Newsletter 8 December

Sino-Indian Standoff: Despite the Deadlocked on both Sides, Dragan is creeping slowly

Post-Doklam, China developing military camps in depth areas along LAC (ANI):

It seems the Chinese had been enhancing their preparedness for situations like the ongoing conflict with India on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) soon after the 2017 Doklam crisis as they have developed several military camps in their depth areas all along the LAC from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
“The Chinese have been developing military camps in their depth areas all along the LAC. Around 20 of such camps have been observed with some civilians also around these places,” ANI reported, citing Govt Sources.
Such camps can provide ability to the Chinese Army to better patrol their side of the LAC as well as to react faster to the developing situations in the border areas.
The over 2-months long Doklam crisis had taken place in 2017 when India had objected to the Chinese building roads in the Bhutanese areas which would have given them access close to the Chicken’s neck area which connects mainland India with the Northeastern states.
The stand taken by India had been applauded by the global community as that was probably the first time that some country had taken on China militarily on the territorial issues.
During the ongoing standoff also, the Indian side has more than matched the Chinese aggression and countered its activities in the Eastern Ladakh sector

Army got political signal to identify, occupy ‘6-7 locations’ on LAC in May

Following these directions, IE said by citing a senior Govt official, the Army formulated plans and outmaneuvered Chinese troops in August-end to occupy the heights, including Mukhpari, Rezang La, Rechin La and Gurung Hill among others, and the south bank of Pangong Tso in the sub-sector.
The Army’s move to occupy dominant heights in the Chushul sub-sector and bolster its position in the border face-off with China in eastern Ladakh was taken after a political go-ahead in May to occupy “6-7 locations” along the LAC, The Indian Express reported.
Underlining the significance of these positions, the official said several of them are beyond the LAC. “It has given India something to bargain with,” the IE.
On the current state of play, the official said, India is awaiting a response from China to a memo it had sent for the 9^th round of discussions at the level of the corps commander as the 8^th round of discussions had taken place on Nov 6.
According to the official, China had previously shown willingness to pull back its troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the north bank of Pangong Tso, but that has now changed because “it seems their top leadership doesn’t want it”.
At the same time, the official said, China has demanded since Sept that Indian troops should move back from heights in the Chushul sub-sector and the south bank of Pangong Tso, where they overlook China’s Moldo garrison and the Spanggur Gap.
“China wants us to go from the south (bank)”, adding, “We have told China that the solution has to be a package,” so that disengagement from all friction points is discussed together. “There is no question (of) vacating the south” bank positions first, IE reported.
The negotiations can take time and the Govt is willing to wait, the official said. “The government and the forces are ready for the long haul if a resolution cannot be found,” the official said.
Referring to the issue in Depsang Plains, the official said it predates the current standoff by several years. In Depsang Plains, which is close to the strategic Daulat Beg Oldie post near the Karakoram Pass in the north, Indian troops are unable to access their traditional patrolling points 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13.
The standoff in eastern Ladakh is now more than 7 months old, with no sign of disengagement.
Both the countries have positioned nearly 50 K troops each in the region — along with tanks and air defense assets -amid the harsh winter where the temperature can drop to around -40^oC in some parts.

China sends warplanes, troops for drill in Pakistan

“The Chinese air force’s troops set off on Dec 7 for the Pakistani Air Force’s air base in Bholari at Thatta District in Sindh, northeast of Pakistan’s Karachi to participate in the China-Pakistan Joint Air Force Exercise Shaheen (Eagle) – IX,” a statement put out by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said.
The latest edition of the drill will take place in the backdrop of the ongoing India-China border friction along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
The brief Chinese statement on Shaheen-IX did not give details of the deployment of PLA Air Force (PLAAF) for the exercise with Pakistan, but said it will conclude in late Dec.
A state media report last week said a large number of Chinese fighter aircraft recently conducted a series of intensive exercises around a Western Theatre Command – which oversees China’s disputed border with India -Air Force base, which is located at an important strategic point in northwest China.

India's indigenously designed Arjun Mk-1A clears trials, ready to go into production

Meet Arjun ‘Mk-1A’ main battle tank, a 68-ton rugged bull, waiting to join the Indian army and one of the star attractions at the 11^th biennial edition of DefExpo India 2020.
It’s the most lethal, sophisticated and all-weather battle tank that India has indigenously designed and conceptualized till date.
Armored Corps has cleared the tank after successful completion of the final integration tests conducted earlier this year in the western sector of Rajasthan.
Arjun Mk-1A is an improved variant of Arjun Mk-1, whose 2 regiments (124 tanks) are currently in service.
Scientists of Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), a laboratory of the Defense Research and Development Org (DRDO), are the architects of this improved avatar of Arjun and the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in Avadi is soon expected to commence production after receiving the order.

Currently, the engine and automatic transmission, together called a power pack is imported.
59% of Arjuna Mk1 components are imported, it was 63% in Mk1
Gradually under make in India initiative, efforts are on to indigenize a majority of imported system.
Several public and private industries are being roped-in to produced indigenous systems of Arjun Mk1A
Commander’s Panoramic Sight, All electric control System, Track System, Compact Diesel Engine and Automatic Transmission are all under development in CVRDE and sister DRDO
- Max Speed on Road: 58Km/h
- Max Speed on Cross Country: 40km/h
- Combat weight: 68 ton
- Gun: 120mm Rifled
- Rate of Fire: 6-8 round/min
- Ammunition: 39 rounds (FASPDS/ HESH/ TB/ PCB)
- Anti-Aircraft Machinegun 12.7mm
- Fire control system: Day and night stabilized sight
- Night vision: Thermal imagers and Driver night Sight
- Crew: 4 (Commander, Gunner, loader and driver)

World needs to come up with long-term strategies to tackle future pandemics: India at UNGA

India has taken a holistic approach to health based on four main pillars of healthcare, including preventive healthcare, affordable healthcare, supply-side improvement and mission mode intervention, said Pratik Mathur, Counsellor at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Delivering India’s statement on ‘Global Health and Foreign Policy’ at the UNGA, Mathur said: “A healthy life is every person’s basic right and the onus for this rests on our respective governments to make every possible effort to ensure full protection and enjoyment of this right by everyone.”
He also said that countries need to come up with long-term strategies and roadmaps to deal with future pandemics, adding that equitable access to affordable medicines, diagnostic tools and technologies remain a concern.

Farmer Protest Row….Bharat Bandh

Amit Shah to meet protesting farmers at 7pm today

Farmers protesting against the Centre’s agricultural sector laws have called for Bharat Bandh today after several rounds of talks with the Govt over the new farm laws remained inconclusive.

Opposition parties, which are in office in Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bengal, Kerala, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry are backing the bandh.

A joint delegation of Opposition parties will meet President Kovind tomorrow at 5 pm. The delegation will include Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and others. Due to COVID19 protocol, only 5 people have been allowed to meet him: Sitaram Yechury, CPI (Marxist).

Heavy security at Delhi borders; shops, banks shut in Punjab, but shops are remain open in most part of country.

The farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh who have been protesting at Singhu border near Delhi for the last 12 days, will block key roads during their ‘chakka jam’ protest from 11 am to 3 pm as part of their stir. Farmers stop train in Maharashtra.
After passing Contract Farming Act under its regime, Cong’s opposition to farm laws hypocritical: P. Javadekar, Min I&B.
A joint delegation of Opposition parties will meet President Kovind tomorrow at 5 pm. The delegation will include Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and others. Due to COVID19 protocol, only 5 people have been allowed to meet him: Sitaram Yechury, CPI (Marxist)
Bhim Army Chief, on his Way to Join Bandh, Detained.
Delhi, Haryana police issue traffic advisory; roads to avoid today
Paramilitary personnel asked to ‘exercise restraint’ as ‘some elements can create problems for forces’.
Union minorities welfare minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said a similar pattern could be seen between the two protests (Shaheen Bagh and Farmer Protest).
All India Lawyers’ Union protests at Tis Hazari District Court, in support of Bandh “Govt’s response to protest is a matter of concern. Legal fraternity stands with farmers. These laws are neither in favor of farmers nor of lawyers (?),” says Tiz Hazari Bar assn press release.
PM Modi on Mon said reforms are needed for development and some laws from the past century have become a burden now.

Mobiles Will Help India Launch World's Largest Covid Vaccine Drive: PM

Mobile technology will help the country as it launches one of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drives, said the PM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that India would launch the world’s biggest Covid vaccination drive with the help of mobile technology.
He also said the country was emerging as the most preferred destination for mobile manufacturing and everyone had to work together to ensure timely rollout of 5G to leapfrog into the future.
Three leading coronavirus vaccine developers – Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech – have applied for emergency use authorization in India, which has the world’s second highest number of COVID cases.

PM Modi conveyed his felicitations to Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar for forthcoming National Day of Qatar.

The two leaders decided to create a special Task-Force to further facilitate investments by Qatar Investment Authority into India, and also resolved to explore Qatari investments in entire energy value-chain in India: Prime Minister’s Office

SC irked with Govt work on Central Vista amid petitions

The Supreme Court on Mon expressed displeasure over the Centre going ahead with the Central Vista project despite the matter being in court and judgment reserved on pleas seeking scrapping of the plan. The court though allowed the foundation-laying program after the Govt assured that no construction will be carried out without the court’s approval.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

US acts against Pakistan, China for violations of religious freedom

The United States on Mon designated Pakistan and China in its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) for engaging in or tolerating “systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom”.
Both Pakistan and China are among the 10 countries highlighted by the US State Department as CPCs for their failure to stem the persecution and discrimination of faith groups.
In an official statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have been designated as CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.
The Pompeo further informed that countries – Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia have been placed on a Special Watch List for Govt that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom”.
Additionally, al-Shabaab, al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and the Taliban have been designated as “Entities of Particular Concern” under the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, he said.
He further said that Sudan and Uzbekistan have been removed from the Special Watch List based on “significant, concrete progress” undertaken by their Govt the past year.

PML-N, PPP agree to resign from National Assembly: Ary News reported

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have agreed to resign from the National Assembly, ARY News reported on Tue.
Well-informed sources said that the development came after repeated contact between PML-N supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the PPP co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari, in which Sharif convinced Zardari to resign from the NA as part of an anti-government move.
“Both the parties have agreed to tender resignation from the NA at an ‘appropriate time’.”
Meanwhile, today’s meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) is said to be important as the PML-N has finalized its strategy against the Govt, sources claimed.
“Deadline for PM Imran Khan’s resignation should be set in Lahore rally”, the PML-N to recommend in today’s meeting.

No minority safe in India: FM, Pakistan

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that no minority including Muslims, Dalits, (in minority??) Sikhs and Christians are safe in India.
In a statement on Tue, he pointed out that India has introduced controversial legislation such as Citizens Amendment Act and NRC to crush the minorities.
The Minister said the whole world is witnessed to Delhi riots in which several Muslims were killed and properties on large scale were ransacked.
He said Indian forces are persecuting Muslims in IOJK

Mt Everest’s new height is 8848.86 meters: Nepal

“Pres. Xi Jinping & Pres. Bidya Devi Bhandari jointly announced the new height of Mt. Qomolangma: 8848.86m. China & Nepal will continue cooperation on ecological conservation & scientific research for Mt. Qomolangma, our shared treasure & home”, tweeted Hua Chunying, Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry, while President “China-Nepal friendship peak“: Xi.

No use of word ‘Mount Everest’/ Sagarmatha (in Napali), a raise of 86 cm noted.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Nepal visit in 2019, both nations signed an agreement to jointly announce the height of the world’s tallest peak.