Punjabi ਭਾਰਤ-ਚੀਨ ਵਿਚਾਲੇ ਬਦਲੇ ਸਬੰਧਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵੀ ਭਵਿਖ ਨੀਤੀ

[dalvinder45]

China's impact on Maldives is definite. The Maldivian defence force on Thursday said it will have operational authority over the helicopter given by India to the island nation and the civilian crew that will pilot it. Addressing a press conference, the principal director of plans, policy, and resources management for the Maldives National Defence Force, Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohamed said that discussions are underway for withdrawing Indian troops from the Maldives. He emphasised that the government of President Mohamed Muizzu has decided not to permit any foreign troops to remain stationed in the Maldives beyond May 10, PSM News, the state broadcaster reported. Last week, India said its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the Maldives to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation.
"The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing on February 29.
Following a second meeting of the high-level core group that was set up to address the issue of withdrawal of the Indian military personnel, the Maldivian foreign ministry had said India will replace all its military personnel in two phases by May 10.
India's ties with the Maldives came under stress as Muizzu, seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president in November that he would keep his election promise of expelling all Indian military personnel from his country.
Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.
His government this week signed a deal with China's military under which Beijing will supply "non-lethal" weapons to the Maldives free of cost. Local media quoted President Muizzu as saying that the non-lethal weaponry would include tear gas and pepper spray.
Colonel Mujthaba also said that the Indian helicopter stationed in Addu City is currently undergoing repairs, and in its place, 26 civilians have arrived in the Maldives with a replacement helicopter.
He noted that the familiarisation process is in progress and said the Indian troops will depart from the Maldives as planned.
He also said the MNDF will have operational authority over the Indian civilians and vehicles associated with the helicopter.
According to the Maldivian government, 88 Indian military personnel were in the Maldives primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions.
The Indian aviation platforms have provided humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the Maldivians for the last few years.
Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.
The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region.
The overall bilateral ties, including in defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.

 

[dalvinder45]

'No right to interfere': China says as India backs Philippines' sovereignty over South China Sea territorial row The South China Sea is a major waterway and has been at the centre of a territorial conflict between China and its maritime neighbours, ..

 

[dalvinder45]

India has reaffirmed its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, dismissing China's claims and asserting that the state has always been and will remain an integral part of the country. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized this stance at the Corporate Summit 2024 organized by Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He stated that changing names does not alter the reality of Arunachal Pradesh being an Indian state. India's firm stance is in response to recent actions by China, including renaming places along the border with India.​

He stated, "If today I change the name of your house, will it become mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be a state of India. Changing names does not have an effect."

China's Defense Ministry recently reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it "Zangan--an inherent part of China's territory." In response, India rejected the claims, calling them "absurd" and "baseless."

The Ministry of External Affairs released an official statement, emphasizing Arunachal Pradesh's integral status in India and its continued development under Indian initiatives. The statement said, "Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Its people will continue to benefit from our development programmes and infrastructure projects."

In a related development, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs announced the renaming of 30 places along the border with India, including areas within Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as "Zangnan." This move is seen as an attempt to assert territorial claims.

Jaishankar responded to these actions, stating, "Our army is deployed at the Line of Actual Control." He reiterated that renaming places does not change the ground reality. China has long claimed Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and has objected to Indian leaders' visits to the region.

India's firm stance on Arunachal Pradesh's sovereignty is based on historical and legal grounds. Despite China's efforts to assert its claims, India remains resolute in its position, emphasizing the state's integral status within the country.

Background of the Dispute
China has disputed India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh for decades. The region, bordering Tibet, has been a point of contention between the two countries, leading to occasional tensions and diplomatic spats.

India-China Border Dispute
The border dispute between India and China dates back to the 1962 Sino-Indian War, which resulted in China gaining control of Aksai Chin. Since then, both countries have made efforts to resolve the border issue, but disagreements persist, particularly in areas like Arunachal Pradesh.

Impact on India-China Relations
The ongoing dispute over Arunachal Pradesh and other border areas has strained India-China relations. Despite efforts to improve ties, including high-level meetings and diplomatic engagements, the border issue remains a major point of contention between the two nations.

Future Prospects
The recent developments highlight the complex nature of the India-China relationship, with territorial disputes continuing to be a major challenge. Both countries will need to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to these issues to ensure stability in the region.

 

[dalvinder45]

China is going big on cranking up military infra along the Line of Actual Control, recent intel inputs and satellite images have shown..
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assures talks with China are progressing positively, emphasizing India's unwavering stance.
Although India and China have not faced off militarily in the four years since the infamous LAC flare-up that claimed lives on both sides, infrastructure building by the PLA has been going on at full tilt along the mountainous border, ToI reported on April 29.
The Chinese side has also continued to dual-use ‘Xiaokang’ villages, bolster military positions and deploy more fighter jets at its bases in LAC's vicinity, the report by Rajat Pandit said.
Images from satellites, intelligence reports, and other inputs indicate that there is ongoing Chinese activity in all three sectors of the 3,488-km LAC, which stretches from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, defence and security establishment sources
China, for example, has recently finished building a road from the northern part of Samzungling to the Galwan Valley. This road provides the PLA with a 15-km shorter alternative route to quickly deploy troops in the region.

A buffer zone without patrols was established around Patrolling Point-14 in Galwan Valley, three weeks after a violent confrontation where 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of Chinese troops lost their lives on June 15, 2020.
The Chinese army has been reportedly enhancing military and transportation facilities behind the buffer zones on both sides of Pangong Tso. This includes the Kailash range and Gogra-Hot Springs, all of which are predominantly located in regions that India claims as its own territory.

The PLA has been concentrating on improving the last-mile connectivity by building roads, bridges, tunnels, and helipads to reach its forward positions. Additionally, they are constructing new bunkers, camps.underground shelters, artillery positions, radar sites, and ammunition dumps in other areas along the LAC.

According to various reports, India has also continued to match China with “mirror military deployments”. The newspaper had reported earlier that the Indian side has also majorly shored up infrastructure and capability development along the frontier

Significantly, China has cut down its disadvantages in likely air combat caused by high-altitude terrain limitations by deploying more fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and drones. This was achieved by upgrading its airfields such as Hotan, Kashgar, Gargunsa, Shigatse, Bangda, Nyingchi, and Hoping with new and longer runways, reinforced shelters, and storage facilities for fuel and ammunition.

As per latest info cited by ToI, two new JH-7A fighter-bombers and three Y-20 heavy-lift aircraft, along with others, have been stationed at Hotan in Xinjiang. These are in addition to the almost 50 J-11 and J-7 fighters, five Y-8 and Y-7 transport aircraft, and KJ-500 AEW&C (airborne early-warning and control) aircraft stationed at the location.

 

[dalvinder45]

The Indian Army is closely monitoring China's construction of a road in the Shaksgam Valley, analyzing its military implications. This development raises concerns as the road could threaten Indian defenses in the Siachen Glacier area. India has protested against the construction, which aims to connect the Karakoram Highway to the Upper Shaksgam Valley, bordering the Siachen Glacier. If extended, the road could pose a dual threat from Pakistan and China. India is actively engaging in dialogue to ..

India on May 02 lodged a strong protest against the reports of Chinese activities in Shaksgam Valley situated in POK. Shooting down media reports of ‘construction activities by China in Shaksgam Valley’ MEA said that It is a part of India. MEA further said that New Delhi never accepted the China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963. The issue of Shaksgam Valley comes amid the India-China border dispute along the Line of Actual Control. Indian and Chinese soldiers came at a loggerhead at friction points in eastern Ladakh in 2020 at LAC. The Shaksgam Valley, or the Trans Karakoram Tract is a strategically key region is part of the Hunza-Gilgit Region of PoK. It is bordered by the Xinjiang Province of China to the north, the northern areas of PoK to its west, south & Siachen Glacier region to the east. The Shaksgam Valley was ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963 when both countries signed a boundary pact to settle their differences.

China's third aircraft carrier, Fujian, has embarked on its maiden trials, signaling the country's naval expansion to challenge the US. With a focus on testing propulsion and electrical systems, the trials are expected to last two years before the carrier joins the fleet in five years. Fujian is the largest and most advanced Chinese aircraft carrier, equipped with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for smoother, more efficient aircraft launches. China's naval modernization is see ..


Indian Naval Ships Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan, led by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, arrived in Singapore as part of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet's operational deployment to the South China Sea. The visit aims to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between India and Singapore through various engagements. The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy have a longstanding relationship, with regular visits, exchanges, and training arrangements. This deployment highlights the strong ties ..
India and Singapore have maintained robust relations for three decades, marked by regular visits, exchange of best practices, and reciprocal training arrangements. This deployment underscores the strong linkages between the two navies.

 

[dalvinder45]

External affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday described the deployment of forces at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China as ‘abnormal’, adding that the security of the country should not be disregarded.

"After 1962, Rajiv Gandhi went to China in 1988 in many ways that was the key step towards normalising the ties (with China)...there was a clear understanding that we will discuss our boundary differences but we will maintain peace and tranquility on the border. And the rest of the relationship will carry on," the minister was quoted by PTI as saying at an event in Kolkata.

"What changed now is what happened in 2020. In 2020, the Chinese, in violation of multiple agreements, brought a large number of forces to our border and they did it at the time when we were under COVID lockdown," Jaishankar said.

The minister asserted that India responded by counter deployment of force and for fours now, the forces have been deployed ahead of the normal base positions at Galwan.
"In 2020, the Chinese in violation of multiple agreements brought large number of forces at the border at a time when India was under covid lockdown...We responded by counter-deploying our forces...Today, there is a very abnormal deployment along the Line of Actual Control...As Indian citizens, none of us should disregard the security of the country"....

There is also an economic challenge, he said, which is due to "neglect of the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors in the previous years. "Why is Indian business buying so much from China... Is it good to be so dependent on some other source?" Jaishankar added.

 

[dalvinder45]

China's military drills surround Taiwan​

The drills, the largest in over a year, come just days after Taiwan inaugurated its new president, Lai Ching-te, who is a staunch advocate for Taiwan's sovereignty.​

China ended two days of war games around Taiwan in which it simulated attacks with bombers and practiced boarding ships, exercises that Taiwan condemned as "blatant provocation" on Saturday, detailing a surge of Chinese warplanes and warships.
Chinese state television's military channel said ate on Friday the drills had concluded. A commentary in the official People's Liberation Army Daily said they had lasted for two days from Thursday to Friday, as previously announced.
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, launched the "Joint Sword - 2024A" exercises three days after Lai Ching-te became Taiwan's president, a man Beijing calls a "separatist".
Beijing said the exercises were "punishment" for Lai's Monday inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were "not subordinate to each other", which China viewed as a declaration the two are separate countries.
Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. Taiwan's government has condemned the drills, saying it will not be cowed by Chinese pressure.
Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 62 Chinese military aircraft and 27 navy ships on Friday, including 46 planes that crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, which previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.
Chinese aircraft, including advanced Su-30 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flew in the strait as well as into the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, the ministry said.
On Friday it published footage taken by Taiwanese air force planes of a Chinese J-16 fighter and an H-6 but did not say exactly where it was taken.
Taiwan's presidential office on Saturday that China's military moves had undermined the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
They "also constitute a blatant provocation to the international order, and have aroused serious concern and condemnation from the international community", it said in a statement.
The Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command, whose forces carried out the drills, released a video on its social media accounts on Saturday called "A six-word rhyme on smashing independence", set to stirring martial music.

The words "advance, surround, lock-down, attack, destroy and cut-off" flash up over footage of fighters, bombers, soldiers and animated mock missile attacks on Taiwan.
China has over the past four years regularly staged military activities around Taiwan, including large-scale war games in 2022 and in 2023.
However, senior Taiwan lawmaker Wang Ting-yu from Lai's Democratic Progressive Party said the latest drills appeared to be more about China making a noise than upping the ante, given it had to respond to Lai's speech.
"They were comparatively more restrained than previous ones," Wang, who chairs parliament's defence and foreign affairs committee, said on social media.
Still, China has kept up a barrage of invective against Lai.
The People's Liberation Army Daily commentary, published as "the voice of the military", said Lai was determined to act as a "pawn" for external forces to curb China's development.
"If Taiwan independence separatist forces insist on going their own way or even take risks, the PLA will obey orders and take decisive action to resolutely smash all separatist plots," it said.

 

[dalvinder45]

In response to China's recent renaming of locations in India's Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian government has launched a corresponding effort to rename approximately 30 places within China's Tibet Autonomous Region, as reported by The Diplomat.

The newly-elected NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light to the renaming of these locations in Tibet, signalling a firm rebuttal to China's naming initiatives. The chosen names have been thoroughly researched and are rooted in historical significance and ties to the Tibetan region. They will be officially published by the Indian Army and incorporated into updated maps along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

 

[dalvinder45]

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, causing tensions with China. Beijing criticized the visit, urging the US to recognize the "separatist nature" of the Dalai Lama. The visit underscores Washington's support for Tibetan rights amid strained US-China relations.A bipartisan group of US lawmakers visited the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, causing tensions with China. Beijing criticized the visit, urging the US to recognize the "separatist nature" of the Dalai Lama. The visit underscores Washington's support for Tibetan rights amid strained US-China relations.
Purpose of the US Delegation's Visit
The American lawmakers' visit to India was part of a broader effort to support Tibetan rights. They met the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, in Dharamshala. The visit aligns with Washington’s long-standing support for Tibetans and their cultural and religious practices, which have faced repression in China.
The US House of Representatives recently passed the Resolve Tibet Act, which aims to pressure China into resuming dialogue with Tibetan leaders. This dialogue has been stalled since 2010. The bill seeks a negotiated agreement on Tibet's future, addressing aspirations related to its historical, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity.
Meetings with Tibetan Exile Government
The delegation also met officials of Tibet’s government in exile, which operates from India. Among the delegates were Nancy Pelosi, former US House Speaker, and the authors of the Resolve Tibet Act.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

In a congratulatory message to Doval on his reappointment as India's National Security Advisor and Special Representative for the India-China boundary question, Wang noted that China and India share a relationship that transcends bilateral boundaries and holds increasing global significance.​

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed readiness to join hands with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to "properly handle" issues related to the situation on the ground in the border areas, amid the protracted border row in eastern Ladakh.

In a congratulatory message to Doval on his reappointment as India's National Security Advisor and Special Representative for the India-China boundary question, Wang noted that China and India share a relationship that transcends bilateral boundaries and holds increasing global significance.

Besides being the Foreign Minister, Wang is also China's Special Representative of the India-China border talks mechanism.
In his message to Doval sent on Tuesday, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the ruling Communist Party of China, said China and India, as the two most populous developing countries and emerging economies in the world, share a relationship that transcends bilateral boundaries and holds increasing global significance.

Wang noted that he is "ready to join hands with Doval to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, properly handle issues related to the situation on the ground in the border areas, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas," state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

Wang's message followed his recent meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Astana on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Asthana, Kazakhstan.

It was the first high-level meeting between Indian and Chinese officials after the formation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 3.0 government following the recent general elections in India.

Constituted in 2003 to comprehensively address the vexed dispute of the India-China border spanning 3,488 km, the Special Representatives mechanism is headed by India's NSA and the Chinese Foreign Minister.

It met 19 times but success eluded what the analysts regard as a very promising bilateral mechanism though it was very useful and handy in addressing the recurring tensions between the two countries.

Relations between the two countries hit a new low except for trade ever since the eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong Tso (lake) area near Galwan.

Since the May 2020 clashes, the two sides have so far held 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the standoff. The 22nd meeting is due to be held.

According to the Chinese military, the two sides so far agreed to disengage from four points, namely the Galwan Valley, the Pangong Lake, Hot Springs, and Jianan Daban (Gogra) in eastern Ladakh.

India is pressing the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to disengage from the Depsang and Demchok areas, maintaining that there cannot be restoration of normalcy in its relations with China as long as the state of the borders remains abnormal.