WORLD THIS WEEK

Contributed by the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Compiled by Dincy Adlakha, Keerthana Rajesh Nambiar, Vibha Venugopal, Udbhav Krishna P, Joeana Cera Matthews, Sukanya Bali and Avishka Ashok

China: Following the census, a new three-child policy

Photo Courtesy: South China Morning Post

What happened?

On June 1, President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting with the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The meeting resulted in a major policy shift, marking an end to the two-child policy and raising the limit to three children per couple.

On June 2, Xinhua, the official state-run media agency, conducted an online survey asking "#AreYouReady?" to which more than 90 per cent of the respondents replied they were "not ready to consider" having three children.

What does it mean?

This decision is two decades too late. The desired growth rate of the population seems a distant reality. But the policy may lead to a rural-urban divide in terms of birth rate, employment pressures, and poverty. The failure of the two-child policy makes the success of this new policy suspicious. However, the immediate question is, how far will the state go to make the policy appealing to young couples?

The US: President Biden bans American investments in Chinese companies

Photo Courtesy: The Straits Times

What happened?

On June 3, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order sanctioning investments in Chinese companies with alleged ties to defence and surveillance technology firms. In this order, the US government expressed concerns over Chinese technology companies both inside and outside China facilitating "repression or serious human rights abuses" and "unusual and extraordinary threats" - of religious and ethnic minorities. Biden prohibited US investors from investing in 59 Chinese companies, originally 31 in former President Donald Trump's list.

On June 4, at a press briefing, China strictly opposed Washington's move and declared the US had 'unscrupulously suppressed' and restricted Chinese companies. The ban will take effect from August 2, 2021, giving investors one year to withdraw.

What does it mean?

First, the new order is one of the most aggressive moves against China that the Biden administration has adopted. It advances many of the tactics used by the Trump administration in its efforts to stay competitive with China.

Second, this order takes the world a step closer to strategic decoupling with significant implications in the global financial sector.

Third, political clashes have already soured tensions between the two countries. American financial firms are going to face difficulties while they sort out the ties to these Chinese firms in the coming future.

The US: Biden extends support towards the global COVAX program

What happened?

On June 3, US President Joe Biden issued a statement on the Global Vaccine Distribution, published by the White House. He said: "My administration supports attempts to temporarily waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines because, over time, other firms will be needed to produce life-saving doses of proven vaccines that are distributed fairly."

He further provided details about the allocation of the first 25 million doses of the vaccines that look at global coverage and the needs of the most vulnerable countries. At least 75 percent of these doses—nearly 19 million— will be distributed through COVAX, with about 6 million doses going to Latin America and the Caribbean, 7 million to South and Southeast Asia, and 5 million to Africa. The remaining doses, totalling little over 6 million, will be distributed directly to countries suffering surges, those in crisis, as well as other allies and neighbours such as Canada, Mexico, India, and the Republic of Korea.

What does it mean?

Biden's administration has surely put across something on the table by initiating this program but is it too late, or too little for them to do so? However, it falls well short of meeting the entire world's immunization requirements. Rather than risking the world's health at the mercy of the coronavirus's mutant whims, more countries must step forward to ensure equal access.

Israel: End of Netanyahu era

Photo Courtesy: The Times of Israel

What happened?

On May 31, far-right party leader Naftali Bennett threw support behind a 'unity government' in Israel to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On June 2, Israel's opposition cobbled together an eightmember coalition of right-wing, leftist, and centrist parties with a thin majority in a bid to end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year run.

On June 3, after his rivals reached an agreement on forming a new government in Israel, Netanyahu signaled that he would not go down without a struggle. He called the proposed new diverse coalition that would oust him a "dangerous, left-wing government."

What does it mean?

Will the coalition succeed? The coalition is diverse, and Netanyahu's likely response. While it is easier to build a coalition against a single person, it would be difficult to sustain. On the other hand, Netanyahu will try to break the fragile coalition government and remain in power because losing his constitutional position would be troublesome due to the corruption charges against him. He would want his country to go for a fifth election to gain more right-wing votes after the recent Gaza conflict.

ALSO IN NEWS

China: Economic and trade talks begin with the US

On June 2, the Chinese Vice Premier and the US Treasury Secretary held a second virtual discussion on trade and the economy. Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said the talk had a "smooth start." After the long-imposed trade restriction, the US and China once again started negotiations, in the field of trade and economy. According to the Xinhua News Agency statement, the economic relationship between the US and China is "very important" and "the two sides had broad discussions over the macroeconomic situation and multilateral and bilateral cooperation with an attitude of equality and mutual respect and candidly exchanged views on each other's issues of concern."

Hong Kong: Tiananmen Park blocked to prevent gathering on 32nd anniversary

On June 4, Hong Kong police blocked a former British colony's Victoria Park, to prevent people's gathering for the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The police also arrested the vigil organizer. Across the city, thousands of police were deployed over the concerns of the unrest. The Vicechairwoman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China was arrested over concerns for promoting an unauthorized assembly. Reuters reported, an executive member of the alliance said: "She only wanted to go to Victoria Park, light a candle and commemorate." Authorities warned the arrested citizen could face five years of imprisonment

Japan: Tokyo Olympics gets a green signal amid COVID-19

On June 3, the Japan Olympic organizing committee ruled out the suspension of the Games. The Committee President said: "We cannot postpone again." So far, the postponement had already cost an extra USD 3.5 billion. Recently, on June 2, more than 10,000 volunteers for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games had quit. In a series of polls conducted, the majority of citizens had opposed hosting the Games.

India: Hosted BRICS Foreign Minister virtual meeting

Photo Courtesy: The Hindu

On June 1, India hosted the virtual meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers. In the meeting, India's Foreign Minister emphasized the key principles guiding the grouping. India's Foreign Minister said: "We strive for a fair, just, inclusive, equitable, and representative multipolar international system. It is one based on international law and the UN Charter, that recognizes the sovereign equality of all States, and respects their territorial integrity while displaying mutual respect for the interests and concerns of all." The meeting discussions focused on reforming the multilateral system, counter-terrorism cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people cooperation. Leaders also shared concerns over the COVID-19 situation in India.

India: World Bank report of melting glaciers in the Himalayas

On June 4, The Hindu reported, according to the World Bank's new research "Black carbon (BC) deposits produced by human activity which accelerates the pace of glacier and snowmelt in the Himalayan region can be sharply reduced through new, currently feasible policies by an additional 50% from current levels." The report titled, "Glaciers of the Himalayas, Climate Change, Black Carbon and Regional Resilience," extensively covers the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush Mountain ranges which are melting faster. The report said: "BC is a short-lived pollutant that is the secondlargest contributor to warming the planet behind carbon dioxide (CO2). Unlike other greenhouse gas emissions, BC is quickly washed out and can be eliminated from the atmosphere if emissions stop."

Afghanistan: UN report says "Taliban and Al Qaeda remain closely aligned"

On June 1, the UN Monitoring Team released a report which highlighted, "the Taliban and Al-Qaeda remain closely aligned and show no indication of breaking ties." The report stated that "While the Doha agreement has set some expectations for a break in the longstanding relationship between the Taliban and Al Qaeda, the publicly available text of the agreement does not define expectations, and its annexes remain secret." It also said: "Member States reported that a significant part of Al Qaeda leadership remains based in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the core is joined by and works closely with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent." Tolo News reported: According to UN member state information, "Al Qaeda is resident in at least 15 Afghan provinces, primarily in the east, southern and south-eastern regions, and are led by Al-Qaeda's Jabhat-al-Nasr wing under the direction of Sheikh Mahmood."

About the authors

Dincy Adlakha, Keerthana Rajesh Nambiar, Vibha Venugopal, Udbhav Krishna P and Joeana Cera Matthews are research interns with the Global Politics course in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Sukanya Bali and Avishka Ashok are Research Associates at NIAS.

The report has been modified by India News due to space considerations.