will never seek hegemony nor expansion, and is firmly opposed to hegemonism and power politics.
Xi said the Great War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea defied the invasion and expansion motives of imperialism and safeguarded the security of New China.
The war also safeguarded the peaceful life of the Chinese people, stabilized the situation on the Korean Peninsula and upheld peace in Asia and the world, Xi said.

India Rejected China’s demand, But Talks on

As India and China maintain stable but confrontational positions in eastern Ladakh, the external affairs ministry on Thu said that “the immediate task is to ensure a comprehensive disengagement of troops in all the friction areas”.
The two sides are reportedly engaged in high-level talks to resolve the stand-off. According to sources, China has been asking for a de-escalation of armored and artillery units before disengagement.
That is unacceptable to the Indian side because China has a much easier route to re-arm its troops, unlike India.
“India and China continue to have discussions through both diplomatic and military channels to peacefully resolve the issues along the LAC in India-China border areas. This is in keeping with the agreement reached between the two foreign ministers during their meeting in Moscow on Sept 10,” MEA at a media briefing.
MEA also referred to the last round of diplomatic parleys between India and China on Sept 30 and the 7^th round of military talks on Oct 12.

Total disengagement is top priority, says India

As India and China maintain stable but confrontational positions in Eastern Ladakh, MEA said on Thu that, “the immediate task is to ensure a comprehensive disengagement of troops in all the friction areas.”
The two sides are reportedly engaged in high-level talks to resolve the stand-off.

Chinese believe India has more than 14,000 BrahMos missiles?

How many BrahMos has been made are not confirmed by India but the Chinese think tank believes that more than 15,000 BrahMos missiles are built of which nearly 14,000 are in service with the Indian Armed Forces.
BrahMos is a medium-range, (500 km, weight ~2,500-3,000 kg and can fly to a low altitude of 3-4 m from sea level), ramjet engine, supersonic cruise missile. Its max speed is Mach 3 – 3.2.
This missile can be launched from Aircraft, Ships & Submarines, & also from land-based mobile launchers that are set up in Tata motors heavy mobility trucks.

Navy demonstrated combat readiness; releases video of missile

In a demonstration of its combat readiness in strategic sea lanes around India, the Indian Navy on Fri released a video of an anti-ship missile destroying a sinking ship with “deadly accuracy” at its maximum range, somewhere in the Arabian Sea. The missile was fired by frontline corvette INS Prabal as part of a mega naval drill involving aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and other Navy assets.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh on Thu reviewed the operational preparedness of his force at various shore-based locations as well as at sea.
The Indian Navy has significantly increased its deployment in the Indian Ocean Region, in an attempt to send across a message to China in the wake of escalation in tension between the two countries.

Chinese soldier who 'strayed' into India was carrying sleeping bag, storage device

The Chinese Army soldier who was apprehended by Indian troops near the Demchok area was found to be carrying a sleeping bag, storage device and a mobile phone.
The soldier (Corporal Wang Ya Long) had strayed across the LAC into Indian Territory in the Demchok area in eastern Ladakh and was apprehended by the Army on Mon.
He was thoroughly checked and questioned by the military authorities concerned as per the established protocols before being handed over to the Chinese at a long Border Personnel Meeting at Chushul hut-ANI.
In a statement about the incident, the Army had stated that “the Chinese soldier was “provided medical assistance including oxygen, food and warm clothes to protect him from the vagaries of extreme altitude and harsh climatic conditions“.

Cyber security, counter terrorism discussed at India-EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations

The 7^th India-EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations were held in a virtual format on Thu, co-chaired by Vikas Swarup, Secretary (West), MEA, and Enrique Mora, Deputy Secy General for Political Affairs /Political Director, European External Action Service.
According to an official release, both sides reviewed the working of various institutional mechanisms between India and the EU, including on cyber security, counter terrorism, maritime security, and disarmament and non-proliferation, and explored the possibilities of enhanced cooperation under India-EU security partnership.
During the consultations, both sides noted with satisfaction the renewed political momentum in the India-EU relationship provided by the 15^th India-EU Summit held in July 2020.
They took stock of the decisions taken at the Summit and reaffirmed their commitment to implement the “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025“.
“The two sides discussed the opportunities for strengthening the India-EU Strategic Partnership in a post-COVID world, including in areas of healthcare, global supply chain resilience, reformed multilateralism and green transition.
They also noted the importance of India-EU cooperation for global economy recovery efforts and in this regard, agreed to hold the High Level Dialogue on Trade and Investments at an early date.
The two sides also agreed to expedite the discussions on the India-EU Connectivity Partnership and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the digital domain, including in cyber security and artificial intelligence,” said the release.
The two sides further exchanged views on the regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to maintain close cooperation for the next India-EU27 leaders meeting to be held in Portugal in 2021.

Pak resorted to 3,800 ceasefire violations along LoC

Pakistani troops have resorted to more than 3,800 incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in JnK this year and even supported smuggling of arms and narcotic substances, including through drones and quadcopters, the MEA said on Thu.

EC moves SC as HC alters rally norms

The Election Commission on Thursday challenged in the Supreme Court a Madhya Pradesh high court order negating the EC guidelines allowing limited physical political gathering for campaigning in the assembly by-polls. The HC’s Gwalior bench restrained political parties from holding physical gatherings unless they got a certification from district magistrates and the EC.

Bihar Poll: 'Phir ek baar, NDA sarkar in Bihar': PM Modi at election rally in Sasaram, Gaya and Bhagalpur

Addressing his 1^st rally of the 3-phase assembly elections in Bihar, PM Modi said that voters of Bihar have taken a resolve that they won’t let those who have a history of making the state ‘Bimaru’ come near them.
‘BIMARU’ is an acronym for Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It was used to refer to the ‘poor economic conditions’ of these states.
“The people who once ruled Bihar are again looking at the developing state with their greedy eyes. But, Bihar must not forget who pushed them backward, that was the time when there was worsening law and order situation and corruption in the state,” PM Modi said.
Bow my head to sons of Bihar who lost their lives in Galwan Valley, Pulwama: PM Modi

The Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav has upped the ante against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, calling him the “Bhishmapitamah” of corruption and accusing him of shielding perpetrators.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Fri again accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having “insulted” the soldiers with his comment that nobody had intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh, and demanded that he tell the country when will the Chinese “be thrown out“. Addressing his 1^st rally during the Bihar assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi insisted the Chinese army had indeed intruded into Indian territory. He also said “Narendra Modi calls himself nationalist but weakened country in 6 years; economy is suppressed, farmers oppressed.”

Mehbooba Mufti, former CM and PDP’s Chief said to media that it’s a fact that China captured 1000 sq km of our land. I think we somehow managed to get back around 40 km. China speaks of Article 370 too. They say it’s disputed and ask why was JnK made UT? JnK came into international view like never before after abrogation. Nearly, the same line what Former CM Farooq Abdullah said.

Time to rebuild demand, says principal economic adviser

Principal economic adviser Sanjeev Sanyal on Thu said time has come to give a push for re-inflating demand in the economy hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also said there are certain sectors like hospitality which need “special love and care.” “There are some sectors that still are held back, hospitality being an obvious one. So let me say that we recognize this issue,” he said.

Govt imposes stock limit of 2 tons on onion retailers and 25 tons for wholesalers: Consumer Affairs Secretary

Last year, it reduced to half of previous limit according to which retailers were allowed to hold onion stock up to 10 tons and wholesalers up to 50 tons.

Railway introduces on demand luggage pick, drop service

The service will be app based, in which user can book for pickup of luggage from his/her house, hotel or any other place which will be dropped at the confirmed berth of the passenger in a train. This will be vice-versa also. Railway has awarded a contract for the service to a private firm.

Mars losing its atmosphere at faster rate: ISRO

A study of data and images sent by Isro’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) and Nasa’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (Maven) has found that “Mars is losing its atmosphere to outer space at a faster rate”. Other planets are also losing their atmospheres. The rate at which this loss happens is determined mainly by the size of a planet and temperature of its upper atmosphere.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Trump accuses China, India, Russia of not taking care of their 'filthy air'

US President Donald Trump on Thursday described the air in China, Russia and India as “filthy” as he denounced Democratic rival Joe Biden’s plans to tackle climate change. At their second and final presidential debate, Trump renewed his criticism that action on climate change was unfair to the United States. Trump’s remarks come days ahead of Mike Pompeo’s visit to New Delhi. However, Indian media is questioning that who ran away from the Paris accord?

Canada joins global condemnation of China's atrocities on Uyghurs, on Thu

In a statement, a Canadian House of Commons’ sub-committee said it felt the need to respond to the Chinese Communist Party’s alleged atrocities on Uyghurs and other Turkic communities in East Turkestan.
Chinese repression of Uyghurs and other Turkic communities have more often than not come under global criticism.
A statement after hearing the testimonies of academicians, civil society members and other survivors of atrocities in East Turkestan, which China calls part of its territory.
The hearing by the ‘Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development’ went on for 12 hours over two days earlier this year.
New evidence: The cue was taken up by several organizations worldwide which then extracted reports from Ground Zero. Thus came out new evidence of CCP separating families to extract written statements for changing certain Islamic names not liked by China.

Biden-Harris administration will be a friend and an ally to India: Sabrina Singh

Sabrina Singh, US Press Secretary to Senator Kamala Harris, on Thu (local time) said that if elected as the US President, Joe Biden plans to advance the relationship between India and the United States.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Singh said that Biden aims to resonate with the Indian-American community via his plans on higher education, reducing student loans and bringing back jobs in US.

Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora holds protest in front of Pak Embassy in US

Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) and several other community organizations held a car protest rally in front of the Embassy of Pakistan in the U.S on Thu (local time), remembering Pak’s invasion of Kashmir in 1947.
Scores of people were seen chanting slogans calling Pakistan to vacate the illegally occupied Kashmir.
“Pakistan vacate occupied Kashmir. Kashmir is an integrated part of India,” one of the posters read. Another poster said, “The jihadist invasion of 1947 in Kashmir didn’t happen overnight, it was planned strategically by Pakistan.”
A truck has been moving around in Washington with digital banners exposing Pakistan Sponsored Terrorism in South Asia. Especially Pakistan’s bloodshed and killings of ordinary Kashmiris in UT of JnK.

Pakistan still a haven for terror, India says on FATF decision eve

With the ongoing plenary of terror watchdog FATF likely to decide on Fri, if Pakistan should remain in its grey list, India reiterated that Islamabad continued to provide safe haven to terrorist entities and individuals.
The government also said Pakistan had not yet taken any action against several terror entities.
All indications are that Pak will remain in the grey list.
Pakistan has informed global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that Masood Azhar, founder of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and his family are “missing.”
The JeM chief was listed as a designated terrorist by UNSC1267 Committee on May 1, 2019.
Azhar was listed as a designated terrorist by the UN Security Council 1267 Committee on May 1, 2019.
Pakistan has claimed that there were only 16 U.N. designated terrorists in Pak, of which “7 are dead”.
Out of the 9 who are alive, 7 had applied to the U.N. for exemption from financial and travel restrictions.
They are: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, LeT financiers and members- Haji Muhammad Ashraf, Zafar Iqbal, Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, Yahya Mohammad Mujahid and Arif Qasmani and al Qaeda financier Abdul Rehman.
The restrictions involve freezing of bank accounts.

As per ANI, during his Asia trip from Oct 25 to 30, US State Department Secretary Michael Pompeo will be urging the Sri Lankan officials to make decisions about its relationship with China and to review the option that the United States offers for transparent and sustainable economic development, an official said.

20 Afghan army soldiers killed in a Taliban attack on their outpost in Khashrod district, Nimroz province on Thu, said Jalil Ahmad Watandost, district governor of Khashrod as per TOLO News. Is this what the Taliban peace deal means?

COVID-19

Moderna Inc said on Thu it had completed the enrollment of 30,000 participants in a late-stage study testing its experimental coronavirus vaccine, with over a 3^rd of the participants from communities of color.
Over 25,650 participants have so far received their second shot of the vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, and the company said.
India sets aside $7 billion to vaccinate its population: The Modi Govt estimates an all-in cost of about $6-$7 (roughly Rs 450-550)/person in the nation of 1.3 billion, TOI.
Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on 100 Indian volunteers