Newsletter 4 January

Sino-Indian Standoff: Next round Talk Occur soon (?)

Bipartisan Congressional provision condemning China's military aggression towards India becomes law in US

The US House of Representatives and the Senate on Dec 15 passed the $740 billion NDAA, which included key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi’s resolution language urging the Chinese Govt to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2021, which became a law on Fri after Congress overrode Trump’s veto, included a resolution urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression towards India along the LAC.
President Trump on Dec 23^rd vetoed the NDAA, which had bipartisan support, arguing it had provisions that would damage national security.
As Congress dealt a humiliating blow to Trump in his last days in office, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said: “Through today’s New Year’s Day vote in the Senate, Congress has made the NDAA into law, including elements of my resolution calling on China to end its military aggression towards India and others in the broader Indo-Pacific region”.
He added “The Chinese military’s violent aggression along the Line of Actual Control with India and elsewhere is unacceptable, and the passage into law of this legislation sends a clear message of support and solidarity to India and our other partners across the world as we enter the New Year”.

Amid border row with China, Indian, French Rafales to carry out SKYROS war-games in Jodhpur

In a major development amid the ongoing border conflict with China, Rafale fighter jets of India and France will carry out war-games codenamed Exercise SKYROS in Jodhpur in the third week of Jan next year.
“The French Air Force Rafale fighters would be coming to Jodhpur for the SKYROS war-games which would see them flying with Indian Rafales from the 17 Squadron and the Su-30MKI fighters deployed there,” Govt sources told ANI.
India to deploy 5000km nuclear warhead capable Agni 5 in next 3-4 months. Agni 5 is currently undergoing final induction trial. The deployment will pave the way for development of more long range missiles.

CDS Rawat visits forward areas at Arunachal's Subansiri valley

On the 2^nd day of his visit to operational areas of Arunachal Pradesh after completion of one year as Chief of Defense Staff, General Bipin Rawat visited Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel deployed along Subansiri valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
As per a statement, Rawat complimented soldiers for adopting innovative surveillance measures for locally developed technology.
He also lauded the defense preparedness of the personnel to face any challenge.
On Sun, while visiting forward air bases in Eastern Sector including Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, Rawat said he was confident that those fighting the Indian defense forces would be destroyed.

On Chinese Firm Winning Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Project, An Asian Development Bank Angle

A Chinese firm has won a contract for the 5.6 km long, Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail Transit System Corridor – a first in the months since the stand-off between the two nations in Ladakh.
NDTV reported the project is funded by the Asian Development Bank, whose guidelines clearly mention that vendors from all member countries are eligible to participate in the bidding and there cannot be any discrimination.
It said Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Corporation won the ₹ 1,000-plus crore contract as it was the lowest bidder and fulfilled all the criteria for the project, which is being looked after by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry.

An ISI agent has been caught by the police in Ludhiana on Dec 31st.

Ram Singh was supplying IAF info to ISI. He works at Halwara air force station, as a diesel mechanic, which houses Su-30 MKI sq no. 220. Basically Pak is in awe of Su-30 MKIs from the time it dodged there AMRAAMs in Balakot dogfight.
Two of his associates are on the run,” said Ludhiana Rural Senior Superintendent of Police Charanjit Singh Sohal. Singh is working as a diesel mechanic at Halwara Air Force Station in Ludhiana.
The Police have registered a case under sections 124 A, 120 B, 153 A, of the Indian Penal Code, relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Official Secrets Act. (ANI)

Delhi court sends ISI henchman Sukh Bhikhariwal to 8-day police custody

A Delhi court has sent ISI henchman Sukhmeet Pal Singh alias Sukh Bhikhariwal to 8 days police custody.
He is believed to be a sympathizer of the Khalist-network. Bhikhariwal was arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police from Delhi’s airport following his deportation from Dubai last Thu.
He was presented before duty metropolitan magistrate Himanshu Sehloth on DeC 31.

Pak-based terror groups resort to cyber recruitment in J&K

Pakistan’s intelligence agency and terror groups are now carrying out recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir using applications in cyber and mobile space as direct physical interactions have become difficult due to the security forces’ hawk-eyed vigil, officials said on Sun.
Fake videos of alleged atrocities committed by the security forces are now often to whip up emotions.
Even Islamabad launched a website which shares fake videos and news showing atrocities by Indian security forces, which office in Islamabad and Pak Radio put that news on its own site: https://kmsnews.org

Farmers' protest enters 39th day, Buddhist monks lend support

Farmers refuse Centre's proposal of clause-wise discussion of laws, stern on repeal demand.

With the 7^th round of talks between the farmers and the Centre currently underway, the Agri unions’ leaders have refused for the clause-by-clause discussion of the 3 contentious farm laws, as per sources. The farmers’ representatives remain stern on their demand for a complete repeal of the 3 laws and have also rejected any proposed amendments by the Union Govt.
The Centre-led by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister Piyush Goyal and MoS Som Prakash had pushed for a clause-by-clause discussion of the 3 farm laws in the meeting which is currently underway at the Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital, sources informed.
We also want live telecast of the talks, let all see that we haven’t agreed to any pointers govt has put.
Every time we go for negotiations with farmers, we go with hope that a solution will come about. Today also we are going with this state of mind. Every issue will be on the table. No preconditions: Tomar
SC accepts petition sent to CJI seeking inquiry against Haryana Police for using water cannons on farmers.

Jaishankar to fly to Sri Lanka tomorrow, sked includes meeting with Prez, PM

External affairs minister S Jaishankar will travel to Sri Lanka on Tue on a visit to cement India’s relationship with the island nation. The EAM is expected to take up the release of Indian fishermen apprehended last month during the visit that is designed to review the developments in bilateral relations between the 2 neighbors from a strategic and long-term perspective.
Officials said Jaishankar’s visit would look at smoothing the rough edges in the relationship between the 2 countries that has turned complicated over the last decade, mostly on account of China’s efforts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean region including Sri Lanka.
Colombo has, over the past year, signaled on multiple occasions that India is a priority for his Govt, that Sri Lanka’s strategic security policy will have an “India first” approach though it is open to dealing with other key players for economic development.
Jaishankar’s visit is the 2^nd high-profile visit to Colombo in 2 months.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had flown to Sri Lanka in Nov for the trilateral discussion on maritime cooperation and security with Colombo and Male.

PM Modi also dedicated the National Atomic Timescale, and Bhartiya Nirdeshak Dravya to the nation

PM Modi also dedicated the National Atomic Timescale, and Bhartiya Nirdeshak Dravya to the nation, and laid the foundation stone of the National Environmental Standards Laboratory. Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was also present on the occasion.

India-US Trade Ties Hit by Tariff Policies Under Trump Administration: US Congress Report

Under the Trump administration, US-India tensions have increased over each side’s tariff policies, a Congressional report has said, noting that the two sides have also held concerted negotiations to address these trade frictions.
The bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS), in its latest report, pointed out that India’s recent tariff hikes on cell phones and other telecommunication goods went up from 0% to 15-20% in the last few yrs.
Noting that India and US have signed defense contracts worth more than USD 20 bn since 2008, up from USD 500 million in all previous years combined, the CRS said the future big deals are the purchase of an Integrated Air Defense Weapon System, valued at nearly $2 bn, and 30 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones worth more than $3 bn.
India’s multibillion-dollar deal to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defense system may trigger US sanctions on India under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, the CRS said.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Pak Govt has withdrawn the fence project after massive protests

Massive protests in Gwadar, Balochistan against Pakistan Army building a 20km fence to protect the Chinese. Baloch people will need a document for entry. Clearly the plan to chain Baloch failed again.

Pak court halts controversial plan to fortify Gwadar with fencing

Gwadar has seen attacks on Chinese nationals and security forces. Some of the attacks have come from Baloch nationalist insurgents, who during the last 3 years have carried out at least 5 major terror strikes in the area

A two-judge bench heard a petition filed by Balochistan bar council vice-chairman Muneer Ahmed Kakar, who pleaded that the lives of more than 300000 people residing in Gwadar would be affected by the move, with the possibility of half the city’s population ending up outside the planned fence.

Pakistani political leaders slam Imran Khan govt over killing of coal miners in Balochistan

After 11 coal miners were killed in the Mach area of Balochistan by unidentified gunmen on Sun, leaders of various political parties in Pak condemned the incident and asked Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Govt to take effective steps to provide security to coal mine workers.

Minority communities protest against destruction of Hindu temple in Members of the minority communities on Sun held a protest outside the Peshawar Press Club against the demolition of Hindu temple in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province demanding Govt to take action against the police.

Bill in US House to terminate Pakistan as major non-NATO ally

On the first day of the 117^th Congress, a lawmaker has introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a Major non-NATO Ally. The bill removes Pak’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, a status that allows benefits such as access to excess US defense supplies and participation in cooperative defense and development research.

China increases military’s powers over State Council by altering defense law

To increase the power of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over its State Council, China has amended its National Defense Law from Jan 1 to mobilize military and civilian resources in defense of the ‘national interest’ at home and abroad.
According to the local media, ‘disruption’ and protection of ‘development interests’ have been added to the legislation as grounds for mobilization and deployment of armed forces for the first time.
The amendments were approved by China’s top legislature, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to focus on ”boosting military preparedness” and ”combating capabilities”.
Other reasons to amend the NDL, include the need for building a nationwide coordination mechanism for the mobilization of state-owned and private enterprises to take part in research into new defense technologies covering conventional weapons, as well as the domains of cybersecurity, space & electromagnetics.
Several analysts have opined that the amendments are aimed to strengthen the military leadership under Chinese President Xi Jinping, and providing it with the means to respond to the accelerating confrontations between China and the US.

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma suspected missing

The Alibaba founder also failed to appear as scheduled in the final episode of his own talent show, Africa’s Business Heroes, which gives budding African entrepreneurs the chance to compete for a slice of $1.5 million.
Ma was supposed to be part of the judging, but was replaced by an Alibaba executive in the November final, UK’s Telegraph reported. His picture was also taken off the website.
An Alibaba spokesperson said Ma was unable to take part on the judging panel “due to a schedule conflict”, according to Financial Times.
Ma’s business empire, Ant Group, has been under scrutiny by Beijing ever since Ma delivered a controversial speech in Shanghai on 24 Oct that criticized China’s regulation system for stifling innovation and likened global banking rules to an “old people’s club”.

Nepal’s former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal to fly to Mumbai for treatment

On Sun, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former Nepal Prime Minister and chairman of a rival faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, is all set to fly to Mumbai on Mon for the treatment of his ailing wife Sita Dahal.

Under Xi Jinping, China will not be able to join Trans-Pacific Partnership

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on Sun said that as long China has its current regime, Beijing will not be able to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement.

Covid-19: Experts question vaccine approvals, say key info must be made public

Several experts have raised questions on the approval process of the two Covid-19 vaccines, Covishield of Serum Institute and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech by the drug controller general of India (DCGI).
Those who waited for clarification from the briefing by DCGI this morning were disappointed as no questions were allowed after a statement was read out by DCGI.
The Serum Institute of India’s Covishield is likely to be first shot used in India’s vaccine drive against Covid-19, with the Drugs Controller General of India on Sun formally waving the green flag for its use, along with Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.
Vaccination is likely to be launched simultaneously in most states that were part of the Jan 2^nd dry run, even as the final contours are being worked out.
DCGI V G Somani gave emergency use approval for SII, which is making Covishield developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and Covaxin, which has to fulfil additional conditionality.
For Covaxin, the authorization is in clinical-trial mode, which means that monitoring of recipients will be in the same mode as those taking the trial.
COVAXIN’s approval is for emergency situation, not emergency use authorization, said Director, AIIMS. He praises indigenous vaccines, said they are safe.
“We are not just conducting clinical trials in India. We have done clinical trials more than 12 countries including UK. We are doing clinical trials in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh & other countries. We are not just an Indian company, we are truly a global company” claimed Krishna Ella, MD, Bharat Biotech.

Ensure global acceptance of Make in India; strengthen brand India through quality, credibility: PM Modi

So far a total 38 persons found infected with New Covid -19 in the country. Min of Health.