Aug 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 4
INDIA NEWS
WORLD THIS WEEK
WORLD THIS WEEK
DW
Contributed by the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
Compiled by Sukanya Bali, Vibha Venugopal and Avishka Ashok
South China Sea: New tensions, with military exercises and foreign warships The Gaurdian
What happened? On 2 August, Germany's Brandenburg-class frigate Bayern (Bavaria) warship was deployed to the South China Sea from Wilhelmshaven on a six-month voyage. This would be the first time for Germany in almost two decades; it is expected to cross the South China Sea in midDecember. German Defense Minister Annegret KrampKarrenbauer said, "We want existing law to be respected, sea routes to be freely navigable, open societies to be protected and trade to follow fair rules." On 6 August, China started a fiveday-long naval drill in the South China Sea. On the same day, the Indian Navy also deployed a naval task group of four warships for two months. China's foreign ministry spokesperson said, "China hopes that the warships of relevant countries will earnestly abide by international law, respect the sovereignty, rights, and interests of countries along the South China Sea and avoid harming regional peace and stability." What does it mean? The South China Sea region has turned into the hotbed of contestation between countries. The presence of foreign naval forces in the region might aggravate tensions between Beijing and the West. As countries have started becoming proactive in the region, this might embolden Southeast Asian countries to take a stance against China in the coming years.
Southeast Asia: ASEAN appoints Special Envoy to Myanmar What happened?
On 4 August, the 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum ministers appointed Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erywan Yusof, as the Special Envoy to Myanmar. Reuters, on 7 August, referred to
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The Jakarta Post
world will open wide." What does it mean?
a statement by the envoy saying: "The planned travel to Myanmar is in the works, and we need to make sure we're fully prepared, unlike the visit I had in June. He even stated that during his next ASEAN visit to Myanmar, he will seek a more substantial dialogue, while emphasizing the importance of allowing him full access to all sides." Earlier, on 1 August, Myanmar's military ruler Min Aung Hlaing expressed his "willingness to engage with ASEAN." On 6 August, the US State Department released a statement by the Secretary of State expressing grave concern about the military coup in Myanmar and calling on the ASEAN "to unite in urging the military to cease the violence, release all those who have been wrongfully jailed, and resume Myanmar's democratic path." What does it mean? First, the crisis in Myanmar is too hot for the ASEAN to handle, causing reputational costs. Second, ASEAN is no stronger than its weakest link since members stay aloof, not allowing them to act decisively. Third, Myanmar's military administration will approach the five-point consensus and the ASEAN-led diplomatic process a la carte, delaying and complying with the envoy as needed to buy time and consolidate power.
Japan: Remembering Hiroshima bombing, “Little Boy” and 80,000 people, 76 years later
What happened?
On 6 August, Japan marked 76 years of the first atomic bombing on Hiroshima. On this occasion, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga attended the memorial conference and pledged to support states towards the aim of nuclear disarmament. The annual ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Hiroshima who pushed for the ratification of the UN treaty which seeks to ban nuclear weapons. He said: "Nuclear weapons are the ultimate human violence. If civil society decides to live without them, the door to a nuclear-weapon-free
The increasingly destructive capacities of the defence arms and ammunition prove that the human race is completely immune to the suffering endured by humankind 76 years ago. The rise in the number of nuclear states in the past seven decades showcases the seriousness of the world towards the aim of nuclear disarmament.
ALSO IN NEWS Japan: Population declines for the 12th straight year On 4 August, Japan's internal affairs ministry compiled the country's population on the basis of the "Basic Resident Register." As per the records, on 1 January the population counted over 123.84 million, which was down about 428,000 as per the last year's record. In 2020, the total number of births in Japan totaled 843,000 and had roughly 1.37 million deaths. The record also highlighted the people who moved out of the country and the number of foreign residents in Japan. North Korea: Pyongyang continues to develop its nuclear and missile program On 6 August, Reuters reported, according to a confidential UN document, Pyongyang violated international sanctions by continuing its nuclear and ballistic program through the first half of 2021. The report said North Korea sought material and technology for these programs "despite the country's worsening economic situation." The country accessed international financial institutions and used the earnings of the North Korean diaspora to fund state programs. Malaysia: Prime Minister refuses to resign On 4 August, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin refused to resign soon after eight lawmakers from a key party in his ruling alliance withdrew their support. As per the report, he said: "he will seek a vote of confidence in parliament next month to prove his legitimacy to govern." Opposition highlighted he was using emergency to avoid a vote in Parliament. On the same day, the President declared Muhyiddin had lost the right to govern. Sri Lanka: NSA level talks after six years The Print
Europe: Wildfires raging in Turkey, Italy, Greece, Albania, Macedonia
On 6 August, Sri Lanka hosted a virtual meeting of the Deputy National Security Advisers of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The Hindu reported three countries agreeing to work on "four pillars of security cooperation, covering areas of marine security, human trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cybersecurity." The meeting was the first NSA-level trilateral talks in six years.
Pakistan: Islamabad has "options" if the US ignores, says the NSA On 4 August, Pakistan National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf in an interview, stated that "Pakistan has other options if US President Joe Biden continues to ignore the country's leadership." This statement marks a recent setback in the US-Pakistan relationship. Conversely, the US State Department assured Islamabad that Washington recognizes Pakistan's vital role in restoring peace in Afghanistan and wants the country to play that role. The US State Department's spokesman Ned Price said: "Pakistan has much to gain and will continue to have a critical role, and will be well-positioned to have a role in supporting the outcome" in Afghanistan. Afghanistan: UN envoy appeals to UNSC over increase in the Taliban attacks On 6 August, at a special meeting of the UNSC on Afghanistan, the UN envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons appealed to the UNSC to issue a statement against the increasing attacks by the Taliban. She said: "Afghanistan is now at a dangerous turning point, adding that ahead lies either a genuine peace negotiation or a tragically intertwined set of crises: an increasingly brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian situation and multiplying human rights abuses." She also highlighted that more than 1,000 casualties were recorded soon after districts were captured by the Taliban. She added, "There is a striking contrast between the activity on the battlefield and the quiet stalemate at the negotiation table in Doha—where we should be seeing the opposite: quiet on the battlefield and engagement around the negotiating table." Afghanistan: Taliban captures two cities - Zaranj and Sheberghan; kills government forces
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On 7 August, the Taliban captured the city of Sheberghan in the province of Jawzjan. The deputy governor of the province said: “The city has unfortunately fallen completely” and security forces have retreated to the outskirts. The government has denied that the “Taliban has taken full control of the city” and the Ministry of Interior said, “they are going to launch counter offensive.” On 6 August, the Taliban captured the city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province. Presently, out of five districts of the province, three are completely under Taliban control. The brutality of the attack surfaced in a video showing government forces lying covered in blood on the ground. Europe: Wildfires raging in Turkey, Italy, Greece, Albania, Macedonia On 5 August, forest fires in Southern Europe continued to burn ceaselessly. The fires were caused by the prolonged heat wave which has ignited numerous fires across the continent. Over 100 fires broke out in Greece recently while Turkey closely avoided a disaster by preventing the fires from reaching one of its power plants. The governments of Greece, Italy, Albania and North Macedonia have declared a month-long emergency to deal with the calamity. Meanwhile, the EU disaster response group is providing firefighters and waterdropping planes. Italy: Green pass vaccination drive at public venues On 6 August, Italy introduced a system of digital certificates for accessing public venues in the country. The initiative has been taken up to restrict the rise in cases of coronavirus. Individuals will be eligible to hold a green pass if they have had one dose of the vaccine, recovered from the virus or have tested negative in the last 48 hours. Along with Italy, other European countries such as France, Austria, Cyprus, and Denmark have already undertaken similar initiatives in their country. About the authors Vibha Venugopal is a research intern 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.
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