Issue 3a: World, China, and India
Featuring Ladakh, Indian Ocean and updates from World and India
I hope to bring your attention to important events, actions, and changes that impact us and our place in the world. In this pursuit, I plan to experiment and improve quickly in the first few editions of this newsletter based on your feedback. This week I plan to tackle two major themes of this newsletter Politics and Tech into two separate issues. ‘World’ and ‘India’ would be covered in issue Na (ex: 3a). ‘Big Tech’ and ‘Startups’ in issue Nb (ex: 3b). Let’s dive into this new format with a big dose of China.
Focus: India - China
Pangong Tso Lake, Ladakh
India is now holding heights in the southern bank of the lake, overlooking the recently Chinese occupied finger-4 area in the northern bank. Announcing that China made aggressive manoeuvers last Saturday Indian Army in response made ‘pre-emptive’ ‘defensive’ moves on its side of LAC giving it a better tactical position and view.
China in June has constructed a border post at Finger 4 where the clash and deaths of soldiers happened. This effectively changed the on-ground status quo where Fingers 5-8 were previously loosely held by China (they built a motorable road when Kargil was attacked and India had to move units). The below image from this video explains it well.
Now, India has strengthened its position at the southern bank leaving no space for China to squeeze in and lay further claims. A well-executed move and deserves praise for the Army. But China is still making aggressive moves constructing a missile site near Kailash-Manasarovar (bordering Uttarakhand) and one more at Doklam area (bordering Sikkim and Bhutan).
In Oceans:
A recent report claims that the Indian Navy deployed a warship in the disputed South China Sea after Galwan Clash in June as a potential threat. This report two months after the incident is essentially projecting strength at sea but there is a larger strategic battle at play.
China has been pushing Thailand to approve an inter-oceanic canal in its South for quicker and strategic entry to the Andaman Sea. Many experts believe there is little monetary gain for Thailand and it risks drawing a border to its Muslim dominated south (Panama seceded from Colombia during its construction). This image and article explain the risks and other similar initiatives.
This is another move in keeping with the ‘String of Pearls’ strategy of encircling India in its Seas by China with commercial and potentially military dealings with various ports in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives etc.
World:
Czech and China are having it:
Czech senate president becomes the highest-ranking official to visit Taiwan in defiance of China’s One Nation policy. The Czech Republic’s President Milos Zeman was the staunchest public supporter of China in Europe, hoping Chinese investments will revitalize the economy. But the expected investments never came and trust eroded leading to diplomatic tit-for-tat and posturing. A good history of the relationship here.
Taiwan re-designs its passport:
Expressing its distinct identity and to tackle anti-China (political and COVID related) perceptions, Taiwan has finally taken up this long-requested change. Citizens as a protest were applying stickers over ‘China‘ with ‘Taiwan’ which is illegal.
Qatar introduces labor reforms:
Fifa World Cup, despite its bribery accusations and absurdity of playing in Middle East summer heat, has done one thing right. It brought a much-needed labor reform to the Kafala system where employers usually sponsor the Visa but routinely take away laborers’ Passport’s and exploit them. Indians and other South Asian migrants will benefit from this. Link
India:
Bharath Ratna Pranabh Mukherjee passes away:
The 13th President and a Congress stalwart who held many positions in the cabinet and party except the Prime Ministership passed away due to ill-health. He might join the list of non-Gandhi named Congress party icons adopted by BJP (Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and PV Narasimha Rao among others). Read Pranab Da’s Wiki intro.
India sees the steepest GDP decline in Q2:
Prashant Bhushan’s tweets still causing trouble:
After Supreme Court convicted Mr. Bhushan for criticizing the court, but settled for a Rs 1 fine, the Bar Council will start its own proceedings to debar based on the above conviction. Is it another pressure tactic or someone plotting revenge? Link
India removes PUBG and 117 other apps:
Using section 69A of IT act to claim Chinese apps impinge on the Sovereignty and Integrity of India is an ingenious way to block any foreign competition (and technically illegal way to boost domestic companies). Though it can be challenged in courts, none of these companies have taken the legal route and rightly so, as they would not win in public or with judges in this environment. Quint explains the legalities here.
Govt. unilaterally decides not to have verbal Question Hour:
Instead of coming to a consensus with the opposition on how to manage parliamentary sessions in the pandemic, govt decides to abandon this unilaterally, thereby perpetuating its zeal to muzzle opposition. Read how this parliamentary proceeding typically works here.
Culture:
Youtube: Looking for a new series. Try this. World War I, week by week relived 100 years later.
Instagram: Food Art from Norway.
