Neutering & Defanging Chinese Threat (09-08-2014)

[SSridhar]

NSA to hold strategic talks in China next week - ToI

After a long period of relative quiet, India and China are talking again at the top level. National security adviser Ajit Doval will travel to China next week for a strategic dialogue with his counterpart Yang Jiechi. Doval will follow defence minister Manohar Parrikar who will also be in Beijing for talks next week.

This will be the first such dialogue between India and China in over a year. The two sides were scheduled to hold talks in January but Doval cancelled his visit to Beijing in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack. The dialogue, which will be held over a single day in Beijing, will cover some boundary talks and some strategic issues.

India and China have not had a dedicated boundary discussion for a long time now. This is probably due to the fact that after the border incursion during President Xi Jinping's visit in September 2014, there has been little activity reported from the border areas. There was a second incursion in the Depsang area in Ladakh in the spring of 2015 as Indian and Chinese armies faced off, but it was resolved fairly quietly.

The second reason is the boundary resolution is dependent on the political leadership signing off on the understanding already reached between the two sides after 13 rounds of discussions during the previous UPA government.

However, this has been among the longest periods of inactivity between India and China. In the meantime, China has announced a $46 billion economic corridor through Pakistan and a section of territory claimed by India as a flagship project in the 'One Belt One Road' initiative. It has taken its place in the Taliban reconciliation talks as part of the Quad. Last week, China refused to let terrorist Masood Azhar be proscribed by the UN Security Council, in support of Pakistan.

[SSridhar]

China, Sri Lanka eye new infra road map to anchor ties - Atul Aneja, The Hindu

Looking beyond the current difficulties in reviving a stalled multi-billion dollar project, Sri Lanka and China are now defining a new blueprint, based on rapid infrastructure development, to rail their growing ties for the future.

“Our visit today is an important visit because it will discuss and finalise the framework of future cooperation between our two countries,” said visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his opening remarks during talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang on Thursday.

On Friday, Mr. Wickremesinghe called on Chinese President Xi Jinping. Following talks with Prime Minister Li, both countries affirmed that the $1.4 billion Colombo Port City project had their support, but “technical details” needed to be ironed out before construction could resume.

“On the Colombo port, both sides agreed to further speed up the overall and comprehensive resumption of work on this project. The announcement to resume the work has been made by the Sri Lankan side, but now we will go into further technical details,” said Xiao Qian, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Asia Department, in a brief interaction with the media. “This is an important project and both countries have a strong desire to further enhance and advance this project. On the Chinese side, we hope to see the earliest possible resumption. We believe we won’t have to wait too long.”

New plan

Chinese officials also made it plain that they were now engaged in a dialogue with the Sri Lankans to carve out a new plan that will steer Beijing-Colombo ties. The opportunity to advance the relationship has arisen following the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war and China’s adoption of its 13th five-year plan along with its Going Abroad strategy.

Ahead of his visit, Mr. Wickremesinghe has pledged that his government would generate one million jobs in five years, mainly based on foreign investments from China, Japan, Singapore, India and European countries.

In tune with Colombo’s aspirations, the two Prime Ministers agreed to prioritise the construction of an industrial park at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. Xinhua quoted Prime Minister Li as saying Chinese companies would be encouraged to develop industrial parks, special economic zones, and engage in the processing and manufacturing sector in Sri Lanka.

The two countries will also concentrate on the construction of ports, airports, roads and railways along with fostering a stronger collaboration in the fields of finance, science and technology and culture.

The focus on infrastructure has resulted in the signing of a preferential buyer credit loan agreement for the construction of an extension of section two of the Southern Highway. The Southern Highway is a 126km-long expressway that runs from Colombo to Matara on the southern coast of the island.

Both sides have also agreed to advance their FTA negotiations, with the year-end as the target to achieve tangible results.

During his stay, Mr. Wickremesinghe is slated to meet representatives of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank — the 57-member lender which has been geared to develop infrastructure along the Asian leg of the Belt and Road, China’s giant oceanic and land connectivity project.

Previously, officials from the Asian Development Bank have expressed their willingness to co-finance projects with the AIIB in Sri Lanka. Mr. Wickremesinghe has already met Liu Liange Liange, the head of the China’s powerful Export Import Bank.

Chinese officials said Sri Lanka is “very willing” to participate in China’s Belt and Road initiative so as to re-establish Sri Lanka’s position as the trade hub in the Indian Ocean.

On the political side, Sri Lanka’s United National Party is set to reinforce ties with Communist Party of China following Mr. Wickremesinghe’s talks with Song Tao, the Minister of CPC’s International Department.

[SSridhar]

China, Sri Lanka to redefine Colombo Port City project - Atul Aneja, The Hindu

China and Sri Lanka have decided to redefine the controversial Colombo Port City project by making it an international financial outpost in the Indian Ocean as part of a 20-year framework plan.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe said on Saturday that a decision was taken to develop the Port City into a financial hub in the Indian Ocean.

I hope that outright ownership of land which was proposed to be given to China within the sensitive port is no longer the case.

[chanakyaa]

Some more details on the China-Sri Lanka tap dance not covered in the above articles, is the how Chinese are using the powerful, time tested mechanism of using DEBT to gain access. Looks like Chinese ought to have a upper hand in the discussions, meaning Sri Lanka loosing more than previously negotiated. The question is what did they agreed to give up?

Sri Lanka Accepts Chinese Demands to Avoid Debt Trap

Debt trap

Analysts said the Sri Lankan leader's decision to resume work on the project is a desperate measure to stop his country from heading towards a debt trap. Sri Lanka is finding it extremely difficult to raise fresh funds from the world market after international ratings firms Fitch and Standard & Poor’s reduced the South Asian nation's credit rating in February and March.

Sri Lanka wants China to reschedule past loans amounting to about $5 billion, and extend fresh loans. This includes Chinese finance for $1.6 billion to spend on a seaport and an airport in Hambantota, the home region of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was known to be close to China.

Financial problems and the need for infrastructure funding were the main reasons behind Wickremasinghe’s decision to restart the Colombo Port City project, according to Weerakoon Dushni, deputy director at the Institute of Public Policy in Colombo. “Managing loan repayments is a major problem. Nearly half of Sri Lanka’s external debt has been raised on non-concessional and commercial terms,” she said adding, “We need to engage with China both in political and economic terms.”

Some experts believe Sri Lanka has approached China for help because India and the United States failed to provide assistance. “The major task for Sri Lanka's current government is economic development. Yet after its attempt to reduce its reliance on Beijing, Colombo has realized that there is no alternative,” Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies told the Global Times newspaper. “Over the past year, neither India nor the U.S. has provided it with attractive mega-projects that China did. It is therefore natural for Sri Lanka to turn around and embrace China again,” Zhao said.

[SSridhar]

Colombo port project not a security threat to India: Ranil - Atul Aneja, The Hindu

The Colombo Port City project, which both China and Sri Lanka have decided to develop into a financial hub, will not have any impact on Indian security, visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said here [Beijing] on Saturday.

“We have discussed it with India and we are willing to discuss it with India further. As you know, this is not going to be a China-Sri Lanka venture. It is going to open to everyone and already many Indian businessmen have told me that they are willing to come to the port city,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

“It will be a joint venture with a Chinese company and a Sri Lankan company and we want to put 40 per cent out into the stock market and it will give an opportunity to Indian companies to invest in the Sri Lankan venture.”

“Sri Lanka has been planning to establish a financial and business hub in the Indian Ocean and we selected the port city to be the location. So from a landfill and real estate [project], it has become a financial hub,” he added.

He pointed out that the Port City would become part of efforts to turn Sri Lanka’s western province into a mega-polis of eight million people. “[It will be] the bigger city in the Indian Ocean where there will be more opportunity for infrastructure development by Chinese and other companies.”

Another Shenzhen

The Prime Minister highlighted that his government wanted to turn the port of Hambantota into another Shenzhen— the city that was at the heart of former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping’s reforms. He rejected the contention that like Gwadar in Pakistan, the Chinese will manage the operations of the port.

“The second phase of the Hambantota harbour is on. Again, Hambantota development is not a Chinese-Sri Lankan development. Anyone can come and develop in the area. As far as the operation of the port and the airport are concerned, the state will become regulators and there will be separate independent operators. We will have a stake in the operation of both the port and the airport. The Sri Lankan navy will have a base in Hambantota shifting from Galle.”

Mr. Wickremesinghe said the Sri Lankans were talking to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chadrababu Naidu about greater cooperation between Sri Lankan ports and Visakhapatnam once an economic and technology agreement with India is materialised. “What we are doing in Sri Lanka is an economic and technology agreement with India, FTA with China, FTA with Singapore and GSP plus with EU.”

The generalised system of preferences, or GSP, is a preferential tariff system.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said during his visit “a comprehensive economic strategy” between Sri Lanka and China had been defined, which would be relevant for the next two decades.

“I would call this a second rubber-rice pact,” he observed, refereeing to the 1952 agreement between Beijing and Colombo when Sri Lanka traded rubber with China in return for much needed rice.

The Prime Minister pointed out that with China as one of the core partners, his country had devised a regionally inclusive “economic plan”, which would establish Sri Lanka as a “financial, business and logistics hub”. He added that the framework of the plan aligns with China’s Belt and Road initiative, India’s Make-in-India policy, and Singapore’s vision of economic engagement with Colombo.

A Joint Statement issued at the end of the visit said: “The two sides will use the development of a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road as an opportunity to further advance infrastructure development, the China-Sri Lanka FTA negotiations and promote joint ventures…”

[SSridhar]

China may build port in southern Maldives - Sachin Parashar, The Hindu

Despite Maldives's stated 'India First' policy, China will remain the elephant in the room when PM Narendra Modi seeks to address the issue of political instability in the archipelago in a meeting with visiting President Abdulla Yameen on Monday.

While the meeting will come days after inauguration of construction work for a Chinese-funded expansion of the international airport, more worrying for India are reports that the Maldives could allow China to build a port in the southern part of the country - in Laamu atoll - directly impinging India's interests in the Indian Ocean region.

Talking to TOI, former Maldives foreign minister Ahmed Naseem said while the government had not yet confirmed it, there were indications that Maldives was looking to let the Chinese build a port at Gaadhoo island in the southern atoll.

Naseem said people had already been evacuated from the region and that the Chinese were currently building roads there. The location of the island is significant for India which never tires of describing itself as "net security provider" for Maldives. "This island sits at the entrance to the one-and-a-half degree channel which is a major international shipping passage that crosses the Maldives," said Naseem.

Naseem is a senior member of incarcerated former president Mohamed Nasheed's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

"I believe Yameen has done irreparable damage to India-Maldives relations and his actions will change the balance of power in the Indian Ocean. The security issues of the region need to be re assessed and appropriate steps taken to keep the sea lanes safe and secure for the benefit of the regional countries," added Naseem.

China has in the past denied that it was contemplating building a military facility in Laamu but the recent evacuation of inhabitants from Gaadhoo, and Chinese presence there, has again raised questions about China's intentions. India has always been apprehensive about China's port-building exercises as the Chinese are known to seek operational control of ports they build.

Maldives, which sees itself as indispensable to China's maritime silk road, has offered investment opportunities to India too in the north, including into a transhipment port.

Naseem said, as things stood, by the end of this year, Maldives could owe 70% of its external debt to China, making itself heavily dependent on Beijing's largesse. China is investing heavily in infrastructure projects including the Maldives-China Friendship Bridge which will link the airport island with Male.

For Modi, who has not yet visited Maldives, the challenge in his meeting with Yameen on Monday will also be to address the political turmoil in the country.

India does not favour imposing sanctions on the country to ensure justice for Nasheed, a friend of New Delhi, and indeed other political prisoners, but, as Naseem said, MDP is hoping Modi will convey the "right message" to Yameen.

"I hope Yameen will be encouraged to stop fuelling the fires of political instability that's done so much harm to Maldives," said Naseem.

President Yameen though will go into the meeting with PM Modi smarting under an adverse, bipartisan resolution adopted last week by the US Senate asking the Maldives to undo the injustice done to Nasheed and other political prisoners.

China has the clout, the funds, the technology and the manpower even as small & tiny countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles & Djibouti are in need of all of those. India has not much to offer. So, while we can chafe at these projects and hope to incorporate some conditions that reduce the threat perception, as we did in the Colombo Port City project, nothing much can be done by us at this point.

[NRao]

Savior will be a further erosion of the Chinese economy. And, in some areas militancy.

India slept for too long.

[Vriksh]

There are remarkable similarities to PLA + CCP modus operandi and PA + Govt Pak modus operandi vis a vis India. Both the Military forces act on borders using a salami slicing methodology grabbing territory where possible in this PLA is far more successful than PA (though the PA was very successful in 1947). While the Nominal Civilian Govts in China and Pakistan mouth platitudes with civilian GoI who holds back the IA. The response of GoI is to allow IA to do a reverse salami slicing at the LOC with Pakistan to make up for the loss of land to China at the LAC.

[Prem]

Carter’s no-show highlights US unease
http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0411/c90780-9042571.html

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has scrubbed China from his Asia tour which started Sunday, and will only visit India and the Philippines instead. Carter said during a speech Friday that the US is making "enormous investments" in its capabilities.It remains unclear whether Carter canceled his China visit because of technical reasons or because he intended to send a message. But this is not important. In the China-US military relationship, neither side is seeking favor from the other. In the past, bilateral military communications were lessened or even suspended in line with the ups and downs of the China-US relationship. In most cases, it is the US that is more active in resuming and improving communications.If Carter canceled his China trip to express his dissatisfaction against China's action in the South China Sea, it only reflects that the US military is becoming less confident, and more sensitive and emotional. The US military is already quite advanced and strong. It seems that the US will never feel at ease until it has absolute military predominance over China. This explains that Washington's China strategy lacks justification. The US is using the South China Sea disputes as an excuse to intervene in the region. Washington's posture in the region is much more aggressive than the South China Sea policy it claims.Washington cares more about China's rise. Claiming that China is flexing its muscles and wants to write the rules in the South China Sea, the US aims to suppress China.
The South China Sea seems to be becoming a demonstration area of China-US competition. As every single move in the region implies the attitudes and will of the two sides, neither is willing to give in. At least, top US officials have left an impression that the US is moving in this direction.
Given the South China Sea's proximity to China, when Washington imposes additional pressure on the issue, Beijing is at the receiving end. But pulling back is not an option. The US has also demonstrated hesitation as there is disagreement on whether the South China Sea is the right arena to launch a competition with China.The US is stirring up more regional countries to confront Beijing, and at the same time, it is escalating the situation with US Navy vessels and joint military drills. It is holding all the possibilities of deeper military involvement but not wanting to be part of a war.
In many years to come, as long as China strengthens its presence in the South China Sea and the West Pacific, the US will respond with new military deployments. New strength will not make China feel easy. An ultimate solution will not come until the balance of power between China and the US witnesses a fundamental change in the West Pacific, which will take a long time to realize.
It is a test of China's patience. Many small countries plan to take big powers hostage, but there have been few successful cases in history. Mostly small nations became victims if they entangled themselves into big power competitions. However, China doesn't have to blame smaller nations for Sino-US tensions.

[BharadwajV]

Reuters-Taiwan accuses China of kidnapping eight of its nationals from Kenya
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINKCN0X80RV

[Bade]

However, China doesn't have to blame smaller nations for Sino-US tensions.

How apt, it has only itself to blame for getting corned and left with just no friends in the Pacific region.

[SSridhar]

China cautious over India-US move to share military logistics - PTI, Economic Times

Reacting guardedly to the landmark Indo-US logistics exchange agreement, China today said India pursues an independent foreign policy but hinted it might raise the issue during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's visit here next week.

"We have noted relevant reports on US Defence Secretary Ash Carter's visit to India," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters when asked about the agreement that enables militaries of India and the US to use each other's assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

"India is also an influential country in the world, and India has been upholding independent diplomatic policy. India will make up its diplomatic policies based on its own interests," Lu said.

Significantly, Lu's reference to Parrikar's visit to China from April 18 was seen as a hint that Beijing might raise the issue with him. The two-day visit is yet to be officially announced by either side.

"India's defence minister will visit China very soon," the spokesperson said.

[JE Menon]

The issue of JeM leader Masood Azhar will also be raised, and their move at the UN will be described for the state support for terrorism that it was. They have been making a lot of mis-steps of late, under the inherent assumption that everybody will think those are just mistakes and internalise them. That is not going to happen. Something is not right at the top at Zhongnanhai.

[SSridhar]

US, Philippines launch joint South China Sea patrols - ToI

The US said Thursday it has launched joint South China Sea naval patrols with the Philippines, escalating its presence as it accused Beijing of "militarising" a region which is locked in territorial disputes.

In a show of strength, US defence secretary Ashton Carter also announced that 275 troops and five A-10 ground attack aircraft currently in the country for annual war games will remain in the country temporarily.

China warned deployments must not damage "regional stability", but Carter said Washington's efforts to strengthen its military role in the region was not done "in order to provoke".

The Pentagon chief said the US was responding to regional anxiety over China's muscular actions in the South China Sea, including building artificial islands over disputed reefs.

"Countries across the Asia-Pacific are voicing concern with China's land reclamation, which stands out in size and scope, as well as its militarisation in the South China Sea," Carter said.

The joint naval patrols, which began last month, "contribute to the safety and security of the region's waters," he said after meeting with Philippines President Benigno Aquino.

Manila has been improving its defence ties with the United States to help boost its ability to defend its territory.

China's foreign ministry reacted coolly to the US deployment.

A statement read: "The military activities of the relevant countries should not be targeted at a third country, and moreover should not support the efforts of some countries to provoke China on issues of sovereignty and security, adding to regional contradictions and damaging regional stability."

China claims most of the South China Sea, even waters and rocks close to the coasts of several neighbours that overlap with their claims.

Beijing has reclaimed several reefs claimed by Manila and built structures on them that the Philippines says are designed for military use — a charge China denies.

Earlier this month Chinese state media reported China has switched on a lighthouse atop a reconstructed reef in the Spratly chain, which also contains technology to monitor passing ships.

Carter announced that 275 American troops, among about 5,000 military personnel taking part in the annual Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) war games, are to stay behind after the exercises end on Friday.

Five A-10C Thunderbolt ground attack planes and four other aircraft will also remain until the end of the month.

Some 200 of the US personnel are to train Filipino soldiers, as well as "conduct flight operations in the area, including in the South China Sea", Carter said.

These activities will "lay the foundation for joint air patrols to complement ongoing maritime patrols," he added.

The remainder of the US personnel will be stationed at a Manila military base on an unspecified "rotational" basis to form a "command and control" unit to support increased activities between the two allies, Carter said.

The deployments are part of a deal under which Manila has allowed American forces to rotate through five Philippine bases — some of them close to the South China Sea.

Philippine defence secretary Voltaire Gazmin welcomed the US announcement, adding he hoped the increased presence will "deter uncalled-for action by the Chinese".

[SSridhar]

India slams China's 'hidden veto' at UN - PTI

Days after China blocked its bid at the UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar, India on Thursday slammed use of "hidden veto" and demanded accountability, saying the world body's general members are never informed of the reason for not acceding to requests for sanctioning terrorists.

"The procedures of unanimity and anonymity of the al Qaeda, Taliban and ISIS Sanctions Committees need to be revisited. The procedures of unanimity and anonymity result in a lack of accountability," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin told the UN Security Council in an open debate on 'Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts' here [United Nations].

Against the backdrop of China again blocking India's bid to ban the mastermind of the Pathankot terror attack, Masood in the UN Sanctions Committee last week, Akbaruddin said each of the 15 members in the committee now have a veto.

Without naming China, he said none except these 15 members are told of who is it that has wielded the veto in a specific instance.

"The general membership of the UN is never ever formally informed of how and why requests for listing terrorists are not acceded to. Counter-terror mechanisms such as the Sanctions Committees that act on behalf of the international community need to build trust not engender impunity by the use of this form of a 'hidden veto'," Akbaruddin said.

After the attack on the airbase in Pathankot in January, India had in February written to the UN calling for immediate action to list the chief of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) under the UN Sanctions Committee.

[SSridhar]

China: US-Philippine military ties invoke 'Cold War mentality' - Reuters

Responding to what it says are provocative plans for stepped-up US-Philippine military cooperation, China says it will "resolutely defend" its interests and accuses the two longstanding allies of militarizing the region and harboring a "Cold War mentality."

The ministry's comments came shortly after Thursday's announcement that the US would send troops and planes to the Philippines for more frequent rotations and will increase joint sea and air patrols with Philippine forces in the South China Sea.

In a move likely to further anger Beijing, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter says he will be visiting an aircraft carrier — a potent symbol of US military might — in the South China Sea during his current visit to the region, which does not include a stop in China.

"The joint patrols between the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea are militarizing the region and are non-beneficial to regional peace and stability," said a statement posted to the ministry's website late Thursday.

"The Chinese military will pay close attention to the situation, and resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests," the statement said.

The ministry's statement also referenced China's long-standing opposition to US military alliances in the region. It regards those as a form of unwelcome interference that stymies its desired status as the pre-eminent military power in the Asia-Pacific.

"Strengthening the US-Philippine military alliance ... is a sign of a Cold War mentality that is unbeneficial to peace and stability in the South China Sea," the statement said.

The South China Sea dispute also featured in talks between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Malcolm Turnbull, the prime minister of close US ally Australia which is trying to balance security needs with its economy's reliance on the Chinese market.

"We've always had good and constructive discussions but our position is that all claimants, all claimants, should settle disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law," Turnbull told reporters in Beijing on Friday, a day after his meeting with Li.

[SSridhar]

We dominated China culturally for over 2,000 years: Rajnath - The Hindu

India has “culturally dominated” China through the sea route for over 2,000 years, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday at the Maritime Summit here.

Mr. Singh also described the Gangetic plains as the cradle of all civilisational thoughts.

When the Chinese revolution was on, the then Peking University vice-chancellor Hu Shih, who also represented China at the U.N., wrote that “India has dominated and culturally controlled China for more than 2,000 years without sending a single soldier,” the Minister said.

Indian influence

“The message has truly gone to China as well that Indian culture has influenced it and it might have gone only through the sea route,” Mr. Singh said.

He also quoted the French philosopher Voltaire as saying that “I am fully convinced that everything has come from the banks of the Ganges.”

Mr. Singh said that as India was growing economically, militarily and technologically, its “national security imperatives and political interests will stretch gradually beyond the Indian Ocean Region.”

Contribution of the shipping and maritime sector to the GDP would grow by nearly three times over the next five years, the Minister said, and added that it would continue to play an important role in the economic expansion. — PTI

[SSridhar]

Navy woos Sri Lanka to check Chinese influence - S.Anandan, The Hindu

Concerned over the growing ties between China and Sri Lanka, which would have defence ramifications for India from a geostrategic point of view, the Indian Navy has sent two of its frontline training vessels with sea cadets to Colombo on a training mission.

The ships — INS Tir and INS Sujata that are part of the Kochi-based Southern Naval Command’s First Training Squadron — reached Colombo on Friday. The visit coincides with the arrival of Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, at the helm of the Southern Command, in Colombo for bolstering training ties between both navies.

The naval visit, happening as it does on the heels of the China tour of Sri Lankan Premier Ranil Wikramasinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena in quick succession, is said to be significant “as it reassures Sri Lanka of the robust partnership India has with it in naval training”.

“Sri Lanka has traditionally been a major naval training partner [beneficiary] for India, though we never acknowledged it in public owing to its political fallouts in Tamil Nadu. Of the 1,000 international trainees presently training at various schools under the Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy’s Training Command, over 300 are Sri Lankans. A good 30 per cent, that is. The second biggest training beneficiary, Mauritius, is a distant second with about 100 trainees, while Vietnam has about 80 of their naval trainees being trained by the Indian Navy at the moment,” pointed out a senior naval officer. A spokesperson of the Indian Navy said India had a long-standing relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities with Sri Lanka which strengthened over the years. “The present deployment of the Training Squadron to Colombo would further cement the close relation between the two nations and the two navies,” he said.

[Prem]

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/BHavom ... vival.html
China seeks India’s cooperation for its economic revival

Washington: China has sought India’s cooperation in various multilateral forums as part of its economic revival agenda. Such a cooperation was sought when Chinese finance minister Lou Jiwei met finance minister Arun Jaitley in Washington on Thursday on the sidelines of the annual Spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, people familiar with the matter said.
It was Lou who had sought a meeting with Jaitley and during the meeting held here, the Chinese finance minister and other senior officials tried to impress upon that their economy is doing well and is back on track, persons familiar with the conversation between the two leaders said.During the meeting, Lou repeatedly underscored the “greater need of India and China to have a coordinated action” in various multilateral forums. ( Slimespeakcheat)
While the issue of Masood Azhar, was not raised by Jaitley during the meeting given that it has been taken up at the highest level by India, the Indian delegation is believed to have made it clear to the Chinese leadership that Beijing needs to take into consideration India’s national security and economic interests for such a cooperation to move forward.On 31 March, China again blocked India’s bid to ban the mastermind of the Pathankot terror attack Masood in the UN Sanctions Committee, following which India had reacted strongly.The Chinese leadership during the IMF World Bank meetings have taken a stand that it is against isolating or naming any particular country.

[Shanu]

^^
We should just hit the iron when its hot. Chinese economy is in deep mess - and their current crop of leaders simply don't understand the idea of free-thinking private enterprise. Chinese manufacturers - including consumer goods, electronics and chemicals are heavily dependent on the growing Indian market to keep their export cart full. We should just start creating sweet little hurdles for the Huwawei, Alibaba and Lenovos - forcing them to become unprofitable in India. This is the least we can do to make them understand the cost of supporting JeM and Masood Azhar.

This war can be won only when the forex earning business heads go back to their masters crying for change in their terror policy. The current leadership crop is already in the middle of their 10 year terms. Retirement is coming - they would not want their Panama dollar base to erode.

[Christopher Sidor]

^^^^^
+1 PRC needs us more than we need them economically. We should be making life very difficult for PRC and its economic managers.

[kit]

Great .. now lets start .. 1.Ban Iron and steel imports from China ...also clothing ..accessories ..all these can be met by local manufacturing

[Vriksh]

Quite an impressive piece of hardware designed, developed and deployed by a Chinese Company. Custom machines like this are helping them create infrastructure in very difficult terrain like Tibet and perhaps in POK fast.

Copied from the youtube link...
The SLJ900/32, made by the Beijing Wowjoint Machinery Company, is a 580 ton, 300 foot long and 24 foot wide mega machine that looks more like a train than a crane and acts a lot like a Stretch Armstrong action figure. Instead of using a stationary or crawler crane to lift the girder of a bridge from the ground and drop it into its place, the SLJ900/32 drives the girder onto the previously placed girder, slowly extends its arms to the next support platform, pushes the girder towards the front of the machine and then lowers it into place

[SSridhar]

Incursions, strategic concerns on Parrikar's agenda in China - ToI

Recurring incidents of incursions, implementation of an agreement to reduce tensions between border patrols and Sino-India strategic concerns were among the issues expected to figure in defence minister Manohar Parrikar's talks with top Chinese military officials on Sunday.

Parrikar, who arrived here [Beijing] from Shanghai by a special aircraft, will hold talks with Chinese defence minister General Chang Wanquan, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) General Fan Changlong and others.

CMC which is the supreme commanding body of the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) is headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Parrikar will call on premier Li Keqiang. Later, he would visit China's recently integrated western command military headquarters which has jurisdiction over border with India.

The minister is accompanied by senior officials from army and navy, besides the defence ministry.

While Indian officials said the talks were expected to review the whole gamut of bilateral ties which showed considerable improvements in the recent times, India's concerns over aggressive patrolling by Chinese troops especially in the Ladakh sector remained high.

China denies any incursions, asserting that its troops patrolled areas of its territory in the 3,488-km long disputed border.

The two countries may discuss further modalities of the 2013 Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) which has outlined various measures to address tensions arising out of the aggressive patrolling by both sides.

India and China also conduct an annual dialogue of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination to deal with aggressive patrolling by troops.

It helped to bring down tensions over Chinese incursions during the key visits of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2013 followed by President Xi Jinping a year later.

Both sides opened several border points for troops and officers on the ground to interact with each other to build good relations.

Recent reports from India spoke of the presence of Chinese troops in the forward positions of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) which People's Liberation Army (PLA) dismissed as "groundless".

The two militaries also have strategic concerns over each other's military tie-ups with other countries and development of their militaries.

Ahead of Parrikar's visit, China hinted that it may take up the recent decision by India to open up military bases to US for logistics and efforts to conclude a pact to share aircraft sharing technologies.

China which is grappling with heavy US expansion under the Asia Pivot to counter Chinese military especially in the South China Sea is sensitive to any close military cooperation between New Delhi and Washington.

Beijing is also concerned over the inclusion of Japan in the Malabar naval exercises along with US.

On its part, India has its concerns over Chinese expansion in the Indian Ocean, regarded as India's backyard with billions dollar deals to build ports in Sri Lanka and Pakistan under the Silk Road initiative.

Both sides are also expected to discuss increasing military exchanges at senior levels and allow their officers into their top defence institutions in an effort to consolidate improvement in defence ties.

Last year, China said it had taken positive note of Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha's comment that India do not look at China as an adversary anymore.

Parrikar's five-day visit will be immediately followed by a visit by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to hold 19th Boundary Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi later next week.

Doval and Yang, who are designated Special Representatives for boundary talks, also have a mandate to discuss entire gamut of bilateral issues.

The contentious issue of China blocking India's attempts in the UN to ban Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad's (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is expected to figure in their talks.

[SSridhar]

Parrikar’s visit signals accelerated security dialogue - Atul Aneja, The Hindu

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has commenced his visit to China as part of an accelerated security dialogue between New Delhi and Beijing, which will also include a visit to the Chinese capital by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Ajit Doval.

The Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha is also likely to visit China in July, defence sources in New Delhi told The Hindu .

India-U.S. deal

The Chinese authorities are expected to focus on institutionalising a defence dialogue at the ministerial level, but India’s “in-principle” acceptance of a logistics support agreement with the United States is also likely to feature on the agenda of Mr. Parrikar’s talks. The agreement is widely seen as a “China containment” measure, but the Chinese foreign ministry has responded with restraint.

Analysts, however, say that the India-U.S. agreement is not a “done deal”, on account of its possible negative impact on Indo-Russian military ties, which envisage transfer of cutting-edge weaponry and advanced co-production partnerships, especially in the aerospace arena. On Monday morning, Mr. Parrikar will hold talks with top Chinese defence officials at the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). He is also expected to call on Prime Minister Le Keqiang. Vice-Admiral Sunil Lamba from the Western Naval Command and Lieutenant-General Ranbir Singh, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) are accompanying Mr. Parrikar.

Mr. Doval, to visit later, is expected to hold substantial talks with his counterpart, Yang Jiechi, slated to go beyond just a conversation on the boundary issue. Analysts say that the “atmospherics” for the upcoming talks are positive, as there has been a sharp reduction in incidents along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in May 2015.

Apart from the boundary issue, Mr. Doval is expected to air India’s security concerns regarding the improvement of infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). India is also concerned about China’s involvement in developing Pakistan’s Gwadar port.

The intensification of the dialogue process also includes upcoming talks between External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow, as part of the Russian-India-China (RIC) dialogue, which also commences on Monday.

[SSridhar]

India wants to be 'most beautiful woman' wooed by all: Chinese media - PTI

The Chinese use flowery language and I am sure that 'sweeter than the sweetest honey' and other such phraseology emanated form them, not the Pakistanis perhaps.

Playing down India's decision to sign a logistic agreement with the US, Chinese state media on Monday said the proposed deal is stalled because of distrust between the two as India wants to be the "most beautiful woman" wooed by all, especially Washington and Beijing.

"Besides their traditional distrust, the speculation heralding a US-India alliance is also an obvious underestimation of India's ambition for a role of swing-state between superpowers," an article in the state-run Global Times said as Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar started his first visit to Beijing on Monday for talks with Chinese officials.

"The basic idea is that India would like to continue to be the most beautiful woman wooed by all men, notably the two strongest in the house, US and China," the article titled 'Indo-US strategic distrust stalls LSA signing'.

"This is not an unfamiliar role to India. We can still recall how its diplomatic manoeuvring had earned itself a special role between the two competing blocs during the Cold War," it said.

"Evidently enough, it needs to feel its way forward and try not to agitate China by crossing the bottom line and consequently it declines to discuss the prospect of joint patrols in the South China Sea, despite the obvious interest and much enthusiasm from its American counterpart," it said.

Last week, US defence secretary Ashton Carter concluded his three-day visit to India and announced he and his Indian counterpart have agreed in-principle that all the issues regarding a Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) are resolved and both sides would finalise the text in the coming weeks.

Highlighting India's decision to sign the LSA, the report said: "Despite a whole range of strategic issues being covered in the visit, the topic of the logistics agreement itself has triggered speculation among international media that both sides are boarding the same boat to contain China."

In essence, the LSA's purpose is to share military bases for logistical purposes, including refuelling and repair.

"Therefore it is very much similar to the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA), a traditional agreement the US has with many of its NATO allies," the article said.

"That's why it has triggered speculation that both sides are moving toward a military alliance arrangement", it said.

In 2007, the US and Sri Lanka signed an ACSA to allow exchange of logistics supplies during peacekeeping missions, humanitarian operations, and joint exercises.

Another article, titled 'India seeks interests from geopolitical tension,' in the daily, said the LSA "is drawing the US and India into an undeclared military alliance."

"India's diplomatic manoeuvring risks dampening cooperation among the China-Russia-India triangle and the BRICS," it said but quickly added that "tensions between the US and China and Russia in terms of geopolitics have provided India with admirable strategic opportunities."

Although Indian officials and scholars claim there is no change in India's traditional non-alignment policy and that it will continue its strategic independence, the non-alignment policy "under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has far transcended the spirit of 'non-alignment'," it said.

The article claimed India's foreign policy has entered an era of non-alignment 3.0, featured by three characteristics:

"India, instead of maintaining a neutral position, takes sides with countries like the US and Japan in islands and maritime disputes concerning Asia-Pacific security at the risk of escalating confrontation and conflicts in the region," it said.

Second, India shirks its responsibilities and distances itself from China and Russia in dealing with some global problems such as the Middle East conflicts in order to avoid confrontations with the West, it alleged.

"(And) finally, it takes advantage of geopolitical conflicts between the US, Japan and China, Russia to gain maximum interests for itself. We hope India won't go too far as a swing power", it said.

"India joined the BRICS because it shares consistent interests with China and Russia in building a multi-polar world and a new international rule-making process," it said.

"But with the slowdown of BRICS economic growth, some Indian scholars claimed BRICS brings few opportunities to India."

This year's BRICS summit is to be held in India. The topics on the table mainly focus on economic and social development, lacking coordination over regional and global affairs.

Geopolitics matters a lot in India's foreign policy, the article said.

"India hopes to counterbalance China through strengthened strategic and security cooperation with countries including Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It's also reinforcing cooperation with the US," it said.

[SSridhar]

Chinese military aircraft makes first public landing on disputed island - Reuters

A Chinese military aircraft has for the first time publicly landed at a new airport on an island China has built in the disputed South China Sea, state media said on Monday, raising the prospect that China could base fighter jets there.

The United States has criticised China's construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and worries that it plans to use them for military purposes, even though China says it has no hostile intent.

The runway on the Fiery Cross Reef is 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) long and is one of three China has been building for more than a year by dredging sand up onto reefs and atolls in the Spratly archipelago.

Civilian flights began test runs there in January.

In a front-page story, the official People's Liberation Army Daily said a military aircraft on patrol over the South China Sea on Sunday received an emergency call to land at Fiery Cross Reef to evacuate three seriously ill workers.

They were then taken in the transport aircraft back to Hainan island for treatment, it said, showing a picture of the aircraft on the ground in Hainan. {This is a completely fabricated excuse to soften any repercussions}

It was the first time China's military had publicly admitted landing an aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef, the influential Global Times tabloid said.

It cited an military expert as saying the flight showed the airfield was up to military standards and could see fighter jets based there in the event of war.

The runways would be long enough to handle long-range bombers and transport aircraft as well as China's best jet fighters, giving it a presence deep in the maritime heart of Southeast Asia that it has lacked until now.

More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South China Sea every year. Besides China's territorial claims in the area, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

[Christopher Sidor]

India wants to be 'most beautiful woman' wooed by all: Chinese media - PTI

The Chinese use flowery language and I am sure that 'sweeter than the sweetest honey' and other such phraseology emanated form them, not the Pakistanis perhaps.

Find the comments mentioned in the PRC's paper "Global Times", especially the one which refers to my country as, "'most beautiful woman' wooed by all" as sexiest. Are we missing something that is lost in translation?

[JE Menon]

^^Agreed CS. However, I wouldn't discourage it because such objectifying is inherently delusional and the metaphor can become a powerful determinant of action. "One Pak = 10 Indians"...

Frankly, I think the knife-fighter metaphor that I gave in this thread is more apt. But that's just my view.

[SSridhar]

Sushma Swaraj talks tough, tells China 'review your stand on Masood Azhar' - PTI

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday did some tough talking with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on China blocking India's bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN and asked Beijing to "review" its position.

"I told him (Wang) that if we were to fulfil our intention of fighting terrorism together, then China should review the stand it had taken at the UN 1267 Committee," Swaraj told a joint press conference with Wang and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

The three ministers had earlier jointly chaired a Russia-India-China (RIC) foreign ministers meet here [Moscow].

Raising the issue with Wang during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the RIC meet, Swaraj emphasized the need for bilateral cooperation to combat the challenge of terrorism.

If India and China were to combat terrorism unitedly, then Beijing should change its position of opposing India's bid against Pathankot terror attack mastermind Azhar at the UN Sanctions Committee, Swaraj told Wang.

It was agreed during the Swaraj-Wang meeting that the two sides would remain in touch on the matter, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

While talking about the roadmap for the RIC to tackle the issue of terrorism, Swaraj said there cannot be any difference between good terrorists and bad terrorists.

"It is important that we give up the distinction between 'good' and 'bad' terrorists. We will also need to give up the tendency to differentiate between 'my terrorists' and 'your terrorists'. A terrorist is a terrorist, one who commits crimes against humanity and not against any nation," she said.

Swaraj said India, China and Russia have been bearing the brunt of terror networks and that time has come for the three countries to play a leadership role in combating terror globally.

On the Swaraj-Wang meeting, Swarup said they assessed the implementation of decisions taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China last May.

"They noted the significance of high level exchanges contemplated this year, including the ongoing visit of Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar). China would be hosting the G20 Summit and India the BRICS Summit in 2016.

"The Ministers appreciated the expanding trade and investment ties between India and China. They underscored the importance of strengthening people to people ties. In this context, foreign minister Wang Yi apprised external affairs minister of China's decision to increase the number of Indian pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nathu La," Swarup said.

In her opening remarks during the meeting, Swaraj said the relations have seen significant improvement in the last one year and favoured frequent meetings between the two sides to step up engagement.

[JE Menon]

Expect soon B-Grade bollywood dialogue from the Chinese, amounting to: "India is showing its boldness because it is hiding behind a shadow sword of America" or some crap like that.

[SSridhar]

Marking LAC key to halt border transgressions, India tells China - Saibal Dasgupta, Economic Times

India has made it clear to China that agreeing on a mutually acceptable Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the only solution to the problem of border transgressions. Beijing is not in favor of a LAC.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who met his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan, a General with the People's Liberation Army, explained India's stand on LAC, saying the process of "actually marking" the LAC is essential for proper border management. "Without that everything goes by perceptions, which has caused problems sometimes," he said.

He stressed on the need for proper border management, and ruled out a time limit for an agreement on the LAC. "Timeline is difficult in such matters. We have said that we are a old civilization. Good relations with us would be good for the region as a whole."

Parrikar also expressed unhappiness over China's move to block a United Nations resolution on Pakistan based Masood Azhar Azar, accused of involvement in the Pathankot attack. "On the UN issue, we think it (Chinese action) is not in the right direction. We have taken it up with them," Parrikar told Beijing based Indian journalists.

China for its part expressed its concerns over India's recent statement asking all countries involved in the South China Sea dispute to resolve the problem through dialogue and consultation, and ensure that freedom of navigation on this crucial sea route is not affected.

"We have not changed our position on this issue," the minister told the Indian media. China has objected to it saying countries not directly connected to the South China Sea should not interfere in the dispute. The dispute resolves around ownership of islands, which is being claimed by several countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines.

Other concerns India raised at the meeting was over security risks thrown up by China's Silk Road program in Pakistan, and the Maritime Silk Road plan, which if successful, would give it access to the Indian Ocean, said Parrikar.

Fan Changlong said China regards ties with India from a strategic and long-term perspective. It is willing to strengthen military-to-military cooperation to contribute more to peace, stability and prosperity of two countries. Parrikar emphasized the need for more intense dialogue between the two countries saying that detailed consultation is essential to overcome differences in the defense arena.

He also said that the planned hotline between top military officials of the two countries would become operational in the coming months. The decision to enhance communication with a military-to-military hotline was taken over a year back.

The two neighbors have also decided to open more border points for commander-level negotiations to avoid border skirmishes besides the ones that have been agreed on, the minister said. At present, there are five border points operational including two in Arunachal Pradesh and two in Ladakh.

Chinese officials assured Parrikar that construction in PoK as part of the Silk Road program in Pakistan was not an move aimed against India but merely an economic development effort.

India is also concerned about Beijing's efforts to create a sea route linking Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to get access to the Indian Ocean as part of the Maritime Silk Road program.

[SSridhar]

Chinese media downplays JeM chief Masood Azhar issue - PTI

Chinese media today highlighted Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's remarks that Sino-India ties should not be affected by a third party even as it skirted any reference to his call to Beijing to review its stand on blocking India's efforts to get Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN.

The issue of Azhar, Jaish-e-Muhammad chief, was raised by External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj during her meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Moscow yesterday, while Parrikar called on China to strike a united stand with India on terrorism.

"What happened in UN is not in the right direction and they have to take a common line on terrorism which is in the interests of India and China," Parrikar had said after his meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan yesterday.

For its part, the state-run media here highlighted Parrikar's remarks to Chang that India hopes that the development of bilateral ties will not be affected by other factors including the third party.

The remarks came one week after Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ash Carter vowed to safeguard maritime security in the region, including the South China Sea, state-run 'China Daily' reported.

"According to observers, India is seeking to strike a balance between China and the United States in its frequent high-level meetings with Chinese officials this week," it said.

Parrikar also said India attaches highest importance to its ties with China.

As the Indian government has long been dedicated to settling border disputes with China, Parrikar's visit to the country aims to reduce tensions caused by border patrols, although the issue cannot be solved overnight, said Zhao Gancheng, director of South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies.

The border dispute will be discussed at the 19th boundary talks between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi here this week.

Zhao said normal patrols on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control have been portrayed in the Indian press as "aggressive" incursions in the Indian territory.

"Despite a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, its implementation is problematic," Fu Xiaoqiang, an expert on South Asian studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations told Global Times, citing media hype and the tough stance on China taken by certain Indian politicians.

Beijing and New Delhi inked the agreement in October 2013 during ex-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China, formulating a formal mechanism to improve security along 3488-kilometer long border.

While wrongly considering the agreement as a signal of China's acquiescence in the status quo of the disputed territories on the eastern section of the border, India has demanded fewer normal patrols by the Chinese troops in the western section, Fu noted, calling New Delhi's demands "insatiable."

The overreaction from the Indian side has cooled the peaceful climate to a certain extent, Fu said, adding that it is also one of the reasons that several exchanges between military officials from both sides have made little headway on border issues.

"As defence cooperation takes up a great part of India-US ties, India is aware that any closer collaboration with the US will keep China alert," Zhao said.

However, since India, a country that upholds an independent foreign policy and makes its foreign policies based on its own interests, is also unwilling to sour diplomatic relations with China for the US, Parrikar might take the initiative to explain the logistics support agreement, Fu said.

[SSridhar]

Masood Azhar issue: India uses Uighur card to up the ante against China - Indrani Bagchi, ToI

With India pressing China to explain its reasons for the "technical hold" on designating Masood Azhar a global terrorist, China has responded by saying India should consult with Pakistan.

Speaking to TOI in Delhi, Liu Jinsong, charge d'affaires in the Chinese embassy in New Delhi reiterated the position. "China is against all forms of terrorism. We have put a technical hold, not a veto. It is not an issue between China and India. We would prefer that you talk to Pakistan." {China is making a laughing stock of itself through such statements}

Indian officials met Chinese counterparts in Beijing, New York and New Delhi as India tried to draw China out on its reasons.

India, sources said, was willing to delete details in the document to allow China to lift the "hold". In recent days, China has continued to justify its action.

In Beijing, the foreign ministry spokesperson also defended China's action."China always deals with the listing of 1267 committee based on facts and pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions and relevant rules in a fair manner," he said. This was in response to Indian permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin, slamming a "hidden veto" in the 1267 committee.

The Chinese foreign ministry said, "Both China and India fall victim to terrorism and share similar positions when it comes to combating terrorism."

Separately, however, India might be quietly upping the ante. A group of activists from the Washington-based World Uighur Congress will be visiting Dalai Lama in Dharamsala for an inter-ethnic, inter-faith dialogue organized by the spiritual leader.

They will join groups from around 15 countries in a US Institute of Peace program.

According to the think tank, "This dialogue will help them build practical skills and personal resilience they need to work against the tensions or violence in their homelands." India had denied a visit by Rebiya Kadeer, Uighur leader in 2009.

India has a list of other terror leaders who it wants to see listed as terrorists by the UNSC's 1267 committee. It's not clear how many of them will be blocked by China. {It has so far blocked every one of them. So, it will block all of them in future too}

[SSridhar]

India-China military hotline likely - Atul Aneja, The Hindu

India and China are close to a breakthrough in establishing a hotline between the two military headquarters as part of an effort to improve border management through a new round of confidence building measures (CBMs).

“The Chinese have returned the draft of the memorandum on establishing a hotline between the two military headquarters. The issue should be closed within one or two months,” visiting Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said at a media conference on Monday. Mr. Parrikar said that Monday’s talks, first with Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan, and, in the afternoon, with Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong, focused on CBMs through various means including establishing a hotline and increasing the local border meeting points, in addition to the five which have been already activated.

“We would now like to have further interaction” among officials to work out the details, the Minister observed. Mr. Parrikar said he raised the issue of clarification of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with his interlocutors in order to ensure “stability at the border.” Highly placed sources told The Hindu that the Chinese side agreed to enhance CBMs to bolster border management, but did not demonstrate particular enthusiasm in the clarification of the LAC.{The Chinese have always consistently declined to talk about LAC} Mr. Parrikar said that neither side specifically raised India’s “in principle” agreement with the United States on the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), though the Chinese side “indicated” its concerns on this topic.

“I said that the autonomous policy of India is very clear and it is based on our national interests”, the Defence Minister observed.

The sources pointed out that, without referring to U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India, the Chinese side pointed to India’s tradition of pursuing an independent foreign policy.

Mr. Parrikar took up the negative fallout of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from Gwadar to Kashgar during talks. “We have made our stand very clear and expressed strong reservations in regard to China’s activity in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).” He asserted that the Chinese side, in response, noted India’s concerns, but highlighted the economic aspects of the corridor, which they insisted had nothing to do with defence or military aspects.

Asked to confirm whether the China-initiated Maritime Silk Road (MSR) was discussed, Mr. Parrikar said that he had flagged the need for maintaining peace in the Indian Ocean during talks.

On China’s role in blocking U.N. sanctions on Masood Azhar, head of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Mr. Parrikar said that he “expressed his feeling [that] it was not exactly the right direction that they [the Chinese side] have taken.”

Pointing out that “having a coordinated line on terrorism is in the interest of both India and China,” he stressed that India was keen to step up its interaction with Beijing as “engaging China more will resolve many of the issues.”

Earlier, the Defence Minister said that “India attaches highest priority to its relations with China.”

[Bhaskar_T]

@thread "Managing Chinese Threat" - By accepting below offer of S400@6Billion$ from Russia.

https://rbth.com/news/2016/04/18/russia ... dia_585763

Russia has formally offered its S-400 Triumph surface-to-air missile systems to India, a senior Russian defense official said on April 18. “The Federal Service has prepared a draft intergovernmental agreement on the supply of the S-400 systems to India and passed it on to our partners, so we are awaiting a response,” Vladimir Drozhzhov, deputy head of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) told TASS on the sidelines of the Defexpo India 2016 exhibition in Delhi. The deal value is estimated to be $6 billion.

The Triumph S-400 is a new-generation medium and long-range anti-aircraft missile system. At a distance of 250 miles the system can strike planes, while at a distance of 40 miles it can hit tactical ballistic targets flying at a speed of three miles per second, as well as cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Russia and India were expected to sign an agreement on the sale of the systems in December 2015 when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow for an annual summit. Sources close to the situation tell RBTH that differences on the price held back the signing of an agreement. A deal is likely to be signed within the next few weeks, the sources add. Russia could also commence delivering the S-400 missile defense system to China by the end of the year.

The long-range S-400 surface-to-air missile systems are used to defend the Khmeimim Russian military base in Syria.

[SSridhar]

US lashes out at China for global steel market crisis - PTI

The U.S. has lashed out at China for the ongoing global crisis in the steel market and warned of trade action to avoid harm to their domestic industries and workers.

In a statement, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said: “Unless China starts to take timely and concrete actions to reduce its excess production and capacity in industries including steel, and works with others to ensure that future government actions do not once again contribute to excess capacity, the fundamental structural problems in the industry will remain and affected governments — including the U.S. will have no alternatives other than trade action to avoid harm to their domestic industries and workers“.

Pritzker and Froman issued the statement after the conclusion of high-level meeting in Brussels on excess capacity and structural adjustment in the steel sector.

“The steel market is in a state of crisis resulting, primarily, from massive global excess capacity, much of which has stemmed from trade distortive government policies and actions,” they said in the statement.

In an effort to address this situation, ministers, vice ministers and senior level officials from all over the world — including the U.S. travelled to Brussels for the OECD High-Level Meeting on Excess Capacity and Structural Adjustment in the Steel Sector.

“Most of these countries — many of them major steel producers — share the view that excess capacity, and government measures that give rise to it, underlie the current crisis. These countries came to Brussels prepared to deal seriously with these issues,” they said.

“Unfortunately, other countries — China, among them — were not prepared to do so, preventing broad consensus,” they said.

“With the largest amount of excess capacity in the world, larger than the rest of the world combined, China had a unique opportunity and responsibility to engage constructively towards such a result, one that is in the world’s interest as well as China’s,” they added.

“The viability of the global steel industry has come under intense pressure from excess production and capacity in China, and there are already significant human costs associated with the current steel market downturn,” the duo said.

“This is a global issue and meaningful solutions will require global action, including from steel-producing countries, especially China. We will be working directly with China on excess capacity issues in a number of different bilateral and multilateral setting in the weeks and months ahead,” Pritzker and Froman said.

According to the US Department of Commerce and United States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. steel industry is in a crisis driven in large part by global excess capacity.

This global excess capacity has more than doubled from 2000 to 2014, led by unsustainable expansion in steel making capacity by China, they said in the statement.

[SSridhar]

India, China hold 19th round of talks to resolve border dispute - Economic Times

India and China today held the 19th round of talks to resolve the vexed border dispute amid a growing discord between the two nations over Beijing blocking India's bid to get JeM chief Masood Azhar banned by the UN.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held the annual talks with Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to discuss the road ahead to resolve the dispute which has bedevilled bilateral ties.

Besides the border issue, Doval and Yang, the designated Special Representatives, also have a larger mandate to discuss all contentious bilateral, regional and international issues.

Considering their mandate, the second attempt by Beijing in an year to block India's bids to get the Pakistan' terror group's leaders banned is expected to figure in the talks.

Last month, China had vetoed India's bid to get the Pathankot attack mastermind designated as terrorist by the UN Sanctions Committee, maintaining that the case "did not meet the requirements" of the Security Council.

The Chinese action evoked a strong reaction in India which said that it was "incomprehensible" that while Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) was banned by the UN, its chief was not.

Indian officials say while Azhar's listing was cleared by the four other UN Security Council permanent members, China has put a "technical hold", like it did in the case of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi earlier.

Since China, the veto wielding UNSC member, put a technical hold on Azhar issue, India has voiced its protests.

While India's UN Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin spoke of "hidden veto" at a UNSC open debate on 'Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts' in New York on April 16, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar called for a review of China's decision to strike a common stand against terrorism.

For its part, China continued to stick to its stand saying that its decision is based on facts and fairness.

Defending the stand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying yesterday said "we oppose double standard in counter terrorism campaign."

"We have been dealing with the listing (of terrorists by UN) matter in accordance with the facts and relevant resolutions. We are also in sound communication with all relevant parties including the Indian side," she said.

Considering the heat generated over it, the issue was expected to figure prominently between Doval and Yang.

Doval is also expected to call on Chinese Premier Li.

Significantly, Li in his meeting with Parrikar yesterday said disputes should be handled properly and ties with New Delhi be boosted, state-run China Daily reported today.

China will properly manage disputes while boosting bilateral cooperation with India, making contributions to Asia's economic growth, Li said.

On the border dispute, officials on both sides say the protracted boundary talks made progress, while both sides made attempts to avert tensions along the 3,488-kilometre-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), which remains undefined.

While China says the border dispute is confined to 2,000 kilometres, mainly Arunachal Pradesh in eastern sector which it claims as part of southern Tibet, India asserts the dispute covered the whole of the LAC including the Aksai Chin occupied by China during the 1962 war.

When the Special Representatives were appointed in 2003, the two sides set off a three-stage process. The two countries first reached an agreement on the guiding principles and setting political parameters for the settlement in 2005.

Officials say the two sides are currently in the second stage which focuses on working out a framework of settlement to be followed by final step drawing the boundary line based on framework agreement.

On the 19th-round of border talks, Hua said "we have been working to resolve territorial disputes through negotiations and consultation. China completely settled territorial disputes with 12 of the 14 land neighbours."

Only the border dispute with India and Bhutan needed to resolved.

"Both history and practice have proven that it is possible to resolve territorial disputes through negotiation and consolation," she said.

"During (today's) meeting the two sides will work on the framework settlement to work out a plan that is acceptable to both sides," she said.

[Christopher Sidor]

^^^^
What piece of crap is being dished out. Consider the following
1) UNSC veto after 2008 attack, technical hold by PRC
2) UNSC veto after Pathankot attack, technical hold again by PRC.
3) ADB veto for aid package targetted against Arunachal Prades, again by PRC.
4) Main opposition to NSG admission again by PRC.

Like Sardar said before he died, these are not actions and voice of a friend speaking across the Himalayas. This is the enemy and a threat speaking.

[SSridhar]

Christopher, absolutely. In fact, China has opposed every Indian move to list any Pakistani terrorist under 1267.