Newsletter 21 December

Sino-Indian Standoff: Fingers Crossed in Delhi

Xi replaced PLA commander who started Ladakh standoff; fingers crossed in Delhi

The change of guard in the leadership of the Western Theatre Command (WTC) has sparked hope in New Delhi that General Zhao’s replacement may not be as vitriolically anti-India. Gen Zhao, who had also engineered the 2017 Doklam conflict with India, has been seen as a hardliner against India and Bhutan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has moved out General Zhao Zongqi, the People’s Liberation Army’s WTC, seen as the man responsible for the 7-month long military standoff with India in eastern Ladakh, and replaced him with General Zhang Xudong, who has never served along the Indian border.
This is the first time that an officer appointed to lead the WTC does not have experience of serving on the Indian border. General Zhang is 58, much younger to Zhao, who reached the retirement age of 65 in the summer this year.
“The tone and demeanour of the PLA commander during the next military commanders’ meeting would throw some light on the complex undercurrents in the PLA,” an Indian military commander said.
He added the Indian side expected some clarity when army commanders from the 2 countries hold the next round of talks over standoff.
China watchers said there was no information to indicate that General Zhang, unlike his predecessor, had any political ambitions and was expected to take decisions on professional merits.
In Indian military circles, Gen Zhao, who was a member of the communist party’s central committee, was perceived to be angling for a seat on the Central Military Commission that would have allowed him to serve till he turns 72.
While Brahma Chellaney questioned how can the replacement of a military commander who crossed retirement age months ago offer a ray of hope? He was let go only after harsh winter set in.
Moreover, Chinese war book says attack on enemy when possibility would be the least.

No Chinese troops entered into Indian territory, govt officials clarifies on viral video

After a video surfaced on social media claiming that Chinese troops entered into Indian Territory and went back following an intervention by the locals and ITBP personnel, Govt officials have denied any such claim.
“This has not happened for the first time. This has been happening for the last several years as they are locals and roam in that area with tents, pets etc and cross border sometimes,” a senior official told ANI.
Also, forces like ITBP officials are also in knowledge of it and this recent incident has also been reported at the appropriate level,”
As previous media news, Chinese soldiers, wearing civilian clothes were forced to go back by local people after they crossed the Indian border to enter Ladakh’s Changthang village in east of Leh via 2 vehicles.
Changthang, located at an altitude of 14,600 m above sea level in Rushpo Valley, is mostly inhabited by Tibetan refugees and Changpa nomads.
The local residents had also informed the ITBP personnel, who swung in action to confront them.
Meanwhile, India and China are engaged in a military confrontation eastern Ladakh for 8 months now at Pangong Tso, Chushul, Gogra-Hot springs and along the LAC.

7 New Agreements signed during PM Modi virtual summit with Vietnamese counterpart

$100-million defense line of credit, bilateral ties: PM Modi’s virtual summit with Vietnamese counterpart
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Mon.
While the scheduled meeting will cap a string of high-level exchanges between the two sides this year, it is being held at a time when both the countries are grappling with China’s aggressive actions in the region.

What to Know

Next year both of us will be members of UN Security Council. So significance of our cooperation in global context will increase. We will implement a Joint Vision Document 2021-23 which is a plan of action for bilateral engagement: PM Modi, in opening remark.
We’ve also signed 7 new agreements on areas such as scientific research, nuclear & renewable energy, petrochemicals, defense, and other diverse subjects like cancer treatment. We’re also taking new initiatives to strengthen our socio-cultural relations: PM Modi
According to the official press release, the two leaders will exchange views on wide-ranging bilateral, regional and global issues and provide guidance for the future development of India-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership during the summit.
The talk will also be on the implementation of India’s $100-million defense line of credit for 12 high-speed guard boats for Vietnam. New opportunities in renewable energy cooperation will also be explored.
The bilateral summit will also focus on India’s development and capacity building assistance through initiatives such as the quick impact projects, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiatives, projects in water resource management in Vietnam’s Mekong delta, digital connectivity and heritage conservation.
This year, vice president of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also came to India in Feb on an official visit.
Additionally, the two leaders met virtually during the 17^th ASEAN-India Summit last month.

Probe finds Pakistan claims on UN vehicle firing to be false: India

India slammed Pakistan on Sun for claiming that Indian forces had fired at a UN vehicle in POK as it asked Islamabad to probe its own lapses in ensuring security for UN personnel instead of making baseless and fabricated allegations.
Pakistan had earlier said it had taken up the “reprehensible” attack on UNMOGIP observers by India with the UN.
The Govt responded with a statement saying that allegations by Pakistan regarding Indian forces targeting a UN vehicle on Dec 18 had been investigated in detail and found to be factually incorrect and false.
“Our forward troops were aware of the visit of UN military observers in the area and did not conduct any firing as alleged,” said MEA.
Instead of repeating baseless and fabricated allegations against India to cover up its own failure in ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel in territory under its control, said the official.
India has conveyed its findings and views on these misrepresentations to the Pakistani side, he added.
Pakistan has sought a “transparent” investigation into the incident by UN.
Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN stated that “deliberate targeting” of the UN observers and their vehicle appeared to be a “new coercive and reckless ploy” by India to hinder UNMOGIP’s work.

Imran Khan warns India against ‘false flag’ attacks in Kashmir

Pakistan blamed Fri’s attack on India, implying it was aimed at embarrassing Islamabad and harming relations with the international community. The two UN observers in the vehicle escaped unharmed.
Pakistan says the attack on the UN vehicle was deliberate, as such vehicles are clearly marked and “recognizable even from long distances.”
The UN confirmed the attack and said it was being investigated.
India has not commented on the attack or responded to Khan’s tweets.
Pakistan’s military was on high alert in Kashmir on Mon as its PM warned India against carrying out any “false flag” operations in the disputed region after a UN vehicle in the Pakistan-held part came under attack.

Army to test indigenous artillery system with 48-km strike range

The Army will soon begin testing an indigenously-developed artillery system, which the DRDO contends is the best in its class in the world with a record-breaking strike range of 48-km.
If the 155mm/52 caliber advanced towed artillery gun system (ATAGS), passes muster, it can fulfill the Army’s requirement for 1,580 such guns worth over Rs 25,000 crore, is set to undergo “winter user trials” by the Army in Sikkim in Jan-Feb, which will be followed by “mobility trials” and then “summer trials” in May-June.
With the development of ATAGS, which has Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group) and Tata Advanced Systems as the production partners, DRDO officials contend the Army has no need to import such guns.
But the Army says the indigenous guns will have to first prove their worth in the forthcoming user trials.
The force has a parallel project stuck in the final stages to procure 400 Athos towed gun systems for Rs 5,147 crore from Israeli firm Elbit Systems, which was originally supposed to be followed by the domestic production of another 1,180 guns in collaboration with the Ordnance Factory Board.
The Israeli gun had emerged as L-1 (lowest bidder) a year ago to beat the French one from Nexter Systems after trials.
Amidst this wrangling, the user-trials of the indigenous ATAGS also got somewhat delayed after the barrel of one of the guns burst during test-firing at the Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan, which injured four persons, in Sept.
“It was most probably due to defective ammunition. There was no issue with the barrel. Over 2,000 rounds have already been successfully test-fired from the ATAGS during high-altitude trials in Sikkim and then in Pokhran,” a senior DRDO official said.
The ATAGS has “excellent accuracy, consistency, mobility, reliability and automation”, and can fire 5-round bursts as compared to 3-round bursts by other foreign contemporary guns.
“ATAGS is also configured with an `all-electric drive technology’ for the first time in the world, which will ensure maintenance free and reliable operation over longer periods of time,” said another official. But the Army contends DRDO often “over-promises and under-delivers”.

Quad would be detrimental to inclusive dialogue: Russia

The Quad, comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia, is aimed at ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
China has increasingly considered the Quad as a mechanism to contain it in the maritime domain.
Russia on Mon supported India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific but at the same time criticized the Quadrilateral coalition or Quad, saying it would be detrimental to inclusive dialogue for ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev, replying to a question at a media briefing on China’s growing hostility in the Indo-Pacific, said Moscow would welcome enhanced dialogue between New Delhi and Beijing and even wished that relations between the two sides reach the level of Indo-Russia ties.
At the East Asia Summit in Bangkok last year, Modi proposed setting up of the IPOI to conserve and sustainably use the maritime domain and to make meaningful efforts to create a safe and secure maritime domain.

In JnK: Former terrorist chooses democracy, contests J-K's DDC polls

Munaf Malik, a man who hails from Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, who was once a terrorist, has now contested the District Development Council (DDC) poll from Darhal Malkan constituency. Before Munaf decided to take the democratic path of the election, he was a divisional commander of a terrorist outfit for over 7 years.

Two senior PDP were detained on Mon by a central agency for questioning in a money laundering case

This evoked sharp reaction from party chief Mehbooba Mufti who claimed there was “no rule of law” in Jammu and Kashmir.

Official handler of party also tweeted: “Total lawlessness as PDP’s Sartaj Madni & Mansoor Hussain were arbitrarily detained today on the eve of DDC election results. Every senior police officer here is clueless as it is ‘upar say order’. No rule of law in J&K anymore. It is out & out Gunda Raj.

Court orders framing of charges against Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi

A Delhi court Mon ordered framing of charges against Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi and her 2 associates for allegedly waging war against the GoI, sedition and conspiracy to commit terror acts in the country.
Special Judge Parveen Singh ordered putting Andrabi as also Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen on trial for various offences punishable under IPC and stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
According to the FIR, Andrabi, Fehmeeda and Nasreen were actively running an allegedly terrorist org named ”Dukhtaran-E-Millat” (DEM) which is proscribed under the First Schedule to the UAPA.
The 3 accused were arrested in Apr 2018 and are currently in custody.

Farmer’s Protest Row….

Farmer leaders say they are always ready for dialogue as long as government is offering a ‘concrete solution’, claim there is nothing new in Centre’s latest letter to them seeking a date for next round of talks
As farmers’ protest against Centre’s 3 farm laws enters 26^th day at Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border), farmers say they’ll sit on relay hunger strike from Mon
“Everyday 11 farmers will sit on hunger strike for 24 hours,” says Balwant Singh, Secretary, BKU Punjab
Centre to explain benefits of new farm laws to farmers across country in local languages
PM Modi to interact with farmers on Dec 25; BJP to hold ‘kisan samvad’ across UP

PM Modi proposes library for traditional Buddhist literature, scriptures in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mon proposed to create a library of traditional Buddhist literature and scriptures adding that India would be happy to host the facility and provide appropriate resources for it.
Speaking at the India-Japan Samwad Conference, the PM also thanked the Government of Japan for its “constant support to samwad”. “
Its (the library’s) research mandate will also include examining how Buddha’s message can guide our modern world against contemporary challenges, PM said further.

Delay in victim’s med examination led to evidence loss: CBI on a very infamous Hathras case

The CBI has based its charges on the victim’s statement on Sept 22, which was considered as her ‘dying declaration’, in which she accused four youths of her village of raping and trying to strangulate her. The accused were unable to provide convincing alibis that they were not present at the scene of the crime at the time of the incident.

China tensions trip Gen eral Motors unit sale

General Motors will shut down its last factory in India a day before Christmas, the fallout of raging tension between India and China. GM wanted to sell its Maharashtra factory to Great Wall Motors, China’s largest SUV maker, for over Rs 2,000 crore, but India has not cleared the deal.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

7 Cabinet Ministers submit resignations over PM Oli’s decision to dissolve parliament

Hours after Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari ratified the proposal of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for the dissolution of Parliament and announced dates for an election, 7 Cabinet Ministers have submitted their resignations.
The 7 Ministers who have submitted their resignations are – Barsha Man Pun, Shakti Basnet, Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Rameshwar Ray Yadav, Bina Magar, Ghana Shyam Bhusal, and Yogesh Bhattarai.
Meanwhile, protests have erupted in Kathmandu demanding their resignation.
Both the opposition and the factions of the ruling party have taken to the streets against the dissolution of the parliament deeming it as unconstitutional, as per ANI.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of both the PM and the President.
Earlier today, according to a press release by the President Office, “Nepal President ratifies the proposal of parliament dissolution presented forward by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.”
Upon the recommendation of the council of ministers, President Bhandari also announced the date of the national polls to be held in two phases on Apr 30 and May 10 in 2021.
This comes after Oli had summoned an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers after a series of meetings with the party’s leadership and Min on Sat.
Oli was under pressure to withdraw an ordinance related to the Constitutional Council Act that he had issued on Tue and got endorsed by President Bhandari.
The Nepal PM has been facing pressure from the rival factions of the NCP led by former prime ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Nepal.
Earlier today, Prachanda reached PM residence to get first-hand knowledge on the issue. However, PM remained reserved and didn’t say anything except that “he will take a firm action today”.

Taiwan has deployed its navy and air force amid Chinese military aggression. 6 warships and 8 air force aircraft have been directed to stand guard and monitor Chinese warship movements after they sailed.

Covid-19

Explainer: Are new coronavirus strains cause for concern?

Reports from Britain and South Africa of new coronavirus strains that seem to spread more easily are causing alarm.
Virologists say it’s unclear if that’s the case or whether they pose any concern for vaccines or cause more severe disease.
On Sat, PM Boris Johnson announced new restrictions because of the new strain. Several countries have now banned flights to the UK.
Passengers arriving from UK in flights that will land in India by 11.59 PM on Tuesday will undergo mandatory RT-PCR test at airports: Govt
Amid mutant strain of COVID, India suspends flights from the United Kingdom.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan addressed the media. ‘Do not spread imaginary panic. The Govt is fully prepared to deal with anything (referring to UK’s new Coronavirus strain claim).’
Regulators looking into emergency use authorization sought by Pfizer for Covid-19 vaccine. India may start vaccinating people in Jan: Dr Vardhan
Sensex crashes by 1,350 points as European markets open weaker