In late 2021, Chairman Xi Jinping famously told President Joe Biden, "Aggression or hegemony is not in the blood of the Chinese nation. Since the founding of the people's republic, China has never started a single war or conflict, and has never taken one inch of land from other countries." However, such a claim is demonstrably false, as China recklessly pushes forward its boundaries on land and at sea. Including Bhutan and India, along their shared rugged, mountainous frontier, China is pushing forward wherever it can to forge a fait accompli on the ground. It is doing the same with illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea and attempting the same in Japan's Senkaku Islands. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the USA provided an assessment of new People's Liberation Army (PLA) infrastructure near the Indian border. It noted, "China is currently undertaking a major expansion of its infrastructure that is enhancing its ability to project military power along its western frontier" in both Tibet and Xinjiang. The CSIS report revealed China is constructing or upgrading dozens of airports and heliports, supplemented by new roads, rail and other infrastructure that enhance PLA logistics by permitting greater quantities of troops, weapons and supplies to be shuttled closer to the frontier. It added, "The pace of development in the region accelerated following standoffs and skirmishes between China and India along disputed portions of their border in 2017 and 2020." The 2017 reference is to the Doklam Plateau, where PLA engineers attempted to build a road. Even more serious was the outbreak of bloody violence at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in 2020. In the rugged and unforgiving high-altitude terrain of Tibet and Xinjiang, airports and heliports grow exponentially in importance. They are vital for moving personnel and equipment into the area, plus they serve as launch pads for reconnaissance assets and potentially strike missions. CSIS assessed: "The airpower buildup taking place on China's western frontier is sweeping in scale. Based on analysis of satellite imagery and other open-source material, China Power has identified 37 airports and heliports within Tibet and Xinjiang that have been newly constructed or upgraded since 2017 ... At least 22 of these are identifiable as military or dual-use facilities, or are expected to be once they are completed. The pace of this activity sped up significantly in 2020. That year alone, China began constructing seven new air facilities and initiated upgrades at seven others." Much of the construction is occurring in Tibet. All five existing dual-use airports have received new terminals, hangars, aprons and runways since 2017, while four new airports have been constructed less than 60km from the Indian border. For example, Lhuntse, Ngari-Burang and Shigatse Tingri Airports fill glaring gaps in the PLA's coverage. The dual-use Shigatse Peace Airport is the closest to Doklam, and it has received a large underground facility that has at least three entrances. CSIS added: "The PLA is also significantly scaling up its ability to conduct helicopter-based operations through the construction of at least five new heliports in Tibet, and the upgrading of two heliports. These heliports, which are operated by PLA Army aviation units, are dotted throughout Tibet, stretching from Rutog County in the west to Nyingchi City in the east. The addition of these heliports stands to significantly enhance PLA operations in the mountainous region, since helicopters are capable of manoeuvring in ways that aeroplanes and ground equipment cannot." As for Xinjiang, at least 15 airports have been upgraded since 2017, seven of which are military or dual-use. One example is Hotan, 240km from the Indian border. It has a new runway, additional tarmacked areas and an expanded air defense complex. Three new airports have started construction in Xinjiang since 2019, including Tashkorgan near the border junction with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Nonetheless, CSIS explained: "Despite the military benefits that China's investments in the region have brought, the PLA faces several notable disadvantages compared to India. Much of China's side of the border is situated on the highest portions of the Tibetan Plateau, which is often described as the 'roof of the world', owing to its high elevation. Twenty of China's airports and heliports within Xinjiang and Tibet are located more than 3,000m above sea level..." Such altitudes present massive operational challenges for the PLA. Thin air affects the performance of aircraft taking off, which in turn requires longer runways and aircraft may not be able to carry full weapon, cargo or fuel loads. Cold and harsh weather adds its own challenges too. Official Chinese figures reveal that Tibet's highway system grew 51 per cent from 2015-20 to a total of 11,820km. In the same period, Xinjiang's highway network grew from 17,830km to 20,920km. As well as enhancing economic development, these roads assist the PLA in moving supplies. For instance, at least eight roads stretching from the G219 highway towards the Indian border are being constructed. The PLA would be able to use them to quickly reposition troops if another Galwan Valley confrontation occurred, for example. Completed in 2021 and reducing travel time by eight hours, another new road connects Nyingchi to Medog County in eastern Tibet. Nyingchi hosts the headquarters of the PLA's 52nd and 53rd Combined Light Infantry Brigades, showing how critical such new routes are in spreading the influence of the PLA. Xinjiang's rail network has grown quickly too, from 5,900km in 2015 to 7,800km in 2020. New lines help connect military bases and airports. However, Tibet's topography makes the creation of new railways very difficult, and the region boasts only 800km of tracks. Nevertheless, the first high-speed railway from Lhasa to Nyingchi opened in 2021 and, soon after it opened, it carried PLA personnel to an exercise area. China's "salami slicing" tactics, used so successfully in the South China Sea, are a reliable indication of how China is acting in other border areas too. One victim is Bhutan, with Beijing using such tactics against it for years. Afterwards, China attempts to formalize its theft of land by engaging in negotiations, but this type of bullying has negatively impacted bilateral negotiations. China lays claim to 269km2 of Bhutanese territory in Doklam in the west, 495km2 of the sacred Buddhist area of the Beyul Khenpajong in the north, and 650km2 of the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary in the east. China has trespassed the Bhutan border and rapidly constructed settlements such as Gyalaphug village. Sudha Ramachandran, writing for the Jamestown Foundation think-tank in the USA, noted: "Beijing appears to be robustly altering the status quo on the ground along its border with Bhutan. Recent satellite images reveal the staggering pace at which the PRC is building townships along a river valley in Beyul Khenpajong located in territory it claims in northcentral Bhutan." Currently, the settlement contains more than 200 structures, including roads, hydropower stations, communication facilities and military/security outposts built over the past decade. China has faced little pushback from Bhutan, exacerbated by the difficulty in accessing the area from the Bhutan side. A 1998 agreement was supposed to see both countries "refrain from taking any unilateral action to change the status quo of the boundary," but Chinese words are as cheap as the paper they are written on. The PLA is particularly enraptured with the tri- junction border at Doklam, as dominating this area would improve China's military position versus India. Ramachandran said, "The rationale behind Beijing's land grab is not entirely clear. Unlike Doklam, which is near India and where the PRC has also pressed ahead to alter the situation on the ground through construction of roads and bunkers, control over Beyul Khenpajong would have no strategic value in the event of an India-China war." Regardless, "Parallel to changing the status quo on the ground in its favor with its infrastructure-building activity, China is keen to enhance its economic and other presence in Bhutan. This would help the PRC to create a favorable environment for itself while increasing its leverage." When it comes to China's outrageous maritime territorial claims and bullying at sea, state media and government channels are spouting increasingly ridiculous messages. For example, the Global Times tabloid tweeted on 27 January that the China Coast Guard (CCG) had expelled "Japanese vessels near the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, which are an inherent part of China's territory, and CCG vessels carry out maritime rights protection and law enforcement activities in China's jurisdictional waters in accordance with the law. We urge the Japanese side to immediately cease all illegal activities in this area and ensure that similar incidents do not occur again." Such statements are figments of China's imagination. Beijing has also succeeded in antagonizing the Philippines, causing Manila to become more strenuous in its criticism of blatant Chinese interference. After Manila stated it would modernize military facilities in its northernmost province of Batanes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned the Philippines to "tread carefully and don't play with fire". Subsequently, a Philippine Department of National Defense press statement issued on 10 February sternly warned China: "The Defense Department stresses that Batanes is Philippine territory, and China has no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its own territory. China's pronouncements and acts are the main reasons for its low credibility with the Filipino people. China should refrain from engaging in provocative rhetoric and activities if it truly wants to earn the widespread trust and respect that it is trying so hard to gain but has, so far, been unable to." Chinese encroachment has caused growing resentment from countries like the Philippines and Japan, and its 2020 gambit against India in Eastern Ladakh in mid- 2020 resulted in awakening Indian ire too. China has refused to return to the April 2020 status quo in Ladakh, despite numerous talks and disengagement of troops from friction points. The PLA carved out for itself important buffer zones, largely from Indian territory and causing Delhi to lose control of areas it formerly patrolled, which is precisely how Chinese salami slicing proceeds. Once the PLA has gained a foothold, it is impossible to dislodge it. Both China and India worked hard to strengthen their respective infrastructure after the Eastern Ladakh confrontation, and it is estimated both sides keep around 50,000 troops in Ladakh. In October 2021, China began constructing a new road and 300m- long bridge over the strategically important Pangong Lake so soldiers can move quickly to either side of the lake and areas adjacent to the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Construction of a bigger and wider bridge started in 2022, which would even allow armored vehicles to cross. In a conflict, bridges are vulnerable; however, in scenarios beneath that, bridges are an important logistical tool for the PLA. To the west of these bridges, the PLA established what is believed to be a permanent divisional-level headquarters and garrison, just 6km from the LAC. Settled permanently from mid-2020, the camp expanded throughout 2021. As well as revetments and a company's worth of armored vehicles, there are shelters presumably for artillery and antiaircraft systems. It functions as a node connecting troops at Pangong with the Western Theater Command headquarters. After work began in August 2021, a second radome was constructed on a mountain peak north of the lake, about 6km from the headquarters facility. Such construction efforts show that China has no intention of retreating; rather, it is deepening its foothold. A report published last year by the Indo-Pacific Security Program of the Center for a New American Security, concluded: "While the Chinese and Indian militaries have since pulled back forces from the most contentious standoff sites where the 2020 build-up occurred and established temporary buffer zones, both sides retain high numbers of troops forward deployed along the disputed frontier, and there are several flashpoints that could erupt into another border crisis at any time ... With both China and India enhancing infrastructure and introducing new and advanced weapons systems on their sides of the disputed border, combined with forward deployments and heightened lack of trust, the chances for continued standoffs that could erupt into local or even full-blown conflict remain high." The same is true everywhere that China is blatantly pushing forward with coercive or stealthy methods. Unless victims strenuously stick up for themselves, China is only emboldened to continue such illegal moves to enlarge its territory. In a sense, Xi was right - no, China "has never taken one inch of land from other countries" - for it has helped outside to hundreds of square miles instead.     Source: Web India

China commenced construction of its third icebreaker vessel at Guangzhou Shipyard on 25 June 2023. According to regional media reports, the 103-meter-long vessel with a displacement of 9200 tons is expected to be delivered by 2025.  Scientists anticipate that the icebreaker will enable researchers to explore and study the previously inaccessible polar seabeds. This ship will also have the ability to focus on both crewed and uncrewed deep-sea scientific research with submersible platforms, making China the second country after Russia to have the ability to deploy manned submersibles into the Arctic seafloor.  The Chinese currently have two icebreakers, Xuelong 1 and Xuelong 2, operational, which they use to replenish the seven 'research stations' they have at both the North and South Poles. However, unlike the Russian icebreakers, the new Chinese icebreaker will not be nuclear-powered. Backbone of China's Arctic Policy China's interest in the Arctic is driven mainly by its potential economic benefits. In January 2018, China released its new Arctic Policy where it claimed to be a 'Near-Arctic State' with plans to develop infrastructure, conduct research, extract resources, and extend its military capabilities in the Arctic.  China's expansion of its icebreaker fleets is the first step in accessing areas of the Arctic and other deep-sea regions that would have been initially inaccessible. Chinese state media has said that the inclusion of a third icebreaker vessel would facilitate deep-sea research, encompassing sample collection, environmental data analysis, geological and life science investigations, and testing and utilisation of deep-sea technology and equipment. Assessing the ship's capability as per Chinese state media claims, the new icebreaker vessel, along with its manned and unmanned deep-sea submarines, can collect samples of sediment and rocks from the seafloor.  The ship will also likely have the ability to conduct detailed mapping and surveying to identify geological formations, potential mineral deposits and hydrocarbon reservoirs. The Arctic is not only a large reservoir of oil and gas resources but also of rare earth metals like neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and dysprosium, which are key elements for the world's electric vehicles and the renewable energy revolution taking place currently.  It is also important to mention that substantial amounts of iron, nickel, lead, zinc, silver, coal, gold and mica, as well as construction minerals like sand, gravel, and crushed rock, are thought to exist in the Arctic. Chinese experts have indicated that when the vessel is launched, it will spend four months in the polar regions and dedicate the remainder of the year to scientific research in the South China Sea.  In addition to its vast reserves of oil, natural gas and methane hydrates, the South China Sea is home to abundant deposits of manganese nodules, rich in valuable metals utilised in the production of steel, stainless steel, batteries, electronics, and other advanced applications. Furthermore, the region contains phosphorite rock, which holds valuable phosphate minerals crucial for promoting plant growth and agricultural productivity.  The precise distribution and extent of these resources in both the Arctic and the South China Sea are currently being investigated. The vessel is expected to play a role in the Chinese efforts to access these resources and determine their potential location and extent. The new icebreaker ship will also serve as a platform for deploying and testing the specialised equipment and technology required for resource extraction in challenging Arctic conditions. They additionally support the development and implementation of innovative techniques, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), manned submersibles and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for efficient resource exploration and extraction.  The Chinese currently produce 65 per cent and process about 85 per cent of the world's rare earth metals. China is expected to strive to retain its dominant position in the global rare earth minerals market by exploring means to extract these resources. Conclusion China's investment in the construction of a third icebreaker vessel demonstrates its commitment to expanding its presence in the Arctic region. With the completion of this new vessel, China aims to enhance its capabilities for scientific research, resource exploration and military operations in the Arctic. The increased Chinese presence raises geopolitical concerns among other nations, particularly those with Arctic territories like the United States, Canada and Russia. Its growing activities in the Arctic could lead to competition over resources and influence, and potentially challenge the established power dynamics in the region. The proposed presence of the Chinese vessels in South China Sea can also add to the existing complexities there particularly if they engage in scientific data collection and minerals exploration in areas claimed by other littoral states. Source: https://www.aicis.org.in/ (This article is written by Rohan Gupta,  who is a post gradute student)  

Formerly banned organization Tehreek-E-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) is on a surge after the release of its leader Saad Hossain Rizvi and revoking of its ban by the Imran Khan government. According to the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), there was a rather secret deal between TLP and the Imran Khan government reached on October 31 to end the latest round of protests. The deal was not made public and on November 7, Khan's cabinet revoked the declaration of the TLP as a banned group. The TLP benefitted mainly from the divisions between the PML-Nawaz government and the military establishment deep state', IFFRAS said, adding that Pakistan military establishment's effort to prop up different religious groups to deteriorate the PML-Nawaz government permitted the TLP to increase greater political space. Earlier, Rizvi was released on the eve of his father, Khadim Hussain Rizvi's death anniversary on November 19 who was the founder of TLP. Further, the TLP capable of mobilizing thousands of supporters was born in the year 2015 out of a remonstration movement to the Barelvi movement, according to the International Forum for Rights and Security. TLP has progressed from a movement into a party after Tehreek Rihai Mumtaz Qadr hanging in 2016. Source: ANI

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid importance on expanding cooperation in BIMSTEC forum through the creation of free trade area, investment and energy collaboration, enhancing people-to-people contact and funding mechanism. “Global scenario has been changing very fast resulting in new dynamics in every sphere. We have to match the new dynamics and the current reality through three-pronged cooperation- bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally,” she said. “Our cooperation in BIMSTEC forum can be expanded through creation of free trade area, investment and energy collaboration, enhancing people-to-people contact and funding mechanism,” she said in her statement in the inaugural session of the 4th BIMSTEC Summit at Hotel Swaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu on Thursday. Reports BSS. The Summit is being held with the theme- “Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous and Sustainable Bay of Bengal Region”. Prime Minister of Nepal and chairperson of the 4th BIMSTEC Summit K. P. Sharma Oli, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Adviser (head of interim government) of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Wangchuk and other BIMSTEC leaders addressed the session. Sheikh Hasina said BIMSTEC has achieved a few modest successes during the past 21 years of its existence. “However, a huge task remains ahead of us,” she added. “We need to consolidate fundamental legal frameworks to carry forward the substantive engagements in our cooperation to produce visible results,” she said. Sheikh Hasina said the Special BIMSTEC Retreat in Goa, in 2016, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Norendra Modi, was an important step forward. Some of the decisions of the 16-point Agenda of Action adopted in Goa have been executed while many are yet to be realized. Sheikh Hasina expressed pleasure for bilateral arrangement of electricity grid connection among some BIMSTEC countries, saying that with the participation of others, this can be turned into a BIMSTEC Electricity Grid. To achieve an early dividend from the BIMSTEC, Sheikh Hasina proposed categorizing 14 sectors into several clusters to make them more synergized, focused and implementable. “Trade, investment, connectivity, science and technology, energy, poverty alleviation and agriculture sectors that directly add economic and social benefits for the people may be categorized under one cluster called “Sustainable Development”, she said. “Security, counter-terrorism, climate change and disaster management that protect and promote our prosperity may be placed under another cluster called “Security and Stability”. Culture and public health that facilitate and influence progress and prosperity may be placed under the 3rd cluster called “People to People Contact”, she said. In the same light, she suggested reviewing the scope and structure of BIMSTEC in view of the evolving political and economic scenario. Sheikh Hasina thanked the government of Nepal for their support in carrying forward the BIMSTEC during the last four and a half years. The premier said Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman first dreamt of regional economic and social progress in South Asia. Since then, regional cooperation has been an integral component of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Terming BIMSTEC a potentially dynamic region in the world, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh attaches high importance to regional cooperation through BIMSTEC. Hosting of the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka is a manifestation of the full commitment of Bangladesh to the BIMSTEC forum, she said. Sheikh Hasina said with 1.5 billion people comprising almost 22% of global population, the BIMSTEC has a huge scope of expansion of intra-trade. “We have to utilize the potentials that much of which remain still untapped,” she said. Pointing out the significant economic and social progress of Bangladesh over the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said the UN Secretary General, during his recent visit to Bangladesh, termed Bangladesh as an economic miracle. Sheikh Hasina said earlier this year, Bangladesh qualified to graduate from the LDCs while the per capita GDP reached USD 1,752 this fiscal year from USD 543 in 2006. She said poverty rate in Bangladesh has dropped to 21 percent in 2018 from 41.5 percent in 2006. The World Bank ranks Bangladesh as the 43rd largest economy in the world in terms of GDP and the 32nd in terms of Purchasing Power Parity. Price Waterhouse Coopers also projected Bangladesh as the 23rd largest economy by 2050. Bangladesh is committed to pursuing all means of domestic, bilateral, regional and international cooperation in transforming it to a middle income country by the year 2021 and a developed one by the year 2041, the Prime Minister said. Sheikh Hasina said development is dependent on peace and stability. So, Bangladesh has been pursuing a policy of inclusive development with the conviction to address hunger and poverty, illiteracy and inequality to build a stable, just and a sustainable society. Sheikh Hasina said poverty, climate change and terrorism, among others, remain some of the country’s common enemies. As the lead country in climate change, we have initiated adaptation and mitigation programs. Reiterating her government’s “zero tolerance” policy in addressing terrorism, the prime minister said her government is working hard to eradicate the militancy and terrorism in all its manifestations. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh had hosted early this year the 2nd BIMSTEC Security Chief’s Meeting in Dhaka. “As the lead country for trade and investment, we have been pursuing promotion of meaningful engagements and cooperation,” she added. AH