News Analysis India

Tag: China

  • Modi to attend regional summit with Russia, China, Pakistan

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India said Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in a regional summit in Uzbekistan that according to Russia will see face-to-face talks between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprising China, Russia, four Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — India and Pakistan is due to take place in Samarkand on September 15 and 16.

    On Wednesday Russia’s ambassador to China said that Putin and Xi would meet at the summit, in what will be the Chinese leader’s first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Beijing’s foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the meeting, with a spokesperson saying at a regular press briefing that “there is no information to provide” on the matter.

    The Indian government statement on Sunday did not say whether Modi would hold bilateral talks with Putin, Xi or — for the first time since he became Pakistani prime minister in April — Shehbaz Sharif.

    Sourcing most of its arms from Russia, India like China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has ramped up purchases of Russian oil.

    India’s relations with China have been frosty since fighting in 2020 on their disputed Himalayan border left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Modi and Xi have not held bilateral talks since 2019.

    India is also part of the so-called Quad together with the United States, Japan and Australia, a grouping seen as a bulwark against China.

    NEW DELHI: India said Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in a regional summit in Uzbekistan that according to Russia will see face-to-face talks between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    The gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprising China, Russia, four Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — India and Pakistan is due to take place in Samarkand on September 15 and 16.

    On Wednesday Russia’s ambassador to China said that Putin and Xi would meet at the summit, in what will be the Chinese leader’s first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Beijing’s foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the meeting, with a spokesperson saying at a regular press briefing that “there is no information to provide” on the matter.

    The Indian government statement on Sunday did not say whether Modi would hold bilateral talks with Putin, Xi or — for the first time since he became Pakistani prime minister in April — Shehbaz Sharif.

    Sourcing most of its arms from Russia, India like China has refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and has ramped up purchases of Russian oil.

    India’s relations with China have been frosty since fighting in 2020 on their disputed Himalayan border left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. Modi and Xi have not held bilateral talks since 2019.

    India is also part of the so-called Quad together with the United States, Japan and Australia, a grouping seen as a bulwark against China.

  • INS Vikrant fine but what about China?: Owaisi asks PM Modi

    By Express News Service

    HYDERABAD: While congratulating the Indian Navy for the launch of INS Vikrant, AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi questioned why the Centre has not done enough to secure the Indian maritime borders against the might of China.

    “INS Vikrant was launched, we also have to think that we need a 3rd carrier aircraft but he (PM Modi) is not giving permission. That is because he has destroyed the economy of country & has no money. We need 200 ships, but only have 130,” he tweeted on Friday.

    “I also hope this INS Vikrant will give PM Modi the courage to speak up about China which has occupied 10 villages of our territory. Hope the INS will give him enough strength to take China’s name in Parliament,” he added.

    Observing that Owaisi saw only bitterness and not happiness, BJP’s spokesperson NV Subhash commented by saying that instead of applauding the country on this special moment, Owaisi took his usual stance of negativity. 

    “He is not a security analyst. He should drop his political posturing once and should rejoice in the country’s success,” Subhash opined. “Owaisi is issuing false statements such as Chinese occupying 10 regions and Modi government not reacting to such acts. It was the Modi government that stopped the Chinese encroachment at Doklam pass in 2017, and had also banned 273 Chinese apps in the country in 2020 when no other country dared to take a stand against it,” Subhash said.

    HYDERABAD: While congratulating the Indian Navy for the launch of INS Vikrant, AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi questioned why the Centre has not done enough to secure the Indian maritime borders against the might of China.

    “INS Vikrant was launched, we also have to think that we need a 3rd carrier aircraft but he (PM Modi) is not giving permission. That is because he has destroyed the economy of country & has no money. We need 200 ships, but only have 130,” he tweeted on Friday.

    “I also hope this INS Vikrant will give PM Modi the courage to speak up about China which has occupied 10 villages of our territory. Hope the INS will give him enough strength to take China’s name in Parliament,” he added.

    Observing that Owaisi saw only bitterness and not happiness, BJP’s spokesperson NV Subhash commented by saying that instead of applauding the country on this special moment, Owaisi took his usual stance of negativity. 

    “He is not a security analyst. He should drop his political posturing once and should rejoice in the country’s success,” Subhash opined. “Owaisi is issuing false statements such as Chinese occupying 10 regions and Modi government not reacting to such acts. It was the Modi government that stopped the Chinese encroachment at Doklam pass in 2017, and had also banned 273 Chinese apps in the country in 2020 when no other country dared to take a stand against it,” Subhash said.

  • Taiwan issue: India calls for de-escalation, restraint as China ends war drill

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: In its first reaction on the Taiwan crisis, India on Friday said it is concerned over the developments and called for avoiding unilateral action to change the status quo in the region.

    India also pitched for exercising restraint and underlined the need for efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

    China launched major military drills around Taiwan as part of its response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan.

    “Like many other countries, India too is concerned at recent developments,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

    “We urge the exercise of restraint, avoidance of unilateral actions to change status quo, de-escalation of tensions and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: In its first reaction on the Taiwan crisis, India on Friday said it is concerned over the developments and called for avoiding unilateral action to change the status quo in the region.

    India also pitched for exercising restraint and underlined the need for efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

    China launched major military drills around Taiwan as part of its response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan.

    “Like many other countries, India too is concerned at recent developments,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

    “We urge the exercise of restraint, avoidance of unilateral actions to change status quo, de-escalation of tensions and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” he said.

  • Jaishankar, Blinken discuss pressing global issues

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday held talks on pressing global challenges, amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s high-profile visit to Taipei.

    In his opening remarks at the meeting that took place on the margins of an ASEAN conclave in Phnom Penh, Blinken referred to concerns over “challenges” in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the situation in the Indo-Pacific.

    It is understood that the escalating tension between China and Taiwan, especially in the Taiwan Strait, following Pelosi’s visit to Taipei figured in the talks.

    China has launched a major live-fire military exercise in the waters around Taiwan in response to Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island, triggering global concerns.

    The Jaishankar-Blinken meeting also came days after the US killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda leader and a key plotter of the 9/11 attacks, in a drone strike in a Kabul safe house.

    “A warm conversation to start meetings on sidelines of ASEAN Ministerial in Phnom Penh. Discussed the ever strengthening India-US relationship and the global situation with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    In his opening remarks at the meeting, Blinken said the US and India are strong proponents of the ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific, according to the US State Department.

    “We’re both strong proponents of ASEAN centrality. We have a shared vision together for a free and open Indo-Pacific that we work on in so many different ways every single day,” he said.

    “And of course, we have some immediate challenges that we’re both concerned with, to include the situation in Sri Lanka, Burma, and a number of other, number of other hot spots,” he said.

    “So I very much look forward to once again being able to go through a number of these issues with my friend, and then we’ll both head over to our meetings,” Blinken added.

    Last month, Sri Lanka witnessed massive political turmoil following mass protests that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.

    Veteran leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president amid hopes for recovery from economic distress. The western powers were anguished over the execution of four pro-democracy activists by Myanmar’s military government last month.

    NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday held talks on pressing global challenges, amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s high-profile visit to Taipei.

    In his opening remarks at the meeting that took place on the margins of an ASEAN conclave in Phnom Penh, Blinken referred to concerns over “challenges” in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the situation in the Indo-Pacific.

    It is understood that the escalating tension between China and Taiwan, especially in the Taiwan Strait, following Pelosi’s visit to Taipei figured in the talks.

    China has launched a major live-fire military exercise in the waters around Taiwan in response to Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island, triggering global concerns.

    The Jaishankar-Blinken meeting also came days after the US killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the al-Qaeda leader and a key plotter of the 9/11 attacks, in a drone strike in a Kabul safe house.

    “A warm conversation to start meetings on sidelines of ASEAN Ministerial in Phnom Penh. Discussed the ever strengthening India-US relationship and the global situation with US Secretary of State @SecBlinken,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    In his opening remarks at the meeting, Blinken said the US and India are strong proponents of the ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific, according to the US State Department.

    “We’re both strong proponents of ASEAN centrality. We have a shared vision together for a free and open Indo-Pacific that we work on in so many different ways every single day,” he said.

    “And of course, we have some immediate challenges that we’re both concerned with, to include the situation in Sri Lanka, Burma, and a number of other, number of other hot spots,” he said.

    “So I very much look forward to once again being able to go through a number of these issues with my friend, and then we’ll both head over to our meetings,” Blinken added.

    Last month, Sri Lanka witnessed massive political turmoil following mass protests that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country.

    Veteran leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president amid hopes for recovery from economic distress. The western powers were anguished over the execution of four pro-democracy activists by Myanmar’s military government last month.

  • Information about casualties of Chinese soldiers cannot be disclosed: CIC

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The casualty figure of the Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley clash two years back between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops and the Indian Army soldier cannot be disclosed, told the Central Information Commission (CIC).

    In its recent order, the CIC declined to allow a plea seeking to know “the casualties to the Chinese forces, if any, by brave soldiers of the country” inflicted during the clashes between two forces on June 15, 2020. The CIC is the highest appellate body under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

    The RTI filed by applicant Akhand had also sought information about the casualty figures suffered by the Indian soldiers in Galwan.

    Galwan is one of the multiple standoff points where the Chinese moved in their forces after a clash between the troops of both sides on May 5, 2020. The area is near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.   

    The applicant had also asked for information on the rehabilitation and ex-gratia paid to the families. In addition, the RTI applicant had sought to know from the army if Indian soldiers are missing in the Galwan river valley after the clash and its plans to rescue them.

    The army refused to disclose the information as it was third-party information and it cannot be shared under Section 8(1) (j) of the Act, which exempts from the disclosure of information which is personal in nature.

    The army also cited Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act which exempts from the disclosure of information which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence. The information on it was also denied.

    The applicant Akhand argued before the CIC that the matter involves a larger public interest and that the information should be provided to him.

    Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna said, “It is noted that a proper reply was given to the appellant whereby it was rightly stated that since the information is related to third parties, the information cannot be provided under section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.”

    “It was also stated that the information is sensitive in nature and cannot be provided under section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act. The Commission is unable to find any flaw in the reply, hence, no relief can be given,” she said.

    The Indian Army had lost 20 Indian Army soldiers in the Galwan clash and the Chinese had acknowledged the death of five soldiers during the clash. 

    NEW DELHI: The casualty figure of the Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley clash two years back between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army troops and the Indian Army soldier cannot be disclosed, told the Central Information Commission (CIC).

    In its recent order, the CIC declined to allow a plea seeking to know “the casualties to the Chinese forces, if any, by brave soldiers of the country” inflicted during the clashes between two forces on June 15, 2020. The CIC is the highest appellate body under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

    The RTI filed by applicant Akhand had also sought information about the casualty figures suffered by the Indian soldiers in Galwan.

    Galwan is one of the multiple standoff points where the Chinese moved in their forces after a clash between the troops of both sides on May 5, 2020. The area is near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.   

    The applicant had also asked for information on the rehabilitation and ex-gratia paid to the families. In addition, the RTI applicant had sought to know from the army if Indian soldiers are missing in the Galwan river valley after the clash and its plans to rescue them.

    The army refused to disclose the information as it was third-party information and it cannot be shared under Section 8(1) (j) of the Act, which exempts from the disclosure of information which is personal in nature.

    The army also cited Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act which exempts from the disclosure of information which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence. The information on it was also denied.

    The applicant Akhand argued before the CIC that the matter involves a larger public interest and that the information should be provided to him.

    Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna said, “It is noted that a proper reply was given to the appellant whereby it was rightly stated that since the information is related to third parties, the information cannot be provided under section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.”

    “It was also stated that the information is sensitive in nature and cannot be provided under section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act. The Commission is unable to find any flaw in the reply, hence, no relief can be given,” she said.

    The Indian Army had lost 20 Indian Army soldiers in the Galwan clash and the Chinese had acknowledged the death of five soldiers during the clash. 

  • Jaishankar hopes for early resolution of all outstanding issues along LAC

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A day after China criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greeting Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi in Bali, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meet.

    “Began my day in Bali by meeting FM Wang Yi of China. Discussion lasted one hour. Focused on specific outstanding issues in our bilateral relationship pertaining to the border situation. Also spoke about other matters including students and flights,” Dr Jaishankar said in a tweet.

    The two sides discussed resolving the border standoff that began in April 2020.

    The EAM called for an early resolution of all the outstanding issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Recalling the disengagement achieved in some friction areas he reiterated the need to sustain the momentum to complete disengagement from all the remaining areas to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas, according to a statement released by the MEA.

    The last diplomatic level talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) took place on 31 May 2022. Jaishankar reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals — mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

    Further, Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols and the understandings reached between the two ministers during their previous conversations. Both the ministers also affirmed that the military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue maintaining regular contact and looked forward to the next round of Senior Commanders’ meeting at an early date. 

    He also stressed the need to expedite the process of Indian students returning to China to complete their courses offline at an early date. “We also spoke about other matters including the return of students and flights,’’ tweeted Jaishankar.

    Meanwhile, India is taking over the G20 presidency in December this year and will host the G20 Summit in 2023. China had in the recent past objected to reports of India hosting some of the G20 events in Jammu and Kashmir. “A large number of G20 events will be held across India, there is no need to speculate where,” said MEA’s spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. 

    There are many events that are held before the summit. These include ministerial meetings, governmental meetings and some non-governmental meetings too. The venues of all these meetings can vary. Jaishankar, during the course of the day, also met his counterparts from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Indonesia and Senegal.

  • Chinese companies operating in India need to follow law of land: MEA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Chinese companies operating in India need to follow the law of the land, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, a day after China reacted to the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities by Chinese smartphone maker Vivo.

    External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Indian authorities are taking steps in the case in accordance with the law of the land.

    “Chinese companies which operate here need to follow the law of the land and I think our legal authorities are taking steps as per the law of the land,” he said at a media briefing.

    Bagchi was asked to comment on remarks on the probe by a spokesman of the Chinese embassy. “I do not see the need to make such comments,” Bagchi said.

    The Enforcement Directorate is carrying out the investigation against Vivo under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

    The agency on Thursday said that a whopping Rs 62,476 crore has been “illegally” transferred by the smartphone maker to China in order to avoid payment of taxes in India.

    The Chinese embassy spokesperson said on Wednesday that the frequent investigations by Indian authorities into Chinese enterprises not only disrupt their normal business activities and damage their goodwill but also impede the business environment in India.

    “The essence of China-India economic and trade cooperation is for mutual benefit and win-win results,” Spokesman and Counsellor Wang Xiaojian said in a statement.

  • Vivo sent Rs 62,476 crore worth turnover to China to avoid getting taxed in India: ED

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A whopping Rs 62,476 crore has been “illegally” transferred by smartphone maker Vivo to China in order to avoid payment of taxes in India, the Enforcement Directorate said Thursday, as it claimed to have busted a major money laundering racket involving Chinese nationals and multiple Indian companies.

    This money is almost half of Vivo’s turnover of Rs 1,25,185 crore, it said without stating the time period of the transaction.

    The crackdown on the leading Chinese company came after the federal probe agency found that three Chinese nationals, all of whom “left” India during 2018-21, and one other person from that country incorporated as many as 23 companies in India in which they were also helped by a Chartered Accountant, Nitin Garg.

    Among the foreigners, one identified as Bin Lou was an ex-director of Vivo and, according to the ED, he left India in April 2018. Two others — Zhengshen Ou and Zhang Jie — left the country in 2021, it said.

    “These (23) companies are found to have transferred huge amounts of funds to Vivo India. Further, out of the total sale proceeds of Rs 1,25,185 crore, Vivo India remitted Rs 62,476 crore or almost 50 per cent of the turnover out of India, mainly to China,” the ED said in a statement.

    ALSO READ | ED raids multiple locations linked to Chinese mobile compnay Vivo in money laundering case

    These remittances, it added, were made in order to “disclose huge losses in Indian incorporated companies to avoid payment of taxes in India.”

    The action is being seen as part of the Union government’s steps to tighten checks on Chinese entities and the continued crackdown on such firms and their linked Indian operatives that are allegedly indulging in serious financial crimes like money laundering and tax evasion while operating here.

    The stepped-up action against the Chinese-backed companies or entities operating in India comes in the backdrop of the military stand-off between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh that has been ongoing for more than two years now.

    The statement came after the ED raided 48 locations of Vivo Mobiles India Pvt. Ltd. and its associated companies across the country on July 5. Vivo had said on Tuesday that “as a responsible corporate, we are committed to being fully compliant with laws.”

    ALSO READ | Top Vivo executives may have fled India amid ED’s money laundering probe

    The agency said while it followed “all due procedures as per law” during the raids conducted under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it alleged that “employees of Vivo India, including some Chinese nationals, did not cooperate with the search proceedings and tried to abscond, remove and hide digital devices which were retrieved by the search teams.”

    Recently, Indian intelligence agencies found that the data of domestic customers was being “illegally” transferred by Chinese companies to servers kept in that country. The ED also said that post the raids, it seized funds worth Rs 465 crore kept in 119 bank accounts by various entities involved in the case, Rs 73 lakh cash and 2 kg gold bars.

    The agency filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, on February 3 after studying a Delhi Police FIR (registered at Kalkaji police station) of December last year against an associated company of Vivo, Grand Prospect International Communication Pvt Ltd (GPICPL), its directors, shareholders and some others professionals.

    ALSO READ | ED conducts raids against Vivo, related companies in money laundering probe

    The police complaint was filed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs alleging that GPICPL and its shareholders used “forged” identification documents and “falsified” addresses at the time of incorporation of the company in December 2014.

    This company had its registered address in Solan (Himachal Pradesh), Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Jammu (J&K).

    The three Chinese nationals, mentioned above, incorporated this company while a fourth one, Zhixin Wei, also opened four companies to carry out similar transactions.

    “The allegations (made by the ministry) were found to be true as the investigation revealed that the addresses mentioned by the directors of GPICPL did not belong to them, but in fact it was a government building and house of a senior bureaucrat,” the ED said.

    It said Vivo Mobiles Pvt Ltd was incorporated on August 1, 2014 as a subsidiary of Multi Accord Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company.

    The ED identified the other 22 companies as: Rui Chuang Technologies Pvt Ltd (Ahmedabad), V Dream Technology & Communication Pvt Ltd (Hyderabad), Regenvo Mobile Pvt Ltd (Lucknow), Fangs Technology Pvt Ltd (Chennai), Weiwo Communication Pvt Ltd (Bangalore), Bubugao Communication Pvt Ltd (Jaipur), Haicheng Mobile (India) Pvt Ltd (Delhi), Joinmay Mumbai Electronics Pvt. Ltd (Mumbai), Yingjia Communication Pvt Ltd (Kolkata) and Jie Lian Mobile India Pvt. Ltd. (Indore).

    The rest are Vigour Mobile India Pvt Ltd (Gurugram), Hisoa Electronics Pvt Ltd (Pune), Haijin Trade India Pvt Ltd (Kochi), Rongsheng Mobile India Pvt Ltd (Guwahati), Morefun Communication Pvt Ltd (Patna), Aohua Mobile India Pvt Ltd (Raipur), Pioneer Mobile Pvt Ltd (Bhubaneswar), Unimay Electronic Pvt Ltd (Nagpur), Junwei Electronic Pvt Ltd (Aurangabad), Huijin Electronic India Pvt Ltd (Ranchi), MGM Sales Pvt Ltd (Dehradun) and Joinmay Electronic Pvt Ltd (Mumbai).

  • Indian medical students desperate for return to China as visas not yet issued

    Express News Service

    Even as China has partially lifted a visa ban for Indians (which includes diplomats and those who have family in China) the one segment that is desperately waiting to get visas is the over 23,000 Indian students enrolled in universities across China.

    “It’s been two years since the ban and we haven’t been allowed to return to our University campus in China. Most of us are enrolled in medical schools there and we need to do our practicals offline. Many of us are now clinically depressed,’’ said a third-year student of medicine, Ankit.

    The students say that they have been in constant touch with the Chinese embassy in Delhi, but their queries don’t translate into anything and they do not have any firm answer on what lies ahead.

    However, China has permitted students from Pakistan, Thailand, Solomon Islands and Sri Lanka to return to the universities. This stand-offish attitude with Indian students is due to a diplomatic standoff that exists between India and China at present.

    External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, had communicated to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi when he had visited India earlier this year to facilitate Indian students who are stuck in India due to a lack of visas. No heed has been paid to that request yet. India too had in April cancelled tourist visas of China, citing the rising Covid chart for this move.

    However, tourists don’t get impacted by a visa ban, but students do as they have a lot at stake.

    “The Chinese embassy had sought a list of students willing to return to China to complete their degree, and even though most of us have given our names we have no clue on when it would be considered,’’ laments Ankit.

    Mental health issues have emerged among students who worry about not being able to repay student loans until they complete their study programme. Once completion of their degree, they have to clear Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) in order to intern in India and get a job.

    In India, there are students who have returned from Ukraine too whose fate is hanging in limbo. Combined with those who want to return to China, the problem has got compounded.

  • Some infrastructure being set up by China near border with India alarming: US commander

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Some of the defence infrastructure being set up by China near its border with India is “alarming” and the ”destabilising and corrosive” behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Indo-Pacific region is simply not helpful, US Army’s Pacific Commanding General Charles A.Flynn said here on Wednesday.

    The armed forces of India and China have been engaged in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020, when there was a violent clash between the two sides in the Pangong lake areas.

    Last month, it came to light that China is constructing a second bridge in an area held by it around the strategically key Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh and it could help its military to quickly mobilise its troops in the region.

    China has also been establishing other infrastructure such as roads and residential areas in the border areas with India. It maritime border disputes with various countries in the Indo-Pacific region such as Vietnam and Japan.

    When asked about his assessment of the India-China border standoff in Ladakh, Flynn told reporters here, “I believe that the activity level is eye-opening and I think the some of the infrastructure that is being created in the (Chinese Army’s) western theatre command is alarming.”

    The western theatre command of the Chinese Army borders India. Flynn said when one sees China’s military arsenal in all domains, one must ask the question ‘why is it needed’.

    “So, I do not have a crystal ball to tell you how it (India-China border standoff) is going to end or where we will be at. I will express to you that it is worthy of asking this question and try to get their response as to what are their intentions,” he noted.

    The visiting US General said the talks that are going on between India and China are helpful.

    “However, behaviour matters here as well. So, understanding what they are saying is one thing but the way they are acting and behaving by the way of build-up is concerning. It should be concerning to every one of us,” he noted.

    Flynn also talked about how the behaviour of China has changed between 2014 and 2022. He said when he looks back on what the CCP and the PRC (People’s Republic of China) were doing then to what they are doing today, it can be said that they have taken an “incremental and insidious path”.

    The destabilising and corrosive behaviour that they project into the Indo-Pacific region is simply not helpful, he added. “I think it is worthy of us working together as a counterweight to some of those corrosive and corruptive behaviours that the Chinese do,” he said.

    “Our ability to strengthen the relationships in the region as a counterweight to those destabilising activities and to strengthen the network of allies and partners and like-minded countries that care about the protection of their people, national sovereignty, land, resources, free and open Pacific Ocean and society,” he said.

    Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande had on May 9 said China’s intention has been to keep “alive” the boundary question with India though it remains the “basic” issue between the two countries. India and China have held 15 rounds of military talks so far to resolve the eastern Ladakh row.

    As a result of the talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. However, each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector.

    Flynn said the armies of India and the US did a joint military exercise in Alaska last year and stressed such engagement increases readiness to respond to any crisis and has a deterrent effect in the region.

    “I am really excited about the future of ‘yudhabhyas’ (combat exercise) this year in India where General Pande and Lieutenant General Raju have agreed to do the exercise at 9,000-10,000 feet above sea level,” he noted.

    An exercise at such a high altitude increases the readiness, joint inter-operability and coalition inter-operability of the armies of both the countries, he said.

    “At the end of the day, this sharing of soldier, tactical and operational practices increases everybody’s readiness to respond to whatever crisis may occur. This has a deterrent effect in the region,” Flynn noted.