China Pushback; Empty Tank; Tiring Trade
Opinion Watch
China Pushback
Union Cabinet gave nod to two key proposals this week to boost border infrastructure and a near 10 per cent enhancement in the headcount of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Obviously, India is rising to challenge posed by China. Beijing is raising the temperature on the line of actual control, and nurses aims to slice into the Indian Territory as part of its President Xi Jinping’s game plan.
The Pioneer in an Editorial has said that the addition of seven new battalions with 9400 fresh personnel for 47 additional posts in the ranks of 90,000 strong ITBP will go a long way in curbing belligerence of China. The daily has taken a holistic view to argue that the world is now turning its back on China. The daily stressed that the 2020 violent Galwan skirmish in the eastern Ladakh proved a turning point. The Noida-based daily has expressed satisfaction at India racing to build infrastructure connectivity with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Indeed, Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative is floundering. The US is leading the China pushback narrative. Canada, France, the UK and others are al riled against China. India is certainly two decades late in understanding China. But the time is still not lost. In addition to beefing up ITBP headcount, the police in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand must also rise to the challenge posed by the People’s Liberation Army of China.
Empty Tank
Parallels are being drawn between Nicola Sturgeon and Jacinda Ardern. Both have been blown away after rapid fall in their popular ratings. Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, said that there was “nothing left in the tank”. Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, had also spoken of similar feelings.
The Indian Express, The Asian Age and others have commented on the epochal event. The common theme that runs through them is that the steep fall in the popular ratings overwhelmed the two iconic leaders, who shocked and surprised even the extremist libertarians. Her liberal sanctions, including transgender reforms, faced public backlash. She pursued ideas which were “too woke”, said the daily, which ran through angst in her party for dooming the independence movement by not grooming a successor.
Ardern’s vaccine activism was a tipping point. Nicola knew no limits of liberalism. To get carried away by ideas which are close to hearts is a human frailty.
Tiring Trade
The world economy had already been projected to slump into recessionary phase in 2023. The trade data for the first month of the year proves the projections right. Exports and imports of India have slumped in January.
The Hindu in an Editorial has given an account of the trade data of January – merchandise shipments contracted by 6.6 per cent, imports are down to 12-month low of $50.66 billion, and the current account deficit may stay below the target of three per cent of the GDP.
Trade data for January is distressing, for India is aiming to push its economy with export-led growth even while domestic consumptions remains under stress. India will need to wrap up the ongoing free trade agreement talks with the US, European Union, the UK, Egypt and others faster to make gains on trade fronts.
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