#2020 China–India skirmishes

[mariacallous]

Five years since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its autonomous status, the central government’s iron-fisted approach to the region has left it more vulnerable to regional and geopolitical threats.

While Kashmir Valley, which has withstood the brunt of armed insurgency since 1989, continues to simmer with militancy-related violence, the theater of terrorism has now extended into the otherwise peaceful province of Jammu. Since 2019, at least 262 soldiers and 171 civilians have died in more than 690 incidents, including the February 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack. The unsustainable and disproportionate loss of lives underscores the risks to both regional stability and India’s national security.

In 2019, the Modi government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution, which granted the state of Jammu and Kashmir its special status, annihilating the contested region’s symbolic autonomy. Concurrently, the central government also imposed an indefinite curfew in the region and used internet shutdowns and arrests to control and suppress the local population. The result was a transformed landscape. Already scarred by militarization, Kashmir became enmeshed in barbed wire.

This undemocratic exercise, though later stamped and endorsed by India’s Supreme Court, has since spurred further legal changes. For example, the local population no longer has access to exclusive protections that previously allowed only permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir to apply for government jobs and buy property in the state.

In March 2020, the government repealed 12 and amended 14 land-related laws, introducing a clause that paved the way for a development authority to confiscate land and another that allowed high-ranking army officials to declare a local area as strategically important.

Local residents are appalled at the ease with which government agencies can now seize both residential and agricultural lands in the name of development and security—enabling mass evictions and the bulldozing of houses that are disproportionately affecting Muslim communities and small landowners.

Meanwhile, the ecological fallout from introducing massive road and railway networks, coupled with the addition of mega hydroelectricity projects, is polluting riverbeds and causing villages to sink. Since 2019, there has been a lack of local representation which could act as a buffer against massive development projects, most of which now fall under New Delhi’s governance. Meanwhile, the region’s unemployment rate, as of 2023, remains high at above 18 percent, as compared to the national average of 8 percent.

Over the last few years, the Modi government has also squashed dissent in the region by redirecting the military to maintain surveillance and control of the civilian population. According to the Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir, over 2,700 people were arrested in the region between 2020 and 2023 under India’s contentious Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Public Safety Act. Those arrested include journalists like Fahad Shah and Sajad Gul, human rights defenders like Khurram Pervez, and prominent lawyers like Mian Qayoom and Nazir Ronga.

Modi’s repressive policies have deepened the trust deficit between Kashmiris and the Indian government. The top-down administration has further sidelined local bureaucrats and police officers, further widening the gap between the central government and local ground realities.

All of this has not only pushed the local population into distress, but also jeopardized India’s already fragile relations with its two nuclear neighbors, Pakistan and China.

The Kashmir conflict, rooted in the 1947 partition of India, has led to three major wars and several military skirmishes between India, Pakistan, and China. And though the region has always been contentious—India controls more than half of the total land, while Pakistan controls 30 percent, and China holds the remaining 15 percent in the northeast region near Ladakh—Modi’s aggressive handling has further provoked its neighbors.

Following the revocation of Article 370, the region was split into two separate union territories—Jammu and Kashmir forming one and Ladakh forming another, with both falling under the central government’s control.

This redrawing of the region’s internal borders, which signaled New Delhi’s assertions of reclaiming the Chinese-occupied territory near Ladakh—as well as India’s increasing tilt towards the United States—resulted in a deadly clash between India and China in 2020 and another one in 2022. Despite diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions over the disputed Himalayan border, New Delhi has accused Beijing of carrying out “inch by inch” land grabs in Ladakh since 2020.

Meanwhile, Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been rocked by mass protests of its own this year, owing to the country’s political and economic crisis, exacerbated in part by the abrogation of Article 370. Those living in Pakistan-administered Kashmir fear that Pakistan may similarly try to dilute the autonomy of the region.

With refugees flooding in from Afghanistan on its west amidst Imran Khan’s standoff with the Pakistani Army, Islamabad has been on edge and looking for diversionary tactics. The deepening of Pakistani-Chinese relations, including military ties, has contributed to a volatile mix.

But Kashmir’s vulnerability has worsened partly because of India’s own tactical blunders, too. The last decade witnessed a spurt in home-grown militancy, but since 2019 the landscape has been dominated by well-trained militants from across the Pakistani border who have access to sophisticated weapons and technology.

Indian security forces, including paramilitaries and the local police, have turned a blind eye to these emerging threats, especially in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch along the border with Pakistan. It is in this area that the impact of terror attacks has been most felt.

The region is home to the nomadic Gujjar-Bakerwal communities and the ethnolinguistic Paharis. These groups are parts of divided families straddling the India-Pakistan border, and this shared cultural linkage between the Indian and Pakistani sides has been weaponized in the past by intelligence networks of both countries.

The Indian armed forces have historically relied on the Gujjar-Bakerwal communities for intelligence gathering in part because of their nomadic lives and deep knowledge of the region’s topography. However, since 2019, the evictions of nomads from forest lands, following the amendment of several land-related laws, as well as affirmative actions for Paharis, a rival ethnic group, have led to the disenchantment of the Gujjar-Bakerwals—and an eventual loss of traditional intelligence assets for India.

Another blunder has been the redeployment of troops from Jammu to the border with China in the northeast, following China’s incursions in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in 2020. This has left Jammu dangerously exposed to militants who have been infiltrating the region from across the line of control on the western side and carrying out their operations with a fair degree of success.

In 2024 alone, Jammu has witnessed numerous attacks which have resulted in the deaths of 16 soldiers and 12 civilians. In June, for example, the region experienced one of its deadliest attacks when militants opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing nine and injuring over 30.

Kashmir’s internal politics has the potential to spill over and push the region into disaster. While India has made some significant strides in international diplomacy under Modi, it tends to neglect the neighborhood where the risks to India’s national security remain the highest. Its diplomatic engagement with China comes in fits and starts but diplomacy with Pakistan remains nonexistent, despite the resumption of a ceasefire in 2021. And while India considers the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status an internal matter, Pakistan sees it as a provocation. All in all, there is a dangerous lack of engagement between the two nuclear rivals in South Asia.

In theory, the ongoing regional elections in Jammu and Kashmir provide a glimmer of opportunity for the people to choose their own local government for the first time in a decade. However, irrespective of who wins the elections, the local leaders will lack the power to enact meaningful change, given that the region remains under the control of New Delhi following its demotion from a state to two union territories.

For instance, Ladakh does not have a legislative assembly, and while Jammu and Kashmir have an elected assembly, the real powers are vested in the hands of a governor, who was appointed to lead the region by the Modi-led central government. As recently as July, the Indian government ruled to further expand the governor’s oversight powers, delivering a blow to local politicians and voters.

Much more needs to be done to change the status quo. Though it remains unlikely, New Delhi must consider meaningful solutions that could assuage some of the political wounds inflicted by the complete erosion of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, including, for example, the restoration of statehood to the region. In order to win back the trust of Kashmiris, the Indian government must reinstate civil liberties and deliver on its promise to provide economic development and jobs.

To improve the region’s safety, Indian agencies must acknowledge their security lapses and repair their broken intelligence networks. And while the Indian security forces must not lower their guard against terrorist activities, terrorism should not be proffered as an excuse when it comes to the normalization of relations in the neighborhood.

Neither Pakistan, nor India can afford the war which is looming over their heads. Diplomatic negotiations, including over Kashmir, must begin with a sense of urgency.

[stevecarell600]

Smart Weapons Market Size, Share, Competition and Growth Drivers by 2032

The global smart weapons market size is expected to experience significant growth by reaching USD 45.24 billion by 2032 while exhibiting a CAGR of 10.61% between 2024 and 2032. According to the information published by Fortune Business Insights in its latest report, titled, “Smart Weapons Market, 2024-2032.”, the market stood at USD 20.20 billion in 2024 and is likely to gain momentum in the forthcoming years. This is attributable to the increasing adoption of network enabled weapons and the growing demand for precision weapons across the globe.

Informational Source:

Although the global pandemic has led to an unprecedented loss, the defense sector is slowly picking up the pace by adhering to the stringent regulations of social distancing imposed by the government agencies and the resumption of sensitive operational drills. The increasing focus on upgrading the military by countries globally is likely to favor the growth of the market in the near future.

Market Segmentation:

Based on product, the global market for smart weapons is divided into Missiles, Munitions, Guided Projectile, Guided Rocket, and Directed Energy Weapons. On the basis of platform, the market is segregated into Air, Land, and Naval. Based on technology, the market is categorized into Laser Guidance, Infrared Guidance, Radar Guidance, Satellite Guidance, and Others. Lastly, on the basis of region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World.

What does the Report Include?

The global market for smart weapons report includes in-depth analysis of several factors such as the key drivers and restraints that will impact growth. Additionally, the report provides insights into the regional analysis that covers different regions, which are contributing to the growth of the market. It includes the competitive landscape that involves the leading companies and the adoption of strategies by them to introduce new products, announce partnerships, and collaboration that will further contribute to the market growth in the forthcoming years. Moreover, the research analyst has adopted several research methodologies to obtain information about the current trends and industry developments that will drive the market growth during the forecast period.

List of the Companies Profiled in the Global Market:

BAE Systems (The U.K)

Lockheed Martin Corporation (The U.S.)

Thales Group (France)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (The U.S.)

General Dynamics Corporation (The U.S.)

Raytheon Company, a Raytheon Technologies company (The U.S.)

MBDA (France)

Boeing (The U.S.)

Textron Inc. (The U.S.)

Rheinmetall AG (Germany)

DRIVING FACTORS

Increasing Demand for Precision Weapons to Promote Growth

The increasing number of cross border issues and the rising geopolitical conflicts has propelled the countries globally to modernize their defense systems. According to the United Nations, there were several skirmishes involving countries such as Iran-US hostility, escalation in Arab World due to Syrian War, India-China border conflict, and Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflicts, among others. Therefore, the growing external threats have propelled the demand for smart precision weapons across the globe. Moreover, the increasing adoption of network enabled weapons that possess the ability to track and engage a target at an astonishingly brisk pace is expected to contribute to the global smart weapons market growth during the forecast period.

Further Report Findings:

North America is expected to remain dominant and hold the largest global smart weapons market share during the forecast period. This dominance is attributable to the growing number of military modernization programs in countries such as the U.S. in the region. North America stood at USD 5.79 billion in 2020.

The market in Europe is expected to showcase substantial growth backed by the presence of prominent companies such as BAE Systems, Thales Group, and Rheinmetall AG. In September 2019, BAE Systems signed a contract with the U.S. and nine other countries to provide a semi-guided missile weapons system. The contract that runs till 2025 is expected to be worth USD 2,680 million. Moreover, this is likely to boost the company’s position in the global market for smart weapons between 2021 and 2028.

Based on product, the missiles segment is projected to experience exponential growth in the forthcoming years. This is ascribable to factors such as the surging demand for advanced guided missiles across the defense sector worldwide.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Contract Signing by Eminent Companies to Intensify Industry Competition

The market is fragmented by the presence of major companies that are striving to maintain their presence by signing lucrative contracts with government agencies and other companies in a bid to expand their advanced smart weapons portfolio. Moreover, other key players are adopting strategies such as the introduction of new products, facility expansion, and collaboration that will bode well for the market growth in the forthcoming years.

Industry Development:

February 2021 – Lockheed Martin Corporation secured a contract from the U.S. Navy and Air Force that involves the deployment of LRASM, an anti-ship, precision-guided standoff missile. According to the company, the contract is worth USD 414 million and is expected to strengthen its position in the global market.

[latestnews69]

The ghosts of India's TikTok: What happens when a social media app is banned

TikTok was one of India's most popular apps – until it was banned in 2020. It's a lesson for what might unfold if a US ban goes ahead.

Four years ago, India was TikTok's biggest market. The app boasted a growing base of 200 million users, thriving subcultures and sometimes life-changing opportunities for creators and influencers. TikTok seemed unstoppable – until simmering tensions on the border between India and China erupted into deadly violence.

After the border skirmish, the Indian government banned the app on 29 June 2020. Almost overnight, TikTok was gone. But the accounts and videos of Indian TikTok are still online, frozen in time when the app had just emerged as a cultural giant.

In some ways, it could offer a preview of what might lie on the horizon in the United States. In April, 2024 President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that could ultimately ban TikTok from the US, marking a new chapter after years of threats and failed legislation. The law requires the company that owns TikTok, ByteDance, to sell its stake in the app within the next nine months, with a further three-month grace period, or face a potential ban in the country. ByteDance says it has no intention of selling the social media platform, but on 6 December, a US federal appeals court rejected the company's bid to overturn the law. The platform is set to become unavailable on 29 January, though some observers expect the case will make it to the Supreme Court, the highest authority in the US.

Banning a massive social media app would be an unprecedented moment in American tech history, though the looming court battle currently leaves TikTok's fate uncertain. But the Indian experience shows what can happen when a major country wipes TikTok from its citizen's smartphones. India is not the only country to have taken the step either – in November 2023, Nepal also announced a decision to ban TikTok and Pakistan has implemented a number of temporary bans since 2020. As the app's 150 million US users swipe through videos in limbo, the story of India’s TikTok ban shows that users are quick to adapt, but also that when TikTok dies, much of its culture dies with it Read more...

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Ashok Kantha, a retired diplomat and former Indian Ambassador to China, has raised concerns about a recent Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement regarding the India-China border situation. He suggests that the MEA’s readout on the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) meeting contradicts what External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in Parliament just days earlier. In a multi-part post on X, Kantha has essayed how the Working Mechanism – WMCC – meeting’s official version gives rise to apprehensions of India losing control of the situation at the Line of Actual Control with China in eastern Ladakh. The indented portion’s are Kantha’s posts, edited slightly for clarity. 1/n Intrigued by MEA readout on India-China WMCC: both sides have “positively affirmed” that implementation of disengagement agreement has “completed the resolution of the issues that emerged in 2020”. This contradicts @DrSJaishankar statement in Parliament on 3 Dec. My doubts: pic.twitter.com/o9QKPlyHrm — ashokkantha (@ashokkkantha) December 6, 2024 “Intrigued by [the] MEA readout on India-China WMCC: both sides have “positively affirmed” that implementation of disengagement agreement has “completed the resolution of the issues that emerged in 2020”. This contradicts [S. Jaishankar’s] statement in Parliament on 3 Dec. My doubts: “[Jaishankar] noted that talks will now shift to “de-escalation as well as effective management of our activities in the border areas”, issues which emerged in 2020. There is continuing entrenched deployment of troops with heavy weapons. Does this become “new normal”? In May 2020 a military standoff between the India and Chinese forces led to a June skirmish at Galwan Valley, leading to the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers. “[Jaishankar] referred to “steps of a temporary and limited nature” in several pockets of Chinese intrusions. This reportedly involves denial of patrolling by Indian troops and grazing by Indian graziers in areas they were accessing until April 2020. Another “new normal”? The foreign minister stated in parliament that the disengagement measures at four friction points were implemented to prevent further friction, describing them as “temporary” and open to being “revisited,” though he did not specify the conditions for such a review. EAM Jaishankar was following up on an announcement by India in October 21, that a “patrolling agreement” had been finalised between the two neighbours. “Army Chief on 23 October: “We want to go back to status quo of April 2020”. Is this requirement of restoration of status quo ante no longer an issue (though stemming from Chinese intrusions of 2020) which remains to be addressed, despite its territorial implications? “This categorical conclusion in MEA statement that ���all issues that emerged in 2020” have been resolved is baffling to someone who was a border negotiator with China for nearly a decade. Clearly, I am out of touch with “new normal”. “Finding it difficult to shake off apprehensions that this premature declaration of victory, a la Doklam, will have serious implications. Humble advice: Let SRs address these and other unresolved issues as part of border peace & tranquility mandate given to them at Kazan. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Ashok Kantha, a retired diplomat and former Indian Ambassador to China, has raised concerns about a recent Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement regarding the India-China border situation. He suggests that the MEA’s readout on the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) meeting contradicts what External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in Parliament just days earlier. In a multi-part post on X, Kantha has essayed how the Working Mechanism – WMCC – meeting’s official version gives rise to apprehensions of India losing control of the situation at the Line of Actual Control with China in eastern Ladakh. The indented portion’s are Kantha’s posts, edited slightly for clarity. 1/n Intrigued by MEA readout on India-China WMCC: both sides have “positively affirmed” that implementation of disengagement agreement has “completed the resolution of the issues that emerged in 2020”. This contradicts @DrSJaishankar statement in Parliament on 3 Dec. My doubts: pic.twitter.com/o9QKPlyHrm — ashokkantha (@ashokkkantha) December 6, 2024 “Intrigued by [the] MEA readout on India-China WMCC: both sides have “positively affirmed” that implementation of disengagement agreement has “completed the resolution of the issues that emerged in 2020”. This contradicts [S. Jaishankar’s] statement in Parliament on 3 Dec. My doubts: “[Jaishankar] noted that talks will now shift to “de-escalation as well as effective management of our activities in the border areas”, issues which emerged in 2020. There is continuing entrenched deployment of troops with heavy weapons. Does this become “new normal”? In May 2020 a military standoff between the India and Chinese forces led to a June skirmish at Galwan Valley, leading to the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers. “[Jaishankar] referred to “steps of a temporary and limited nature” in several pockets of Chinese intrusions. This reportedly involves denial of patrolling by Indian troops and grazing by Indian graziers in areas they were accessing until April 2020. Another “new normal”? The foreign minister stated in parliament that the disengagement measures at four friction points were implemented to prevent further friction, describing them as “temporary” and open to being “revisited,” though he did not specify the conditions for such a review. EAM Jaishankar was following up on an announcement by India in October 21, that a “patrolling agreement” had been finalised between the two neighbours. “Army Chief on 23 October: “We want to go back to status quo of April 2020”. Is this requirement of restoration of status quo ante no longer an issue (though stemming from Chinese intrusions of 2020) which remains to be addressed, despite its territorial implications? “This categorical conclusion in MEA statement that “all issues that emerged in 2020” have been resolved is baffling to someone who was a border negotiator with China for nearly a decade. Clearly, I am out of touch with “new normal”. “Finding it difficult to shake off apprehensions that this premature declaration of victory, a la Doklam, will have serious implications. Humble advice: Let SRs address these and other unresolved issues as part of border peace & tranquility mandate given to them at Kazan. [ad_2] Source link

[andronetalks]

China's Xi & India's Modi Cement Border Peace Deal After Years Of Friction

Zero Hedge BY TYLER DURDENWEDNESDAY, OCT 23, 2024 – 11:00 PM The India-China troop clash of 2020 along the largely unmarked frontier of Ladakh in a disputed border area in the Western Himalayas resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers. It was the deadliest border incident between the two nuclear-armed nations in memory. Since then, other more minor skirmishes and tense…

[jobaaj]

🚨𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬🚨 𝐋𝐀𝐂 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥??😮 🤔 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?! ✨ There's been a 𝑚𝑎𝑗𝑜𝑟 shift in Indo-Chinese relations! ✨ 📍 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 (𝐋𝐀𝐂) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞! 🕊️ 💬 According to the latest statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), 🇮🇳 & 🇨🇳 have 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 on new 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 along the LAC after extensive negotiations! 🤝✨ 🧐𝐖𝐡𝐲? - To resolve a 4-year-long border dispute. - The standoff began in 2020 when skirmishes on Pangong Lake and Galwan Valley between troops resulted in casualties on both sides. - That spiked regional tensions and worsened ties between both countries for over 4 years! - According to EAM Jaishankar, India and China have completed the disengagement process and the situation has now returned to what it was before May 2020!! 😲𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲: - Experts believe India should be careful. - China has yet to release its statement and considering its imperialistic and land-grabbing habits, India must stay vigilant. - While some progress has been made in Eastern Ladakh, the situation in Arunachal Pradesh remains dire. ❓𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕? Follow Jobaaj Stories (the media arm of Jobaaj.com Group for more)

For more updates and insightful stories like this one, follow Jobaaj Stories, the media arm of the Jobaaj Group. We’re dedicated to informing, educating, and inspiring young professionals and students with stories that truly matter. 🌟

[tfgadgets]

LAC Patrolling Pact Leading To Disengagement

The breakthrough came ahead of the BRICS meeting to be held in Russia New Delhi: India and China have arrived on a patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas, and it can lead to disengagement and resolution of tension that began with skirmishes in May 2020, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said today. The breakthrough came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s…

[code-of-conflict]

The Future of AI and Conflict: Scenarios for India-China Relations

Introduction: AI at the Center of India-China Dynamics

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, it is reshaping the geopolitical landscape, particularly in the context of India-China relations. AI offers both unprecedented opportunities for peace and collaboration, as well as heightened risks of conflict. The trajectory of the relationship between these two Asian powers—already marked by border tensions, economic competition, and geopolitical rivalry—could be significantly influenced by their respective advancements in AI. This post explores possible future scenarios where AI could either deepen hostilities or become a cornerstone of peacebuilding between India and China.

Scenario 1: AI as a Tool for Escalating Conflict

In one possible trajectory, AI advancements exacerbate existing tensions between India and China, leading to an arms race in AI-driven military technology. China’s rapid progress in developing AI-enhanced autonomous weaponry, surveillance systems, and cyber capabilities positions it as a formidable military power. If unchecked, this could lead to destabilization in the region, particularly along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC). China’s integration of AI into military-civil fusion policies underscores its strategy to use AI across both civilian and military sectors, raising concerns in India and beyond​.

India, in response, may feel compelled to accelerate its own AI-driven defense strategies, potentially leading to an arms race. Although India has made strides in AI research and development, it lacks the scale and speed of China’s AI initiatives. An intensification of AI-related militarization could further deepen the divide between the two nations, reducing opportunities for diplomacy and increasing the risk of miscalculation. Autonomous weapons systems, in particular, could make conflicts more likely, as AI systems operate at speeds beyond human control, leading to unintended escalations.

Scenario 2: AI and Cybersecurity Tensions

Another potential area of conflict lies in the realm of AI-enhanced cyber warfare. China has already demonstrated its capabilities in offensive cyber operations, which have included espionage and cyberattacks on India’s critical infrastructure​. The most notable incidents include cyberattacks during the 2020 border standoff, which targeted Indian power grids and government systems. AI can significantly enhance the efficiency and scale of such attacks, making critical infrastructure more vulnerable to disruption.

In the absence of effective AI-based defenses, India’s cybersecurity could be a significant point of vulnerability, further fueling distrust between the two nations. AI could also be used for disinformation campaigns and psychological warfare, with the potential to manipulate public opinion and destabilize political systems in both countries. In this scenario, AI becomes a double-edged sword, increasing not only the technological capabilities of both nations but also the likelihood of conflict erupting in cyberspace​.

Scenario 3: AI as a Catalyst for Diplomatic Cooperation

However, AI also holds the potential to be a catalyst for peace if both India and China recognize the mutual benefits of collaboration. AI can be harnessed to improve conflict prevention through early warning systems that monitor border activities and detect escalations before they spiral out of control. By developing shared AI-driven monitoring platforms, both nations could enhance transparency along contested borders like the LAC, reducing the chances of accidental skirmishes​.

Moreover, AI can facilitate dialogue on broader issues like disaster management and environmental protection, areas where both India and China share common interests. Climate change, for instance, poses a significant threat to both countries, and AI-driven solutions can help manage water resources, predict natural disasters, and optimize agricultural productivity. A collaborative framework for AI in these non-military domains could serve as a confidence-building measure, paving the way for deeper cooperation on security issues​.

Scenario 4: AI Governance and the Path to Peace

A more optimistic scenario involves India and China working together to establish international norms and governance frameworks for the ethical use of AI. Both nations are increasingly involved in global AI governance discussions, though their approaches differ. China, while focusing on strategic dominance, is also participating in international forums like the ISO to shape AI standards. India, on the other hand, advocates for responsible and inclusive AI, emphasizing transparency and ethical considerations​.

A shared commitment to creating ethical AI frameworks, particularly in the military sphere, could prevent AI from becoming a destabilizing force. India and China could jointly advocate for global agreements on the regulation of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) and AI-enhanced cyber warfare, reducing the risk of unchecked AI proliferation. By working together on AI governance, both nations could shift the narrative from AI as a tool for conflict to AI as a force for global peace and stability.

Conclusion: The Crossroads of AI and India-China Relations

The future of India-China relations in the AI age is uncertain, with both risks and opportunities on the horizon. While AI could exacerbate existing tensions by fueling an arms race and increasing cyber vulnerabilities, it also offers unprecedented opportunities for conflict prevention and cooperation. The direction that India and China take will depend on their willingness to engage in dialogue, establish trust, and commit to ethical AI governance. As the world stands on the brink of a new era in AI-driven geopolitics, India and China must choose whether AI will divide them further or bring them closer together in pursuit of peace.

[secretstalks]

MGH Group CEO Anis Ahmed: Insufficient Air Freight Capacity Limits Chinese Goods Exports to India

Anis Ahmed, Founder and Group CEO of MGH Group, a prominent freight and logistics firm based in Singapore, has underscored the substantial air cargo potential between India and China. Despite a strong demand from Chinese exporters for the Indian market, the trade dynamics remain skewed. Indian airlines frequently find themselves returning to China with empty cargo holds, as Indian exports to China are minimal compared to Chinese exports to India.

“You can’t change much because Indian exporters aren’t selling to Chinese, but the Chinese love Indians—they sell everything to India,” Ahmed remarked in an interview. MGH Group, which acts as a general sales agent for ocean carriers and airlines and provides comprehensive logistics support, leverages its activities in China to manage air freight shipments into India. The company has formed a strategic alliance with IndiGo, India’s largest airline, to facilitate these shipments.

Ahmed explained that there is a lack of sufficient space for air freight to support online businesses due to the imbalanced trade flow. “India doesn’t send much to China, so when the aircraft return, they are empty,” he said.

Chinese freight carriers such as SF Express and YTO Cargo dominate the freight flight operations from China to India. IndiGo, India’s largest carrier, has recently initiated freighter services between Kolkata and Ezhou, Hubei Province, China. MGH Group utilizes both IndiGo and Chinese freighter companies for cargo transport from China to India.

“IndiGo is our gold standard. We aim to integrate with their network wherever possible. We are establishing service links for agriculture and industry that require faster transport,” Ahmed noted.

The bilateral relationship between India and China has been strained since the deadly skirmishes along the Line of Actual Control in May 2020. India’s Minister for External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has emphasized that normalization of relations with China is contingent upon peace and stability at the border.

Ahmed, who is based in Singapore but originally from Bangladesh, highlighted the need for significant players in the air freight industry to emerge in India to bolster its position in the global supply chain network. He stressed that protecting and developing the Indian supply chain is crucial for the success of the “Made in India” initiative. “I told the honorable secretary of aviation, ‘Sir, you have to protect the Indian supply chain.’ ‘Made in India’ can only be successful if its supply chain is also manufactured in India,” Ahmed said.

He advocated for a gestation period for Indian carriers to achieve profitability, invest in their fleets, and compete fairly with foreign carriers, which currently dominate the air cargo sector.

Ahmed is optimistic about the future of Indian airlines like Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet. “Yes, we work with SpiceJet. We were among the first to take over and manage their cargo business since 2015. We cover all of India and are their global go-to market for all their destinations,” he said.

MGH Group aims to significantly expand its aviation segment, which currently represents 22% of its sales. “We want to double that. We’re just scratching the surface of this billion-dollar industry today. Over the next three to five years, we anticipate an eight- to nine-fold growth in this sector,” Ahmed projected.

The group is betting on India’s expanding airport infrastructure to enhance air freight operations. “We align our goals with the Indian government’s vision,” Ahmed concluded. “When the government announced the UDAN scheme for airport development, we adopted it as a blueprint for the future of Indian aviation, for both passenger and cargo transport.”

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[ebelal56-blog]

Neighbor victimization: India's revealed secrets

Have you ever thought about how complex India’s relationships with its neighbors really are? It’s like a tangled web of history, politics, and strategy. Take the border disputes, for instance. With China, it’s been a long-standing issue, especially in the Himalayas. Remember the Galwan Valley clash in 2020? That really escalated things. And then there’s Pakistan and Kashmir—since 1947, it’s been a rollercoaster of wars and skirmishes. Now, let’s talk about India’s growing influence. While it’s great to see India taking the lead in South Asia, it can sometimes rub neighbors the wrong way. Countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka feel like they’re caught in the middle of a power play, especially with China’s Belt and Road Initiative competing for attention. Building dams over international rivers and not sharing with Bangladesh. And don’t get me started on the strategic alliances with Western powers. They can seem more like a containment strategy than a partnership. All of this creates a perception that India is making more enemies than friends. It’s a delicate balance, and one misstep could tip the scales

[arun-pratap-singh]

Explained | The escalation on the India-China border

Explained | The escalation on the India-China border

The story so far: On December 9, 2022, Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Yangtse area in the Tawang region along the India-China border. The confrontation in Tawang was the most serious skirmish between the two sides since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has found that the skirmish that took place in December was aided by new road…

[wowhealthfitness20]

India and China agree to withdraw from Paigong Lake Area, troops will return to April position | भारत और चीन 3 दिन तक रोज 30% सैनिक वापस बुलाएंगे, पैंगॉन्ग से तीन फेज में होगी सेना की वापसी Hindi News National India And China Agree To Withdraw From Paigong Lake Area, Troops Will Return To April Position…

[indizombie]

Amazon is not only destroying extant jobs, but effectively diverting manufacture to China – a country that just last year killed 20 Indian soldiers. Conveniently, they have avoided disclosing country of origin to customers. They were fined a paltry Rs 75,000 and continue to not display the country of origin of their Amazon branded products on the website and app. Amazon has teamed up with arch rival Flipkart to oppose regulatory action while at the same time, undermining sovereignty by approaching Singapore for arbitration against a counter consolidation by Reliance acquiring Future Group’s retail arms like Big Bazaar and the like.

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, ‘As Amazon Hits India’s Job Market & Small Businesses, Need of the Hour is to Rein in the Corporate Giant’, CNN News18

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] India and China held the 32nd round of diplomatic talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on December 5, 2024, in New Delhi. The discussions were led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A key highlight of the talks was the mutual affirmation of the successful implementation of the latest disengagement agreement, marking significant progress in resolving border tensions that emerged in 2020. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the agreement has “significantly reduced tensions in disputed border areas” and is viewed as a major step towards achieving stability along the India-China border. The meeting also laid the groundwork for the next round of discussions between the Special Representatives of the two nations. This follow-up meeting was agreed upon during the October 23, 2024, summit in Kazan, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Both sides are optimistic that the upcoming talks will reinforce diplomatic efforts and ensure sustained peace in the border regions. India and China share a 3,488-kilometre-long border, much of which remains disputed. Tensions peaked in 2020 following violent clashes in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. The skirmishes prompted an extended period of disengagement talks, culminating in the 2024 agreement, which has been widely regarded as a milestone in de-escalation efforts. Click here for Latest Fact Checked News On NewsMobile WhatsApp Channel For viral videos and Latest trends subscribe to NewsMobile YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] India and China held the 32nd round of diplomatic talks under the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) on December 5, 2024, in New Delhi. The discussions were led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, and Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary & Oceanic Affairs Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A key highlight of the talks was the mutual affirmation of the successful implementation of the latest disengagement agreement, marking significant progress in resolving border tensions that emerged in 2020. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the agreement has “significantly reduced tensions in disputed border areas” and is viewed as a major step towards achieving stability along the India-China border. The meeting also laid the groundwork for the next round of discussions between the Special Representatives of the two nations. This follow-up meeting was agreed upon during the October 23, 2024, summit in Kazan, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Both sides are optimistic that the upcoming talks will reinforce diplomatic efforts and ensure sustained peace in the border regions. India and China share a 3,488-kilometre-long border, much of which remains disputed. Tensions peaked in 2020 following violent clashes in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. The skirmishes prompted an extended period of disengagement talks, culminating in the 2024 agreement, which has been widely regarded as a milestone in de-escalation efforts. Click here for Latest Fact Checked News On NewsMobile WhatsApp Channel For viral videos and Latest trends subscribe to NewsMobile YouTube Channel and Follow us on Instagram [ad_2] Source link