Conflict Archives - Page 22 of 23

India confident in standing solo against China in any border dispute: EFSAS

15Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Conflict, Opinion, World

India confident in standing solo against China in any border dispute: EFSAS

A Europe-based think tank that India, post the June 15 Galwan valley clash, has shown the confidence of standing solo against China in any future border dispute.Several negotiations have taken place between India and China since the clashes in Eastern Ladakh. Though they have yielded some results as troops of both countries started pulling back, Chinese troops are still present in the Depsang Plains region, Gogra, and the Fingers region along the Pangong Tso.The European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) said: "In the initial phase of disengagement at Pangong Tso, the Chinese moved back from Finger 4 to Finger 5, but continued with their deployment on the ridge line. India is insisting that China move back from Finger 5 to its old position on the Finger 8 spur. In the face of repe...

What is China’s military aspiration for Gwadar?

11Sep

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Conflict, Opinion, Singapore, World

What is China’s military aspiration for Gwadar?

For a long time, Pakistan’s Gwadar port has long been touted as the site for a Chinese base suitable for People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operations, however, it is not inevitable that Gwadar will become a PLAN base.The Chinese Communist Party pursues a “strategic strongpoint” concept whereby strategically sited foreign ports containing terminals and commercial zones operated by Chinese firms can be used by its military.These “strongpoints” offer the potential for China to form a network of supply, logistics and intelligence hubs, and there is a nascent network along the perimeter of the Indian Ocean.Gwadar is important to Beijing for two reasons. First is establishing direct transport links to the Indian Ocean via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). For this reason, China doe

32 TIFF movies that people who know film want to see

5Sep

By desk teamNo Comments

Business, Conflict, Politics, World

32 TIFF movies that people who know film want to see

For once this pandemic year, that tingling sensation you’re feeling isn’t coming from the fear of COVID-19. It’s the buzz generated by the Toronto International Film Festival, which is defying the virus by going ahead with its Sept. 10 to 19 cinema celebration, albeit in a downsized form that’s more of an online and outdoor event. Which means it’s time for the 20th anniversary edition of “Chasing the Buzz,” the Star’s annual dive into the hive of pre-TIFF anticipation, taken from a poll of film critics, writers, programmers and scholars. This year, antennae are seriously twitching for “One Night in Miami,” the top pick with five votes and the feature directing debut of Oscar-winning actress Regina King. It dramatically imagines what might have happened had 1960s icons Muhammad Ali, Malc

Afghan council frees Taliban prisoners to set up peace talks

5Sep

By desk teamNo Comments

Conflict, World

Afghan council frees Taliban prisoners to set up peace talks

KABUL - A traditional Afghan council concluded Sunday with hundreds of delegates agreeing to free 400 Taliban members, paving the way for an early start to negotiations between Afghanistan’s warring sides. The declaration calls for an immediate start to negotiations and a cease-fire. The move looks to bring the United States a little closer to bringing home its troops and ending its longest military engagement. No date has been set for the release, but negotiations between Kabul’s political leadership and the Taliban are expected to begin as early as next week, and will most likely be held in the Mideast state of Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. These Afghan negotiations were laid out in a peace deal signed by the U.S. and the Taliban in February. At the time of its

Taiwan’s Marine force sent to Dongsha Islands to counter China’s plans

30Aug

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Conflict

Taiwan’s Marine force sent to Dongsha Islands to counter China’s plans

In order to counter China’s expansionist policies, Taiwan has dispatched its military to Dongsha Islands which Beijing is planning to invade, according to reports.On August 3, People's Liberation Army (PLA) National Defense University professor Li Daguang was quoted as saying that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will stage a landing exercise on China's Hainan Island to simulate an invasion of the Dongsha Islands.Although Li later denied this, claiming he had instead been referring to an article published earlier by Kyodo News.Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has been on alert since reports surfaced in May saying the PLA is planning such a mock invasion, with China’s state-run mouthpiece the Global Times warning that it could become a real invasion.CommonWealth Magazine

The coming India–China conflict and a higher calling for India

2Aug

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Conflict, Opinion

The coming India–China conflict and a higher calling for India

On July 3, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the border region of Ladakh for the first time since Chinese troops killed 20 Indian soldiers in the Galvan Valley on June 15. And judging by China’s official reaction, the Communist Party didn’t see Modi’s response coming.Modi showed support for his troops, and also tapped into the growing anti-China sentiment that has been provoked by Beijing’s coronavirus-era brazenness. His visit placed the fighting in Ladakh in the broader context of China’s global expansionism. Speaking in Leh, Modi directly admonished Beijing for its expansionist policies.“The age of expansionism is over, this is the age of development,” he said. “History knows that expansionist forces have either lost or were forced to turn back.”Instead of calling out China’s

China pushing territorial claims during pandemic, alleges Japan

23Jul

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Conflict

China pushing territorial claims during pandemic, alleges Japan

In its annual defense review, Japan has accused China of Taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic and push its territorial claims in the East China Sea.China “is continuing to attempt to alter the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea,” Japan said in the defense white paper approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government on July 14.The report further said that there have been "relentless" intrusions in the areas around the Senkaku islands as called by Japan or Diaoyu in China.Besides, in recent days, China has been asserting its claims in the South China Sea by establishing administrative districts around disputed islands while the neighbouring countries have been busy with dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.Chinese intrusions in the South China Sea have not only be

Hong Kong Journalists’ Association get slammed by Beijing for inciting sedition

19Jul

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Conflict

Hong Kong Journalists’ Association get slammed by Beijing for inciting sedition

The Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) has been slammed for supporting "violence, terrorist attacks and inciting sedition" by the Beijing authorities shortly after it released its annual press freedom report titled 'Freedom in Danger'."The law itself has overriding power so that means in the name of national security... virtually all protections to free speech and free press are meaningless...I think the present situation now is that you're OK until you're not OK. When they think you're not OK, then you'll be in trouble," the HKJA was quoted saying during the launch of the report. Stanley Ng Chau-pei, deputy to the National People's Congress in Beijing and President of the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, in his Facebook account said, "For the past year, HKJA has su

SE Asian countries must keep eye on China’s Bihai 2020 before it turns into source of conflict, says expert

16Jul

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Asia, Conflict

SE Asian countries must keep eye on China’s Bihai 2020 before it turns into source of conflict, says expert

China might be using the “Bihai 2020” initiative as another justification for the increased presence of Chinese law enforcement vessels in the disputed South China Sea, an expert has warned."Is the Bihai 2020 initiative as innocent as it seems? On the surface, the initiative appears to be solely aimed at enhancing marine environmental protection. However, as noted in the joint statement, law enforcement activities conducted under the initiative would involve coastal and sea patrols, as well as remote monitoring capabilities," YingHui Lee, an Associate Research Fellow with the Maritime Security Programme, at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University Singapore has said.He added, "This presents a worrying possibility that the initiative could b

China’s aggressive expansion of territorial claims may provoke future clash with US

8Jul

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Conflict

China’s aggressive expansion of territorial claims may provoke future clash with US

By pressing its territorial claims aggressively from the Himalayas to the South China Sea, China may be raising possibilities of additional deadly clashes with the United States in the near future.China's military encroached upon its neighbours' territories on several fronts throughout the spring and now into summer, Beijing is flexing its military might in ways that have raised alarms across Asia and in Washington.For instance, in the same week of an escalating clash with Indian soldiers in Eastern Ladakh, China sent one of its submarines into the waters near Japan. Chinese fighter jets and at least one bomber buzzed Taiwan's territorial airspace almost daily.China's military assertiveness reflects a growing sense of confidence and capability, but also one of confrontation, particularly w...