[NEWS OF THE DAY]

ASEAN urges ‘maximum restraint’ to keep stability in the region, amid China’s military drills around Taiwan

While expressing “concerns” reiterate one china policy. ASEAN on Thu called for “maximum restraint” and urged the global community to avoid actions that could destabilize the region, amid China kicking off military drills around Taiwan. The bloc warned that an increase in volatility could lead to conflict and unpredictable consequences. It stated the cross-strait development, following a high-level meeting of Asean foreign ministers the day before. “ASEAN is concerned with the international and regional volatility, especially in the recent development in the area adjacent to the ASEAN region, [no name of Tiawan] which could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculations, serious confrontation, open conflicts, and unpredictable consequences among major powers.” The statement read. “We reiterate ASEAN Member States’ support for their respective One-China Policy.” Countries that reaffirmed the ‘one China’ policy in the last 24 hours amid the crisis over Taiwan following US House speaker Pelosi’s visit areRussia, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea, Belarus, Cuba, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar’s Junta govt (here)

India, ASEAN discuss key challenges in the ministerial meet in Cambodia

India and the 10-nation grouping ASEAN have ”strong convergence” in Indo-Pacific, combating the threat of terrorism and the developments in Ukraine and Myanmar, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thu. Jaishankar made the comments after attending an India-ASEAN ministerial meeting in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The minister also said that India and the ASEAN also have similar views on connectivity projects, dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and issues relating to cyber security. The external affairs minister said identified the digital domain, health, agriculture, education, and green growth as the areas which drive the partnership between the two sides. Singaporean foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan is the country coordinator for India in ASEAN. It is learned that the India-ASEAN foreign ministers’ dialogue focused on overall developments in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to further expand ties against the backdrop of geopolitical developments, including the crisis in Ukraine. The foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the South China Sea, a resource-rich region that has been witnessing increasing Chinese muscle-flexing. (here)

Hope India will support China’s efforts to defend its sovereignty: Chinese envoy on Taiwan

One-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and the political foundation for China’s exchanges with other countries, including India, Chinese ambassador to India Sun Weidong told TOI on Wed, in the middle of the US-China flare-up over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Calling it the core of China’s core interests, and a red line that cannot be crossed, Sun expressed hope that India “can understand and support China’s efforts to defend its sovereignty, security, and development interests’’ while working with Beijing to promote the healthy development of China-India relations. (here) [Irony is China encroached on the Indian territory, in Laddakh and other places and on standoff since May 2020, and expecting support from India. However, so far India couldn’t officially raise the Tibbet issue, so it can be very well expected]

“Always good to meet”, Jaishankar tells Blinken ahead of the ASEAN meeting in Cambodia

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cambodia ahead of the ASEAN ministerial meeting on Thu. Jaishankar arrived in Cambodia on Wed to attend the ASEAN ministerial meeting. The US Secretary of State said that the meeting is an opportunity for both the leaders to compare notes on mutual interest areas including a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as the Sri Lankan crisis. “This is an opportunity for us to compare notes as we head into these very important ASEAN meetings. We’re both strong proponents of ASEAN centrality. We have a shared vision together for a free and open Indo-Pacific that we work on in so many different ways every single day,” US Secretary said. Blinken also noted several challenges in Sri Lanka and Burma that concerns both India and the US. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Blinken said that New Delhi is among Washington’s “closest partners”. (here)

Jaishankar meets Australian counterpart Penny Wong ahead of ASEAN me

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his newly appointed Australian counterpart Penny Wong in Cambodia ahead of the ASEAN ministerial meeting on Thu.

India, the US talk on UNSC issues, agree to cooperate on counter-terrorism

India and US held consultations on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issues on Wed and exchanged views on various thematic and country-specific issues on the agenda of the UNSC, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. “In keeping with the India- US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on various thematic and country-specific issues on the agenda of the UNSC,” it is added. Both sides agreed to continue their ongoing cooperation on issues of mutual interest, including Counter Terrorism and UN Peacekeeping. “While the discussions also covered the priorities of both sides during the upcoming 77^th Session of the UNGA, …about its priorities during the upcoming Presidency of the UNSC in Dec 2022,” the ministry said. The US delegation was also briefed by senior officials of the Centre for UN Peacekeeping on the ongoing training program conducted by CUNPK for UN Peacekeepers, including the program being jointly supported by India and the USA. The US delegation was led by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, Department of State, along with others from the US Embassy in New Delhi. (here)

[NATIONAL]

MoS Lekhi meets with Belarus’ Dy FM, discusses bilateral ties

Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Wed met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus in New Delhi and discussed bilateral cooperation between New Delhi and Minsk. The meeting comes as India and Belarus Wed held the 7^th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) in New Delhi where both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, economic, cultural, tourism, education, and consular matters. It was agreed to hold the next round of consultations at a mutually convenient time. Recently, India congratulated Belarus for celebrating its 78 years of Independence on Jul 3^rd, 2022. India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial. India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as an independent country in 1991 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The cooperation between the two countries is visible at many multilateral fora such as UNSC and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). In the economic sector, the annual bilateral trade turnover in 2019 stands at USD 569.6 million. India’s special gesture in 2015 that granted Belarus the Market Economy Status and a USD 100 million Line of Credit has also helped in the growth in the economic sector. (here) Belarus is to open its consulate in Mumbai on Thu. Belarus’s first deputy Minister of foreign affairs Sergei Aleinik is in India for its opening.

Six wetlands in Tamil Nadu state added to the list of globally significant wetlands

India has added 10 more wetlands to the Ramsar sites list, taking the number of such sites in the country to 64, officials said on Thu. The announcement of adding 10 more sites, 6 in Tamil Nadu and 1 each in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, to the list, was made by the federal ministry of environment, forest and climate change on Wed evening. “India adds 10 more wetlands designated as Ramsar sites to make a total of 64 sites covering an area of 1,250,361 hectares in the country,” the ministry said. “Designation of these sites would help in conservation and management of wetlands and wise use of their resources.” India is one of the contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. The convention provides protection and recognition to globally significant wetlands. (here)

Three Chinese mobile makers under the Indian Govt scanner — a perfect storm for them

It’s a perfect storm for Chinese mobile manufacturing companies operating in India. The Indian govt is looking into cases of alleged tax evasion by 3 major Chinese mobile companies — Oppo, Vivo India, and Xiaomi — and notices have been issued to them, respectively. The cases slapped against these companies range from allegations of what the govt termed as income tax evasion and customs violations to fraud and money laundering. Union Finance Minister N Sitharaman on Tue informed the Upper House of the Parliament that the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) issued notice to Oppo for a total customs duty of Rs 4,389 crore on the grounds of misdeclaration of certain goods, leading to a short payment in duties. Duty evasion, Sitharaman said, is about Rs 2,981 crores. Separately, ED had reportedly conducted searches at more than 40 locations in connection in connection with a money laundering case registered against Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo. Earlier in July, the ED reportedly blocked nearly 119 bank accounts linked to Vivo’s India that were holding several hundred crores as part of a probe into alleged money-laundering which the enforcement agency termed a “heinous economic offense”. (here)

Sanctioned Russian Ships are Still Doing Business With India

At least 7 Russian vessels, sanctioned by the US for their connections to shipping companies with a history of transporting weapons on behalf of the Russian govt, have docked in India over the past month, highlighting the challenges the Biden administration faces in enforcing the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the US and its allies as it seeks to isolate the Kremlin over the invasion of Ukraine in Feb. An analysis of the maritime traffic of more than 100 Russian vessels sanctioned by the US reveals that 6 cargo ships and at least 1 oil tanker have docked in India over the past month. Although it is not known what was on board, the vessels were targeted by the U.S. Treasury Department this year for their affiliation with sanctioned Russian shipping companies with a history of transporting arms on behalf of the Russian govt. “New Delhi has sought to project its decision to continue to trade with Russia as a purely economic decision, nothing less, nothing more,” the deputy director of the Asia program at the Wilson Center said. (here)

Arab nations understand views of Indian govt, ties remain strong: MoS Muraleedharan

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Affairs V Muraleedharan has rejected any claims that comments by the leaders of political parties in India have affected its friendly ties with Arab countries. Muraleedharan made remarks in a written response to unstarred questions in Rajya Sabha. “No. India shares historic and friendly relations with Arab countries which have strengthened significantly in past few years in different domains including political, trade and investment, defense, security, science and technology, culture and people-to-people ties,” he wrote. MoS also clarified that govt continues to attach high priority to strengthening ties with Arab nations, who understand the govt’s outlook. Earlier in Jun, former Indian envoy to UAE Talmiz Ahmad, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built on India’s strategic partnership with countries in West Asia “very actively and very robustly” and the ties today with the region are the “best possible”. The former envoy also referred to some Gulf countries lodging protests over remarks of suspended BJP spokesperson on Prophet Mohammad and said countries “who wish India ill will try to take advantage of the situation“. (here)  MoS on Thu said that there has not been any progress between India and Pakistan since 2019 regarding the resumption of trade.

Kerala explosive haul: 8000 gelatin sticks found abandoned in Palakkad

The seized explosives include 8,000 gelatin sticks stacked in 40 boxes. These were found abandoned near Shornur in the Palakkad district. The police said that they were informed by locals and it is suspected that the gelatine sticks were to be used for breaking rocks in quarries. In Nov 2000, police seized 7,500 detonators and 7,000 gelatin sticks from a mini lorry from Palakkad’s Walayar. Those explosives were hidden along with several cartons of tomatoes which were being transported from Erode in Tamil Nadu to Angamaly in Ernakulam district. A video clipping of the consignment had shown the gelatin sticks, light pink in color, wrapped in plastic sheets. In Sept 2020, 2 migrant workers in Ernakulam, lost their lives after explosives burst. The explosives substances were reportedly stored without permits to blast rocks for mining. Following the blast, the police arrested several persons. The arrested persons were booked under charges of culpable homicide. (here)

Assam becoming hotbed of jihadi activities: CM Sarma

Assam has become a hotbed of “jihadi activities” with 5 modules having links with Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarul Islam busted in 5 months, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thu. 6 Bangladeshi nationals belonging to Ansarul Islam had entered Assam to indoctrinate youths, and 1 of them was arrested when the first module was busted at Barpeta in Mar this year, Sarma said at a press conference here. Indoctrination of Muslim youths in private madrasas by Imams from outside the state is alarming, he said. “Jihadi activity is very different from terrorist or insurgency activities. It starts with indoctrination for several years, followed by active participation in promoting Islamic fundamentalism, and finally going for subversive activities,” the CM said. The Bangladeshi nationals, “who entered the state illegally” in 2016-17, operated several training camps during the COVID-19 pandemic. (here)

CJI sets in motion the process of appointing a successor, recommends Justice Lalit

Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Thu set in motion the process of appointment of his successor by recommending the name of Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, the most senior judge, to the Centre. The CJI personally handed over the copy of his letter of recommendation to Justice Lalit. (here)

Supreme Court asks EC not to act in Sena vs Sena dispute for now

The Supreme Court Thu asked the Election Commission not to take any decision for now on the Eknath Shinde faction’s plea that it be considered the real Shiv Sena and granted the party poll symbol. A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana said it would take a call by Mon on referring the matters related to the recent Maharashtra political crisis to a constitution bench. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China fires multiple ballistic missiles in largest-ever military drills around Taiwan

China fired 11 missiles into the sea around Taiwan on Thu (Aug 4) as it launched unprecedented military drills a day after a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the self-ruled island that Beijing regards as its breakaway province.  Soon after the scheduled start at 0400 GMT, China’s state broadcaster CCTV said the drills had begun and would end at 0400 GMT on Sun. It said the exercises, the largest ever by China in the Taiwan Strait, would include live firing on the waters and in the airspace surrounding Taiwan. China’s Eastern Theatre Command said it had completed multiple firings of conventional missiles on waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan as part of the planned exercises. The last time China fired missiles into waters around Taiwan was in 1996. Taiwan’s defense ministry said several Dongfeng missiles had been fired in waters to the northeast and southwest of the island. Two missiles were also launched by China near Taiwan’s Matsu islands, which lie off the coast of China, at around 2 pm local time in the direction of drill zones announced by China, according to an internal Taiwan security report seen by Reuters. (here) “We stand with vigilance tirelessly to protect our country“, says the Taiwan Defence ministry amid China launching ballistic missiles in the straits

‘No Justification’ For China’s ‘Aggressive’ Military Drills In Taiwan Strait: G7

The Group of Seven industrialized nations on Wed condemned military drills announced by China around Taiwan in the wake of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island. “There is no justification to use a visit as the pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait” and China’s “escalatory response risks increasing tensions and destabilizing the region”, the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement. (AFP). China scraps meeting with Japanese foreign minister following G7 statement: Foreign minister Wang Yi won’t meet his Japanese counterpart this week after G7 and EU diplomats criticize Beijing’s reaction to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. New Zealand and China foreign ministers hold talks in Cambodia. New Zealand foreign ministry says the minister expressed “deep concerns regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong”. Read a statement from New Zealand.

Xi uses Pelosi’s Taiwan visit to evoke nationalistic fervor. It backfires

Pelosi’s Taiwan visit evoked a patriotic fervor in mainland China, which considers the self-ruled island as part of its territory, as many internet users called for a more muscular response from their govt. Pelosi’s visit was one of the most discussed and debated issues on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like microblogging platform, which eventually crashed for a brief period. The hashtag, “#Ban on exporting of natural sand to Taiwan”, one of the first economic sanctions on the self-governed island, was among the top trends on Weibo, with the top post under this hashtag garnering 1.8 million likes and 66,000 comments within just four hours, indicating how much the cross-strait issue meant for the people of China. They called for more stringent measures, as much as halting all trade with Taiwan, as the ban on fruit import was seen as too soft an economic sanction. The hashtag “#Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said Taiwan is purely China’s internal affairs” was trending at number 2 along with “#Several countries issued a statement condemning Pelosi’s Taiwan visit”. The internet users also dragged Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi who was arrested for driving under the influence on May 29 and was to be arraigned on August 3, the day US House Speaker was in Taiwan. While the aggressive military drills seem to be made to keep the public opinion satisfied, the CPC is trying to subtly rationalize the issue and dial down public opinion through some of its official propaganda channels. (here)

Pakistan: Lt Gen Asif Ghafoor appointed Corps Commander Quetta

Lieutenant Gen Asif Ghafoor on Wed was appointed Commander 12 Corps, Quetta, replacing Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali who was killed in a helicopter crash in Balochistan, the Pakistan military said, reported by The Express Tribune. The remains of the military chopper’s wreckage, along with the bodies of the six officers and crew members who were aboard, were found in a coastal Balochistan area on Tue. (ANI)

Nepal: The ruling coalition reaches understanding to hold elections on Nov 20

Amid speculations that elections could be postponed to Feb, the ruling coalition partners on Wed reached an understanding to hold the polls on Nov 20. A leader participating in a meeting of the ruling coalition on Wed said that the partners have reached an understanding that elections would be held on Nov 20 and the next Cabinet meeting, most probably on Thu or Fri will decide that effect. On Jul 6, the Election Commission recommended Nov 18 for general and provincial elections. The delay in declaring the date stoked speculations if the coalition partners were planning to postpone it. The Election Commission has long been saying that it needs 120 days to prepare for the elections. If elections are held on Nov 20, the commission will have 112 days for the preparations. (here)

Nepal: PM under pressure to move National Investigation Department back under Home Ministry

Four years after the erstwhile prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s move of bringing the National Investigation Department (NID) under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), cross-party lawmakers have demanded that the department be brought under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Soon after taking charge as PM, Oli in Feb 2018 brought 3 major departments including the NID which were under different ministries, under the purview of the PMO, in a move seen by many as the communist leader’s bid to centralize power. The Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) and the Department of Money Laundering Investigation (DMLI) were the other two agencies, which Oli had brought under the PMO. (here)