8 minute read
THE WORLD THIS WEEK
Contributed by National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru*
By Sourina Bej, Sukanya Bali, Akriti Sharma and Lokendra Sharma
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India-Bangladesh restore transboundary railway link
What happened?
On 17 December, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a virtual meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, thereby attempting to boost the country’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. “To strengthen relations with Bangladesh has been a priority since the first day,” said Modi at the meeting.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Both the leaders jointly restored a railway link by inaugurating the trans-boundary line between Haldibari in India and Chilahati in Bangladesh. It is the fifth pre-1965 railway link between the two countries that has been made operational again. A stamp commemorating the birth centenary of Bangladesh’s father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also released. Modi and Hasina also jointly inaugurated a digital exhibition on Mujibur Rahman and Mahatma Gandhi to celebrate legacies of both leaders.
During the meeting, a press statement released stated that India and Bangladesh had signed seven agreements in the areas of hydrocarbons, agriculture, textiles and community development, during the summit. Hasina, in her address, made strong reference to the Teesta agreement and urged India to expedite the conclusion of the river sharing framework.
What does it mean?
The meeting adds new momentum to the bilateral relation, especially how India will direct its neighbourhood policies responding to the post-pandemic challenges. India has tactfully chosen the celebration of the Liberation War to strengthen its ties by revoking sentiments rooted in history.
The 2021 visit by Modi will serve as an important marker. It comes in the background of the state elections in West Bengal, the federal state where the change of power to Modi’s BJP is much anticipated. The state’s current leader Mamata Banerjee also remains an ardent critic of the Teesta river water agreement, a thorn in India’s bilateral relation with Bangladesh. While the connectivity push in this meeting also pushes India’s larger Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi- Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) policies, several challenges remain in terms of expediting the road and port constructions such as the Asia trilateral highway or the inland waterways.
China Chang’e-5 success: The lunar missions and the larger space ambitions
What happened?
On 17 December, the Chang’e-5 capsule carrying samples of rocks and soil from the moon landed safely in the northern Inner Mongolia region. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) director Zhang Kejian declared the mission a success.
What does it mean?
The landing on the dark side of the moon has opened a new historical advent in space exploration. Space will now become a new strategic location for interaction between countries. The US-China competition may spill in space.
China_s Chang_e 5 spacecraft
The timing of Mike Pence’s naming of the space force, the ‘Guardians’, and their role in protecting American interests, may indicate the zero sum outlook of the Trump administration. This may challenge the Biden administration to maintain America’s pre-eminence in space and make space a confrontational or cooperative arena.
ALSO IN THE NEWS
Thailand: The UN expresses concern over ‘lese-majeste’
On 18 December, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) expressed concern over the treatment meted out to prodemocracy protestors by the Thailand government. It said in a statement: “We are deeply troubled by the move by Thai authorities to charge at least 35 protesters in recent weeks, including a 16-year old student protester, under Article 112 — the lese majeste provision of Thailand’s criminal code.”
New Zealand: Jacinda Arden responds to Greta Thunberg’s criticism
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern On 14 December, New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Arden responded to climate activist Greta Thunberg’s criticism of the country’s climate change policies. Earlier, on 13 December, Thunberg had retweeted an article critical of New Zealand’s climate emergency declaration and called it “nothing unique to any nation.” New Zealand had pledged to achieve carbon neutrality in the public sector by 2025 while making the emergency declaration on 2 December. Defending her country’s actions, Arden said: “If it was the sum total of what we were doing, it would be worthy of criticism, it’s clearly not.”
India: The UK Foreign Secretary’s visit
On 14 December, the UK’s Foreign Secretary arrived in India to discuss the bilateral relationship and strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. A day later, he met PM Modi and discussed cooperation on the Enhanced Trade Partnership, COVID-19 vaccine, cybersecurity, maritime security, and climate change. He conveyed British PM Johnson’s acceptance of the invitation to be a part of India’s Republic Day celebrations in January; he also welcomed India’s return to the UNSC.
India: Ninth round of talks with China on the LAC agreed
On 18 December, the 20th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held virtually. Both sides reviewed the developments since the last WMCC meeting held in September and agreed to ensure complete disengagement on the friction points at LAC. They also agreed to hold a ninth round of military and diplomatic talks to restore peace and tranquility.
Indian Prime MInister Narendra Modi
The UK: Fresh COVID lockdown, as the fear of a new variant grows
On 19 December, a new lockdown was imposed, ending the Christmas relaxation that was planned earlier. According to the BBC, “Prime Minister Boris
Johnson announced the changes for England at a Downing Street briefing after scientists said a new coronavirus variant was spreading more rapidly.” Also, according to the BBC, the tier-four areas in England will face a “stay-at-home order,” social meeting reduced to meeting only one person in the public space, and all nonessentials will be closed down.
The UK: Time closes in for reaching an agreement
On 18 December, the EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier addressed the European Parliament on the Brexit talks situation. He said that it was a “moment of truth” and only a “few hours” were left to negotiate the deal for both the EU and the UK to have a trade arrangement on 1 January 2021. Senior members of the European Parliament made it clear that for any deal to be approved, its text has to be placed by 19 December. The WTO rules will kick in if both sides fail to reach an agreement after the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. Issues like fishing rights and “level playing field” remain unresolved.
France: Court finds 14 guilty in Charlie Hebdo trial
On 16 December, a French court convicted 14 people for their role in the terror attacks on Charlie Hebdo’s office and a Jewish supermarket in January 2015. The attacks left 17 people dead; the police also killed three attackers involved in the shootings. The convicted 14 accomplices were found guilty by the court of providing logistical support and were served varying sentences up to 30 years in jail. The conviction comes after a string of recent terror attacks in France, including the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty.
Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg
The US: Electoral College confirms Biden’s victory
On 14 December, the US Electoral College formally elected Joe Biden to be next President of the US. Biden, who needed to cross the 270 votes, secured 306 votes versus Trump’s 232. Hours after his victory, Biden said in a rally: “In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed.” On 15 December, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from the Republican party for the first time acknowledged Joe Biden as president-elect. On 6 January 2021, the US Congress will certify the Electoral College votes in a special session; and Biden will finally take over as President on
20 January 2021.
The US: Massive Russian hacking unearthed
On 17 December, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an alert warning that the Russian hackers used unidentified tactics in addition to the “SolarWinds Orion software supply chain compromise”. The massive and ongoing suspected Russian intrusion
began in March this year, with hackers gaining access into several US agencies including State Department, Homeland Security and Pentagon as well as several private companies like Microsoft. Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State blamed Moscow directly. On 19 December, in an interview, he said: “This was a very significant effort, and I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity.”
The US: Chinese chipmaker blacklisted
On 18 December, the US Commerce Department added 60 Chinese companies, including chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and drone maker SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, to a trade blacklist. The former was added owing to its alleged ties with the Chinese military; the latter over its alleged role in enabling human rights abuses. The Department said in a statement: “This action stems from China’s military-civil fusion doctrine and evidence of activities between SMIC and entities of concern in the Chinese military-industrial complex”.
The US: Moderna’s vaccine candidate approved by FDA
On 18 December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the vaccine candidate developed by a US-based biotech company Moderna for emergency use. It becomes the second vaccine to be rolled out a week after Pfizer/BioNTech SE’s vaccine was approved. The US will purchase 200 million doses of the vaccine. President Trump tweeted: “Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available!”
About the authors
Sourina Bej is a Project Associate, Sukanya Bali is Research Associate, Akriti Sharma and Lokendra Sharma are PhD Scholars, at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS.
The report has been edited by India News due to space considerations.
