Current Affairs
Chinese President Visit to India
(01) Strategic Ties
.JPG)
(02) Economic Pacts
(03) Transport
(04) Energy, Environment
(05) Tourism, People 2 People
(06) Overall
(07) India
without Tibetan Leverage
(08) China's
Presence in Sri Lanka
(09) India
Vs China
in defence
----------------------------------------------------------------
(01) Strategic Ties:
·
“Inch towards miles” - Fancy term by Modi; Inch (India and China) towards Miles (Millennium of
Exceptional Synergy)
·
“With every inch we cover, we can rewrite history of humanity”
·
“With every mile we cross will go a long way in making this
planet a better place”
Border issues
·
2013: Both the countries have signed a Border Defence Cooperation
Agreement (BDCA) in 2013 to ensure peace and tranquility at the LAC.
·
2014, Aug: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to China to finalise the arrangements for Chinese
President Xi Jinping’s visit to India.
·
Next stage: Exchanging maps Line of Actual Control (LAC).
·
During Modi-Xi Meeting: Lot of talks: will resolve differences
through the same ‘old Panchsheel’, a climate of mutual trust and confidence is
made; we respect each other’s sensitivities and concerns; and, peace and
stability etc.
Narendra Modi
·
Requested Xi to resume the stalled process of clarifying the LAC
and an early settlement of the boundary question.
·
Discussed China’s
stapled visa policy for Arunachal Pradesh and Trans Border
Rivers.
·
Agreed that he’ll not allow Anti-China activities in India (e.g. Tibet militant groups)
·
Until we find out final solution to border problem, both sides
will maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.
Chumar Standoff
·
Where? Himachal Pradesh =>Chumar village near Ladakh area.
China says its their land, they keep coming there on foot and through
helicopters. Even constructing a road, though Indian army destroyed it
recently.
·
Why in News? Because the Chinese soldiers entered this area
during Xi’s visit.
·
But 72 hours after the Joint statement of Modi and Xi, the
Chinese troops began withdrawal.
·
Recent reports say, Chinese also ceased the road construction
work there.
UN
reforms
·
Will strengthen the central role of United Nations. This goes
along with Modi’s stand that we need to get out the G4, G20 etc. mentality.
·
China supports India’s wish
for UN reforms and UNSC reform.
·
Developing countries need to be given greater voice in UN
Decision Making. We’ll work closely @BRICS, G20 etc to achieve this.
Joint
Exercises
·
Fourth joint army training at a mutually convenient time,
·
Will hold navy/air force joint exercise
·
Area of cooperation: peace-keeping, counter-terrorism, naval
escort, maritime security, humanitarian rescue, disaster mitigation, personnel
training, and think tank communication.
Routine lip-service
·
Terrorism - Both Agreed for zero tolerance against terrorism
·
Smuggling - Will share information about cross border illegal
trade in narcotics, weapons, wildlife.
·
Maritime - cooperation for security, anti-piracy, freedom of
navigation
·
Nuke weapons - yes we’ll work for disarmament and arms control.
·
Turmoil countries - Bilateral consultations on Afghanistan, West Asia, Africa, Central Asia and Counter-terrorism.
(02)
Economy Pacts:
Import
export
·
China will take steps to facilitate entry of Indian products in
China, thereby balancing the bilateral trade. (Right now India has large trade-deficit with China, ~35
billion USD).
·
For above purpose, China will establish strong links
between Indian IT companies and Chinese enterprises, smooth registration of
Indian drugs, releasing Indian movies in Chinese cinema, selling Indian tour
packages to Chinese and so on.
·
Commercial Bank of China will give loan to IndiGO for
new aircrafts.
·
MoUs signed between China’s Export Import bank and SBI, ICICI,
for giving billions USD in loans and importing Chinese products in India.
·
MoU between Reliance and Huwei
Infra
/ Industries
·
China to set up two industrial
parks
Ø Gujarat (Power Equipment)
Ø Maharashtra (Automobile Parts)
·
These two industrial parks will be similar to the Chinese
manufacturing hub Shenzen.
·
China will invest US$ 20 billion in
next five years in Indian infra. (Japan pledged 35 billion$ in
investment + 50 billion Yen as loan)
Sister
Pacts
·
Will cooperate for trade, environment, education, health, science
and tourism
Ø Sister States - Gujarat and Guangdong
Ø Sister Cities - Ahmedabad and
Guangzhou
Miscellaneous
·
WTO - have common interests in Doha round. So will cooperate to ensure
treaties are made in our favour.
·
Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) - to explore new areas for
economic cooperation, joint projects, smart cities.
·
Joint Economic Group - to facilitate bilateral trade and economic
cooperation.
(03) Transport:
Chinese Cooperation in Indian Railways
·
Training 100 people for heavy haul transport
·
Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore section: it’s speed will be increased to
160 kmph
·
Redevelop two rail stations on pilot basis.
·
High speed rail project- feasibility studies + financing part.
·
Setup Railway
University.
BCIM corridor
·
Will connect Kunming (SW China)-
Kolkata (India) – Mandalay (Myanmar)
–Dhaka|Chittagong (Bangladesh)
·
Southwest China = landlocked, poor, Uyghur
extremism.
·
China hopes, BCIM corridor will boost trade-tourism, thereby
reducing poverty and extremism in its Southwest region.
·
December 2013 - had official talk with India in this regard.
·
2014 - Modi and Xi too discussed BCIM corridor and agreed that
it’ll bring collective prosperity
Maritime Silk Road
(MSR)
·
Xi invited India to join Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative. [Click
me]
·
But Modi remained non-committal, saying it requires mutual trust,
stability, respect, free flow of commerce and ideas.
·
In other words, if China
opens up its economy to Indian goods and services, helps reducing India’s trade deficit, maintains peace @border
region, then India
will consider joining MSR
(04) Energy, Environment:
·
Nuclear Energy Pact: Will start consultations between the
Department of Atomic Energy of India
and the China
Atomic Energy Authority.
·
Will promote clean energy.
·
Common stand on climate change CBDR i.e. first world should spend
more money and efforts. We’ll work together @UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change in 2015 to ensure this.
·
Disaster Management: Better sharing of flood-season hydrological
data, and emergency management
(05) Tourism, People 2 People:
Tourism years
·
2015 - Visit India
year (in China)
·
2016 - Visit China
year (in India)
·
During these phase, both sides will do tourism promotion to
increase no. of visitors.
·
China will help India promote its tourism products in China,
particularly the routes associated with Chinese monk-scholar Xuan Zang (Hiuen
Tsang)’s India
journey of 7th century.
Kailash
Mansarovar
·
The existing route goes through Uttarakhand.
·
China agreed to open a new route
through Nathu-La to Kailash Mansarovar. It’ll give following Benefits:
v
Road quality is better. Less bumpy rides for older pilgrims.
v
Route is safe even in rainy season. Less danger of landslides and
blockades.
v
Will help more pilgrims to travel at shorter duration.
·
Counterview: North Indians will first have to travel to Sikkim and from there to Mt. Kailash
so journey expense will increase.
Exchanges
·
2015-19: we’ll exchange 200 youth per year.
·
Exchanges between the museums and other cultural institutions.
·
China will host Indian Buddhist
art exhibitions.
·
China will partner in Delhi International Book
Fair 2016.
·
Will mutually support teaching national languages in each other’s
countries- Chinese in India
and Hindi in China.
Miscellaneous
·
MoU for joint production of movies.
·
China will be a guest in Indian
International Film Festival 2014.
(06) Overall:
India became more assertive
·
During Japan
visit Modi indirectly refereed “countries with an 18th century expansionist
mind-set: encroaching on other countries, intruding in others’ waters, invading
other countries and capturing territory.”
·
Same way, Pranab signed Oil exploration and defence deals with Vietnam.
·
Thus, India
became more assertive, pursuing its course without worrying about Chinese
reaction.
·
During Xi’s visit- positive outcomes on border, economy and
culture.
·
Chumar resolved tacitly, without creating lot of media bravado.
China stopped worrying
·
After Modi’s US visit, Chinese official newspaper concluded
following:
Ø
India will pursue non-aligned yet
all-round foreign policy.
Ø
Therefore, India
will not develop ties with USA,
at expense of China.
Ø
Although border issues unsorted but it’ll not hamper cooperation
in trade and Development between India-China.
Ø
India will not be in the picture
frame of USA’s
“Trans-pacific partnership (TPP)”. Hence USA
(And not India) will act as
an obstacle to China’s
economic rise.
Ø
China should worry more about USA’s “Pivot to Asia”
strategy, under which:
Japan - ~40,000 American soldiers
to be stationed
South Korea - ~30,000
Australia - 2500
Negative
·
Earlier reports indicated, Xi would announce 100 billon$
investment.
·
During Xi visit, 16 agreements yet just 20 billion investment.
(Japanese giving 35).
·
MSR did not materialize.
·
Hard to believe that Chumar incident happened without Xi’s
knowledge and approval. Perhaps it was Xi’s way of showing displeasure over
Pranab signing oil deals with Vietnam.
(07) India
without Tibetan Leverage:
·
Chinese and Tibet
issue. So in long term, India
may not have Tibet issue to
arm-twist China
to get things done.
China Vs Dalai Lama
|
Before
|
Now
|
|
Chinese official would call him “Splittists” and
his followers as “terrorists”
|
Making polite references to Dalai lama in their
Government newspapers.
Acknowledging Dalai Lama’s religious status.
Talking with his envoys- on how to bring him back
to Tibet.
|
|
Tibetan protests and self-immolations increasing in
2008 because of Beijing
Olympic and media attention.
Security was tight.
|
Migrant Han Chinese controlling Tibetan economy.
Government pumped billions in infrastructure.
Tibetan economy growing at 12%, Junta back to
business and jobs. Hence protests declined.
Security is reduced.
|
|
China looked at Tibet as a
‘trouble’ region.
|
China portraying Tibet as a
Buddhist tourist destination.
|
India’s position on Tibet
·
India diplomats sheltered Dalai
Lama and Tibetan refugees as some sort “leverage” against China.
·
But India has
already recognized to “One China”
and does not recognize a “Free Tibet”.
So most of the leverage is gone.
·
And once Dalai Lama returns to Tibet, the leverage will vanish
entirely.
·
Benefit - If Dalai Lama returns to China,
then it may lead to clearing of some historical burden of misunderstandings, China may stop
cozying with Pakis and the secessionist leaders in North East. (Because Chinese
use that as leverage against India)
(08)Xi’s Sri Lanka visit:
Xi visited Sri Lanka, while on his way to India:
·
Called Sri-Lanka a “Pearl in the Indian Ocean”. But maintained that China has no plans of “containing” India through
any so called “strings of pearl strategy”.
·
Opposed foreign intervention in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. (e.g.
India
and UNHRC)
·
Invited Sri-Lanka (And Maldives) to join Maritime silk
road (MSR)
·
Began FTA negotiation with Sri Lanka.
·
30 agreements
·
Since 2009: China
invested ~4 billion in Sri Lankan infrastructure. Additional $1.4-billion port
city development project + several infrastructure projects. (China entered Sri
Lanka only after LTTE destroyed by India and Sri Lanka)
·
Final phase of power plant in Noracholai, in Shri Lanka’s
North-west.
Will Sri Lanka
really benefit from sitting in China’s
lap?
·
Chinese gives loans at expensive interest rate to Sri Lanka.
While India
spend truckload of money in grants. (i.e. no need to repay).
·
Sri Lanka owns ~200 billion loan money
to China.
·
FTA with China
will ruin Sri-Lankan economy. Because Cheap Chinese goods will flood their
market. And in return, Sri
Lanka doesn’t have much to export to Chinese
consumers!
·
On the contrary, Sri-Lanka gained immensely with CEPA with India.
·
Sri Lanka tried to play “China card” against India, but they should remember,
that during natural and man-made disasters, only the immediate neighbor will
come to rescue.
(09) Defence - India
Vs China:
|
Sector
|
China
|
India
|
|
Defence Budget
|
> 130 billion USD
|
Approx 38 billion USD
|
|
Troops
|
2.2 million
|
1.3 million
|
|
Submarines
|
56 (5 nuclear powered)
|
14 (1 nuclear powered)
|
|
Warships
|
75 (2 aircraft carriers)
|
>30 (1 aircraft carrier)
|
|
Fighter jets
|
>1600
|
>550
|
|
Battle Tanks
|
> 7000
|
> 320
|
|
Missiles
|
Large Arsenal
ICBM (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles) and
SLBM (Submarine Launch Ballistic Missiles)
|
No ICBM and SLBM
(Agni V – still under testing)
|
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