Neutering & Defanging Chinese Threat (15-11-2017)

[SSridhar]

As China flexes muscles, India kicks off military drill - Rajat Pandit, ToI

India has quietly kicked off a major combat exercise to test its new integrated battle groups (IBGs) for mountain warfare in Arunachal Pradesh, even as China showcased its military might with strategic bombers, fighters, supersonic drones and the world’s longest range inter-continental ballistic missile Dongfeng-41 at its 70th anniversary parade at Beijing on Tuesday.

Sources said the month-long “Him Vijay” exercise, which is being held away from the line of actual control with China, is geared towards converting the new 17 “Brahmastra” Corps into “a lean and mean force” for “swift attacks” in a dynamic operational scenario as well as “creating vulnerable contingencies for the enemy in multiple valleys” in the mountainous region.

The three IBGs, carved out of the 17 Corps with around 5,000 soldiers each and a mix of tanks, light artillery, air defence units, signals and other elements, will be exercising in conjunction with IAF’s C-17 Globemaster-III, C-130J Super Hercules and AN-32 aircraft as well as helicopters for airlift of soldiers and equipment as well as rapid inter-valley transfers.

The Him Vijay exercise will be in full throttle when Chinese President Xi Jingping is expected to visit India later this month for the second informal summit with PM Narendra Modi at the seaside resort of Mamallapuram, near Chennai, as was reported by TOI in September.

While the IBGs of the 17 Corps, headquartered at Panagarh under the Kolkata-based Eastern Command, are being test-bedded in the ongoing exercise, the IBGs meant for Pakistan were similarly “test-bedded” under the Chandimandir-based Western Command in April-May.

“Each IBG will be configured on three things. One, the nature of threat envisaged in an area. Two, the type of terrain involved. Three, the task that will be given,” said a source. In effect, the IBGs for Pakistan will be focused more on tanks and heavy artillery, while the ones for China will revolve more around infantry and light artillery due to the differing terrains.

The ones under the 17 Corps, for instance, will have Chinook heavy-lift helicopters swiftly transporting M-777 ultra-light howitzers to forward and high-altitude areas with China. IAF has started inducting 15 CH-47F Chinooks in a Rs 8,048 crore deal inked in September 2015, while Army is getting 145 M-777 howitzers under a Rs 5,000 crore deal inked with the US in November 2016.

“The entire concept of IBGs is based on the need to have leaner and meaner forces that can operate and execute tasks faster. There is the `Cold Start’ doctrine but the existing formations are somewhat heavy. If you want to achieve surprise, you must go faster,” said another source.

This has led to “a mid-course correction” in raising of the 17 Corps, which began in January 2014 to acquire “quick-reaction ground offensive capabilities” for the first time against China because the Army’s existing three “strike corps” were largely geared towards Pakistan.
With two high-altitude infantry divisions as well as armoured, artillery, air defence, engineer brigades spread from Ladakh to Arunachal, the 17 Corps was to be fully formed with 90,274 soldiers at a cost Rs 64,678 crore by 2021. “But the raising has been slowed down because of the new concept of IBGs as well as a fund crunch,” said another source.

[Kati]

Chinese Professor Faces Rare U.S. Economic Espionage Trial
Bloomberg Joel Rosenblatt,Bloomberg 12 hours ago
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(Bloomberg) -- U.S. prosecutors say Hao Zhang is a professor-spy who conspired with a colleague from the University of Southern California to steal and sell American secrets to the Chinese government and military through a shell company in the Cayman Islands.

Zhang’s lawyers will try to show at a trial set for Wednesday that his work at one of China’s most prestigious technical universities to develop radio-filtering technology used in mobile phones has always been about advancing scientific knowledge -- and not for the benefit of the Chinese state.

The trial comes amid an aggressive U.S. crackdown on Chinese theft of intellectual property that began under former President Barack Obama -- even before Zhang was arrested in 2015 when he flew to Los Angeles to attend a conference -- and has escalated during the Trump administration’s trade war with China.

Zhang could face a lengthy prison term in the U.S. if found guilty of trade-secret theft and an even more serious charge, economic espionage. Such cases rarely go to trial, but Zhang’s is even more unusual because he has elected to defend himself before a judge in federal court in San Jose, California, instead of in front of a jury.

The proceeding will last just one or two days, streamlined by the professor’s agreement not to fight evidence weighing against him that a federal prosecutor has described as “overwhelming.”

Zhang is mounting what one legal expert calls a “damage control” defense in which he has conceded evidence including emails that the U.S. says contained trade-secret data and admissions he made while being questioned by the FBI.

“It’s pretty common to only contest elements that are reasonably defensible, to avoid inflammatory or prejudicial evidence coming in on other elements that you are going to lose anyway, but which could color the rest of the case,” said Paul Chan, a lawyer who defends companies and individuals in trade-secret cases.

The secrets Zhang allegedly stole came from a former employer, Skyworks Solutions Inc., based in Woburn, Massachusetts, and San Jose-based Avago Technologies Ltd., which acquired Broadcom Inc. in 2015. The technology at issue filters out unwanted signals in mobile phones and other devices, which has become more difficult as wireless products have become ubiquitous.

Zhang went to work for Skyworks after earning his doctorate in electrical engineering at the University of Southern California in 2006. At USC he met Wei Pang, who went on to work at Avago and, according to prosecutors, was Zhang’s key co-conspirator. Both men returned to China to teach at Tianjin University, a premier technical school.

At TJU, the professors allegedly used stolen information to refine radio-filter technology, apply for patents in the U.S. and China, and sell it through a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

In 2015, prosecutor Matthew Parrella told the court that the U.S. has built an “overwhelming case” against Zhang based on email messages with Pang, in some instances containing proprietary information from Skyworks and Avago.

These Are Some of Trump’s Weapons in China Trade Spat: QuickTake

The government has proof of “overt act after overt act of this defendant emailing around trade secrets that he took, attempts to hide their business dealings, attempts to move the victim companies to China -- it’s extremely clear,” Parrella said.

Zhang is the first of six defendants to go to trial -- and probably the only one because the others are in China. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila has yet to rule on whether Zhang’s mentor at USC, Professor Eun Sok Kim, can testify about what Zhang’s lawyers call a practice at the school’s laboratory of promoting a “free and open exchange of ideas.”

Zhang “may be seeking to prove that, given the USC lab’s promotion of the ‘free and open exchange of ideas,’ he had no actual intent to benefit a foreign government,” Chan said. Prosecutors must prove the benefit to get enhanced penalties and fines under the economic espionage charge, he said.

Prosecutors have objected to the proposed testimony but apparently haven’t objected to Zhang’s request that Kim also serve as a character witness. The professor has testified once before, in 2015 shortly after Zhang was arrested, to vouch for his former student’s release on bail.

Kim said Zhang was a “reliable, conscientious person who never showed any sign of a deception.”

“He worked with me for four years as he pursued his Ph.D., so I know him quite well, on his personal integrity and his work ethics and his disposition and life objectives -- at least as far as I can tell while he was a student with me,” he said. “So I had a pretty good opinion about him.”

China’s Global Times daily newspaper has published numerous stories describing the plight of Chinese scientists, including Zhang, whose careers it says have been destroyed by U.S. prosecutions.

“America has a long history of hunting for Chinese scapegoats as part of their efforts to curb China’s scientific and technological development,” the English-language newspaper said in a December article.

The case is U.S. v. Hao Zhang, 15-cr-00106, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose).

To contact the reporter on this story: Joel Rosenblatt in San Francisco at jrosenblatt@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Peter Blumberg, Joe Schneider

[SSridhar]

Ahead of Xi Jinping's visit, China ties hit bump: Military drill in NE - Sachin Parashar, ToI

In a last-minute scare for the Modi-Xi informal summit next week, China has raised strong objection to India's ongoing Him-Vijay military exercise in Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui, who was earlier China's ambassador to India, raised the issue with foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale in a meeting Thursday.

Beijing is learnt to have told India that the defence drill could undermine sincere efforts by both sides to have a successful summit.Indian authorities said the exercise was being held at least 100 km away from the LAC and that its timing had nothing to do with the informal summit as it had been planned months in advance.

The summit, while not officially announced yet, remains on schedule - for now - with President Xi Jinping, as a top government source revealed on condition of anonymity, likely to land in Chennai on October 11 around 2 pm. Later that evening, he is expected to travel to the temple town of Mamallapuram for a private dinner with PM Narendra Modi. This informal summit though will probably be of a shorter duration than Wuhan as Xi is not expected to spend more than 24 hours in India.

The Luo-Gokhale meeting here remained under the radar with neither side officially confirming the visit by Luo. ToI had first reported about it on October 3. A day earlier, ToI had also reported in detail about the army’s exercise in Arunachal.

The military exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as a part of south Tibet, seems to have upset Beijing no end as it came just a week ahead of Xi's scheduled arrival in Chennai. That India, as the host nation, is yet to officially announce dates for the summit betrays the sensitivities involved both here and in Beijing in scheduling what is probably the most demanding diplomatic engagement of the year for the government.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Friday he wasn’t in a position to officially announce the visit, even though he underscored its significance by describing it as an important platform for the 2 leaders to exchange views on a range of issues.

Both sides realise that the second informal summit couldn’t have happened at a less opportune moment. China had described India’s decision to revoke the special status of J&K, after which Ladakh turned into a separate Union territory, as undermining its sovereignty. India has found it difficult to accept that despite foreign minister S Jaishankar having explained to China, during his August Beijing visit, that Article 370 related developments were entirely an internal matter of India with "no implication for the external boundaries of India or the LAC with China”, Beijing helped Pakistan seek a UNSC meeting on the same issue days later.

India has maintained that cross-border terrorism is the main issue in J&K and the government is likely to prioritise the same in the summit. Both sides though realise that the informal summit was not originally meant to take a deep dive into the specifics of all outstanding issues and that there’s too much at stake to allow any single issue to derail the summit.

The Wuhan summit was a success in that the strategic guidance given by the 2 leaders to their respective militaries to build trust and mutual understanding helped prevent any major border flare up in the past 18 months. The 2 countries will hope for a takeaway of similar significance from Mamallapuram, if the summit does indeed happen.

[Rony]

China and Taiwan clash over Wikipedia edits

Ask Google or Siri: "What is Taiwan?"

"A state", they will answer, "in East Asia".

But earlier in September, it would have been a "province in the People's Republic of China".

For questions of fact, many search engines, digital assistants and phones all point to one place: Wikipedia. And Wikipedia had suddenly changed.

The edit war over Taiwan was only one of a number that had broken out across Wikipedia's vast, multi-lingual expanse of entries. The Hong Kong protests page had seen 65 changes in the space of a day - largely over questions of language. Were they protesters? Or rioters?

The English entry for the Senkaku islands said they were "islands in East Asia", but earlier this year the Mandarin equivalent had been changed to add "China's inherent territory".

The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests were changed in Mandarin to describe them as "the June 4th incident" to "quell the counter-revolutionary riots". On the English version, the Dalai Lama is a Tibetan refugee. In Mandarin, he is a Chinese exile.

Both an official and academics from within China have begun to call for both their government and citizens to systematically correct what they argue are serious anti-Chinese biases endemic across Wikipedia. One paper is called Opportunities And Challenges Of China's Foreign Communication in the Wikipedia, and was published in the Journal of Social Sciences this year.

In it, the academics Li-hao Gan and Bin-Ting Weng argue that "due to the influence by foreign media, Wikipedia entries have a large number of prejudiced words against the Chinese government".

They continue: "We must develop a targeted external communication strategy, which includes not only rebuilding a set of external communication discourse systems, but also cultivating influential editors on the wiki platform."

They end with a call to action.

"China urgently needs to encourage and train Chinese netizens to become Wikipedia platform opinion leaders and administrators… [who] can adhere to socialist values and form some core editorial teams."

However, much of the activity that Lin described isn't quite vandalism. Some - such as Taiwan's sovereignty - is about asserting one disputed claim above others. Others, subtler still, are about the pruning of language, especially in Mandarin, to make a political point.

Should the Hong Kong protests be considered "against" China? Should you call a community "Taiwanese people of Han descent", or "a subgroup of Han Chinese, native to Taiwan"?

It is over this kind of linguistic territory that many of the fiercest battles rage.

So does this amount to telling China's story, or online propaganda?

At least on Wikipedia, the answer depends on where you fall on two very different ideas about what the internet is for. There is the philosophy of open knowledge, open source, volunteer-led communities.

But it may now be confronted by another force: the growing online power of states whose geopolitical struggles to define the truth now extend onto places like Wikipedia that have grown too large, too important, for them to ignore.

[Prem]

[Kati]

US researchers on front line of battle against Chinese theft

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-researche ... 00311.html

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the U.S. warned allies around the world that Chinese tech giant Huawei was a security threat, the FBI was making the same point quietly to a Midwestern university.

In an email to the associate vice chancellor for research at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, an agent wanted to know if administrators believed Huawei had stolen any intellectual property from the school.

Told no, the agent responded: "I assumed those would be your answers, but I had to ask."

It was no random query.

The FBI has been reaching out to colleges and universities across the country as it tries to stem what American authorities portray as the wholesale theft of technology and trade secrets by researchers tapped by China. The breadth and intensity of the campaign emerges in emails The Associated Press obtained through records requests to public universities in 50 states. The emails underscore the extent of U.S. concerns that universities, as recruiters of foreign talent and incubators of cutting-edge research, are particularly vulnerable targets.

Agents have lectured at seminars, briefed administrators in campus meetings and distributed pamphlets with cautionary tales of trade secret theft. In the past two years, they've requested the emails of two University of Washington researchers, asked Oklahoma State University if it has scientists in specific areas and sought updates about "possible misuse" of research funds by a University of Colorado Boulder professor, the messages show.

The emails show administrators mostly embracing FBI warnings, requesting briefings for themselves and others. But they also reveal some struggling to balance legitimate national security concerns against their own eagerness to avoid stifling research or tarnishing legitimate scientists. The Justice Department says it appreciates that push-pull and wants only to help universities separate the relatively few researchers engaged in theft from the majority who are not.

Senior FBI officials told AP they're not encouraging schools to monitor researchers by nationality but instead to take steps to protect research and to watch for suspicious behavior. They consider the briefings vital because they say universities, accustomed to fostering international and collaborative environments, haven't historically been as attentive to security as they should be.

"When we go to the universities, what we're trying to do is highlight the risk to them without discouraging them from welcoming the researchers and students from a country like China," Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the Justice Department's top national security official, said in an interview.

The effort comes amid a deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China and as a trade war launched by President Donald Trump contributes to stock market turbulence and fears of a global economic slowdown. American officials have long accused China of stealing trade secrets from U.S. corporations to develop their economy, allegations Beijing denies.

"Existentially, we look at China as our greatest threat from an intelligence perspective, and they succeeded significantly in the last decade from stealing our best and brightest technology," said William Evanina, the U.S. government's chief counterintelligence official.

The FBI's effort coincides with restrictions put in place by other federal agencies, including the Pentagon and Energy Department, that fund university research grants. The National Institutes of Health has sent dozens of letters in the past year warning schools of researchers it believes may have concealed grants received from China, or improperly shared confidential research information. The Justice Department launched last year an effort called the China Initiative aimed at identifying priority trade secret cases and focusing resources on them.

The threat, officials say, is more than theoretical.

In the past two months alone, a University of Kansas researcher was charged with collecting federal grant money while working full time for a Chinese university; a Chinese government employee was arrested in a visa fraud scheme that the Justice Department says was aimed at recruiting U.S. research talent; and a university professor in Texas was accused in a trade secret case involving circuit board technology.

The most consequential case this year centered not on a university but on Huawei, charged in January with stealing corporate trade secrets and evading sanctions. The company denies wrongdoing. Several universities including the University of Illinois, which received the FBI email last February, have since begun severing ties with Huawei.

The University of Minnesota did the same, with an administrator reassuring the FBI in an email last May that issues raised by a best practices letter an agent forwarded "have certainly been topics of conversation (and occasionally even action) in our halls for a while now."

But the Justice Department's track record hasn't been perfect, leading to pushback from some that the concerns are overstated.

Federal prosecutors in 2015 dropped charges against a Temple University professor who'd been accused of sharing designs for a pocket heater with China. The professor, Xiaoxing Xi, is suing the FBI. "It was totally wrong," he said, "so I can only speak from my experience that whatever they put out there is not necessarily true."

Richard Wood, the then-interim provost at the University of New Mexico, conveyed ambivalence in an email to colleagues last year. He wrote that he took seriously the national security concerns the FBI identified in briefings, but also remained "deeply committed to traditional academic norms regarding the free exchange of scientific knowledge wherever appropriate — a tradition that has been the basis of international scientific progress for several centuries.

"There are real tensions between these two realities, and no simple solutions," he wrote. "I do not think we would be wise to create new 'policy' on terrain this complex and fraught with internal trade-offs between legitimate concerns and values without some real dialogue on the matter."

A University of Colorado associate vice chancellor equivocated in January on how to handle an agent's request for a meeting, emailing colleagues that the request to discuss university research felt "probing" and like "more of a fishing expedition" than past occasions. Another administrator replied that the FBI presumably wanted to discuss intellectual property theft, calling it "bright on their radar."

FBI officials say they've received consistently positive feedback from universities, and the emails do show many administrators requesting briefings, campus visits, or expressing eagerness for cooperation. A Washington State University administrator connected an FBI agent with his counterpart at the University of Idaho. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill requested a briefing last February with an administrator, saying "we would like to understand more about the role of the FBI and how we can partner together." A University of Nebraska official invited an agent to make a presentation as part of broader campus training.

Kevin Gamache, chief research security officer for the Texas A&M University system, told AP he values his FBI interactions and that the communication goes both ways. The FBI shares threat information and administrators educate law enforcement about the realities of university research.

"There's no magic pill," Gamache said. "It's a dialogue that has to be ongoing."

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas vice president for research and economic development welcomed the assistance in a city she called the "birthplace of atomic testing. "We have a world-class radiochemistry faculty, our College of Engineering has significant numbers of faculty and students from China, and we have several other issues of concern to me as VPR. In all of these cases, the FBI is always available to help," the administrator, Mary Croughan, emailed agents.

The AP submitted public records requests for correspondence between the FBI and research officials at more than 50 schools.

More than two dozen produced records, including seminar itineraries and an FBI pamphlet warning that China does "not play by the same rules of academic integrity" as American institutions observe. The document, titled "China: The Risk to Academia," says Beijing is using "non-traditional collectors" like post-doctoral researchers to collect intelligence and that programs intended to promote international collaboration are being exploited.

Some outreach is more general, like an agent's offer to brief New Mexico State University on "how the FBI can best serve and protect."

But other emails show agents seeking tips or following leads.

"If you have concerns about any faculty or graduate researchers, students, outside vendors ... pretty much anything we previously discussed — just reminding you that I am here to help," one wrote to Iowa State.

In May, an agent sent the University of Washington a public records request for emails of two researchers, seeking references to Chinese-government talent recruitment programs the U.S. views with suspicion. A university spokesman said the school hasn't investigated either professor.

Last year, an agent warning of a "trend of international hostile collection efforts at US universities" asked Oklahoma State University if it had researchers in encryption research or quantum computing.

The University of Colorado received an FBI request about an "internal investigation" into a professor's "possible misuse" of NIH funding. The school said it found no misconduct involving the professor, who has resigned.

Other emails show schools responding internally to government concerns.

At Mississippi State, an administrator concerned about Iranian cyberattacks on colleges and government reports on foreign influence suggested to colleagues the school scrutinize graduate school applicants' demographics. "Have to be careful so U.S. law is not violated re discrimination but where does one draw the line when protecting against known foreign states that are cyber criminals?" he wrote.

Though espionage concerns aren't new — federal prosecutors charged five Chinese military hackers in 2014 — FBI officials report an uptick in targeting of universities and more U.S. attention as a result. The FBI says it's seen some progress from universities, with one official saying schools are more reliably pressing researchers about outside funding sources.

Demers, the Justice Department official, said the focus reflects how espionage efforts are "as pervasive, as well-resourced, as ever today.

"It's a serious problem today on college campuses."

[SSridhar]

China and Taiwan clash over Wikipedia edits

Consistent with past practices, China will now develop its own Wikipedia

[SSridhar]

US blacklists 28 Chinese entities over abuses in Xinjiang - AFP

The US commerce department announced on Monday it is blacklisting 28 Chinese entities that it says are implicated in rights violations and abuses targeting Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region.

Secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross announced the move, which bars the named entities from purchasing US products, saying the United States "cannot and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China."

According to an update to the US Federal Register set to be published Wednesday, the blacklisted firms included video surveillance company Hikvision, as well as artificial intelligence companies Megvii Technology and SenseTime.

The ban comes amid heightened tensions between the US and China, particularly over trade policy and Beijing's actions in the western Xinjiang region.

The world's two biggest economies are in the midst of a trade war that's seen them impose tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in bilateral trade.
On Monday, the White House announced that talks between the two countries were set to resume on Thursday, with Beijing's top trade envoy Liu He due to meet US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The US has meanwhile stepped up its rhetoric against Beijing over its policies in the western Xinjiang region.

Right groups say China has detained around one million Uighurs and other Muslims in re-education camps in the region, actions that Washington has said are reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

During last month's United Nations General Assembly, the state department organized an event to highlight the plight of the Uighurs, with the US's second-highest diplomat John Sullivan decrying "China's horrific campaign of repression."

"In Xinjiang, the Chinese government prevents Muslims from praying and reading the Quran, and it has destroyed or defaced a great number of mosques," Sullivan said.

"This is a systematic campaign by the Chinese Communist Party to stop its own citizens from exercising their unalienable right to religious freedom."
China had until recently denied the existence of re-education camps, but now claims they are "vocational training schools" necessary to control terrorism, while decrying interference in its "internal affairs."

The 28 entities blacklisted include 18 public security bureaus in Xinjiang, one police college and eight businesses.

"These entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs and other members of Muslim minority groups," the Federal Register update said.

The blacklisting of the Chinese companies follows Washington's earlier move to stop technology giant Huawei and other Chinese firms from obtaining government contracts.

Hikvision was also included in that ban, which will preclude any US federal agency from purchasing telecom or technology equipment from the firms and comes amid concern that Huawei is linked to Chinese intelligence.

The US fears that systems built by Huawei could be used by Beijing for espionage via secret "backdoors" built into telecom networking equipment.

[Dumal]

https://twitter.com/suhasinih/status/11 ... 05762?s=20

^Signs of Bhutan giving in to China on the boundary issues. Hope this is not due to our preoccupations elsewhere! Anyone seen details?

[Peregrine]

US blacklists 28 Chinese entities over abuses in Xinjiang - AFP

The US commerce department announced on Monday it is blacklisting 28 Chinese entities that it says are implicated in rights violations and abuses targeting Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region.

Secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross announced the move, which bars the named entities from purchasing US products, saying the United States "cannot and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China."

According to an update to the US Federal Register set to be published Wednesday, the blacklisted firms included video surveillance company Hikvision, as well as artificial intelligence companies Megvii Technology and SenseTime.

SSridhar Ji :

“However, not A Dickie Bird from Trump and his other Pack of Cards on the intolerance and the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within most of the Islamic Countries in General and Terroristan in Particular

Who will Bell the Cat?

[abhik]

https://twitter.com/suhasinih/status/11 ... 05762?s=20

^Signs of Bhutan giving in to China on the boundary issues. Hope this is not due to our preoccupations elsewhere! Anyone seen details?

What did we expect would happen after we down hill ski-ed from doklam?

[Peregrine]

India, China should jointly uphold peace and stability, resolve disputes through dialogues: Chinese ambassador PTI

HIGHLIGHTS

- Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong said both India and China should go beyond the model of "management of differences" and work towards actively shaping bilateral relations

- "At the regional level, we should resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and consultations and jointly uphold regional peace and stability” he said.

NEW DELHI: India and China should resolve disputes peacefully through dialogues at the regional level and jointly uphold peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong said ahead of the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping.

The preparation for the summit coastal town of Mamallapuramon near Chennai have come under the shadow of the Kashmir issue as both sides are yet to announce the dates for Xi's India visit though it is learnt that he will arrive in Chennai on Friday for a nearly 24-hour long trip.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, the Chinese envoy said both India and China should go beyond the model of "management of differences" and work towards actively shaping bilateral relations through accumulation of positive energy and forging greater cooperation for common development.

"At the regional level, we should resolve disputes peacefully through dialogues and consultations and jointly uphold regional peace and stability, " he said, noting that China-India ties transcend the bilateral dimension and assumed global and strategic significance.

"The two sides should strengthen strategic communication, enhance political mutual trust, give full play to the irreplaceable guidance of the two leaders in bilateral relations, and ensure the accurate transmission and solid implementation of the consensus reached by the two leaders, " said the envoy.

The ties between India and China came under some strain after India announced withdrawal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated the state into two Union territories. China criticised India's decision and its foreign minister Wang Yi even raised it at the UN General Assembly last month.

Days later, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said that China was working for Kashmiris to help them get their fundamental rights and justice, comments which have not gone down well with New Delhi.

The first informal summit between Modi and Xi took place in picturesque Chinese lake city Wuhan in April 2018, months after a 73-day long face off between the armies of the two countries in Doklam tri-juction in Sikkim sector raised fears of a war between the two Asian giants.

In the summit, Modi and Xi decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communication and build trust and understanding.

In Mamallapuramon summit, the focus of the talks is likely to be on steps to ensure mutual development and expanding overall ties.

"We should go beyond the model of differences management, actively shape bilateral relations and accumulate positive energy. We should enhance exchanges and cooperation, promote convergence of interests and achieve common development, " the Chinese envoy said.

On the decades-old boundary question, the envoy said it is normal for neighbours to have differences and the key is to properly handle them and find solution through dialogue and consultation.

"Over the past decades, no single bullet has been fired at the China-India border area, and peace and tranquility has been maintained. Boundary question is only part of China-India relations, " Sun said.

"We need to keep it in the larger picture of China-India relations and do not let the boundary dispute affect the normal development of bilateral relations, " he said.

The envoy said China and India should strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs.

"The uncertainty of the international situation poses common challenges to both China and India. Strengthening solidarity and cooperation between us is an opportunity for our respective development and the world at large, " he said.

"I am convinced that China and India have the vision and capability to chart a course of common development and win-win cooperation among emerging countries and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future, " he added.

Talking about issues relating to trade, Sun said China has long been India's largest trading partner and India is China's largest trading partner in South Asia, adding since the beginning of the 21st century, bilateral trade has grown from less than $3 billion to nearly $100 billion, an increase of about 32 times.

"More than 1,000 Chinese companies have increased their investment in industrial parks, e-commerce and other areas in India, with a total investment of $8 billion and 200,000 local jobs created, " he said.
At the same time, he said there is huge potential and broad prospects for expanding economic and trade cooperation.

"China encourages Chinese companies to invest in India and hopes that India will provide a more fair, friendly and convenient business environment for Chinese companies to operate in India," he added.

Cheers

[Dumal]

https://twitter.com/suhasinih/status/11 ... 05762?s=20

^Signs of Bhutan giving in to China on the boundary issues. Hope this is not due to our preoccupations elsewhere! Anyone seen details?

What did we expect would happen after we down hill ski-ed from doklam?

I am not sure how what we did qualifies as down-hill skiing at all. If anything our approach to China in Doklam was the opposite. And we also worked throughout these years to shore up our rapport with Bhutan. It could be that we cannot take it any further in terms of securing Bhutan's interests against China, if the above were to be true.

[abhik]

What did we expect would happen after we down hill ski-ed from doklam?

I am not sure how what we did qualifies as down-hill skiing at all. If anything our approach to China in Doklam was the opposite. And we also worked throughout these years to shore up our rapport with Bhutan. It could be that we cannot take it any further in terms of securing Bhutan's interests against China, if the above were to be true.

We first occupied the strip of land and then retreated once the Chinese started massing troops - i dont know what else would call it?

[Kashi]

We first occupied the strip of land and then retreated once the Chinese started massing troops - i dont know what else would call it?

You sure you've not got it backwards?

[Rudradev]

It might be wise for some BRFites not to gain their understanding of history or current events from fortune cookies.

[Peregrine]

X Posted on the Understanding New China after 19th Congress Thread

Modi-Xi summit to focus on how to move beyond differences: Chinese media – PTI

HIGHLIGHTS

- China's official media said President Xi Jinping's meeting with PM Modi would focus on how to forge a cooperative partnership between the two countries

- Xi is scheduled to leave Beijing for Chennai early on Friday

- He will meet PM Modi at Mamallapuram tourist centre

BEIJING: As Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to India on Friday for his 2nd informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, official media in China said, their meeting would focus more on how to move beyond the historical and present differences to forge a cooperative partnership.

Xi is scheduled to leave Beijing for Chennai early on Friday and reach the city by late noon to be in time for his 2nd informal meeting with PM Narendra Modi at the nearby picturesque Mamallapuram tourist centre

About the summit, Chinese vice foreign minister, Luo Zhaohui told the media on Wednesday that, officials of both sides have made meticulous preparations for the summit through close interactions.

"Now the solid ground has been laid. With the joint efforts of the two sides President Xi's visit to India will be a full success and set the tone and direction for further growth of bilateral ties and lead to new progress and fruitful results in exchange of cooperation between the two sides," he said.

"Since it is an informal meeting, the two leaders will have a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere to have free exchange of views without fixed topics," he added.

Quick Edit: India, China remain far apart on core issues

Also no agreements were expected to be signed.

Starting from Friday evening, PM Modi and President Xi were expected to have several meetings, mostly accompanied just by their translators to discuss the way forward for the Sino-India ties which faced numerous headwinds, especially over Beijing's backing to Pakistan's shrilled campaign against India over the revocation of Article 370, removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

While Luo struck a highly positive note, a surprisingly candid editorial in the state run China Daily on Thursday said it remains to be seen what the two leaders can accomplish in the next two days.

"The belated official announcement of Xi's visits to the country's two South Asian neighbours, (India and Nepal) only 48 hours ahead of the informal meeting, was proof that Beijing and New Delhi cherish the opportunity to improve bilateral ties through the personal chemistry between their top leaders," the editorial said.

"That both Beijing and New Delhi announced the meeting will take place, quashed the earlier speculation that the two leaders would postpone any meeting and sent the reassuring message that they want nothing to get in the way of constructive engagement," it said.

"Xi's meeting with PM Modi in the southern Indian city of Chennai on Friday and Saturday is expected to focus more on the two countries' historical and present differences, and how to move beyond them to realise their cooperation potential," it said.

"While it remains to be seen what Xi and PM Modi can accomplish in Chennai, the potential of greater bilateral engagement certainly supports a relationship that is far more positive than one that is just stable," it added.

China this week appeared to have softened its stand on Kashmir, with foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang while replying to a question on the issue omitted references to UN and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

China whose traditional stand on Kashmir issue was that it should be peacefully resolved between India and Pakistan, started referring to UN and UNSC resolutions, after Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's visit to Beijing days after India revoked article 370 on August 5.

China also backed Pakistan's call for an informal UNSC meeting on Kashmir, which ended without any statement, and its foreign minister Wang Yi in his address to the UN General Assembly said "no actions that would unilaterally change the status quo should be taken".

Geng's comments this week raised hopes of China softening its stance ahead of the Chennai summit, but Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit along with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and their meeting with Xi has drastically changed Beijing's stance.

It is still a mystery why China worked out the visit of Khan just ahead of Xi's trip to India.

In his meeting, Xi assured Khan that the friendship between China and Pakistan is "unbreakable and rock-solid" despite changes in the international and regional situation.

He also said, "China is paying close attention to the Kashmir situation and the facts are clear".

A joint press release issued at the end of Khan's visit said China was “paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir and reiterated that the Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements."

"China opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation. Parties need to settle disputes and issues in the region through dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect," it said.

India reacted sharply to Xi's references on Kashmir with the external affairs ministry saying, Beijing is "well aware" of New Delhi's position and it is not for other countries to comment on its internal affairs.

Indian government sources also said there was no question of any discussion on the issue as it is India's sovereign matter but added that PM Modi will update Xi on the matter if there is a query.

On Thursday, Geng, however, treaded cautiously, declining to go into China's stand on Kashmir in detail.

Asked at a media briefing whether the Kashmir issue would figure in Xi-Modi talks, Geng said, "China's position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear”.

"On President Xi and Prime Minister Modi's meeting, we will release information in due course," he added

Cheers

[SSridhar]

Whatever it is, there is unprecedented welcome for Xi Jinping rolled out by India, especially the TN government.

[Kaivalya]

Even though government has its priorities- I wish media plays this sort of a clip over and over with debates about free speech so leftist media learn what a real media gag is really about :

https://streamable.com/s8l68
Recent NBA match devolved after a few sign carrying people were thrown out. This is in the land of free and the brave not china

For folks who might not have followed the controversy:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/10/sports- ... -line.html

[Peregrine]

X Posted on the Understanding New China after 19th Congress Thread

Bonhomie on display as PM Modi hosts XiJinping for second informal summit: Highlights

PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping took a tour of the iconic monuments at Mamallapuram, sipped coconut water at the magnificent Panch Rathas complex and enjoyed cultural performances at the beautifully lit-up Shore temple as they kicked off their second informal summit on Friday. Here are the highlights of the first day of Xi's two-day India visit:

* Chinese President Xi Jinping was accorded a red carpet welcome at the Chennai airport today and was treated to Tamil cultural performances by folk dancers as well as Bharatanatyam artistes while scores of children greeted him by waving Indian and Chinese flags. He later drove to seaside resort town of Mamallapuram for his informal summit with PM Modi.

* PM Modi, who had reached Mamallapuram ahead of Xi by a chopper, received the Chinese leader at the Arjuna's Penance monument. Donning a striking Tamil traditional 'karai veshti' (dhoti with a border in green), angavastram (a shawl), and a half sleeve white shirt, the Prime Minister shook hands with Xi as the two leaders exchanged pleasantries. PM Modi's outfit drew praise from several quarters, with Pattali Makkal Katchi S Ramadoss and Karnataka culture and tourism minister C T Ravi hailing PM for promoting the local culture.

* The two leaders proceeded to take a tour of the iconic relief structure Arjuna's Penance, an intricately carved ancient sculpture dating back to the Pallava dynasty and Krishna's Butter Ball - a big round boulder perched on a slope. Later, the
Prime Minister offered a tender coconut to the visiting foreign dignitary and the two leaders relished the drink at the magnificent Panch Rathas complex.

* PM Modi and Xi then enjoyed a thrilling cultural performance at the centuries old Shore Temple, basking in the rich heritage of India. The programme showcased the Indian classical dance forms of Kathakali and Bharatnatyam to fast-paced Carnatic music, highlighting the region's magnificent roots.

* After the cultural gala, the Prime Minister hosted Xi for a scrumptious dinner comprising sambhar, a mouthwatering south Indian recipe made of lentils and also a favourite of the Tamils, besides other delicacies. The meal also included 'thakkali rasam,' made of tomato and 'imli' and 'kadalai (chick pea, generally) korma', besides halwa as the premier dessert.

* The Prime Minister gifted Xi a Nachiarkoil - a branched Annam Lamp and aThanjavur painting of dancing Saraswathi. The lamp is exclusively made in Nachiarkoil town by the local community known as Pathers. The painting is three feet high, four-feet wide, weighs about 40 kgs and took 45 days to complete.

* The meeting between the two leaders is a follow up to the inaugural summit which was held in Wuhan from April 27 to 28 last year. "Taking forward the Wuhan Spirit, the Mahabalipuram meet will provide an opportunity to the Chinese President and PM Modi to continue their discussions on overarching issues of bilateral, regional and global importance and to exchange views on deepening India-China Closer Development Partnership," the external affairs ministry had said in a statement.

* On Saturday, the two leaders will have a one-on-one meeting at the Fisherman's Cove resort which will be followed up by delegation-level talks. After the talks, Modi will host a lunch for Xi, and the Chinese leader will leave for Chennai airport at 12.45 pm. PM Modi and Xi will engage for a total period of six hours during their two-day summit.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Mike Pompeo says Orwell's '1984' coming to life in China's Xinjiang region – Reuters

HIGHLIGHTS

- "The pages of George Orwell's 1984 are coming to life there(Xinjiang). I wish the NBA would acknowledge that," said US secretary of state Mike Pompeo

- NBA has been grappling with the backlash from a tweet by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey last weekend in support of Hong Kong anti-government protests

WASHINGTON: US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Friday likened China's treatment of more than one million Uighur Muslims to George Orwell's "1984" novel, saying the Communist Party was detaining and abusing them in internment camps.

Speaking at an American Association of Christian Counselors event in Nashville, Tennessee, Pompeo also said he wished the National Basketball Association (NBA) had acknowledged the situation in Xinjiang province.

NBA has been grappling with the backlash from a tweet by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey last weekend in support of Hong Kong anti-government protests. Morey deleted his tweet but Chinese state media has characterized it as the latest example of West meddling in China's affairs.

"The Chinese Communist Party is detaining and abusing more than one million Uighur Muslims in internment camps in Xinjiang, the western region of China, " Pompeo said. "The pages of George Orwell's 1984 are coming to life there. I wish the NBA would acknowledge that."

The China market is estimated to be worth more than $4 billion for the NBA.

China has been widely condemned for setting up complexes in remote Xinjiang that it describes as "vocational training centers" to stamp out extremism and give people new skills.

The United Nations says at least 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims have been detained.

Cheers

[ArjunPandit]

I am finding very thin discussion on this visit on BRF. Seems like most spend time on teetar. Ramana guru needs to remind. That said, I was not plugged in to the visit as traveling to khanland right now.
Few things from the optics
1. It serves as a marketing opportunity for tourism. Chinese are touring the globe like crazy and they are shopping like crazy everywhere. We should not leave any opportunity ot make money of them. good for our local employment and handicrafts.
2. Seems like modi is in the mode of not baring teeth, unless necessary. When necessary in Dokalam, they showed spines of steel. There are areas where he is willing to bid time time.
3. IMHO, there is nothing much beyond to look beyond these sessions for armchair generals like us, happy to be corrected. China is not changing its stance on Pakistan, NSG, trade and any other issue, nor is India gonna stand firm beyond few issues. At best they are group therapy sessions for babus and others and another touch point to be comfortable

[Philip]

Once all the razzmatazz is over, XI the Chin emperor will fly back to the Middle Kingdom to create more diabolic plans to subjugate India both economically and militarily.
What could've been done by our side , a great missed opportunity, was to have displayed off the Mahabs coast, major elements of our navy's eastern fleet sailing past in a show of naval strength, ostensibly to " protect" the precious backside of
our visitor, but in reality to rub into him the stark truth that in the IOR, India will rule the waves. All we apparently did was to have a few Coast Guard vessels instead.Some naval " fireworks" in the evening would've made our day too.

[SSridhar]

Anti-China protests grow in Nepal even as Beijing claims bonhomie over Xi visit - Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Economic Times

Nepal has witnessed a series of anti-China protests in recent months over a slew of issues notwithstanding China’s enthusiasm over visit of its President from Saturday.

A protest was held (Kathmandu, August 14) in front of Chinese Huawei company office for its involvement in the hacking (May 06-07) of around 200 Nepali websites, including some important Government websites. The Protesters shouted anti-Huawei and anti-Chinese slogans during the protests. The protestors also tried to enter the Huawei office. Police arrested five protesters. Following this an interaction program of senior journalists was organized (August 26) to discuss Huawei's misconduct in Nepal at Siddhartha College, Kathmandu, ET has learnt.

Following this another public program of over 200 people namely Khabardari and Sachetna Sabha (Warning and Awareness meeting) was organized (August 30) against the company, near the Head Office of Nepal Telecom (NT) where speakers alleged that the officers of NT along with Minister of Communication Gokul Baskota were involved in corruption and had sold 4G network contract to Chinese company without any bidding. Besides, a research paper on Huawei Company, mentioning its history, illegal activities and hacking case in Nepal was distributed during the event.

It is also a known fact that Huawei had been banned in US, European and many Asian countries have avoided its engagement in telecom connectivity. Nepalese Telecom Company (NTC) had planned several protests against Huawei’s role in Nepal, including the last one in September, 2019. Chinese agents in their Embassy based in Kathmandu have been trying to contain the damage caused to Huawei interests (i.e against hacking of 200 Nepali sites) through pro China media outlets in Nepal, ET has learnt.

A group of 15 protesters including 10 women’s right activists held a demonstration (Kathmandu, September 09) near the Chinese embassy protesting against trafficking of Nepali women by Chinese nationals during the visit (September 08-10) of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Nepal.

Nine of the women activists were detained by the police upon complaint by the Chinese Embassy and were not immediately released even after some human rights activists and lawyers approached the Police. The protests got wide media coverage in mainstream media and social media. The protestors came in after recent incidents of 'bride trafficking' mostly from the Kaski, Chitwan, Sunsari, and Lamjung Districts being undertaken by certain Chinese nationals under the guise of facilitating cross-country marriages and getting them jobs.

A section of Nepal Communist Party leaders, including its elected representatives in Province 1 expressed serious concerns over big dam, construction constructed by China at Arun River, Sankhuwasabha. Member of Parliament from Sankhuwasabha, Rajendra Gautam expressed apprehension that Nepal's territory could be submerged into water due to Chinese dam. MPs also allege that the recent flood in Province-1 and Province-2 was caused due to the Chinese dam as they released water from the dam during the rainy season. Similar such concerns were raised by a number of Province 2 leaders cutting across the party lines, ET has further learnt.

There was much public outrage over bank frauds committed by Chinese nationals in July-August 2019, who hacked ATMs of prominent banks like Nepal Rashtriya Bank and others. The Banks were forced to reduce the cash withdrawal limits from ATMs even in the festive season of Dashain thus causing much inconvenience to the public.

A group of Chinese nationals managed to hack various bank ATMs and draw cash to the tune of NPR 1.26 crores and more than US $ 9,000/- to Nepalese banks. The fraud was carried out by tampering with ATM switch linking Nepal Electronic System (NEPS) to 11 banks through a coordinated effort. The ATM scandal carried out by Chinese citizens were not made public leading to speculation of different nature.

Meanwhile, Nepal Police had arrested five Chinese hackers for their involvement in hacking ATM in Kathmandu. “Nepalpana” in their FB page had posted that five Chinese hackers had tried to damage Nepal’s economy. One of the online news “nepalaaja.com” also quoted that officials of Chinese Embassy met its hackers at Balku Jail in Kathmandu.

Nepalese Congress (NC) lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh recently claimed that Nepal Communist Party Chairperson did not meet Indian External Affairs Minister quoting protocol reasons, whereas, he met Chinese Foreign Minister violating the protocol procedures.

[SSridhar]

Modi-Xi informal summit: India, China agree to set up new mechanism for issues relating to trade and investment - Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Economic Times

Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu) : India and China at their second informal summit held here at the highest level discussed CBMs to address outstanding issues including boundary question, terrorism and trade deficit as the two sides decided to set up Minister level mechanism for trade partnership and visit by Defence Minister to China.

President Xi Jinping briefed PM Narendra Modi on Pak PM Imran Khan’s recent visit to Beijing and the Kashmir issue is understood to have figured in the summit in that context. The dialogue on terror financing was important ahead of FATF plenary in Paris from Sunday that would decide whether Pakistan will continue in the Grey List or downgraded to Black List.

In pursuit of their efforts to further deepen economic cooperation and to enhance their closer development partnership, the two Leaders have decided to establish a High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue mechanism with the objective of achieving enhanced trade and commercial relations, as well as to better balance the trade between the two countries, according to MEA statement.

They have also agreed to encourage mutual investments in identified sectors through the development of a Manufacturing Partnership and tasked their officials to develop this idea at the first meeting of the High-Level Economic and Trade Dialogue. India is seeking investments in China in IT and pharmaceutical sectors.

They also agreed on the importance of concluding negotiations for a mutually-beneficial and balanced Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Both Leaders are concerned that terrorism continues to pose a common threat. As countries that are large and diverse, they recognized the importance of continuing to make joint efforts to ensure that the international community strengthens the framework against training, financing and supporting terrorist groups throughout the world and on a non-discriminatory basis.

They shared the view that an open, inclusive, prosperous and stable environment in the region is important to ensure the prosperity and stability of the region. Both Leaders shared the view that the international situation is witnessing significant readjustment. They were of the view that India and China share the common objective of working for a peaceful, secure and prosperous world in which all countries can pursue their development within a rules-based international order.

This is important in the context of China’s BRI which is considered to challenge current rules based order.

The Leaders recognized that India and China have a common interest in preserving and advancing a rules-based and inclusive international order, including through reforms that reflect the new realities of the 21st Century. Both agreed that it is important to support and strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system at a time when globally agreed trade practices and norms are being selectively questioned. India and China will continue to work together for open and inclusive trade arrangements that will benefit all countries.

The two Leaders have exchanged views on outstanding issues, including on the boundary question. They have welcomed the work of the Special Representatives and urged them to continue their efforts to arrive at a mutually-agreed framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement based on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles that were agreed by the two sides in 2005. They reiterated their understanding that efforts will continue to be made to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, and that both sides will continue to work on additional Confidence Building Measures in pursuit of this objective.

ET was the first to report that boundary CBMs, trade deficit, Kashmir, terrorism, WTO and geo-politics will be on agenda of the second informal summit.

[Peregrine]

X Posted on the Understanding New China after 19th Congress Thread

PM Modi accepts Xi's invitation for third informal summit in China – ANI

HIGHLIGHTS :

- President Xi extended the invitation during the second informal summit in Mamallapuram

- The dates and location of the summit are yet to be decided

- During the second summit, both leaders held "heart-to-heart" and "candid discussions like friends" on a series of issues

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted the invitation of President Xi Jinping to visit China for a third informal summit next year.

President Xi extended the invitation during the second informal summit in Tamil Nadu's Mamallapuram.

Addressing the media after the summit, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale on Saturday said, "Prime Minister Modi and President Xi also appraised the practice of Informal Summits in a positive light as providing an important opportunity to deepen dialogue and to promote mutual understanding at the Leaders' level in line with the 'Wuhan Spirit' and the 'Chennai Connect'."

"They agreed to continue this practice in the future. President Xi invited Prime Minister Modi to visit China for the 3rd Informal Summit. Prime Minister Modi has accepted the invitation," he added

The dates and location of the summit are yet to be decided.

During the second summit, both leaders held "heart-to-heart" and "candid discussions like friends" on a series of issues.

The Chinese President had landed in Chennai on Friday and held a one-on-one discussion with Modi on various issues in the coastal historic city of Mamallapuram. They also discussed matters related to trade and the economy.

The second day of the summit began with one-to-one talks which lasted for over an hour. They concluded the summit with delegation-level talks.

Upon his arrival, President Xi was accorded a grand welcome by people who lined the streets along with traditional drum players, creating a warm environment which personified the Indian belief of 'Atithi Devo Bhava'.

The first summit was held in Wuhan, China, last year on April 27-28. Xi during the delegation-level talks said that it was the right decision to have this kind of informal summit

Cheers

[Rony]

For India, diplomacy with China flows through the barrel of a gun

As Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepare for their second informal summit in the southeastern coastal town of Mamallapuram this weekend, the Indian Army has begun a massive military exercise 100km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – the de facto border between India and China – in India’s northeast.

Though New Delhi has categorically denied any links between the military exercise and the visit of the Chinese president, its timing is no coincidence. Delhi intends to communicate that it is fully prepared to meet any military pressure on the border. Indeed, Sino-Indian muscle-flexing on the LAC has become a standard feature before any high-level diplomatic engagement between the two sides.

However, military manoeuvres are also a strategic tool as they signal resolve to the adversary and self-confidence to domestic constituencies. If Beijing intends to test India’s military preparedness, Delhi aims to indicate its readiness in meeting the PLA’s military challenge. Delhi believes that only by signalling military capacity and resolve can it bring China to the negotiating table. Indeed, diplomacy through defence has been a staple ingredient of India’s China strategy. Delhi first learned this lesson after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the origins of which have been attributed by Indian decision makers to the country’s military inefficacy. It was only after the September 1967 Nathu La clashes between the Indian Army and the PLA, in which China suffered heavy losses, that then prime minister Indira Gandhi opened backchannel talks with Beijing. These secret negotiations broke down due to the 1971 Bangladesh War.

In 1976, India’s new-found military superiority in the region allowed Delhi to re-establish diplomatic ties with China, despite the Soviet Union’s displeasure. By the time the two nations started negotiating the border dispute, after Chinese foreign minister Huang Hua’s visit to Delhi in April 1981, India had more forces along the Sino-Indian border. This military strength allowed the Indian Army to effectively deter a massive PLA probe in Sumdorong Chu in 1987. As suggested by Shivshankar Menon, India’s former envoy to China, that stand-off “served a political purpose”. It also paved the way for the political settlement of the territorial dispute. The eighth round of border talks in November 1987 was the first time the two countries stressed the need to avoid any armed confrontation along the border. In 1993, they signed their first-ever confidence-building measure, the Border Peace and Tranquillity Agreement.

History shows that there exists a deep-seated belief in Delhi that vis-à-vis China, to paraphrase Chairman Mao, diplomacy flows through the barrel of a gun. China’s massive military modernisation, amassment of firepower and improvement in military logistics over the past two decades have weakened the capacity of India’s military to act as a deterrent across the countries’ shared border. The MSC was purposely set up to address this gap. The military exercise on the LAC is no coincidence; it is an integral element of India’s diplomatic repertoire.

[SSridhar]

Xi doesn't raise Kashmir with Modi as they seek to reset ties - Indrani Bagchi, ToI

MAMALLAPURAM: The developments in Kashmir related to New Delhi's decision to do away with J&K's special status was "neither raised nor discussed" during the Modi-Xi summit here as both leaders looked to effect a major reset in relations between the world's two most populous nations.

Briefing journalists after the summit, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had covered a wide range of topics in the six hours of direct discussions but there was no mention of Kashmir. "The issue was not raised and not discussed. Our position is anyways very clear that this is an internal matter of India," he said.

Asked about China's references to Pakistan ahead of the summit, Gokhale said Xi briefed Modi about Pakistan PM Imran Khan's October 8 visit to Beijing and the Indian PM heard him out.

Gokhale said there was convergence on the challenges of terrorism and radicalisation for large countries with diverse populations. In his post-summit remarks, Modi said the leaders decided to prudently manage their differences and remain attuned to each other's concerns. During official discussions, Xi said he and Modi had candid and "heart-to-heart" conversations like friends.

A detailed statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry later on Saturday evening was completely silent on Kashmir. In his conversation, Xi gave Modi an unvarnished version of the Pakistan PM's visit, relaying Imran's complaint that India had refused to talk to him. Modi chose not to respond, sources said. {Xi can tell Imran that he 'raised' Kashmir to escape the diplomatic tangle in which China is putting itself increasingly. That Modi refused to respond is a great snub for Xi. One hopes he would have learned a lesson}

In the run-up to the summit, the Indian side was clear that Modi would not raise the Kashmir issue during the summit, but would be prepared to explain India's August 5 decision in detail if asked by Xi. The Indian government has made it clear to the world that its decision to abrogate Article 370 and reorganise J&K is an internal decision and a sovereign act.

China had reacted sharply to the reorganisation of Ladakh as a Union territory alleging implications for border management. India has asserted, including at the level of the foreign minister, that India would not be raising any additional territorial claims and that China would not be impacted.

Xi’s decision to brief Modi about Imran’s visit could be part of a confidence-building exercise with India.{Or, even an oblique attempt by Xi to insert himself as an arbitrator, a role which China has been itching to play ever since we became a full-fledged member of the SCO} Khan’s Beijing visit sparked off a series of apparently contradictory statements by the Chinese foreign ministry, where China was first seen to be favouring a bilateral resolution to Pakistan and, within 24 hours, reversing it to include UN resolutions.

Whether they are part of an evolution in the Chinese position or a tussle between different factions of the Chinese system is not clear {No, it is clearly China shooting itself in its foot}. Regardless, the Indian foreign ministry was compelled to respond sharply, to push back against these positions, just hours before Xi was due to land in India.

It created some avoidable dissonance in the pre-summit scene setting, which is always seen as important in the India-China context.
The Indian government has believed for some time that the Chinese official system is much more hidebound than Xi. This was one of the big takeaways during the Doklam crisis, which was put on a path to resolution only after the Chinese President intervened. That was one of the triggers for Modi proposing the informal summit with Xi — to build a one-on-one channel for unfettered communication at the highest level. Today’s conversation about the Imran visit is likely to be seen in the same light by New Delhi. {Important lesson}

[SSridhar]

Finally, China agrees to work on balance of trade - ToI

China on Saturday agreed to discuss India's long-pending trade concerns, including on pharma and software, to reduce the massive trade deficit through a joint mechanism, while also taking on board New Delhi's quest for a balanced deal in the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) negotiations.

The decision, taken during the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, will see finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chinese vice-premier Hu Chunha working on details, which could also result in easier visa rules for Indian businessmen.


The discussions on the regional comprehensive economic partnership, seen as the world's biggest FTA in the making, was Modi raising the need for a "balance" that kept services and investment in sight. "President Xi noted this and said China and India are ready to discuss this further and Indian concern will be taken into account. It was a brief discussion," foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said.

Modi and Xi also agreed to explore manufacturing partnerships. Modi suggested that India and China could identify sectors where investment could flow and help create jobs and enhance markets for both sides, Gokhale told the media.

The government has been seeking more Chinese investment into the country, including in infrastructure and electronics, as a possible way to reduce imports and at the same time boost local manufacturing and job generation.

India has for long compalained that its exports- including medicines, meat and food products such as rice - face restrictions across the border with software companies too finding it tough to do business in China. In the past Beijing has agreed to address concerns but did little to change the situation on the ground.

As a result, India has run up a massive trade deficit with China, which topped $53 billion during 2018-19. While China accounted for over 10% of India's goods trade, its share in India's trade deficit was close to 30%.



With RCEP expected to tilt the balance further towards China, Modi used his bilateral discussions to secure a more favourable outcome for India and suggested that due weightage to services and investment be given in the mega free trade agreement and not just focus on reducing import duties on goods, a situation that is fraught with the risk of opening floodgates for Chinese imports.

Negotiations for setting up the new trade bloc comprising 16 countries have entered the last lap with leaders from the Asean countries apart from South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, China and India expected to agree to the broad contours next month. Ministers from the negotiating countries are currently working out the details, amid fears that RCEP will result in a massive surge in imports from China as India will remove import duty on nearly 80% products.

The concern is that India is not getting much in return, especially on the services front as Indian software professionals and nurses face visa hurdles.

[SSridhar]

Modi-Xi meet: Wuhan spirit to Chennai connect - Indrani Bagchi, Economic Times

When Xi Jinping drove out of the Chennai airport in his own Hongqi L5, he made a subtle but definitive power statement that cannot be missed. China may be battling numerous demons internally and externally, but this is a power that has arrived. Therefore, the second Narendra Modi-Xi Jinping informal summit, which began on the beaches of picturesque Mamallapuram, exhibited a different sort of power dynamic.

From the Wuhan Spirit to the Chennai Connect (the Modi government loves alliterations), the distance India and China have travelled is not long. Despite the protestations of cooperation, the two countries remain far apart on strategic and tactical issues. And that is the real reason why Modi and Xi should continue to meet in these informal settings where, whatever else, the two sides can understand each other better, red lines are clearer and potential areas of cooperation, however narrow, can be identified.

Leaders like Modi and Xi, who are dominant personalities in their respective systems, use summitry to move the needle, either on trade or security, beyond their sclerotic administrations. This is both a statement of confidence and a recognition that for both countries management of a complex relationship and bilateral stability is crucial in the here and now. The good news is that the summit and its format is acquiring traction- Xi just invited Modi for the third one in China next year. The two countries set up a new high-level mechanism on trade, investment and manufacturing that will have Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the Indian side and the Chinese vice premier, Hu Chunhua, on the other. Possibly the most important understanding was on RCEP with Xi conceding that the 16-country FTA had to be "balanced" for it to make sense for India.

If Pakistan expected a discussion on Kashmir between Xi and Modi, that did not happen. Instead, Xi shared with Modi his account of Imran Khan's most recent visit to Beijing two days before Xi was supposed to travel to India. It showed, again, the gap that the Indian system perceives between dealing directly with Xi and dealing with his administration. This gap had been most persistent when the two sides were negotiating the Doklam crisis. That was, more than many other things, the trigger for Modi to propose this informal summit format.

The issues that divide India and China are not going anywhere. China will continue to be obdurate on India's accession to the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group). It will continue to prop up Pakistan and its terror proxies to keep India bogged down. China will oppose the Indo-Pacific policy just as India will oppose China's showpiece Belt & Road Initiative (BRI).

One issue that was not discussed was India's decision on 5G and Huawei. India is currently weighing whether to permit Chinese telco Huawei to set up 5G networks in the country, in light of concerns around snooping the US has raised. When India does take the decision, it will sharply redefine its relations with the major powers because it will signal India's global alignment that affects its political and security relationships across the globe.

The Modi-Xi summit cannot be plucked out of the current international context both countries find themselves in. Xi and his delegation's attention this weekend was divided between Modi and Washington, where China's chief negotiator, Liu He, met his US counterparts to achieve a bare-bones trade agreement. The deal, whatever it is, eases the pressure on China (and the US). It may give Xi the room he wants to wait out the Trump administration and see what the 2020 elections bring to the White House before attempting a "reset".

The MEA press statement issued at the end of the summit states that both "Leaders shared the view that the international situation is witnessing significant readjustment". As the US-China divide sharpens, and it promises to outlive Trump, powers like India will try to do two things- utilise the space to manoeuvre itself into a "pole" in what will necessarily be a multipolar world while trying to balance all sides.

That is the ultimate seductive lure of India's foreign policy to its practitioners, which has always delivered sub-optimum results but never fails to find adherents within the system.

In one of his speeches in Washington during what is now dubbed "the full Jaishankar", the Indian foreign minister said the almost simultaneous Japan-India-US trilateral and India-China-Russia trilateral meetings denoted some kind of equivalence. "The country that fares best is the one which has the least problems with his peer group and the broadest acceptance beyond," he said.

China understands well the implications of India's tilt to the US and the West, even if many Indians don't. That will always colour China's actions vis-a-vis India because they are practitioners of realpolitik. India can use the China challenge to step on the gas to reform its economy and unshackle enterprise and agriculture, which will have the added advantage of giving it more elbow room as global politics readjusts to a new reality.


China is India's most important neighbour and its most complex relationship. What we saw in Chennai this weekend was a fantastic display of spectacle summitry. Modi and Xi go back with a better understanding of each other & their priorities. Their strategic communication has gotten stronger and, perhaps, deeper. How this will transform the daily politics of two rising powers remains to be seen.

[sudarshan]

The Indian government has believed for some time that the Chinese official system is much more hidebound than Xi. This was one of the big takeaways during the Doklam crisis, which was put on a path to resolution only after the Chinese President intervened. That was one of the triggers for Modi proposing the informal summit with Xi — to build a one-on-one channel for unfettered communication at the highest level. Today’s conversation about the Imran visit is likely to be seen in the same light by New Delhi. {Important lesson}

That's ironic. Before the 2019 elections in India, Xi was making overtures to RaGa hoping to get this same "one-on-one channel" into India. Basically buttering the moron up, Chinese style. RaGa got away with it in India because - well - India being India and all.

Now if Modi is buttering Xi up and cultivating him as a one-on-one channel into China to bypass the hidebound Chinese system - where does that leave Xi? If Xi is seen as selling out to India, he's done for.

[Rahulsidhu]

Finally, China agrees to work on balance of trade - ToI

China on Saturday agreed to discuss India's long-pending trade concerns, including on pharma and software, to reduce the massive trade deficit through a joint mechanism, while also taking on board New Delhi's quest for a balanced deal in the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) negotiations.

Is it just me, or our negotiating positions really strange? For instance:

The decision, taken during the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, will see finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Chinese vice-premier Hu Chunha working on details, which could also result in easier visa rules for Indian businessmen.

Most of these businessmen would be Indian importers prospecting Chinese factories and trade shows. How does easier travel for them benefit India?

The discussions on the regional comprehensive economic partnership, seen as the world's biggest FTA in the making, was Modi raising the need for a "balance" that kept services and investment in sight. "President Xi noted this and said China and India are ready to discuss this further and Indian concern will be taken into account. It was a brief discussion," foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said.

IMO, losing manufacturing in return for "balancing" services and investment access is not a good trade off at a time when global manufacturing supply chains are shifting. It is a great opportunity for make in India

Modi and Xi also agreed to explore manufacturing partnerships. Modi suggested that India and China could identify sectors where investment could flow and help create jobs and enhance markets for both sides, Gokhale told the media.

The government has been seeking more Chinese investment into the country, including in infrastructure and electronics, as a possible way to reduce imports and at the same time boost local manufacturing and job generation.

One of the big incentives for such manufacturing investment into India has been the higher customs duties. an FTA would only reduce the incentives.

India has for long compalained that its exports- including medicines, meat and food products such as rice - face restrictions across the border with software companies too finding it tough to do business in China. In the past Beijing has agreed to address concerns but did little to change the situation on the ground.

As a result, India has run up a massive trade deficit with China, which topped $53 billion during 2018-19. While China accounted for over 10% of India's goods trade, its share in India's trade deficit was close to 30%.

The trade imbalance is actually understated, as a lot more Chinese exports are routed through HK. If we add HK, the trade deficit has not really shrunk.

With RCEP expected to tilt the balance further towards China, Modi used his bilateral discussions to secure a more favourable outcome for India and suggested that due weightage to services and investment be given in the mega free trade agreement and not just focus on reducing import duties on goods, a situation that is fraught with the risk of opening floodgates for Chinese imports.

Negotiations for setting up the new trade bloc comprising 16 countries have entered the last lap with leaders from the Asean countries apart from South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, China and India expected to agree to the broad contours next month. Ministers from the negotiating countries are currently working out the details, amid fears that RCEP will result in a massive surge in imports from China as India will remove import duty on nearly 80% products.

The concern is that India is not getting much in return, especially on the services front as Indian software professionals and nurses face visa hurdles.

I have never understood why Indian negotiators aim for export of skilled Indian workers in return for import of goods. Its a lose-lose situation for India.

All in all, with my limited knowledge, RCEP looks like a disaster in the making. I really hope it all comes to naught.

[Philip]

Reagan used to say " trust but verify" with the USSR.
With the Chinese, you can neither trust not verify.
XI Gins now talks of a "100 yr. plan" to boost ties.Twinning Fujian province with Tamilnadu will only see the invasion of Tamil Nadu and South India of Chin nationals who in reality will be Chinese military in mufti. sent to quietly stoke Tamil and South Indian separatism.It was a collossal mistake to have exposed XI to Tamilnadu and its ancient heritage.He will now work to increase Chinese influence in TN to India's detriment. After all India was colonised by the Europeans operating from Madras.Clive built the majestic Banqueting Hall in Madras, now named after Rajaji, to commemorate his victory of the Battle of Plassey which cemented the birth of the British Raj. The empire began from Fort St. George in Madras.

Audaciously the Chins have tried to " build" thousands of houses for the Jaffna Tamils in Sri Lanka with squeals of protest from India who promise but deliver as usual with delays. They have already captured Hambantota and its hinterland where thousands of hectares are beung ethnically cleansed of Sinhalese villagers for them to set up huge military and manufacturing infra. where thousands of Chin nationals will squat creating a de-facto overseas Chinese military outpost .Just observe how the Chinese are executing their 100 yr. plan to destroy India by moves to splitting the south from it after entrenching themselves in the island as mentioned above and in Colombo building a mega " Port City" development , whils the country is now about to elect as president , Gotabhaya Rajapkse, a fanatic dictator who has openly said that he's "bringing back the Chinese".

While the Chins sabre rattle in the Himalayas, the real Great Game is being orchestrated in the Indian Ocean.Doklam, etc. is part of their policy of deception and our MEA is falling for it " hook, line and sinker"!

[SSridhar]

IMO, losing manufacturing in return for "balancing" services and investment access is not a good trade off at a time when global manufacturing supply chains are shifting. It is a great opportunity for make in India.

All in all, with my limited knowledge, RCEP looks like a disaster in the making. I really hope it all comes to naught.

I totally agree. RCEP must be thrown out of the window. However, GoI has been pursuing that with vigour and we do not know the reason.

Secondly, on the question of moving manufacturing sector to India, China must not be made to make a virtue out of necessity. That & RCEP must not be linked. That & trade imbalance must also not be linked.

[Rony]

Western MNC's and institutions abject kowtowing of CCP. That includes Princeton university which is very vocal in supporting their Hinduphobic loony left professors in their humanities and social sciences departments in the name of 'freedom of speech'.

[Prem]

https://bitterwinter.org/xi-jinping-defeated-in-nepal/

Xi Jinping Defeated in Nepal, Threatens to “Smash Opponents into Pieces”

An extradition treaty was ready, and President Xi Jinping went to Nepal on October 12-13, expecting to sign it with great fanfare. It was the first visit of a Chinese President to Nepal since 1996. In addition, China would have assisted Nepal in setting up a National Defense University to train military and police personnel. What Chinese professors would have taught them is easy to imagine.Xi’s visit, however, did not go on as expected. When he arrived in Kathmandu, he was informed that the Nepalese government had decided not to sign the extradition treaty, nor the agreement about the National Defense University. Nepal also refused Chinese money for building a new Parliament building and roads near the Chinese border.The Nepalese knew that Xi had to save face, and signed a Pact on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, but this refers to common, non-political crimes and is not the extradition treaty the Chinese expected to sign. The usual trade agreements were also signed.For once, the protests by human rights organizations and the Tibetan diaspora were heard, although it is expected that China will continue to put pressure on Nepal, and Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma Oli, who is a member of the Communist Party of Nepal, reiterated that anti-CCP demonstrations are forbidden in Nepal.That Xi was not happy was confirmed by the belligerent tone of his speeches in Kathmandu. Referring to Hong Kong, he stated that “anyone attempting to split China in any part of the country will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones.” He added that “those who engage in separatist activities in any part of China will be smashed into pieces.” Local media interpreted the words as a veiled threat to Tibet and to all who would support Tibetan refugees.

[sum]

^^ Wow....can this be charted as a success of Indian diplomacy and "covert agencies"?

[SSridhar]

Repressive measures are the same whether it is Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists or Hui Muslims.

China Weaponizes Education to Control Tibet - OZY

[kit]

Repressive measures are the same whether it is Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists or Hui Muslims.

China Weaponizes Education to Control Tibet - OZY

lots of Nepalese go to china for higher studies including professionals, know quite a few of these

[pankajs]

https://bitterwinter.org/xi-jinping-defeated-in-nepal/

Xi Jinping Defeated in Nepal, Threatens to “Smash Opponents into Pieces”

One must be careful with such simplistic reading. It is a long game and will play out over decades.