India Observers

  . Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reaffirmed India’s close ties with Russia, telling President Vladimir Putin that the two nations “have always walked shoulder to shoulder even in the most difficult situations.” The remark came after Putin addressed Modi as his “dear friend” and invited him for a ride in his armoured Aurus limousine during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. Modi, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen walking together, exchanging smiles and words through translators. Later, Modi posted a picture on X of himself with Putin inside the Russian leader’s official limousine. At their bilateral meeting, Putin hailed India-Russia ties as “special, friendly and trusting,” describing them as a foundation for future cooperation. Modi highlighted the importance of collaboration in sectors such as trade, fertilisers, space, security, and culture, adding that the partnership is vital for “regional and global stability.” The ...

  President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, commenced his state visit to Asia’s fourth-largest economy, South Korea, today. This significant tour, which also includes a subsequent visit to China, aims to bolster trade, technological exchanges, and strengthen defense and energy collaborations. South Korea: A Strategic Partnership During his two-day visit to Seoul, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will focus on diversifying the UAE’s economy, traditionally reliant on oil, into new sectors. The UAE is currently the second-largest economy in the Middle East and seeks to expand its global economic footprint through strategic partnerships. A senior researcher at Japan’s JIME Center, Institute of Energy Economics, noted, "The primary reason for President Mohamed’s visit to the two countries is to access recent technological advancements and facilitate technology transfers to the UAE from both China and South Korea." President Sheikh Mohamed e...

  Elon Musk recently visited Indonesia and China, where he engaged in significant discussions and events. Notably, he met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali. Musk’s Bali Visit and Starlink Launch At the World Water Forum, Musk met with President Wickremesinghe to discuss the potential implementation of Starlink internet services in Sri Lanka potential implementation of Starlink internet services in Sri Lanka . This meeting underscored Musk's commitment to expanding global connectivity through his innovative satellite-based internet service. During his visit to Bali, Musk inaugurated Starlink services at a community health center. The event, attended by Indonesian government representatives, emphasized the crucial role of internet connectivity in improving healthcare and education in underserved areas. Following this launch, Starlink's coverage now extends to over 17,000 islands in Indonesia. The President's media division a...

  The spotlight is on  China  as 51 countries unite to condemn its treatment of the Uighur population and other Muslim communities at the United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee, dedicated to human rights issues. Accusations include forced labor, cultural assimilation efforts, constant surveillance, family separations, and reports of mental and physical torture. The Uighurs, referring to their homeland as “East Turkestan,” demand more than verbal condemnation — they seek concrete action from the international community. Last year’s UN report raised alarms about Xinjiang, stating that over 1 million people from ethnic minorities, predominantly Uighurs, were forcibly sent to what China terms ‘vocational training centers,’ but critics argue are more akin to detention facilities. Reports of converted madrasas and mosques into public toilets and restrictions on religious practices, including the operation of madrasas and public prayers, highlight the challenging cond...

  During the   G20 Summit held in New Delhi , a dramatic incident involving the Chinese delegation unfolded, raising concerns among security agencies. The delegation arrived at the Taj Palace Hotel with an unusually large and suspicious bag believed to contain spyware. When security personnel requested a routine inspection, the Chinese diplomats refused, citing diplomatic immunity. This led to an escalated standoff as the bag’s contents were considered unusual for a diplomatic mission, prompting it to be sent to the Chinese embassy for further examination. Adding to the intrigue, one Chinese delegate had requested a private internet connection at the hotel, which was denied. The 12-hour standoff was eventually resolved with the intervention of the Chinese embassy, as the equipment was removed from the hotel. This incident, occurring amidst China’s diplomatic challenges and global tensions, raises questions about its implications for diplomatic relations between India and China...

  India’s IMEC Corridor is a significant infrastructure project aimed at connecting India, the   Middle East , and Europe through a vast network of roads, railways, ports, and energy pipelines. It seeks to promote economic integration, boost trade, ensure sustainability, and foster equal partnerships among participating countries. Unlike China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which faced opposition due to debt concerns, lack of transparency, environmental issues, and geopolitical tensions, IMEC is seen as a collaborative effort for mutual growth, enhancing trade, connectivity, economic growth, and sustainable development in the regions involved. The IMEC Corridor is India’s ambitious plan to create a trade superhighway linking key regions — India, the Middle East, and Europe. By facilitating efficient movement of goods and services, it aims to stimulate economic growth, job opportunities, and environmental responsibility. Unlike the BRI, which raised concerns about debt, tran...

  China has unveiled a new map that includes Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region, leading to tensions with India. India expressed concern, stating that the map lays claim to its territory.   China   advised India to remain calm and not to over-interpret the situation. There are reports suggesting that Chinese President Xi Jinping might skip the upcoming G20 leaders’ talks in New Delhi, with Premier Li Qiang set to represent China instead. This move follows Xi Jinping’s meeting with the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa during the BRICS summit, where he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed to address border issues. However, the dispute over the 2023 version of China’s national map has intensified the disagreement between the two nations. India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, dismissed China’s claim as “absurd.” China’s release of the new map, including disputed regions, has sparked tensions with India, p...

  China has released its updated “standard map” for 2023, drawing controversy by incorporating disputed territories like Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin, Taiwan, and the South China Sea. Published through the Ministry of Natural Resources’ map service website on August 28, the map presents China’s geopolitical perspective, sparking diplomatic concerns and exacerbating existing disputes with neighboring nations. The inclusion of regions like Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin has especially raised tensions between   China   and India. Of significance, the map asserts Taiwan’s status as part of China, intensifying friction between the two. The map’s contentious nine-dash line additionally claims a significant section of the South China Sea as Chinese territory, opposed by countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The map’s release just before the G20 summit hosted by India, attended by leaders like US President Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, a...

  The ongoing rivalry between   India and China   has escalated further as both countries engage in a tit-for-tat expulsion of journalists. The most recent development involves the eviction of the last Indian journalist in China, who has been asked to leave by Chinese officials this month. This move effectively eliminates India’s media presence in the world’s second-largest economy, exacerbating the already deteriorating relations between the two Asian powerhouses. Earlier this year, four Indian media organizations had reporters stationed in China, but due to visa issues, one journalist from The Hindustan Times left over the weekend, while two others from Prasar Bharati and The Hindu had their visa renewals rejected in April. Similarly, China’s lone remaining journalist in India awaits visa renewal, reflecting the strained relationship between the two nations. The strained bilateral relations between India and China have been ongoing since 2020, following a major clash be...

  India has vehemently rejected China's attempt to rename six places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling it a "provocative action" and a violation of India's territorial integrity. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement, saying that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India and that any attempt by China to change the status quo on the ground would not be accepted. The renaming of the six places by China was seen as a part of its long-standing territorial dispute with India. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as a part of its territory and calls it "South Tibet." However, India has consistently rejected China's claims, and the two countries have been engaged in a border dispute for decades. The Indian government has reiterated that it is committed to finding a peaceful solution to the border dispute with China through dialogue and negotiations. However, it has also made it clear that it will not compromise its sovereignty a...

 iPhone maker Foxconn is shifting its manufacturing plant from China to Telangana with an investment of 5,763 crores which will generate 1 lakh jobs. Apple Inc. partner Foxconn Technology Group intends to spend around $700 million on a new plant in India to increase local production, reflecting an accelerated transfer of production away from China as Washington-Beijing tensions rise. The people, who wished to remain anonymous because the information is private, claimed that the Taiwanese company, also known for its flagship unit Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., intends to construct the plant to manufacture iPhone parts on a 300-acre site close to the airport in Bengaluru, the state capital of Karnataka in southern India.  According to some of the sources, the plant may potentially assemble Apple’s mobile devices. Foxconn may also utilize the location to make some parts for its fledgling electric vehicle industry. The investment highlights how China is in danger of losing its p...

 The IMF has stated that India & China will contribute more than half of global growth this year. India is successively aheading despite the global economic slowdown. According to a recent blog post from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India and China are anticipated to provide more than fifty percent of the world’s growth this year, with the rest of Asia making up the remaining quarter.  After ending its zero-COVID policy and reopening in the second half of 2022, China recorded a faster-than-expected resurgence in economic activity, according to the IMF. The Washington, DC-based lender also noted that due to border reopenings, improved supply chains, and the booming service industry, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are returning to their robust pre-pandemic growth. The IMF additionally noted that when food and oil prices fell, the economic situation in Asia and the Pacific began to improve. According to the international lende...