Newsletter 20 October

Sino-Indian Standoff: No expectations of a concrete Breakthrough

PLA soldier strays across LAC, to be handed back

The Army on Mon apprehended a Chinese soldier after he had inadvertently strayed into Indian Territory in the Demchok sector of eastern Ladakh, where troops from the two countries are ranged against each other in the ongoing military confrontation since early May.
Identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long, he will be handed over at the Chushul–Moldo border meeting point.
We hope Indian side will keep its promise and return the missing soldier as soon as possible, and work with China to promote the consensus reached at 7^th round of India-China commander-level talks, Chinese FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.
When China captured 5 teenage hunters from India’s Arunachal state, it branded them as “spies,” laid claim to Arunachal, and took 10 days to free them.
Now that India has captured a PLA soldier, why is it bending over backward to release him or saying he accidentally strayed?

Australia will participate in Malabar naval exercise with India, US and Japan: Govt

In a significant move that comes amid a Sino-India border row, India on Mon announced Australia’s participation in the upcoming Malabar exercise, effectively making it the 1^st military-level engagement between the four-member nation grouping- the Quad.
Australia said Malabar-2020 marked a milestone opportunity for the Australian Defense Force.
This will bring the 4 key defense partners and democracies in the region together, demonstrating their collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
For the last few yrs, Australia has been showing keen interest in participating in the high-end naval exercise.
The invitation by India to the Australian navy for the exercise came two weeks after the foreign ministers of the Quad held extensive talks in Tokyo.
In a joint statement with Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the announcement was another important step in Australia’s deepening relationship with India.
Reynolds said Malabar-2020 marked a milestone opportunity for the Australian Defense Force (ADF).
The US has been pushing for a deeper military collaboration with Japan, India and Australia against China’s growing regional influence.
Beijing claims almost all of the 1.3 million square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory.
China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region which, in parts, is claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
After Australia last participated in 2007, PM Kevin Rudd pulled out to placate China.

In Pak Army approach to terror in Kashmir, building synergy is new buzzword

According to a dossier prepared by Indian intelligence and security agencies, a series of meetings have taken place between senior functionaries of banned terrorist organizations including LeT, JeM, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and the Taliban, with Jaish commander Mufti Mohammed Asghar Khan Kashmiri coordinating joint terror operations in JnK.
The Rawalpindi general headquarters of the Pak army has been able to forge operational synergy since Aug 2019 between Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in the Kashmir Valley, according to intelligence inputs.
A series of meetings have taken place between senior functionaries of banned terrorist organizations including LeT, JeM, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and the Taliban, with Jaish commander Mufti Mohd Asghar Khan Kashmiri coordinating joint terror ops in JnK.
The first key meeting, took place on Dec 27, 2019, when Amir Hamza, general secretary of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the parent of LeT, met with senior functionaries of the JeM at Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, to chalk out a joint strategy to share resources and intensify operations against India.
While the second key meeting took place on May 7 in Islamabad between LeT, JeM and HM commanders, and focused on enhanced operational capabilities, including sharing of weapons caches, ammunition and support of over ground workers.
The inputs reveal efforts by Pakistan-based terror groups, with the active support of that country’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to launch coordinated attacks against India in the wake of constitutional changes.

Narco case: NIA to file charge sheet against ten accused

Of the ten accused being charge sheeted on Tue, 7 have been arrested and two are absconding.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to file a charge sheet against ten accused in connection with its probe into the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) narco case, alleging that the Pakistan-based commanders of the militant organisation conspired to raise money from India for the banned group, officials said.
The official said that arrest of Hilal Ahmed Wagay along with Rs 29 lakh on April 25, 2020 helped to bust the Hizbul Mujahideen narco-funding module.
The official said that the conspiracy between Hizbul comdr based in Pakistan and militant gang in India was to “raise money” for the banned militant organization.

Reportedly, 2 Pakistan Sponsored Militants killed in the Pulwama encounter of South Kashmir

Encounter broke out between Militants and security forces in Kakapora of Pulwama in South Kashmir.
JnK Police SOG, Indian Army and CRPF completed the task in afternoon.JnK DGP Dilbag Singh and IGP Vijay Kumar visit family of Police officer shot dead by suspected militants in Anantnag yesterday. The officer was identified as Inspector Mohammad Ashraf Bhat.

Tragedy averted after BSF detects IEDs in Odisha’s Swabhiman Anchal

An Intelligence-based operation was launched in the area close to the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on Mon.
A major tragedy was averted when Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed in Swabhiman Anchal, a hotbed of left wing extremists in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, detected and defused 7 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on Tue.
The BSF assisted by State police has been trying to establish area domination in Swabhiman Anchal (formerly known as cut-off area), which was considered as a liberated zone by the Left rebels. Even State police were afraid of venturing into the cut-off area comprising of 151 villages.
However, the situation improved significantly after the deployment of the BSF and construction of a bridge over River Gurupriya that connected the cut-off area with the mainland. Earlier, the location was encircled by water from three sides and inhospitable terrain from one side.
As of now, security forces dominated an area up to 25 km into Swabhiman Anchal while another 40-km-long stretch area would have to be secured from CPI (Maoists), he said.
After the recent success of security forces, the Odisha government has started expediting development works. Mobile towers have been set up in five places and people in this area may access uninterrupted cellular service shortly. Recently, a full-fledged primary health center started functioning following the deployment of two doctors.
Encouraged by the security provided by the BSF and State police, the Malkangiri district administration started working vigorously on improving the road network. After the monsoon season, the road would be laid in the remaining 50-km stretch.

PM to share message with nation today evening at 6 pm

PM Modi will share a message with the nation at 6 pm on Tue. “Will be sharing a message with my fellow citizens at 6 pm this evening,” he said in a tweet. Modi has addressed the nation a number of times during the Covid-19 crisis in which he has spoken about various measures, including lockdown, being taken to curb the pandemic and also announced economic and welfare packages.

New Delhi considers trade talks with Taiwan as both spar China

Support is growing within India’s Govt to formally start talks on a trade deal with Taiwan as both democracies see relations with China deteriorate.

Taiwan has sought trade talks with India for several years, but PM Modi’s govt has been reluctant to move ahead because it would involve a messy fight with China once any pact is registered at the WTO, said govt sources.

Taiwan's new envoy to India arrived in the country

Taiwan’s new envoy to India Baushuan Ger has arrived in India and expected to take charge officially shortly. He will be officially be heading the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC), the country’s de facto embassy given under “One China” police New Delhi doesn’t recognize Taiwan as a country.
In 1995, the two countries established representative offices in each other’s capitals, namely the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (TECC) for the Republic of China (Taiwan) in New Delhi and India-Taipei Association (ITA) for India in Taipei.
Earlier this month, Taiwan’s national day got a lot of public support after the Chinese embassy warned Indian media to not be part of it, sparking a backlash.
Since then, in a growing sign of increased engagement, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-Wen has tweeted about her connection with India, especially her time in the country.

Govt deals: China, Pakistan companies must show ownership plan

From names of directors and their nationalities to a graph depicting the ownership structure, the Centre wants Chinese and Pakistan-based companies to bare it all to be eligible to bid for govt and PSU contracts.

Besides, details of all entities with over 10% shareholding has to be disclosed. Three months ago the Govt imposed security checks on firms from border countries.

India world No. 2 in migrations to OECD nations, getting citizenships

India emerged as the 2^nd-largest source country, replacing Romania, both in terms of the “total” inflow of new migrants to OECD countries during 2018 and also in the number of Indians acquiring citizenship. China with 4.3 lakh Chinese migrating to OECD countries in 2018 remained at top accounting 6.5% of the total inflows while India represented 5% of the inflow at 3.3 lakh.

Bihar Poll: 153 crorepatis in first phase poll fray

Unbelievable it may sound in an otherwise poor state like Bihar, but records show that 153 out of the 1,065 candidates in the fray in the first phase of state assembly election are crorepatis! As per affidavits, 58% candidates of the Grand Alliance (RJD-Cong and Left) and 60% of the NDA (BJP-JDU-HAM-S and VIP) are crorepatis with assets ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 53 crore.

Punjab CM moves resolution in assembly against Centre's farm laws

Addressing the members of the House, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said agriculture is a state subject but the Centre ignored it. “I find it very strange what the Govt of India wants to do,” he said.
Singh on Tue moved a resolution in the state assembly against the contentious farm laws enacted by the Centre recently. The resolution was moved by the leader of the house on the 2^nd day of a special assembly session here over the new farm laws.
The CM also introduced 3 bills to counter the Centre’s farm laws.
The 3 bills introduced by Singh are – Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill 2020, the Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill 2020. This move was against the 3 bills passed by parliament recently.

Ex-R&AW officers want PM to act against Hamid Ansari’s ‘anti-national’ acts

Former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officers had sought an inquiry against former Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari for what they have called “damaging R&AW operations” while he was posted as Ambassador in Tehran, Iran.
They now hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get into the truth of the entire matter.
These officers, who were posted in Tehran during Ansari’s tenure, had first approached the PM in August 2017. Ansari was posted in Tehran from 1990-1992.
One of the officers, N.K. Sood, who retired from the agency in 2010, told The Sunday Guardian that Ansari even went to the extent of recommending the closing down of R&AW stations in Iran.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Tibetans' political leader sees growing U.S. support after meeting new envoy

The head of the Tibetan government in exile said he met the new U.S. special coordinator on Tibet, whose appointment last week angered China, at the State Department, the first political head of the Tibetans in exile to be hosted there in 60 years.
U.S. Secy of State of Mike Pompeo last week appointed senior human rights official Robert Destro as special envoy for Tibetan issues.
Beijing responded sharply, saying this was an attempt to destabilize Tibet and that it would not allow any interference there.
While U.S. officials including most U.S. presidents have met the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, at the White House, they have been careful about formally hosting the head of the Govt-in-exile as this would be seen as a major provocation by Beijing.
Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Tibetan Central Administration (CTA), said this was the first time the head of the CTA was received at the State Department.

Japan ramping up Pressure on China over South China Sea: Report

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Mon agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc to cooperate on regional issues including the disputed South China Sea (SCS).
Speaking to media in Hanoi, Suga described the pact with Vietnam as a “big step in the field of security“.
The agreement in principle could see Japan exporting defense equipment and technologies including patrol planes and radar to Vietnam, a rival claimant and vocal critic of Beijing’s expansive claims in the resource-rich South China Sea, South China Morning Post (SCMP) report. According to SCMP, Japan is ramping up pressure on China over the South China Sea.
Suga, who took office last month, said Vietnam was a “cornerstone” of efforts to realize a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and that Japan would contribute to “peace and prosperity in the region“, Kyodo News reported.
Meanwhile, Japenese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi and his Australian counterpart Linda Reynolds had agreed in Tokyo to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime activities in the SCS.

COVID-19

New Covid-19 cases in India dip below 50K first time in 3 months

The number of new coronavirus infections reported daily in India dropped below 50,000 for the first time in nearly three months, taking the Covid-19 caseload to 75,97,063 on Tue. A total of 46,790 fresh infections were reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 1,15,197 with 587 fatalities being registered in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Amid the pandemic gloom, the ‘backward’ states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam have positive news to share.