Current Affairs Today PDF-1 2023
Bhutan PM’s changed stand on Doklam dispute.
Six years after Indian and Chinese soldiers faced off in Doklam, Bhutan’s Prime Minister has said Beijing has an equal say in finding a resolution to the dispute over the high-altitude plateau which New Delhi believes has been illegally occupied by China.
”It is not up to Bhutan alone to solve the problem,” said Prime Minister Lotay Tshering in an interview with the Belgian Daily La Libre. ”There are three of us. There is no big or small country, there are three equal countries, each counting for a third.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister’s statement on China having a stake in finding a resolution to the territorial dispute is likely to be deeply problematic for New Delhi, which is entirely opposed to China extending its footprint in Doklam since the plateau lies close to the sensitive Siliguri Corridor, the narrow tract of land that separates India’s northeastern states from the rest of the country.
Now, Bhutan’s Prime Minister says, ”We are ready. It is an indicator that Thimphu is willing to negotiate the status of the tri-junction in Doklam between India, China and Bhutan, which lies at the heart of the dispute.
What was the whole controversy?
In 2017, Bhutan protested against the road being built by China in Doklam. India had also come out in support of this. The point of dispute between Bhutan and China, from which a situation of tension with India had also arisen. Indian and Chinese armies face off for 73 days at Doklam tri-junction.
Bhutan accused China of expanding a road in an area that is its territory. At one time the tension over Doklam escalated to such an extent that if there was any apprehension between the two equally prosperous.
Why is India involved in this dispute?
Actually there is a dispute between China and Bhutan regarding this area. India and Bhutan had a treaty in 1949, in which it was decided that India would guide the foreign policy and defense affairs of the neighboring country Bhutan. In 2007 another agreement on military cooperation was signed between India and Bhutan.
Article 2 of this agreement states: “Keeping in view the ties of friendly friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Governments of Bhutan and India agree to and cooperation of each other.
Cause for concern for India
This is a matter of serious concern for the active sector of India. By the construction of the road, China will get a huge military advantage on India.
His main concern is that if China’s access to the border reaches Doklam, then China will gain an edge over the 20 kilometer wide area connecting India with all the North-Eastern states. In the language of the Indian Army, this area is known as Kovchik Na Nek.
If in any case, China will get the benefit of occupying Doklam, as soon as possible, the area around Siveld de Seleker will come. If China deploys its artillery in Doklam, then India’s defense sector will come under its attack, due to which there will be a danger of cutting off the rest of India from the North-East.
Recent Report
Recent reports suggest that the Indian Army has also been enhancing its infrastructure and pushing its deployment forward. With the two sides just meters away and India concerned about China’s new constructions, including a bridge, are tense simmering and could lead to another standoff
Sources say India is keeping a watch on Chinese construction and if it is felt that India’s sovereignty is being compromised, action will be initiated.
There are also reports of road expansion activity in the nearby areas of Doklam, where the standoff took place. Recent Satellite imagery exclusively sourced by India Today from US-based space The firm Planet Labs PBC also corroborated some of these reports.
About 9 km from the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, China continues to expand its presence in Bhutanese territory. India’s greatest concern in this region is the likelihood of a Chinese advancement close to the Siliguri corridor, also known as the chicken’s neck.
It is a narrow corridor that stretches just 22 km at one of its narrowest points and connects north-eastern states with the rest of the country. Recent images show more ground clearance further south of Doklam.
Now, however, in the clearest indication that Bhutan may have been forced to cede territory to China, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering says, ”A lot of information is circulating in the media about Chinese facilities in Bhutan. We are not making a [big] deal about them because they are not in Bhutan. We have said it categorically, there is no intrusion as mentioned in the media. This is an international border and we know exactly what belongs to us.”
What is China’s salami slicing plan?
Small, covert military operations against hostile countries that, over a long period of time, result in large military gains. These military operations are so small that they are not named Jeddak, but they are the same as the result of these operations. These operations being small, do not collect much money.
Along with this, Yep Dosi does not give enough chance to the country to oppose him. The biggest reason for not protesting is that the country does not pay any attention to these small construction works or activities because at present there is no danger from them. Does not know But after a long time, this type of “Salami Slice Scheme” proves to be very beneficial for the country running this scheme.
The bilateral ties between Bhutan and India are mutually beneficial. India has provided significant assistance in wide-ranging areas including hydropower, trade, education, and socio-economic development, epardafas.com reported. And India has been a market for Bhutan’s exports providing its revenue by consuming hydroelectricity, semi-finished products, ferrosilicon, and dolomite.
Epardafas.com reported that the major Indo-Bhutan relations have been related to Hydroelectricity generation as both have committed to developing a 10,000-megawatt hydroelectricity project in Bhutan.
Although the development of the 720 MW Mangdechhu hydropower project is an achievement. This has propelled yet another project 600 MW Kholongchhu for hydroelectricity. This is to gather surplus
hydroelectricity from Bhutan and export it to India which will generate employment and revenue for Bhutan.
Several other projects have been initiated by India and Bhutan mutually RuPay, the integration of Bhutan’s DrukREN with India’s national Knowledge Network, and the establishment of ISRO’s Ground Earth Station to use South Asia Satellite.
2- India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge
Faced with difficulties in making payments in dollars, Egypt is now looking to adopt the rupee to import at least 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India.
If the deal to settle trade in Indian rupee between Cairo and New Delhi goes through, Egypt would join 18 countries — Russia, UK, Singapore, Germany etc — that have agreed to trade in INR and give up dollars for cross-border transactions.
Between April and January this fiscal, Egypt has imported 76,858 tons of rice. The country recently purchased two ship loads of rice, however, it had to “face tremendous difficulties” in settling the trade in dollars, a report by The Hindu BusinessLine quoted a source saying.
Now, as Egypt needs another six ship loads of rice, which could weigh over 1.5 lakh tonnes, it has sought to make the payment in INR, the source added.
Willing to take orders in rupee route
Exporters from India said they are willing to settle cross-border trade for foodgrains in rupees, provided the Union government offers some concessions.
“Exporters get a forward premium of 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent while trading in the dollar. There are quite a few ways in which the government can compensate the traders for this,” the report quoted President of The Rice Exporters Association (TREA), BV Krishna Rao as saying.
Bilateral trade between India and Egypt achieved a record high of $7.26 billion in FY 2021-22. The trade was fairly balanced, with $3.74 billion Indian exports to Egypt and $3.52 billion worth of imports by India. More than 50 Indian companies have invested around $3.15 billion in diverse sectors of the Egyptian economy, including chemicals, energy, textile, garment, agri-business, retail.
18 countries willing to trade in India rupee
India’s central bank – Reserve Bank of India, or RBI – as on 14 March this year, has approved opening of 60 special rupee vostro accounts (SRVAs) of correspondent banks from 18 countries.
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