Newsletter 12 March

Sino-Indian Standoff: Further action Awaited

Ahead of QUAD…

Leaders of Quad to hold first Summit Today: Here’s what’s on Agenda-HT

For India, the summit may be helpful to build on crucial partnerships to address challenges across the Indo-Pacific, which is home to some of New Delhi’s key partners
The leaders of the Quad—which includes India, Australia, Japan and the US—will hold their first summit on Fri to decide on specific areas of cooperation to boost post-pandemic recovery and maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.
The virtual engagement is expected to last for about 2 hours and lay the groundwork for an in-person meeting later in the year – Reuters.

What is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad?

After several meetings of senior officials, the grouping was sidelined by 2007, largely because of the concerns of the US and Australia about its impact on their relations with China.
With the emergence of the Indo-Pacific as a key strategic region and a growing convergence between the four countries on key challenges in the region, the Quad was revived as a loose grouping in 2017 at the level of senior officials.
As India’s comfort levels grew and all 4 countries faced challenges from an increasingly assertive China, the Quad was upgraded to the level of foreign ministers in Sept 2019.

What’s different about the Quad Summit?

The Quad has never even issued a joint statement after any of its meetings.
Quad come again in less than two months after US President Joe Biden assumed office is a big deal.
India sees the Quad Summit as an opportunity for evolution because the grouping didn’t traditionally have definite areas of cooperation and restricted itself to discussing principles and shared strategic approaches.

What’s on the agenda for the Quad Summit?

The Quad leaders, in addition to discussing regional and global issues of shared interest and practical cooperation to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, will exchange views on post-Covid-19 recovery, resilient supply and production chains, cooperation on emerging and critical technologies, maritime security, and climate change.
HT citing former ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, puts it, the unstated part of the agenda —the challenge posed by an assertive and aggressive China or the “dragon in the room”.
All members of the Quad are currently dealing with challenges originating from China.
India has been locked in a military standoff with China since May last year;
Australia has faced the impact of China’s escalating trade sanctions and has concerns about Chinese influence within the country;
Japan has witnessed countless incursions by Chinese vessels in waters around the Senkaku Islands and has concerns about the Chinese Coast Guard law that authorizes the use of force.
The US administration has identified China as its main security and trade challenge.

What are the expected outcomes of the Quad Summit?

The launch of a Vaccine Initiative is being seen as the most significant deliverable of the summit.
Vaccines developed in the US will be made in India, the world’s largest producer of vaccines.
This initiative will be funded by Japan and the US and will add to India’s capacity as the “pharmacy to the world”, while Australia will provide logistics support to ship vaccines across the region.
The Quad is also expected to launch a new initiative for the refining and production of rare earth metals, the production of which is currently controlled by China.
These metals are critical for products such as mobile phones and batteries for electric vehicles.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spoken on Fri about the four countries pursuing a “new energy economy right across the Indo-Pacific”.

President Biden to put his stamp on Quad, leaders to have an honest and open discussion on China: US senior administration official- ANI

According to a US senior administration official, all four participating leaders in the Quad will lay out a series of views on strategic issues that are important to them and talk about their conceptions of “free and open Indo Pacific.

What Indian Media say?

Today when the QUAD leaders meet virtually, they know the power of rising Communist China under President Xi.
New Delhi is clear that Beijing’s reminders to it about the non-alignment policy are an effort to ideologically cage India while it goes ahead to forge military alliances in South Asia specifically aimed at India.
Canberra has braved the wrath of China which has imposed restrictions on imports in some sectors.
Tokyo is standing firm knowing that Beijing can exact military revenge based on past medieval Daimyo history.
Now that Washington has also no illusions on China, the Quad meeting this evening will go beyond mere symbolism and take firm steps (?).

Ahead of the Quad summit, “exchanges and cooperation between countries should contribute to mutual understanding rather than “targeting” a third party and refrain from “pursuing exclusive blocs” told Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing on asking to comment up on Quad.

“We hope that relevant countries uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness and win-win results and refrain from pursuing exclusive blocs and do things that are conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.

India's self-reliance in COVID vaccine manufacturing has proved beneficial for entire world: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Fri said that India’s self-reliance in COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing has proved beneficial for the entire world.
The PM, earlier in the day, flagged off ‘padyatra’ (foot march) from Ahmedabad to Dandi, as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ program to mark the 75 years of India’s independence.
Speaking at the Mahotsav, PM Modi said, “To relieve the humanity of the crisis of COVID-19 pandemic, India’s self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing has proved beneficial for the entire world.
The achievements of India are not only our own today, but they are going to show light to the whole world.”
“Today we have the vaccine, so with the emotion of Vasudev Kutumbkam, we are useful in reducing the sorrows of others.
This is the ideal and philosophy of Bharat and the basis of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Today other countries are trusting Bharat and thanking us. This is the first light of our golden future,” he added.
In his speech, Prime Minister Modi said that the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ of independence, which began today, will continue till Aug 15, 2023.
The Mahotsav is a series of events to be organized by the Govt to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of India’s independence. It will be celebrated as a “Jan-Utsav” in the spirit of “Jan-Bhagidari”.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot flagged off ‘padyatra’ to mark the 91^st anniversary of Dandi march, in Jaipur today.

India remains Strongly Committed to Cause of Global Food Security: India's envoy at UN

India remains strongly committed to the cause of global food security, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said on Thu (local time).
Speaking at United Nations Security Council open debate on conflict and food security, the Indian envoy said, “India remains strongly committed to the cause of global food security and has over the last several years contributed to UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in response to several humanitarian crises.”
In 2019 alone, the WFP sourced approximately 11,000 metric tons of pulses, sorghum, wheat, and rice from India to assist vulnerable populations.”
He informed the UNSC that India in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tons of wheat, rice, pulses and lentils to several countries across the world, including Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Lebanon, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe and many others, to strengthen their food security in these challenging times.
“As recently as last month, India gifted 2000 MT of rice to strengthen food security in Syria. Even as I speak, a ship is en-route now from India to deliver 1000MT of food aid each to Madagascar and Comoros,” he added.
Our spearheading the resolution for declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets is in this direction.
We are equally committed to providing vaccines to the world so that we tackle Covid and food insecurity at the same time.
The World Food Program estimated that the number of people suffering from food insecurity is projected to more than double by the end of 2020, to 270 million people, with the COVID-19 pandemic making it worse.

Beyond ceasefire along LoC: Pakistan signals statehood in J&K key to movement forward-TIE

In Pakistan’s view, the ceasefire was something it had “talked about publicly” for nearly two years.
It had been on the table, and for “whatever reasons”, India was reluctant all this time, and for “whatever reasons”, it had agreed now, the sources in Pak said.
Pakistan has conveyed to India that theFeb 25 renewal of the 2003 ceasefire along the Line of Control can lead to a wider engagement only if and when Delhi restores statehood to Jammu & Kashmir as a “starting point” for a discussion on the resolution of the Kashmir issue, The Indian Express has learnt.
The joint statement issued by the Directors General of Military Operations does not reflect any change in the Pakistani position that Kashmir is a “dispute” and that its resolution is anchored by the United Nations Security Council resolutions, said authoritative sources in Pakistan who did not wish to be identified.

Pak resorted to highest number of border violations just before LoC ceasefire

Pakistan resorted to the highest number of ceasefire violations over the 12 months preceding the announcement by the Indian and Pakistani militaries that they had begun strictly observing a ceasefire along the LoC from midnight of Feb 24.
The two countries first agreed in 2003 to observe the truce along their de facto border in Jammu & Kashmir.
According to Govt data the Pakistan army violated the ceasefire at least a dozen times daily on an average from Feb 2020 to Feb 2021.
Pakistan resorted to 4,645 violations in 2020.
Aug – Sept 2020 accounted for the highest number of violations for any two consecutive months in 17 years.
The number of violations was more than 5,100 if those along the international border are also counted.
The escalation in ceasefire violations coincided with the first anniversary of the Centre’s move in Aug to strip JnK of its semi-autonomous status that Islamabad reacted sharply to.

Mukesh Ambani Security Scare: Phone Traced To Tihar Cell Of IM Terrorist

- The police is planning to take remand of Tehseen Akhtar to question him regarding the mobile phone seizure, the official said.
- A Telegram channel used to claim responsibility for placing explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Ambani’s home in Mumbai, was created from inside a barrack in Delhi’s Tihar jail where an Indian Mujahideen terrorist is being kept- police.
- Akhtar was arrested following the 2014 serial blasts in Patna targeting Narendra Modi’s rally; he is also linked to the serial blasts in Hyderabad and Bodh Gaya.
- Another number – which was active in Sept but has since been suspended – is also on special cell radar, the official added. Both the numbers were purchased using fake IDs, he said.
- After the mysterious death of Thane-based auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran, who was in possession of the SUV that was later found parked outside Mr Ambani’s residence, the probe was transferred to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
- On Mon, the National Investigation Agency took over the case related to the recovery of the explosives-laden vehicle.
- On Mar 9^th Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray described the Centre’s move of transferring the case of recovering explosives in an abandoned SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai to the NIA as “something fishy”.

BJP demands CBI probe, says many questions still remain unanswered

A BJP delegation led by Sabyasachi Dutta and Shishir Bajoria met Chief Electoral Officer and demanded a detailed probe into the incident.
TMC MP Saugata Roy also demanded a high-level probe into attack on Mamata Banerjee.
When incident happened, there was no police presence there. The events leading up to the attempt on her life, leave no doubt, that the attack was part of a deep-rooted conspiracy.
“Insinuations”: Election Body Slams Charges Of Mamata Banerjee’s Party.
The poll panel said today it was “completely incorrect” to suggest that it had taken over the law and order machinery in the state.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

China successfully launches Long March 7A rocket after failed first attempt

China successfully launched its new-generation Long March 7A rocket early Fri morning on its second attempt, sending an experimental satellite into orbit.
The rocket launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, in China’s southern Hainan province.
The rocket carried the Shiyan-9 satellite to test new technologies such as space environmental monitoring, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Long March 7A is a 3-stage rocket with 4 boosters, measuring 60.1 m long and 3.35 m in diameter.
It has the capacity to send 7 metric tons of payload to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) – approximately around 35,405 km above the Earth’s surface.
China expects to launch three to five Long March 7A rockets every year before 2025, according to CASC.

Counter-intelligence failure breaking down law and order in Pakistan

The counter-intelligence failure is breaking down the law and order situation in Pakistan, as per an editorial piece in a leading daily there.
According to a Pakistan Today editorial piece, the recent spurt in attacks is a clear sign of terrorist resurgence in the country.
On Wed, a Chinese passenger was injured after armed motorcyclists opened fire at the Sind Sewage Waste Management Board vehicle he was travelling with.
While in last Sat’s attack on a Pakistan Navy vehicle in Gwadar district, three Navy personnel were killed.
Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of attacks in North Waziristan, which was declared crushed as a result of the Army’s Operation Raddul Fasad, as per the editorial.
This is a clear indication of the resurgence of militant activity resulting in loss of life for the Pakistan Army as well as NGO workers, reported Pakistan Today. Since 2016, there have been numerous attacks in both Balochistan and Karachi, targeted at the Chinese presence there.

Pakistani court bans Chinese video service TikTok over ‘vulgar content’

The latest development comes almost 6 months after the Pakistani regulatory agency briefly banned TikTok following complaints about the alleged presence of immoral & indecent content on social media platform.
Pakistan’s media regulatory agency on Thu again blocked the Chinese video service TikTok after two lawyers approached a court in the northwest claiming the company was spreading vulgar content.
Some unverified sources said that China denies Further loan to Pak after TikTok Ban by Pak High Court.

‘Spy camera’ in polling booths in Pakistan Senate, Twitter flooded with memes

The Senate Chairman election in Pakistan, which has already been marred with controversies, became murkier on Fri when the opposition senators claimed that the Govt had installed spy cameras near and inside the polling booths. In the special session, Pakistan People’s Party Raza Rabbani claimed that “secret cameras” had been installed at the polling booth, reported the Dawn.

COVID-19, started surging again

India reports 23,285 new cases, 15157 recoveries, and 117 deaths in the last 24 hours
Total cases: 1,13,08,846; Total recoveries: 1,09,53,303
Active cases: 1,97,237; Death toll: 1,58,306
India reports 23,285 new COVID-19 cases, 117 deaths in last 24 hours
Total vaccination: 2,61,64,920