Newsletter 5 March

Sino-Indian Standoff: Hackers target Indian Establishments

Whenever India has acceded to China’s demand (from Rajiv Gandhi’s delinking of the border issue from normalization of ties to Vajpayee’s Tibet-card surrender), Indian media has hailed it as a big breakthrough. The same is the story with India’s recent Kailash Heights withdrawal– Experts

A 'belligerent' China will continue to seek 'dominance': Gen Rawat

A “belligerent” China will continue to assert itself by seeking to establish dominance in countries surrounding India along land borders as well as the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), said chief of defense staff, General Bipin Rawat, on Thu.
With India facing a complex and challenging security environment, the armed forces need to be prepared for military threats, said Rawat.
Stressing that the Indian armed forces will “increasingly need to achieve more with less” due to budgetary constraints, despite facing greater challenges probably than any other military in the world, the CDS said the Army, Navy and IAF need to “relook” at existing force structures, doctrines, concepts and technology.
The webinar was held just ahead of the combined commanders’ conference (CCC) that began at Kevadia in Gujarat and will be addressed by defense minister Rajnath Singh on Fri and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sat.
The CCC will be held in the backdrop of no de-escalation with China in the Depsang Plains, Gogra, Hot Springs and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh, though the two armies disengaged on both sides of the Pangong Tso last month.
“We must effectively also leverage the opportunity provided by our Island territories which enables us to extend our reach, orchestrate our defense strategy and also provide depth to the mainland,” he added.

Ladakh: A New Satellite Image Of Galwan Valley Bridge Built By India During Standoff With China

A new satellite image of the bridge India built near the Galwan Valley last year, during the standoff with China in the area, has emerged.
The satellite image, which appears to have been taken in Aug 2020, shows vehicles moving across the bridge.
The high-resolution satellite picture was posted on Twitter by open-source intelligence handle @detresfa_.

Russia welcomes agreement between India, China, hopes issue resolves

Russia on Thu said that it is monitoring the situation at the India-China border and welcomed the agreements reached between the two sides within the existing framework of the multi-level mechanisms of bilateral dialogue.
We continue to monitor the situation at the China-India border,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that once disengagement is completed at all friction points, then the two sides could also look at broader de-escalation of troops in the area and work towards the restoration of peace and tranquility.

US corners Islamabad over terrorist infiltrations across LoC, says ‘support dialogue between India & Pakistan’

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the United States ‘continues to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir’.
On Thu, Price said that US’ engagement with India is more like a “global comprehensive strategic partnership”
Washington’s policy of a de-hyphenated relationship with India and Pakistan is “not a zero-sum”, Price said
The United States of America on Fri condemned the infiltration of terrorists across the Line of Control and has called for a reduction of tensions along the International Border.
He said that the US supports the direct dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Price made the statements in response to a question on ‘what Secretary of State Antony Blinken would do to ensure or try to ensure that the ceasefire announced between India and Pakistan is maintained’, news agency PTI reported.

Leaders of Quad countries set to hold first summit this month

Confirmation about the meeting came from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who told a news conference he had discussed the matter with US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
The leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad are set to hold their first summit in a virtual format this month, with the US administration taking the initiative to set up the meeting, people familiar with developments said on Fri.
“So, I am looking forward to that first gathering of the Quad leaders. It will be the first ever such gathering,” he said in response to a question from a reporter on whether he had received an invitation for the meeting.
The people cited above said on condition of anonymity that two dates being considered for the virtual summit are March 16 or 17.
There was no official word from the Indian side on the development.
The US had also taken the lead in organizing the 3^rd meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quad on Feb 18^th, against the backdrop of continuing concerns over China’s actions across the region.
That meeting had reiterated the group’s commitment to a rules-based world order underpinned by respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Morrison told the news conference that the Quad Summit was one of the first things he and Biden had discussed when they spoke on phone on Feb 3^rd.
The Quad, he added, was central to ongoing arrangements between Australia and the US.
Biden and US secretary of state Antony Blinken had made clear that their re-engagement in multilateral organizations is “key to building stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific”, Morrison said.
“We share that view, we encourage that view, and we strongly welcome that view,” he added.
Morrison said the four Quad leaders are looking forward to the first virtual summit and follow-up face-to-face meetings.
It will be 4 leaders, 4 countries working together constructively for the peace, prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific, which is good for everyone in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
“It’s particularly good for our Asian friends [and] those throughout the southwest Pacific to ensure that they can continue with their own sovereignty and their own certainty for their own futures,” he added.
The move to hold the first Quad Summit fits in with the Biden administration’s position that China is its biggest security challenge and competitor on the global stage.
Chinese officials have likened the Quad to a “mini NATO” and said its activities are aimed at targeting 3^rd parties, a charge rejected by the 4 members of group.

US and Japan plan inaugural '2-plus-2' of Biden era in March

the first U.S. cabinet members, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to travel to Japan under the administration of President Joe Biden are also preparing a “2+2” dialogue with their Japanese counterparts, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, the sources told Reuters, declining to be identified because the information is not public.
The meetings in March likely will center on China’s military expansion and the importance of strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance as a deterrent force in the region.
The two sides are expected to discuss recent incursions by Chinese coast guard vessels into waters near the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands, claimed by China as the Diaoyu, as well as a new law that upgraded China’s coast guard into a quasi-military force.

DRDO successfully tests Ramjet technology to help develop long-range missiles

The air-to-air missiles, which use SFDR technology, can achieve longer ranges as they do not require oxidizers, among other reasons, a senior DRDO scientist said.
The Defense Research and Development Organization on Fri successfully conducted another test of the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, which is crucial for the indigenous development of the long-range air-to-air missiles.
Pune-based DRDO facility High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) has played a key role in the development of the technology.
A senior DRDO scientist said as part of the test, the missile was guised to a certain altitude to create the simulation of the release from an aircraft. After achieving the desired altitude, the nozzle-less booster was fired.
The missile using the SFDR technology achieved acceleration to reach the speed of in the multiples of speed of sound or Mach.
To monitor the test parameters, various telemetry and radar stations were deployed.

ITBP to strengthen its Chinese Kung Fu team, to recruit players and coaches

Indo-Tibetan Border Police has decided to strengthen its team of Wushu after their women’s team secured the first position in the national Wushu championship. The female team of Wushu, a Chinese Kung Fu, has six players that will be increased to 20. The men’s team will also increase its players by the same number.

Poonawalla warns of delays as US prioritizes Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine

Adar Poonawalla said that the US law blocking the export of certain key items, including bags and filters, will likely cause serious bottlenecks.
The head of the world’s biggest vaccine maker and the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said manufacturers of coronavirus shots face a global shortage of the raw materials needed to churn out the inoculations.
Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India Ltd. — which is licensed to produce hundreds of millions of Covid-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca Plc and Novavax Inc. — told a World Bank panel on Thu that a U.S. law blocking the export of certain key items, including bags and filters, will likely cause serious bottlenecks.
Soumya Swaminathan from the WHO added that there were shortfalls of vials, glass, plastic and stoppers required by those companies.

OCI cardholders require special permit if they want to undertake ''Tabligh'', media activities: Govt

All Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders will henceforth be required to take a special permission from the central Govt if they want to be involved in any missionary or ”Tabligh” or journalistic activities in the country.
However, the Union Home Ministry has given a major concession to OCI cardholders by allowing them par with Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors, entry fees for visiting national parks, national monuments and museums in India.
The ministry, in a notification, said the OCI cardholders will be entitled to get multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose but “required to obtain a special permission or a special permit from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer or the Indian Mission to undertake research and to undertake any missionary or Tabligh or mountaineering or journalistic activities“.
The OCI cardholders will also have to take a special permit to undertake internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign Govt organizations in India or to take up employment in any foreign diplomatic missions in India or to visit any place which falls within the protected or restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the central Govt or competent authority. An OCI cardholder is a foreign national holding a passport of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.

12 Indian institutes among 100 in QS World University Ranking

QS Subject Rankings are published each year based on research quality and accomplishments, academic reputation, and graduate employment.
Among the 12, IIT Madras has been ranked 30^th in Petroleum Engineering. IIT Bombay got 41^st and IIT Kharagpur 44^th rank for Minerals & Mining Engineering
IIT Kharagpur emerged as India’s top-ranking institution in Agriculture and Forestry.

Mamata Banerjee to contest WB Assembly polls from Nandigram; TMC announces list of 291 candidates

Announcing the name of the candidates for the West Bengal Assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Fri said she will be contesting from the Nandigram constituency as announced earlier.
The incumbent Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced the list of 291 candidates and left three seats for its ally Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee said she will contest from Nandigram and not from the Bhowanipore constituency, from where she has been the sitting MLA since 2011.
“We are the first political party to announce the candidate list. Today, we are releasing a list of 291 candidates, which includes 50 women, 79 SCs, 17 STs and 42 Muslim candidates, she informed.

Days ahead of West Bengal polls, 18 crude bombs recovered in a field in Malda

18 crude bombs were recovered in a mango farm in Malda on Thu, defused by CID officials.
The recovery comes just days ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal.
Security forces are on a high-alert in the poll-bound state which is slated to face the ballot on March 27.
The development comes just two days after the West Bengal police recovered 2 crude bombs, explosives and ammunition in South Parganas.
The recovery was carried out on the basis of a tip-off.

Centre's guidelines for social media, OTT platforms have 'no teeth': SC

Holding that the guidelines framed by Centre to prevent misuse of social media and OTT platforms will not be effective, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to consider framing of some stringent law and regulation. The SC said that it lacked teeth to deal with the problem and it is just in form of guidelines.

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists lobbed a grenade towards J&K Police vehicle near Kupwara bus stand. However, the grenade didn’t explode.

Maharashtra: Major encounter is taking place between Maoists and C 60 Commandos in Gadchiroli district. Commandos Air dropped in area, 1 Jawan Killed.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

China to grow at more than 6% in 2021; defense outlay $200bn for the first time

The country has set its annual economic growth rate for 2021 at above 6%, Premier Li Keqiang said on Fri, as the world’s second largest economy, battered last year by the Covid-19 pandemic, shows signs of rapid recovery.
Last year, for the first time in decades, China didn’t forecast its gross domestic product (GDP) growth because of local and global economic uncertainties triggered by the pandemic.
“In setting this target, we have taken into account the recovery of economic activity,” Li said. China’s GDP expanded 2.3% last year, the only major economy to see growth.
Separately, China’s annual defense budget will maintain single-digit growth for a sixth consecutive year by increasing 6.8% in 2021, according to the draft budget report. “This year’s planned defense spending will be about 1.35 trillion yuan ($209 bn),” news agency Xinhua reported, adding that China’s defense budget is about one quarter of the US, which is $740.5 billion for the 2021 fiscal year.
Last month, India increased its defense spending by about 1%; military spending increased to ₹3.47 trillion ($47.4 billion), up from ₹3.43 trillion in the previous financial year and is over 3 times that of India.

China to push for building ‘Polar Silk Road’ in Arctic Ocean

Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Transpolar Sea Route (TSR) will cut across the center of the Arctic Ocean, passing close to the North Pole.
As the ice-covered parts of the Arctic Ocean melt due to climate change, China has flagged its interest to take part in building “Polar Silk Road”, raising prospects for the emergence of a new sea route.
China will participate in the pragmatic cooperation on the Arctic and the building of a “Polar Silk Road,” the state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the draft outline of the 14^th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives to the year 2035

Indian-Americans taking over US, says Biden

Indian-Americans are taking over the country, US President Joe Biden said on Thu, referring to the high number of people from the community getting a place in his administration. In less than 50 days of his presidency, Biden has appointed at least 55 Indian-Americans to key leadership positions in his administration ranging from his speech writer to the NASA, to almost every wing of Govt.