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Taiwan elections: What does it mean for US-China relations?
The Taiwan election attracted international attention won by Lai Ching Te, the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, renowned for its pro-independence stance. While US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent Taiwanese president-elect William Lai a message of congratulations following the result, Beijing was believed to have favored the candidate from the more China-friendly Nationalist Party, also known as Kuomintang (KMT) and firmly opposes the US having any form of official interaction with Taiwan and interfering in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext. On January 13th, 2024, Taiwan’s presidential election was won by Lai Ching-te, the nominee of the ruling party. The election attracted international attention considering Beijing opposed Ching, the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which is renowned for its pro-independence stance. In Taiwan’s democratic history, this is the first time a political party has been elected to three terms in office. Lai has assured people time and time again that he will uphold the policies of outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen to preserve Taiwan’s democracy and sovereignty. In his first remarks after his opponents conceded, he signalled that this was an irreversible trajectory. “The country will continue to walk on the right path forward. We will not turn around or look backward,” he told the world’s media in a press conference. Later, while addressing tens of thousands of ecstatic supporters on the streets of Taipei, Mr. Lai characterized his win as a triumph of democracy. “We’ve done it. We didn’t let external forces influence our election. That’s because we decided that only we can choose our president,” he said. While US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent Taiwanese president-elect William Lai a message of congratulations following the result. Beijing called the message a violation of Washington’s commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan. Beijing was believed to have...
Afghanistan’s Hunger Crisis: A Desperate Struggle for Survival De
Afghanistan’s severe hunger crisis, worsened by natural disasters and poverty, demands urgent international support to avert a catastrophic fallout. As winter tightens its grip on Afghanistan, millions of vulnerable Afghans are facing a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by natural disasters, displacement, and a precarious economic situation. The unfolding tragedy has pushed the country to the brink, with around 23.7 million people in need of assistance, while humanitarian partners have prioritized 17.3 million individuals for support in 2024. According to the World Bank, nearly half (48%) of Afghanistan’s population is experiencing poverty. Despite an improvement in Afghan households’ welfare since the political transition in August 2021, the overall situation is still marked by significant deprivation and extreme vulnerability. The scale of acute food insecurity is staggering, as approximately 15.8 million people are projected to experience high levels of hunger between November 2023 and March 2024. Against this backdrop, the World Food Programme (WFP) has become a lifeline for many, providing essential aid to those grappling with the harsh realities of winter. Khurma, a 45-year-old widow and mother of six, embodies the struggles faced by countless Afghans. Borrowing her neighbour’s shoes, she walks to Pul-e Alam city to collect a cash handout of 3,200 Afghanis ($45) from the WFP. “We are desperate,” she says, highlighting the profound scarcity of even basic necessities like bread. Natural disasters have compounded the crisis, with thousands still sleeping in tents in Herat province after earthquakes in October rendered 31,000 homes uninhabitable. Additionally, the return of around half a million Afghans fleeing deportation from Pakistan has strained the country’s resources further, especially given the high levels of unemployment. Rabbani, a 32-year-old refugee entitled to WFP aid, describes the grim reality: “There is no work here.” The harsh winter...
Bridging Gaps, Building Nations: CPEC and its Significance in Baluchistan’s Development
Pakistan faces challenges in nation-building due to ethno-nationalist sentiment and ethnic divisions. Baluchistan faces economic and political marginalization due to historical development. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), launched in 2015, aims to develop an economic corridor connecting Kashgar and Gwadar. Despite challenges like COVID-19, the CPEC is making progress, but trade imbalances persist. Baluchistan’s political consensus is needed for CPEC’s success. Pakistan is a multi-cultural state. Since Pakistan’s independence in 1947, ethno-nationalist sentiment has hindered nation-building efforts and led to resistance and violence. Despite promoting a common religious identity, ethnic differences and ethno-nationalism continue to divide the nation. This has resulted in insurgencies in East Pakistan and the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971. Pakistan is divided into five administrative units named after a predominant ethnic group. Managing this diverse population has been challenging, and the common religious identity is divided into different sects. The Baloch people in Baluchistan have reacted to China’s investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, viewing them as a modern form of colonisation. The CPEC, largely driven by China, has led to challenges in nation-building but also presents an opportunity to address socio-economic grievances. Pakistan’s state-building process began with minimal administrative capacity and the absence of basic state institutions but has struggled to establish these institutions due to prolonged military regimes and lack of political will. Non-state actors, such as the Baloch Liberation Army and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, continue to question the legitimacy of the state in parts of KP and Baluchistan. Baluchistan, home to the Gwadar Port, has been a case study due to its controversial nature and growing dissatisfaction with the CPEC’s projects. State-building is crucial for nation-building, and Pakistan’s...
US, China conclude two days of military talks in Washington
The United States and China wrapped up two days of military talks in Washington on Tuesday, the Pentagon said, the latest engagement since the two countries agreed to resume military-to-military ties. Washington and Beijing are at loggerheads over everything from the future of democratically ruled Taiwan to territorial claims in the South China Sea. Ties are still recovering after the U.S. downed an alleged Chinese spy balloon in February. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed late last year to resume military ties, severed by Beijing after a visit in August 2022 by then-House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. The 17th round of the talks saw Michael Chase, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, meet China's Major General Song Yanchao, deputy director of the central military commission office for international military co-operation, the Pentagon said. "The two sides discussed U.S.-PRC defense relations, and Chase highlighted the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication in order to prevent competition from veering into conflict," the statement added, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. Pentagon officials say communication between the two militaries is key to preventing a miscalculation from spiraling into conflict. The top U.S. military officer, General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff held a virtual meeting last month with his Chinese counterpart, General Liu Zhenli. China is willing to develop healthy and stable military-to-military relations with the U.S. "on the basis of equality and respect", its defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, citing the meeting. It urged the U.S. to cut military deployment and "provocative actions" in the South China Sea, as well halt support for such actions by "certain countries", but did not identify them. It asked the U.S. to abide by the one-China principle and...
PAKISTAN’S VIOLENCE-RELATED FATALITIES MARK A RECORD 6-YEAR HIGH, 56% SURGE IN VIOLENCE RECORDED IN 2023: CRSS ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT
In 2023, Pakistan witnessed 1524 violence-related fatalities and 1463 injuries from as many as 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations. This includes nearly 1000 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel. The overall fatalities including those of outlaws mark a record 6-year high, exceeding the 2018 level and highest since 2017. Moreover, the country saw a surge in violence for the third consecutive year with an uptick recorded each year beginning from 2021. KP and Balochistan provinces were the primary centers of violence, accounting for over 90% of all fatalities and 84% of attacks (including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations) recorded during this period. Punjab and Sindh were relatively peaceful as together, both these provinces suffered only 8% of all fatalities in 2023. The year 2023 also recorded an alarming surge in violence by about 56% - an unprecedented escalation in the last ten years, with the overall number of fatalities increasing from 980 in 2022 to 1524 in 2023. This includes a staggering 57% uptick recorded in Balochistan and 55% in KP. Punjab saw a 96% rise in violence though the number of fatalities was very low, followed by Sindh where the fatalities increased by 26%.Nearly 65% of all violence-related fatalities recorded in 2023 resulted from terrorism, while the remaining 35% from the security forces operations against the outlaws. The country suffered as many as 586 terror attacks this year, with only 17% of them claimed by the banned terror outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Daish (Islamic State Khorasan) and others. The security forces conducted as many as 197 operations against outlaws leaving 537-545 of them dead. The number of terrorist and insurgent attacks surpassed security operations against outlaws by almost three times, resulting in a higher number of casualties among both civilians and security personnel compared to the casualties among...
Middle East Conflict Evolving Geopolitical Dynamics
Background The Israel-Hamas conflict not only imposes greater adversity on Palestinians but also casts ominous shadows and carries far-reaching implications for the entire region and beyond, both in the present and the future. According to the World Bank’s recent Commodity Markets Outlook report, continued escalation in hostilities, depending on the duration and scale, could lead to unprecedented challenges in the world’s commodity markets, potentially causing a global oil crisis. While the West consistently offers unwavering support to Israel, providing both financial and military aid, it vehemently opposes Russia for alleged indiscriminate civilian killings in Ukraine. A similarly striking paradox emerges as the Western world refrains from expressing significant opposition to India's annexation of Kashmir. As the world witnesses the duplicity and partiality of the key decision-makers in such conflicts, the underlying and anticipated geopolitical landscape is characterized by contradictions that not only affect the immediate affectees in the conflicts but also reverberate globally, further complicating the fiscal and political quagmire. This becomes relevant and viable in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict too. Hence, its visibly horrendous damages and the projected aftermath call for an impartial and intersectional discourse centered on exploring pragmatic and sustainable solutions to peace.
BILATERAL CONNECTIVITY AND BUSINESSES FRIENDLY POLICIES MUST TO ENSURE ROBUST PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS: PAK-AFGHAN TRIBAL LEADERS
Robust visa policies for the Pak-Afghan business community and “Business-Friendly” measures will pave the way for enhanced bilateral trade and smuggling prevention, eventually ensuring regional security and prosperity. These recommendations were highlighted by the participants of the 4th Pak-Afghan Tribal Stakeholders Conference, held in Peshawar, Pakistan, convened by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). According to the statement issued by the CRSS from Islamabad, Tribal leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan discussed critical issues affecting the bilateral relations between the two neighboring nations. The meeting depicted a spirit of cooperation and dialogue and sought to enhance understanding and collaboration. A key theme of the meeting was economic cooperation, with discussions centering on trade and infrastructure development. Leaders explored opportunities to bolster economic ties, recognizing the potential for shared prosperity through collaborative projects and initiatives. Afghan participants urged for a more lenient visa policy for Afghan traders, proposing the establishment of a joint mechanism to boost the economy and address security-related issues. The need for streamlined visa procedures, including the initiation of E-Visas or on-arrival visas, was emphasized, while Pakistani delegates advocated for Special Border Passing cards for border communities. Deep concerns were voiced over the declining trade between both countries, with participants discussing restrictions imposed by the Pakistani government on trade. The meeting called for the removal of all trade restrictions, infrastructure development on both sides of the border to enhance connectivity, and the facilitation of smooth flow of goods and services. The implementation of streamlined customs procedures and the reduction of trade barriers were also highlighted, along with the initiation of bilateral trade agreements for mutual economic benefit. Both sides affirmed their...
Xi Jinping reiterates his stance on Taiwan ahead of upcoming elections!
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to resolutely prevent anyone from splitting Taiwan from China in any way. His statement comes just two weeks before Taiwans presidential elections. On 26th December 2023, President Xi Jinping reinforced his longstanding stance in bringing Taiwan under Chinas rule and vowed to resolutely prevent anyone from “splitting Taiwan from China in any way.” (Xinhua News) His statement comes just two weeks before Taiwan elects a new leader in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections on 13th January. Taiwan has operated as a self-governing island since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, with its own government, currency, and military. Despite strong objections by the Taipei government, China has viewed Taiwan as its own territory. Xi stated, “The complete reunification of our motherland is an overall trend, a righteous cause, and the common aspiration of the people. Our motherland must be reunified, and it will surely be reunified.” Moreover, there has been increased tension with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, who is fostering Taiwan's informal ties with the United States. Taiwan has emerged as one of the thorniest issues in US-China relations especially since the then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (in 2022) was hosted by Tsai during a visit to the island. This resulted in China strongly reacting and surrounding the island for days with extensive military exercises and cutting off high-level military communication with the US armed forces. Recently during a meeting in San Francisco last month, Xi also told US President Joe Biden that China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is “unstoppable,” according to China’s Foreign Ministry. China has stated that the Taiwan election is an internal Chinese affair but that the island's people face a choice between war and peace and any attempt by Taiwan seeking independence means war. To escalate things further, the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president Lai Ching-te from the...
China will continue normal economic cooperation with Russia, oppose unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’: Foreign Ministry
Normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit should not be subject to interference or restrictions by any third party, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Tuesday. Mao made the remarks when asked whether Chinese oil and gas giants CNOOC and China National Petroleum Corp had left Russia's Arctic LNG-2 project, after Russian media reported that foreign shareholders in a project controlled by Russia's Novatek, suspended the participation due to the West's sanctions on Russia. Mao noted that sanctions and pressure haven't proven to be solutions, but had instead caused a negative spillover effect. China has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law and no mandate from the UN Security Council, she said. "China and Russia will continue to engage in normal economic and trade cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," she said. The Arctic LNG-2 project is a landmark project for China-Russia energy cooperation. According to the Xinhua News Agency, Chinese companies have participated in the Yamal liquefied natural gas project in Arctic Russia and the Arctic LNG-2 project, the two largest of the kind in Russia. China-Russia energy cooperation is the centerpiece of bilateral economic and trade ties in recent years. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on December 15 called for enhanced high-quality energy cooperation with Russia at the 20th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, Xinhua reported. Ding called on the two sides to consolidate energy trade and mutually beneficial cooperation, promote the construction and stable operation of oil and gas projects, and build nuclear energy projects with high standards and high quality. The two sides should actively expand new areas and directions of energy cooperation, deepen cooperation on renewable...
Top China and U.S. military leaders hold first meeting in more than a year
General Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the Central Military Commission's Joint Staff Department, spoke with his United States counterpart, General Charles Brown, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The two nations' heads of state reached an important consensus on resuming communication and exchanges between the two militaries. General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Central Military Commission's Joint Staff Department, spoke with his United States counterpart, General Charles Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, via a video link on Thursday, according to a news release from China's Ministry of National Defense. Liu said that during the San Francisco meeting, the two nations' heads of state reached an important consensus on resuming communication and exchanges between the two militaries. The armed forces of both sides should carry out exchanges and cooperation based on equality and respect and work together to help stabilize and improve bilateral relations. The Chinese general said that to develop sound, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relations, an important prerequisite is that the US side must have a correct understanding of China and should earnestly respect China's core interests and major concerns. He added that major efforts should be made to advance practical cooperation and enhance mutual understanding. Liu stressed that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no external interference, and the Chinese military will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also said that the US side should respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, be cautious with words and deeds, and take concrete actions to safeguard regional peace and stability as well as the overall soundness of China-US relations. “Gen. Brown discussed the importance of working together to responsibly manage competition, avoid miscalculations, and maintain...
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.