#SecurityScan 84 : Putin replaces security chiefs, Indian alternative to China in pharmaceuticals & more
MineOne Partners Ltd. and its affiliated units and companies “ might take action that threatens to impair the national security ” of the US, the White House said in an order.
NewsBharati 20-May-2024 17:46:08 PM
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This article is a summary of important events that have taken place in last one week affecting India's national security.
News In Brief
- Starting next year, the Indian Army will cease importing ammunition. In fact, India aims to capture 10% of the global market.
- India advances in semiconductor manufacturing with Tata Electronics exporting packaged semiconductor chips.
- The Union Home Ministry has designated 57 individuals as terrorists under UAPA. Among them, 7 are linked to various Khalistani groups and are based in Canada, Germany, and the USA, while 50 are in Pakistan.
- The stage is set for further GST reforms, highlighting its success in India.
- The Maldives has expressed willingness to collaborate with India on sensitive issues, and India has extended a soft loan to the Maldives.
- India is emerging as a major player in auto exports.
- In light of recent US college protests, India, often lectured on handling public dissent, invites viewers to compare how the USA dealt with the agitations with full physical force on university campuses.
- To curb stubble burning, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan have been directed to exclude farmers who burn post-harvest stubble from minimum support price benefits starting this year, as per Supreme Court directives.
- The government has instructed telecom companies to block 28,200 mobile handsets used in cyber crimes and to re-verify 2 million mobile numbers associated with these handsets.
- India's gold imports surged by 30%, reaching 45 billion dollars in the financial year 2024, making it the second-largest import item for the country.
- Putin replaces security chiefs in surprise reshuffle
- Sergei Shoigu’s move from defence ministry painted as an attempt to rein in runaway military spending.
- China floats world’s first drone aircraft carrier
- Satellite image shows dedicated drone carrier at Yangtze River shipyard, signaling a potential shift in China’s naval power projection strategy
#COUNTERING CHINESE MULTI DOMAIN , GREYZONE, HIGH BREED WARFARE
Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te’s Precarious Balancing Act
On May 20, in a ceremony in Taipei, Lai Ching-te is scheduled to be inaugurated as the next leader of Taiwan. Currently vice president, Lai is taking over from President Tsai Ing-wen at a delicate moment in Taiwan’s relations with Beijing. And although Taiwan has managed to maintain significant trade and interpersonal ties to mainland China while postponing discussions over its sovereignty, this ambiguous status quo has recently frayed amid political headwinds from both Beijing and Taipei. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has explicitly made taking Taiwan part of his plans to “rejuvenate” China. But Taiwan’s people are less interested than ever in unifying with the mainland.
If Washington aims to bolster asymmetric deterrence through arms sales and training, for instance, policymakers should take care to expand such programs without fanfare or political posturing. The overriding objective should be to postpone the date of any potential conflict as far as possible into the future, in hopes that the political landscape will shift to allow for a peaceful, permanent settlement.
Such patience is, after all, the route that Lai has chosen. As he stated in a television interview in December, quoting Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, “supreme excellence” is “breaking an opponent’s will without a fight.”
Global Chips Battle Intensifies With $81 Billion Subsidy Surge
US and allies vie with China for semiconductor supremacy, powered by wave of domestic investment.
Superpowers led by the US and European Union have funnelled nearly $81 billion toward cranking out the next generation of semiconductors, escalating a global showdown with China for chip supremacy.
It’s the first wave of close to $380 billion earmarked by governments worldwide for companies like Intel Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to boost production of more powerful microprocessors. The surge has pushed the Washington-led rivalry with Beijing over cutting-edge technology to a critical turning point.
US Kicks Chinese Crypto Miner Off Land Near Air Force Base
Treasury says Wyoming land buy was a national security threat
The US ordered a Chinese crypto mining company to vacate and sell a property it bought near a Wyoming Air Force base that houses intercontinental ballistic missiles, calling the firm a national security threat.
MineOne Partners Ltd. and its affiliated units and companies “ might take action that threatens to impair the national security ” of the US, the White House said in an order.
The message to Europe from Xi’s failed visit
The lack of response to European trade and strategic concerns points to an assessment that on balance China can afford to ignore a weak player.
A “missed opportunity”. That’s the verdict much of Europe’s media reached about the outcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the “old continent” last week.
This was Mr Xi’s first trip to Europe in five years, a period which seems almost an eternity. Back in 2019, when he last visited, everyone was buying Russian oil and gas, pandemics were of interest only to medical sleuths and historians and, given the antics of Donald Trump in Washington, China was hailed as “the adult in the room”, the only nation able to save the world from trade wars.
China accused of targeting its overseas citizens for political activism
China is targeting citizens studying abroad for their political activism, rights group Amnesty International said Monday, with some students reporting harassment of family members back home.
Beijing does not tolerate political dissent and has used sophisticated tech tools as well as intimidation to crack down on domestic protesters and activists.
And its curbs on political activism are increasingly expanding abroad in the form of "transnational repression," Amnesty International said in a report, citing interviews with dozens of students in eight European and North American countries.
US special forces to the frontline against China, Russia
US special forces shifting emphasis from counterinsurgency to great power competition despite budget cuts and personnel challenges.
China Vows ‘Resolute Measures’ After Biden’s New Tariffs,US should cancel the added tariffs, Commerce Ministry says,Analysts see measured response from Beijing before election
Joe Biden is hiking tariffs on imports including semiconductors, batteries, solar cells, and critical minerals.
China blasted the Biden administration’s move to increase US tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports, vowing to take its own action, without giving specifics.
“China will take resolute measures to safeguard its own rights and interests,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Tuesday.
The Biden administration's new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other strategic sectors will likely accelerate a shift of Chinese production to Mexico, Vietnam and elsewhere to avoid them.
U.S. officials and trade experts say that without strong efforts to cut off trans shipped or lightly processed Chinese goods from Mexico and other countries will continue to enter USA. President Joe Biden’s sweeping tariff hikes on a range of Chinese imports are just the latest US moves in a years-long campaign that is rewiring Asian trade routes, figures in the past few days show.
Taiwan’s booming exports to the US are just one example of how China is getting left out of some of them.
Vietnam risks wider Spratlys dispute with more land reclamation: Chinese think tank
The Beijing-based Grandview Institution says Hanoi ramped up island expansion in the South China Sea from 2021 using large dredgers
Vietnam has occupied more Chinese islands and reefs, stationed more troops and built more facilities than any other coastal state to the waters, it says.
India can be a real alternative to China in pharmaceuticals
Dependence on imported ingredients and quality assurance are being addressed
India imports over 80% of its APIs and KSMs for some drugs and formulations, with purchases from China continuing to rise over the last two years.
India is looking to reduce this dependence through initiatives such its production-linked incentive program, which provides subsidies for companies investing in new manufacturing facilities. This effort has already led to increased domestic production of KSMs such as penicillin G and clavulanic acid.
However, it will likely take a few more years and perhaps some tweaks to the subsidy program for India to substantially grow its API and KSM production capacity and reduce import dependence on China to offer a true "de-risked" alternative for global supply chains.
Hong Kong’s history as espionage hotbed is back in spotlight after duo arrested in UK. The Post shares portraits of past spies
Hong Kong’s loose visa requirements and lack of espionage laws before 2024 allowed city to become ideal location for collecting and exchanging sensitive information
The Post looks at residents caught up in spying cases from ‘Hong Kong’s first spy’ to two local men arrested in UK over espionage allegations.
China sanctions five Taiwan political pundits, rolls out law to punish ‘separatists’
China said it would sanction five Taiwanese political commentators and roll out a law to punish “separatists”, moves aimed at piling pressure on incoming president Lai Ching-te just days before he takes office.
The pundits’ remarks “deceived some people on the island, incited hostility and confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and hurt the feelings of compatriots on both sides”, said Mr Chen Binhua, spokesman for the government department in Beijing that handles affairs related to Taiwan, at a press briefing on May 15.
The five are regulars on political talk shows on the island of 23 million people that Beijing has pledged to bring under its control someday, by force if necessary.
Countering Internal & External Security Challenges
Muzaffarabad unrest: 3 killed in PoK as strike enters 5th day, Govt allocates aid
Amid the unrest in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, at least three people were killed and six others injured in clashes with security forces in PoK on May 14. Paramilitary rangers opened fire on protesters during clashes after protests were held against high prices of wheat flour and inflated electricity bills.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has remained tense as the strike against high prices of wheat flour and inflated electricity bills and taxes entered its fifth day on Tuesday, forcing the Pakistan government to allocate 23 billion Pakistani rupees (PKR) for immediate release to the region to quell the simmering unrest.
On May 9 and May 10, around 70 activists were arrested by the police in a bid to prevent a long march - announced by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to press the government to comply with an agreement reached between the two in February this year - triggering serious clashes in Dadyal and a “shutter-down strike" call.
Economic Security- India’s Remittances: A Record-Breaking Achievement with Implications
In 2022, India surged past the milestone of $111 billion in inward remittances, firmly cementing its status as the world’s foremost recipient of such funds. This remarkable feat not only underscores the indispensable contribution of Indian migrant workers worldwide but also underscores the pivotal role remittances play in bolstering economies globally. The 2024 World Migration Report by the International Organisation for Migration identifies India, alongside Mexico, China, the Philippines, and France, as the top recipients of remittances. India’s consistent rise in this regard reflects the enduring bonds between expatriates and their country of origin.
The UN report underscores the persistent risks of financial exploitation, burdensome debts resulting from migration expenses, xenophobia, and workplace abuse that afflict migrant communities.
Particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council states, where a substantial number of Indian migrants reside, violations of rights continue to persist. The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, particularly those in low-skilled labour and the informal sector. Job losses, wage theft, and a lack of social safety nets have plunged many into profound insecurity and debt. The phenomenon of reverse internal migration signals a significant shift in labour dynamics, impacting industries reliant on migrant workers.
Addressing issues such as labour exploitation, equitable access to social protection, and establishing secure and orderly migration pathways are imperative for fostering sustainable development and nurturing inclusive growth.
Pakistan's moves to isolate Afghanistan are backfiring
Estrangement is driving the Taliban to work with Iran and India at Chabahar port
Growing strains between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to militant attacks that Islamabad blames on cross-border insurgents are reshaping relations between them as well as their ties with other neighbours.
In particular, landlocked Afghanistan is increasingly looking to Iran as an alternative route for international trade, a dramatic development that could bring Kabul into greater alignment with other regional powers including India and Russia and counteract efforts to isolate both Tehran and Kabul.
Both Taliban-run Afghanistan and Iran are, of course, Islamic regimes, but they are hardly natural allies. The Taliban adhere to a brand of Sunni fundamentalism and are not known for always treating followers of other Muslim sects with equal respect, while the Shiiite clerics who hold the reins in Tehran are known to similarly dis favour other denominations.
Border disputes, particularly in relation to shared water resources, are another long-running source of tension. Last month, Taliban troops seized five Iranian border guards who were said to have crossed into Afghan territory. The presence of millions of Afghan refugees in Iran has sometimes been a flashpoint too.
But the tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan are fueling cooperation between Kabul and Tehran centered on Chabahar, Iran's first deep-water port.
For Kabul, Chabahar is by far the most accessible alternative to Pakistani ports like Karachi and Gwadar.
For its own strategic concerns, India has also long supported Chabahar's development as a pathway to reducing Afghan reliance on Pakistan and potentially improving its own access to Central Asian markets.
India inks 10-year deal to operate Iran's Chabahar port
Investment and financing bring contract's value to $370m
India signed a 10-year contract with Iran on Monday to develop and operate the Iranian port of Chabahar, the Indian government said, strengthening relations with a strategic Middle Eastern nation.
India has been developing the port in Chabahar on Iran's south-eastern coast along the Gulf of Oman as a way to transport goods to Iran, Afghanistan and central Asian countries, bypassing the port of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan.
U.S. sanctions on Iran, however, slowed the port's development.
World At War-Lessons For India
Machines may replace crew on Royal Navy’s warships of future
The proposed multi-role support ships could need a crew of about 100, a quarter of the total on today’s vessels
The crews of future warships could be a quarter of their present size, keeping more sailors out of harm’s way, the head of the Royal Navy has said, amid a critical manpower shortage.
Admiral Sir Ben Key, the first sea lord, said the advance of technology meant that machines could take on the roles traditionally performed by large numbers of navy personnel.
Instead of a crew of about 400, up to six new multi-role support ships coming into service from the 2030s could have a crew of about 100. This would also help to solve a recruitment crisis that has engulfed the armed forces and left ships short of sailors.
Columbia University faces donor exodus over handling of Gaza protests
As a confidence vote in the university president Minouche Shafik looms, financial backers set strict conditions for their continued support
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations that caused chaotic scenes and prompted police intervention.
Leon Cooperman, a billionaire investor and hedge fund manager who has a minority stake in Manchester United, said the protests had been “organised anarchy” and accused administrators of failing to provide a safe environment for students.
Putin and Xi Vow to Step Up Fight to Counter US ‘Containment’
Visit is Putin’s first foreign trip since starting fifth term
China has been key ally as Moscow pursues war in Ukraine
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin pledged to intensify cooperation against US “containment” of their countries, as they warned of growing nuclear tensions between rival powers.
Putin and Xi accused the US of planning to station missile systems around the world that “pose a direct threat to the security of Russia and China,” in a joint declaration after more than two hours of talks in Beijing on Thursday. They agreed to tighten coordination, including between their militaries, against what they called Washington’s “destructive and hostile course.”
China is India’s main strategic adversary today, while we have a historical defence relationship with Russia. But with Beijing and Moscow boosting their defence cooperation, New Delhi can’t blindly rely on Russian platforms. Ongoing diversification in weapons systems must be speeded up. For, in case of confrontation between India and China, Russia will at best remain neutral or at worst aid Beijing. Plus, India still doesn’t have the cumulative national power to go it alone. Therefore, we have to work more closely with the West. It’s time to re-evaluate our strategic ties with Moscow.
Putin-Xi bhai-bhai: Which means New Delhi must revise its Moscow ties
Kyrgyzstan Horror: India, Pak In Action After Mob Attack On Foreign Students In Bishkek
Mob violence hits Kyrgyzstan’s capital city Bishkek where foreign students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are targeted by locals. Violence erupted after a video of brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students went viral. Local mob then went on rampage and targeted hostels of medical universities of students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
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BRIG Hemant Mahajan
Passionate writer on National Security related issues, Brig Hemant Mahajan YSM (Retd) is M Sc, M Phil in Defence Studies. He joined IMA Dehradun in July 1973 and passed out as a Commissioned Officer on 15 June 1975. He was commissioned into 7 MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY. He has served extensively in Counter Insurgency Operations in Insurgency and Terrorist prone areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and North East and has taken part in all important operations undertaken by the Army since 1975.
Brig Hemant Mahajan served in Jammu & Kashmir, in the deserts of Rajasthan, in Super High Altitude areas of Kargil and Leh, forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh. He was deployed in Punjab in ‘Operation Avert’. He was also involved in maintaining peace post ‘Operation Bluestar’ days in Punjab in the worst affected district of Gurdaspur, Taran Taran and Amritsar.He served in the areas of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Siliguri and Sikkim. He commanded his battalion 7 MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY in Operation Rakshak in the most difficult areas of Poonch and Rajouri during the times of highest militancy. His unit was responsible for stopping terrorists from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. His unit was awarded Unit Citation, 18 gallantry awards including YSM (gallantry) for the officer.