Author: Yusara Askari

“A welcome sound for Beijing”: Is China the new president of the Maldives?
Asia

“A welcome sound for Beijing”: Is China the new president of the Maldives?

Mohamed Muizzu’s election win is a setback for India, a boost for China and a sign of tensions in the Indian Ocean region, say analysts. The Maldives has a population of half a million people scattered across more than 1,000 islands. But last weekend, the picturesque archipelago delivered an electoral verdict that has sent shock waves around the world — and especially across the Indian Ocean region. Mohamed Muizzu, the opposition candidate, emerged victorious in the presidential run-off on Saturday and secured 54 percent of the vote, results released by the electoral commission showed. Muizzu, who backs closer ties between the Maldives and China, defeated the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is widely perceived as pro-India. “With today’s result, we have got the
China advises India that certain concerns shouldn’t define relationships.
World

China advises India that certain concerns shouldn’t define relationships.

Beijing's senior diplomat Wang Yi warned Indonesian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar that "specific issues" shouldn't "define the overall relationship" in Jakarta, reflecting ongoing disparities between how India and China approach advancing relations. Mr. Jaishankar said that during Friday's discussions, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed were conducted at India's request in a statement on Saturday, both parties "discussed outstanding issues related to peace & tranquillity in border areas." The Minister sent a statement on Twitter stating, "Our conversation also covered EAS/ARF [ASEAN Regional Forum] agenda, BRICS and the Indo-Pacific." Additionally, Mr. Jaishankar had emphasized the significance of peace on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as a prerequisite for ...
Is President Xi Jinping a dictator? Unfortunately, President Joe Biden is right
China, Politics

Is President Xi Jinping a dictator? Unfortunately, President Joe Biden is right

China has taken umbrage at U.S. President Joe Biden calling President of China Xi Jinping a dictator. Unfortunately for Beijing, however, the U.S. President is right. At a fundraiser campaign on June 20, 2023, night, Joe Biden said Xi was embarrassed over recent tensions surrounding a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had been shot down by the U.S. Air Force over the East Coast. “That’s a great embarrassment for dictators, when they did not know what had happened,” Biden commented. The next day Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning called the comment by the U.S. President “extremely absurd and irresponsible,” as it went “totally against facts.” President Biden has subsequently made it clear that he will continue to stick to his opinion, though that does not mean souring relat
[All Politics is International] Bhutan Caught in the Great ‘Five Fingers’ Of China
Asia, China, Politics

[All Politics is International] Bhutan Caught in the Great ‘Five Fingers’ Of China

Tibet is the palm, which we must seize, stated Mao Zedong. Next, we'll pursue the five fingers. After Nepal, Bhutan is the third "finger".With the recent remarks made by the prime minister of Bhutan, Lotay Tshering, to Belgian Daily La Libre, the territorial and boundary-related difficulties between Bhutan, China, and India were exacerbated. Since then, concerns have been voiced over whether Bhutan is changing its stance. This is particularly true in light of how Thimphu has approached Beijing over the matter. Evidently, Bhutan's position has changed in light of Tshering's assertion that China "holds a stake in finding a resolution" to the territorial issue. China has recently made clear moves to assert new, rash claims in Bhutan's eastern region. Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian state, is...
Nato Plus alarmed over China wants India on board
World

Nato Plus alarmed over China wants India on board

Fathoming the ever-growing geo-political importance of India, a strong US Congressional China committee has suggested making India a part of NATO Plus group. Nato Plus, or Nato Plus 5, comprises 5 aligned nations – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea – that aim to empower global defence cooperation. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, pushed hard for India’s inclusion to NATO Plus in order counter China’s supremacy in trade circles and enhance Taiwan’s deterrence. "Winning the strategic competition with the Chinese Communist Party and ensuring the security of Taiwan demands the United States strengthen ties to
<em><u>China will update its senior legislator code of conduct</u></em>
World

China will update its senior legislator code of conduct

A draft revision to the codes of conduct for senior Chinese lawmakers has been submitted to an ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for deliberation. Adopted in 1993, the current version of the codes applies to the chairperson, vice chairpersons, the secretary-general and members of the NPC Standing Committee. With 24 articles, the draft specifies requirements for senior lawmakers in various fields, including maintaining political integrity, keeping close ties with the public, and improving investigation and research. It also requires lawmakers to strengthen their ability to perform duties through continuous study, according to the draft.
<em><u>Zhang Xiaoyu: It’s probably too early to talk about India’s “demographic dividend”</u></em>
World

Zhang Xiaoyu: It’s probably too early to talk about India’s “demographic dividend”

The United Nations recently announced that India will become the most populous country in the world, and its population will reach 1.65 billion in 2060. However, whether India's population growth can be transformed into a demographic dividend will face three structural problems. One is education and training. The education level of India's labour force is generally low. 40% of the labour force are high school graduates, and less than 30% of the labour force has received higher education. The main reason is that the level of education development in India is still relatively backward. The distribution of basic education and preschool education resources in India has been insufficient for a long time, public schools have backward infrastructure and lack of teachers. According to stati...
<em>Top political advisor stresses role of multiparty cooperation in modernization drive</em>
World

Top political advisor stresses role of multiparty cooperation in modernization drive

China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Tuesday called on the country's multiparty cooperation system to further contribute to socialist modernization Wang is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He made the remarks at a meeting marking the 75th anniversary of April 30, 1948, when the CPC Central Committee called on non-communist parties and people without party affiliation to convene a political consultative conference and found a democratic coalition government. Wang noted that the call marked a milestone in the development of a united front and multiparty cooperation in China. Under the strong leade...
According to Minister K Shanmugam, the economies of Hong Kong and Singapore are closely connected.
World

According to Minister K Shanmugam, the economies of Hong Kong and Singapore are closely connected.

Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs and Law says he is ‘bemused’ by suggestions that Hong Kong is in terminal decline Speaking at the Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia in Singapore, Shanmugam added his view was premised on there being no major external disruptions A top Singapore minister on Wednesday sought to dismiss the view that Hong Kong and the Southeast Asian city state were locked in a zero-sum rivalry, saying instead that both economies were “intertwined”.Speaking at the Post’s China Conference: Southeast Asia in Singapore, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam said he was also “bemused” by suggestions that Hong Kong was in terminal decline.“Many of the factors necessary for Hong Kong to continue to succeed are present,” he said.In his 20-minute speech, the
<strong>China’s plans to use Artificial Intelligence for the People’s Liberation Army</strong>
China

China’s plans to use Artificial Intelligence for the People’s Liberation Army

On October 16, 2022, at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CCP), Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a report on behalf of the 19th CCP Central Committee.  An important point in this was regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). According to Xi, expeditiously upgrading the PLA to a ‘world-class’ force is the need of the hour for the country. He mentioned his resolve to speed up the integrated development of the PLA through the means of “mechanization, informatization, and the application of smart technologies”.[1] Indeed, the PLA is aiming to leverage the advanced technology for its application of unmanned weapons and AI. During the 19th Congress in 2017, Xi had mentioned that by 2020, PLA w