News Analysis India

Tag: China

  • SC asks Centre to file reply within 2 weeks to PIL seeking CBI probe into ‘iron ore smuggling’

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday asked the Centre to file its counter reply within two weeks to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the lawyer, Manohar Lal Sharma seeking a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an FIR and probe the alleged duty evasion by the companies in allegedly ‘smuggling’ iron ore to China since 2015.

    A bench of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana and comprising of Justice Surya Kant asked the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, senior law officer for the Government of India, to file his counter reply in the case.

    “Have you (the SG, Mehta) filed your counter?”, CJI Ramana asked the SG, to which, the SG replied, “No, we have not filed it”.

    The CJI said that “If it (the allegations levelled by the petitioner, Sharma) is true then it is a serious matter, which we need to look into.”

    The SG told the Supreme Court that the reply will be filed in a formal manner and sought two weeks time for the same.

    The CJI allowed the prayer of SG Mehta and fixed the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

    During the course of the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the petitioner Sharma, “you please file a comprehensive writ petition. Make necessary parties and amend your prayer and necessary parties. We can’t allow any application for the impleadment, until we don’t hear from the Government of India”.

    “We cannot proceed without their reply,” CJI Ramana said.

    Justice Surya Kant asked the petitioner-cum-lawyer, Sharma, “you have to show how much tax evasion was there? Please make specific averments and not implead 65 parties.”

    Sharma, in his petition, filed before the Supreme Court, sought its direction that the companies concerned be prosecuted for allegedly evading export duty by declaring wrong tariff code to export the iron ore under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

    Sharma alleged that iron ore “smuggling to China” has been taking place as these companies have been exporting without paying 30 per cent export duty.

    He thereby sought a court-monitored and time-bound CBI probe against the companies.

    The PIL filed by Sharma claimed that the ministries of commerce and finance should control and regulate the export policies and decide as to under which Harmonized System Codes each good will be exported.

    The PIL alleged that there is a violation of the Customs Act, Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act and certain penal provisions relating to cheating and forgery. 

  • Researchers from BRICS nations to study impact of severe Covid on TB patients

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BRICS countries are working on a programme to study the impact of severe COVID-19 conditions on tuberculosis (TB) patients, the Department of Biotechnology said on Monday. 

    The SARS-CoV-2 NGS (Next Generation Sequencing)-BRICS consortium is an interdisciplinary collaboration to advance COVID-19 health-relevant knowledge and to contribute to improvements in health outcomes, it said.

    The consortium, comprising researchers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), will accelerate translation of genomic data from clinical and surveillance samples, the government’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) said.

    This will be done utilising high-end genomic technologies, and epidemiologic and bioinformatics tools and this information will be used in diagnostic assays and tracking transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and other viruses, as well as lead to clinical and public health research and interventions, it said.

    “The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, in collaboration with BRICS countries is implementing the SARS-CoV-2 NGS-BRICS consortium and multi-centric programme to study the impact of severe COVID-19 conditions on TB patients,” the DBT said.

    The Indian team has members from the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (Prof. Arindam Maitra, Prof. Saumitra Das, Dr. Nidhan K Biswas), the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (Dr. Ashwin Dalal) and the Indian Institute of Science (Dr. Mohit K Jolly), it said.

    Dr. Ana Tereza Ribeiro de Vasconcelos of Brazil’s National Laboratory for Scientific Computation, Prof. Georgii Bazykin of Russia’s Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Prof. Mingkun Li of China’s Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Tulio de Oliveira of South Africa’s University of KwaZulu-Natal are the other members of the consortium, the DBT said.

    In a second multi-centric programme, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from India, Brazil and South Africa will investigate the impact of severe COVID-19 on transient peripheral immunosuppression and lung hyperinflammation conditions in TB patients for epidemiology and comorbidity, the department said.

    This team consists of members from the India’s National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (Dr. Subash Babu, Dr. Anuradha Rajamanickam, Dr. Banurekha Velayutham and Dr. Dina Nair).

    Besides them, the members from Brazil are Dr. Valeria Cavalcanti Rolla and Dr. Adriano Gomes da Silva of the Lapclin-Tb/ INI-FIOCRUZ, Dr. Maria Cristina Lourenço of the LBB/INI-FIOCRUZ and Dr. Bruno de Bezerril Andrade from IGM-FIOCRUZ; and from South Africa are researchers Dr. Bavesh Kana, Dr. Bhavna Gordhan, Dr. Neil Martinson and Dr. Ziyaad Waja of the University of the Witwatersrand, the DBT said.

    “This collaborative study is expected to provide valuable co-morbidity data pertaining to pulmonary TB patients with or without COVID-19 co-infection that is expected to be generated for better disease management,” it said.

    Secretary in the DBT Renu Swarup said the department has taken small steps in the right direction towards collaboration with BRICS countries.

  • Afghanistan crisis: Need to review foreign policy regarding neighbouring nations, says Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: With the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, NCP president and former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Monday underlined the need to review India’s foreign policy concerning all the neighbouring countries.

    “We should be alert and will have to take precautions in the long run. There was a time when except Pakistan and China, our relations with other neighbours were good,” he told reporters when asked about the Afghanistan crisis.

    ALSO READ: How did the Taliban take over Afghanistan so quickly?

    Taliban insurgents swept into Afghanistan’s capital on Sunday after the government collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani left the country.

    Unprecedented scenes and being witnessed in the Afghan capital Kabul, where panic-stricken people are scurrying to escape from the country.

    “It is time to review our foreign policy concerning other countries. The situation is not good. But it is a sensitive issue. We will cooperate with the government since this is about national security,” the former Defence Minister said.

  • China’s growing Arctic footprint may hit India’s security and climate interests: Experts

    Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Scientists have warned of China’s growing strategic interests in the Arctic, mainly for its gas, oil, rare earths and access to shipping route, which are likely to affect India’s security and climate. 

    China is a net importer of petroleum products and consumes 23 per cent of global energy consumption and has invested substantially in the energy sector for creating an alternate source of petroleum in the Arctic.

    The Arctic has about 30 per cent of the world’s undiscovered gas and 13 per cent of oil reserves.

    The region, which has been witnessing changes in its environment due to global warming, has gained immense global attention for scientific, environment, geo-politics and economic reasons.

    India and China, though non-Arctic states, have been active in the Arctic region and were granted ‘observer’ status in the Arctic Council, a forum of all Arctic nations, in 2013.

    “While India’s prime interest in the Arctic is scientific, as the changing climate can affect its monsoon pattern and impact its food security, China’s main interest is strategic and economic development of the Arctic as well as climate change, and has clear policy on these aspects,” said the director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Dr Shailesh Nayak.

    “China is keen to develop the northern Arctic Sea Passage as a shipping route and related infrastructure for economic considerations, as evidenced by its participation in the Arctic Economic Council and Arctic Circle forum,” he added. 

    Arctic route gives China military edge, says expert

    “The route also gives a military advantage to China, compared to politically unstable regions such as the Gulf of Eden, the Persian Gulf, the Malacca Strait and South China Sea. In case of blockade of the Indian Ocean, the Arctic route provides China accessibility to its energy resources,” Dr Nayak pointed out.

    The commercialisation of the polar regions will play an important role in modulating global weather and climate.

    “It has been reported by many researchers that the changes in the Arctic are likely to affect the Asian monsoons and viceversa. Not just the Arctic; China has increased funding to carry out research on impact of climate change on the Tibet plateau which is likely to face similar changes as the Arctic,” he warned.

    “Tibet, having large ice fields, snow-covered mountains and permafrost, is facing increased melting and focus of research is on interaction between ice and snow with the atmosphere, water, ecosystem, land surface and anthropogenic activities,” said Dr Nayak.

    “The environmental cost of such degradation, in terms of extreme weather, lower agricultural production, etc., is likely to be borne mainly by developing countries,” he added. The scientist explained that climate change and Arctic Oscillation have changed rainfall patterns, leading to floods and droughts.

    “Such events have a negative impact on agriculture and long-term food security. Persistent droughts can also lead to increased desertification and is an area of concern for developing countries like India. We need a comprehensive strategy and policy, given our dependence on the monsoon for ensuring food security. India also needs to develop alternate supply for oil and gas, access to critical metals and rare earths as well as new developing shipping routes,” said Dr Nayak.

  • China’s growing Arctic footprint may hit India’s security

    Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Scientists have warned of China’s growing strategic interests in the Arctic, mainly for its gas, oil, rare earths and access to shipping route, which are likely to affect India’s security and climate. China is a net importer of petroleum products and consumes 23 per cent of global energy consumption and has invested substantially in the energy sector for creating an alternate source of petroleum in the Arctic.

    The Arctic has about 30 per cent of the world’s undiscovered gas and 13 per cent of oil reserves. The region, which has been witnessing changes in its environment due to global warming, has gained immense global attention for scientific, environment, geo-politics and economic reasons.

    India and China, though non-Arctic states, have been active in the Arctic region and were granted ‘observer’ status in the Arctic Council, a forum of all Arctic nations, in 2013.

    “While India’s prime interest in the Arctic is scientific, as the changing climate can affect its monsoon pattern and impact its food security, China’s main interest is strategic and economic development of the Arctic as well as climate change, and has clear policy on these aspects,” said the director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Dr Shailesh Nayak.

    “China is keen to develop the northern Arctic Sea Passage as a shipping route and related infrastructure for economic considerations, as evidenced by its participation in the Arctic Economic Council and Arctic Circle forum,” he added. 

    Arctic route gives China military edge, says expert

    “The route also gives a military advantage to China, compared to politically unstable regions such as the Gulf of Eden, the Persian Gulf, the Malacca Strait and South China Sea. In case of blockade of the Indian Ocean, the Arctic route provides China accessibility to its energy resources,” Dr Nayak pointed out.

    The commercialisation of the polar regions will play an important role in modulating global weather and climate. “It has been reported by many researchers that the changes in the Arctic are likely to affect the Asian monsoons and viceversa. Not just the Arctic; China has increased funding to carry out research on impact of climate change on the Tibet plateau which is likely to face similar changes as the Arctic,” he warned.

    “Tibet, having large ice fields, snow-covered mountains and permafrost, is facing increased melting and focus of research is on interaction between ice and snow with the atmosphere, water, ecosystem, land surface and anthropogenic activities,” said Dr Nayak.

    “The environmental cost of such degradation, in terms of extreme weather, lower agricultural production, etc., is likely to be borne mainly by developing countries,” he added. The scientist explained that climate change and Arctic Oscillation have changed rainfall patterns, leading to floods and droughts.

    “Such events have a negative impact on agriculture and long-term food security. Persistent droughts can also lead to increased desertification and is an area of concern for developing countries like India. We need a comprehensive strategy and policy, given our dependence on the monsoon for ensuring food security. India also needs to develop alternate supply for oil and gas, access to critical metals and rare earths as well as new developing shipping routes,” said Dr Nayak.

  • India will follow up with China on Indian students’ return to complete studies: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India has taken up with Chinese authorities the issue of Indian students not being able to return to China, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who also said the authorities have repeatedly conveyed that foreign students should be advised that their studies are likely to continue through online means even for the next semester.

    In a letter to Rajya Sabha member M V Shreyams Kumar, Jaishankar also said the ministry and the Embassy in Beijing have taken up the issue of return of Indian students with the concerned Chinese authorities on several occasions.

    Last month, Kumar had written to the minister flagging concerns about thousands of Indian medical students pursuing studies in China not being able to go back to complete their studies due to travel restrictions.

    ALSO READ | Chinese authorities probing circumstances of Indian student’s death in Tianjin: MEA

    He had also urged the minister to take up the issue at the diplomatic level.

    “The Chinese side has maintained that the restrictions have been introduced in view of the pandemic and they would adjust the same based on the global pandemic scenario.

    Unfortunately, there has been no positive evolution of this situation so far.

    “In fact, with reports of resurgence of COVID-19 cases in some parts of China, the concerned authorities have further reinforced epidemic controls and restrictions on travel and entry into China,” Jaishankar said in the letter dated July 30.

    He also said the Chinese authorities have repeatedly conveyed that foreign students should be advised that their studies are likely to continue only through online means even for the next semester.

    With regard to the issue of non-recognition of degrees of students who have completed their medical education online, Jaishankar said the ministry has conveyed the concerns to the National Medical Commission (NMC) which looks after this particular issue.

    Students may be advised to pursue with NMC for a resolution of this matter, he added.

    “I would like to assure you that Ministry of External Affairs and our Embassy in Beijing will continue to follow up on the matter so that students wanting to return to China to complete their education can do so as soon as the Government of People’s Republic of China eases its restrictions,” the minister said.

    According to Kumar, there are around 20,000 Indian students, including 3,000 from Kerala, enrolled in Chinese universities for studying MBBS.

    The students returned in January 2020 at the peak of COVID-19 and have been attending online classes since then without having practical and clinical training.

  • India-China military talks constructive, both sides agreed to maintain momentum in dialogue: MEA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the recent India-China military talks on the eastern Ladakh row were “constructive” and both sides agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an “expeditious manner”.

    According to a joint statement released here by the Indian Army on Monday, two days after the 12th round of military talks, the two sides had a “candid and in-depth exchange” of views relating to disengagement and the meeting further enhanced the mutual understanding.

    Asked about the talks at an online media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi pointed to the statement issued after the deliberations and highlighted that it was a joint press release.

    “As was mentioned therein, the talks were candid and constructive. Both sides agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with existing agreements and protocols, and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations. We will share with you further updates once we have them,” he said.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

    Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

    As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of the Pangong lake in February, in line with an agreement on disengagement.

  • Chinese authorities probing circumstances of Indian student’s death in Tianjin: MEA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Thursday said Chinese authorities are investigating the circumstances of the death of an Indian student in China’s Tianjin city and efforts are on to bring home his mortal remains as quickly as possible.

    Aman Nagsen, a student of Business Administration in the Tianjin Foreign Studies University, was found dead on July 29. He hailed from Bihar’s Gaya.

    “We are aware of this unfortunate incident and our condolences to the family members,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

    He said the Indian embassy in Beijing is in touch with the university and the local authorities, and an official from the mission is currently in Tiajin to provide necessary assistance.

    ALSO READ | Indian student’s mortal remains to be flown home from China next week

    “Local authorities are investigating the circumstances of the demise of the student.

    The embassy as well as the ministry are in regular touch with the family of the deceased student,” Bagchi said.

    “Our efforts are to bring back the mortal remains as quickly as possible to India,” he added.

    On Tuesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said that his death was a homicide and a foreigner has been arrested in connection with the murder.

    Neither the suspect’s nationality, nor the motive behind the murder has been disclosed.

    The initial investigation by the local police has found it to be a case of homicide and the suspect is another foreign student of the university, it said.

  • Corps Commanders agree to disengage from Gogra, reply from Chinese government awaited 

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The military hierarchy of India and China which met under the leadership of Corps Commanders took a decision to disengage from Gogra (Patrolling Point 17A). “Both the Corp Commanders agreed to disengage from Gogra but the final go ahead is to come from the political hierarchies of both the government,” a senior official said.

    There is a platoon level strength stationed in standoff mode at Gogra. Once the go-ahead comes, soldiers will retreat to a designated position on ground and will leave a buffer zone in between on the pattern of the buffer zone at the North Bank. During the 12th meeting held on Saturday Lt Gen PGK Menon Corps Commander (14 Crops) led the delegation from Indian Army and Maj Gen Liu Lin, Commander South Xinjian Military District of the Chinese PLA.

    In an earlier step towards ameliorating the tensions both India and China had earlier disengaged their troops along with their weapons and equipment including tanks, artillery guns and mechanized vehicles and had created buffer zones at the North and South banks of the Pangong Tso.

    The Chinese troops at the North Bank had moved back North of Finger 8 and Indian soldiers retreated close to Finger 3. The area in between will be the buffer zone with a temporary moratorium on patrolling from both sides.

    Also, the troops were disengaged from Galwan (Patrolling Point 14) which was the sight of deadly skirmishes leading to loss of lives of soldiers from both the Armies.

    As reported earlier by the TNIE the officials on ground had indicated the disengagement to take place both at Gogra and Hotspring (Patrolling Point 15) but the decision could be arrived at one of the two.

    The Chinese rushed in soldiers after the clashes at Finger 4 in May 2020 and the standoff deployment was done at both the Banks of the Pangong Tso, Hotspring, Gogra, Galwan. The Standoff also existed at Depsang and Demchok.

    The rallies of talks have been to bring the deployment level to the status quo ante, which existed prior to May 2020. There are mirror deployments from both sides with the Chinese moving in four divisions along the Eastern Ladakh Line of Actual Control. Indian army has also mobilised and stationed four divisions to counter any movement and also to handle the standoff deployment.

    Other than talks at the various levels, the hotline was used extensively. There have been frantic talks which used to be up to five hotline calls in a day. “The Hot Line talks between May 2020 and till July have been 1450 times.” said an official. A new hotline, sixth so far, was established on Sunday between Indian Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim and PLA at Khamba Dzong in Tibetan Autonomous Region to further the spirit of trust and cordial relations along the borders.

    There have been 12 meetings so far between the Corps Commanders (Senior Higher Military Commander Level: SCML), 10 between the Division Commanders (Higher Military Commander Level: HCML) and 55 Delegation Level (Sector Commanders or Brigadier Level).

  • China’s Wuhan to test 11 million residents as Covid returns in over a year 

    By AFP
    BEIJING: Authorities in Wuhan on Tuesday said they would test its entire population for Covid-19 after the central Chinese city where the coronavirus emerged reported its first local infections in more than a year.

    The city of 11 million is “swiftly launching comprehensive nucleic acid testing of all residents”, senior Wuhan official Li Tao said at a press conference Tuesday, a day after seven cases were found.

    (This a breaking news, copy will be updated soon)