[NEWS OF THE DAY]

Chinese ‘spy’ ship Yuan Wang-5 docks at Hambantota, A day after India handed over Dornier, Beijing silent about talks leading to the reversal of Sri Lanka’s stance

Chinese ‘spy’ ship Yuan Wang-5 docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port Tue on amid concerns expressed by India and the US. The vessel with some 2,000 sailors on board has facilities to track satellites and intercontinental missiles and is slated to remain at the port till Aug 22. The update also comes a day after India handed a gift of Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Colombo. While Sri Lanka had initially refused permission, the request was later approved after China protested the ‘completely unjustified’ calls for delay issued by other countries. Details of talks between the two countries however remain elusive, with Foreign Ministry declining to elaborate. The Chinese ship had initially been slated to visit port between Aug 11 and 17. Sri Lankan FM stated on Aug 13 that Colombo held extensive consultations about ‘certain concerns’. (here) India to hand over Dornier to Sri Lanka on Mon. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Indian High commissioner & Naval Vice Admiral was present at the ceremony. The agreement for this was signed in Mar 2022.

India’s Concern-New Delhi had raised the matter with Sri Lankan President and issued statements during the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) weekly meetings on Jul 28 and said “India carefully monitors any development having a bearing on its security and economic interests,” MEA “rejected insinuations” that Sri Lanka was “pressured”. Minister of Ports, Shipping had said on Aug 14^th that India is “well equipped” to handle any challenge arising out of the ship’s arrival. (here) [It has serious concerns for India as the range of the ship’s snooping is 751 km radius, under which Indian major security installations  including launching pad for aerial vehicles come.]

‘We hope..’: Chinese envoy responds to India evading mention of one-China policy

China hopes India will reciprocate its efforts to bring bilateral ties back on the right track following the standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and reiterate the “one-China” policy in light of recent developments in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong said on Sat. The envoy made the remarks at a media roundtable with a small group of journalists a day after India evaded any mention of the “One-China” policy while opposing unilateral actions to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. He also repeated China’s position that Indian and Chinese troops had disengaged at “most points” in the Ladakh sector of the LAC and the current border situation is “overall stable”. [In simple words, this is what Beijing wants India to accept the altered status at LAC] Responding to a question from HT about the gap between the two sides – with Chinese FM Wang Yi talking of a “momentum of recovery” in bilateral ties whereas his Indian counterpart has said there can be no normalization of relations till the border issue is resolved – and how this could be bridged, Sun said China hopes its efforts to bring matters back on the “right track” will be reciprocated by India. (here) Meanwhile, the Taipei economic and cultural center in India, or Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Delhi, has issued a statement and thanked India among other countries who have called for restraint. The statement said, “The govt of ROC (Taiwan) wishes to convey sincere gratitude to the executive branches and parliamentarians of over 50 countries, including India,” which have called on “all sides to exercise restrain, de-escalate tensions, avoid unilateral actions to change the status quo and maintain peace and stability in the region.” (here)

Not dependent on Ukraine for engines, want to be part of Make in India initiative, says Russia

Claiming that Russia is no longer dependent on Ukrainian engines to power its frigates, the head of Russian United ShipBuilding Corporation (USC) Mon said they are willing to invest in India as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. “I don’t know why India went in for a Ukrainian engine when we have now built our capability and capacity. We are no longer dependent on Ukraine for engines,” USC President Alexei Rakhmanov said, speaking on the sidelines of the Army 2022, Russia’s defense exhibition being held in Moscow. The top Russian official, who is in charge of the country’s shipbuilding industry, was referring to the gas turbine engines that India bought from Ukraine to power the 4 stealth frigates that it is building with Russian help. India had procured gas turbine engines from Ukraine and handed them over to Russia to install them on the Admiral Grigorovich-class guided-missile stealth frigates that are being made for the Indian Navy by a Russian shipyard as part of a $2.5 billion deal. While two ships are being built in Russia, two others are to be built at the Goa shipyard with Russian help. India had ordered Ukrainian engines for the ones being built in Goa, but it is learned that the delivery had not taken place yet. One of the targets of the Russian missile attacks on Ukraine was the production facility of these gas turbine engines. (here)

[NATIONAL]

7 ITBP troops die 8 critically injured as a bus with over 38 security personnel meets with an accident

A massive rescue operation was launched after a bus with more than 30 security personnel – from the ITBP and the Jammu and Kashmir Police – on Tue met with an accident as its brakes reportedly failed when it was on its way to Pahalgam. 6 ITBP troops are reported to be dead while those injured are being airlifted to the Army Hospital in Srinagar, the J&K Police said. The incident took place when the vehicle rolled down the road in Frislan area in Pahalgam. The jawans were deputed in the area for Amarnath Yatra. (here) ITBP bus accident: Death toll rises to 7,

Civilian shot dead in J&K’s Shopian, 2^nd attack in less than 24 hours

A civilian was shot dead in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian Tue and another was injured in a terror attack. Both civilians belong to minority communities and the injured person is being treated at a hospital, J&K Police tweeted. The man who was shot dead has been identified as Sunil Kumar and the injured man is believed to be his brother. Preliminary reports indicate the brothers are Kashmiri Pandits but police have not confirmed this as yet. This is the second attack on non-migrant Pandits in Kashmir in less than 24 hours. On Tue terrorists threw a grenade at a house in Budgam and injured Karan Kumar. On Tue, PDP, the J&K-based party, and Congress both slammed the center and asked Prime Minister and Home Minister to explain their ‘Kashmir Policy’. Two policemen were killed and two others, including a civilian, injured in four attacks over two days on Sun and Mon despite tight security and high alert in Kashmir given the Independence Day celebrations.

Rajnath Singh hands over indigenous defense systems to Indian

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over multiple indigenous weapons to the Indian Army, said the officials on Tue. Defence Minister handed over the F-INSAS system to the Indian Army in presence of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Lt Gen Harpal Singh. Indian Army’s Futuristic Infantry Soldier as a System (F-INSAS) soldier gave a briefing to Defence Minister on his new weapon systems and aids including the AK-203 assault rifle. Anti-personnel mine ‘Nipun’ was also handed over to the Indian Army, by Minister. Around 7 lakh of these mines would be provided to the force manufactured by the Indian private sector industry. The indigenously manufactured weapons that were given part to the Army included Landing Craft Attack for operations in Pangong lake, infantry combat vehicles, and many other systems. The move comes in wake of the Make in India movement that was launched by the Centre to grow indigenous manufacturing of goods. (here) Indian Defence Minister takes part in Moscow Conference on International Security-2022; Addresses the conference virtually. 2^nd Indian minister to take part in a Russian Govt event since Feb 24^th. Earlier minister Mansukh Mandaviya had visited the country. “The potential geopolitical fault-line in the maritime domain – particularly in East Asia – could be graver than what we are witnessing today“, says Singh at the Moscow security meet in an indication to the Taiwan Strait crisis.

Indian defense attaché now has unescorted access to Pentagon: US Air Force

Indian defense attaché now has unescorted access to the Pentagon, a top US Defense Department official has said. Such a move is aligned with the trust and cooperation that we share with India, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said at a reception hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu at India House on Independence Day on Mon. “And if you don’t think unescorted access to the Pentagon is a big deal, I can’t get into the Pentagon without an escort,” he said. The Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, is considered one of the most difficult places to get access. Even American citizens have no access to the building without high-level security clearances. (here)

The U.S. expressed concern India was being used to export fuel of Russian origin, Indian central banker says

The United States has expressed concern to India that it was being used to export fuel made from Russian crude, through high-seas transfers to hide its origin, to New York in violation of U.S. sanctions, a top Indian central banker said on Saturday. The U.S. Treasury Department told India that an Indian ship picked up oil from a Russian tanker on the high seas and brought it to a port in Gujarat on the west coast, where it was refined and shipped, said Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Michael Patra. The U.S. embassy in New Delhi said it had no immediate comment. (here)

Indian P 75I submarine plan unrealistic, timelines cannot be met: Russian designers

After pulling out of the contest for new submarines required by the Indian Navy, Russian designers say that the project is unrealistic as the desired technologies cannot be made available within the strict timelines being defined. As reported by ET in Feb, Russia pulled out of the Rs 43,000 crore contest for 6 new submarines under Project 75I that are to be made at an Indian shipyard in collaboration with a foreign technology partner. (here)

Journalists’ Body Urges India to Grant Asylum Status to Afghan Journalists

The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has urged the Government of India to grant asylum status to journalists and media workers in Afghanistan, who have been facing attacks, intimidation, and arbitrary detention under the Taliban rule. In its letter to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, the IJU urged that India streamline its visa application process and increase the humanitarian intake to facilitate journalists in Afghanistan. The letter highlighted that since the Taliban’s takeover of the country in Aug 2021, human rights, particularly media rights, had come under severe strain, and an estimated 1,000 journalists were believed to have fled the country over the last year. Referring to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan report, the IJU stated that 173 human rights violations took place between August 15, 2021, and June 15, 2022, with the Taliban responsible for 163. (here)

Bihar cabinet expansion: Half of the total goes to RJD, CM kept home with him.

A total of 31 ministers have taken an oath – 16 from RJD, 11 from JD(U), 2 from Congress, and one each from HAM-S and independent. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet Tue – days after the Janata Dal (United) boss took oath as CM for the 8^th time. He was joined by RJD leader (and former rival) Tejashwi Yadav, who became his deputy. The Bihar cabinet has room for 36 ministers (based on the assembly strength of 243) and 31 were sworn in today. Of these, over half were from the RJD, with 11 from Nitish Kumar’s JDU, 2 from the Congress, and 1 from the HUM of former CCM Jitan Ram Manjhi. The 31^st cabinet member is an independent lawmaker. The BJP-JDU Bihar govt collapsed this month after Kumar walked out of the alliance and returned to the Mahagathbandhan fold. (here)

Devendra Fadnavis keeps home, finance in Maharashtra cabinet rejig

Days before the monsoon session of the assembly, the allocation of portfolios in Maharashtra’s cabinet has been finalized with BJP securing key ministries, including home and finance for its leader Devendra Fadnavis. Chief minister Eknath Shinde has kept a large number of berths for himself, presumably to distribute some to supporters in the Shiv Sena in the next phase of cabinet expansion. This includes urban development, public enterprises, social justice, environment, general administration, transport, and minority affairs.

SpiceJet enters into a settlement agreement with aircraft lessor

Budget-carrier SpiceJet on Tue announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with aircraft lessor Goshawk Aviation Limited and its affiliated leasing entities Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Limited, Sabarmati Aviation Leasing Limited, and Falgu Aviation Leasing Limited related to two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and one Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China holds more military drills as US lawmakers meet Taiwanese president

China has carried out fresh military drills near Taiwan in response to the ongoing visit of US lawmakers to the island as high tension, sparked earlier this month by the visit of US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taipei, continues in the Taiwan Strait. A group of 5 US lawmakers, led by Senator Edward Markey, arrived in Taipei late on Sun, and met President Tsai Ing-wen on Mon, triggering angry protests from Beijing, which called the visit “an infringement of its sovereignty”. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and says official ties between the island and another country is a violation of the mainland’s sovereignty. The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) eastern theatre command said it had organized multi-service joint combat readiness patrols and combat drills in the sea and airspace around Taiwan on Mon. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office separately warned Taiwan’s leaders that they would be “severely punished” if they continued to provoke Beijing. (here) [This is the way how Bejing welcomes the US officials. No point to waste ammunition uselessly, while experts expect many visits of US officials to Taiwan] U.S. carries out ICBM test delayed during Chinese show-of-force over Taiwan- Reuters – The US military said on Tue that it had carried out a test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, delayed to avoid escalating tensions with Beijing during China’s show of force near Taiwan earlier this month.

US-Taiwan trade talks get a boost after 28 years, as frayed China ties trump US$40 billion trade deficit

US officials are pushing ahead on trade talks with Taiwan – once regarded as a tough partner because of an import-export deficit – to show political support and secure semiconductors for the American market, according to analysts. Presidential deputy assistant Kurt Campbell said at a White House briefing on Fri that the US govt will continue to “deepen our ties with Taiwan, including through continuing to advance our economic and trade relationship”, and that Washington was developing an “ambitious road map” for trade negotiations. The White House was expected to announce its Taiwan trade road map “in the coming days”, Campbell added. The American Institute in Taiwan – the US’ de facto embassy in Taipei – had no further information as of Tue. Taiwan-US trade talks began in 1994 but have failed to generate the sort of tariff-busting deal that hatches from many other trade negotiations. The US still has a trade deficit with Taiwan, a major exporter of manufactured goods such as machinery and consumer electronics. The trade-in-goods deficit stood at about US$40.27 billion last year – a year-on-year increase of more than 30%. (here)

Washington not overawed by Beijing’s brazen muscle-flexing in Taiwan Strait

The recent spurt in China’s theatrics over Taiwan Strait in the backdrop of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-governed island had not deterred America from following Washington’s long-standing and bipartisan policy on Taiwan. Sergio Restelli, an Italian political advisor, author, and geopolitical expert, writing in The Times of Israel said that there is a buzz on social media since the landing of an American military aircraft carrying the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in Taipei airport on Aug 2^nd. (here)

Toyota suspends operations at the Sichuan plant due to a power shortage

Toyota Motor has suspended operations at its plant in China’s Sichuan province after local authorities issued an order to conserve electricity, the company said Tue. Toyota’s joint-venture plant in the city of Chengdu has ceased operations until Sat (Aug 20), a company spokesman said. Sichuan province has rationed industrial electricity consumption during its worst heatwave in 60 years, prompting producers of fertilizers, lithium, and other metals to shut plants or curb output. Industrial users across 19 out of 21 cities in the province were ordered to suspend production from Aug 15 until Aug 20 to prioritize residential power supply, according to a notice issued Sun (Aug 14) by the Department of Economy and Information Technology of Sichuan. (here)

UN envoy Noeleen Heyzer makes rare visit to Myanmar

The UN’s new special envoy, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer for Myanmar began her first trip to the country, a day after a junta court sentenced ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 6 more years in jail for corruption. Heyzer will focus on addressing the deteriorating situation and immediate concerns as well as other priority areas of her mandate,” according to a UN statement issued late on Mon (Aug 15). It did not give details on who she would meet among the junta’s top leadership or whether she would seek to meet Suu Kyi. Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told a pro-army media outlet that Dr. Heyzer was due to arrive on Wed. “She will meet the country’s leader and other senior ministers,” he said, adding that no request had been made to meet Suu Kyi. (here)

Nepal: Ruling alliance to send amendment bill on Citizenship Act back to President in its present form

A meeting of the ruling alliance on Tue decided to present the amendment bill on the Citizenship Act, which was returned by President Bidya Devi Bhandari for a review on Sun, to resend it again for authentication without any changes. The 5-party coalition has decided to endorse the amendment bill on Citizenship Act without any changes as the issues raised by the President are procedural ones and they could be taken into account while implementing it, according to Law Minister Govinda Bandi. The next House meeting is slated for Thu. Speaker Agni Sapkota sent the bill to amend the Citizenship Act 2006 for authentication on July 31 after the House of Representatives endorsed it on July 22 and the National Assembly on July 26. However, President Bhandari returned the bill to the House of Representatives on Sun for a review along with a 15-point message. (here)

Pakistan: Miftah on the defensive after PML-N supremo ‘strongly opposes’ petrol price hike

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail went on the defensive on Tue, a day after the govt raised the price of petrol for the next fortnight, saying that while he was an “easy target” the revision does not include any new taxes. In response to a tweet by journalist Hamid Mir, he argued that the govt had not imposed new taxes on petroleum products. “The increase or decrease in prices is according to the purchasing by Pakistan State Oil (PSO),” he said. Ismail’s remarks also come after PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter to say that party supremo Nawaz Sharif had strongly opposed the decision to raise the price of petrol. (here)

Is the Pakistan COAS’s visit to Sandhurst a strategic shift away from China and towards the West?

The visit of Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst is being seen as a strategic shift away by Islamabad from China and towards the West because of the country’s economic compulsions. Gen Bajwa is the first ever Pakistani Army Chief to be given this honor of being the sovereign representative of the queen of the UK during the passing-out parade at the Military Academy Sandhurst. He also reportedly met other senior dignitaries in the UK including top Defense and intelligence officials. Facing a severe economic crunch, Pakistan is not getting any financial assistance from its close ally, China. The multi-billion-dollar investment in the name of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) failed to boost Pakistan’s economy. China has now stopped all funding and Pakistan has seen the fate of Sri Lanka which fell right into the China-created debt trap. Earlier this year, the Pakistan Army Chief reached out to the US after the exit of Imran Khan as PM. He said that the army is not on the same page as Khan regarding relations with the US. Bajwa also spoke of better relations with the EU and the UK during the political changeover. (here)