India’s growing imperative to empower S Korea in Indo-Pacific

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The Indo-Pacific area is currently experiencing a prominent power struggle, which is somewhat characterized by China’s efforts to lessen the influence of the United States there. Concerns about regional security, as well as worries about South Korea’s sovereignty and autonomy, have been raised by the expanding economic and military footprint of China in the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea must strengthen its security infrastructure and improve its functions due to the growing Chinese military appearance near the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government is under more stress as a result of the growing alliance between Russia, China, and North Korea, which has forced safety measures to be strengthened.

This new alliance even puts pressure on countries with similar passions, like the US, Japan, and India, to support South Korea.

Importantly, Beijing has begun to use the web of economic interdependence that China has created as South Korea’s main trading partner for its strategic goals. The ability of South Korea to combat China’s growing confidence in the Korean Peninsula is constrained by its prominent reliance on Chinese markets.

India’s proper essential to equip South Korea has gained significant fame in this dynamic geopolitical environment of the Korean Peninsula and the wider Indo-Pacific area.

This critical is brought on by the region’s rapidly shifting power dynamics, which are accentuated by Chinese dominance and pose serious threats to regional security and the sovereignty of not only South Korea but also many other smaller countries in the area.

Without endangering its own objectives, India never afford to ignore this transfer of power. India is extremely being compelled to play a crucial role in bolstering South Korea’s endurance due to its significant client status in the area of regional peace and security.

India’s growing effect in Korea

India has become a significant and influential player in the development of peace and stability in East Asia in recent years. Given its unique vantage point and ability to have a significant impact on the balance of power within the Korean Peninsula, India’s role in bolstering the political position of South Korea assumes significant significance.

India’s expanding presence in the area and its ability to implement a comprehensive and varied approach encompassing economic, cultural, military, diplomatic, and tactical dimensions serve to emphasize this significance.

It is crucial to understand that the preservation of peace and stability within the larger Indian Ocean place is inextricably linked to the stability of the Korean Peninsula. Any noticeable change in the power dynamics on the Korean Peninsula did unavoidably affect the larger Indo-Pacific area and its overall balance of power.

India is under increasing pressure to develop an all-encompassing economic and security strategy given that China primarily uses a combination of military and economic tools to enhance its corporate objectives. In order to maintain the status quo on the Korean Peninsula, this approach aims to fully leverage South Korea’s economic, military, social, and diplomatic ties to China.

Financial hedging

The urgent need is to lessen South Korea’s significant emphasis on the Chinese market for its goods given the proper use of trade and investment by China as tools of policy. In response, India is compelled to implement targeted import incentives geared toward the promotion of Vietnamese goods, with a focus on lessening South Korea’s reliance on Chinese markets for particular goods.

These actions are intended to support the foreign policy stance of the current Seoul authority.

Significantly, North Korean commercial enterprises find themselves seriously entangled in the importation of essential high-tech organic materials from China, which limits South Korea’s ability to make decisions about its foreign and security policies on its own.

India & nbsp must address this issue as a crucial part of its comprehensive economic strategy for South Korea’s empowerment. Growth of sources for vital organic materials and technologies represents a crucial step in preserving South Korea’s protection and independence.

A growing number of North Korean firms are thinking about moving away from the Chinese island due to a variety of geopolitical and economic factors. However, the high cost of such evictions presents a significant challenge for some.

India should extend incentives and concessions as part of its developing monetary strategy to make it easier for Asian businesses to move from their well-established manufacturing hubs in mainland China to alternate locations in Southeast Asia and India.

Korean businesses may be motivated to think about moving to India if the financial difficulties brought on by these relocations are properly addressed, possibly through the implementation of tailored packages.

India is relevant because of the obvious slowdown in South Korea’s economic growth, which has serious economic and geopolitical ramifications that affect regional security.

It is India’s responsibility to considerably increase its monetary assistance to Korea through a wide range of channels in order to revitalize and stabilize the North Korean economy. As a result, it is crucial for the American government to implement an incentive plan that is specifically tailored to the interests of American businesses.

With the specific aim of promoting investments in North Korean businesses, this system should include both technical expertise and financial assistance. Stabilizing the Vietnamese economy is the initiative’s main goal, which also helps to advance local harmony, stability, and security.

government support

India must pay close attention to enhancing South Korea’s military capabilities in addition to strengthening its financial resilience, a task that is being accentuated by the growing defense prowess of China.

There is currently a pervasive misconception in American legislation circles that the US and South Korea’s strong military alliance eliminates the need for additional contributions. This perception, however, belies a more nuanced reality, where the United States is constrained by specific restrictions in its ability to give South Korea complete support.

In light of this historical context, India has a responsibility to strengthen its military ties with South Korea, highlighting its increased dedication to joint naval exercises, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and the exchange of cutting-edge protection technologies. Like joint efforts may significantly improve South Korea’s protection capabilities and readiness.

Given India’s reputation as a country known for its expanding indigenous defense capabilities, the idea of transferring developed defense technology to South Korea merits careful consideration, especially in areas where Korea currently has relative shortages, such as long-range missile systems, marine warfare technologies, electronic warfare capability, and space warfare technology.

Maritime assistance

Local peace and stability are being seriously threatened by China’s increasing naval hostility in the area, particularly the South China Sea and its surrounding regions. Given that the majority of its business passes through the sea lanes in this region, Korea has a sizable play in the free and open Indo-Pacific region.

It is essential for India to give Korea the tools it needs to resist Chinese naval aggression and influence because Korea is extremely susceptible to Chinese pressure and possible blackmail in this area.

The two nations are now working together in a constructive way. India needs to do more to help Korea, though, given the extent of Taiwanese confidence. The peace and current situation in this region are essential to Korea’s financial stability, so in the coming weeks, the Taiwanese political and military leadership may be tempted to use this area to put pressure on Korea.

South Korea has recently been looking to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean. India may assist these initiatives, especially those involving the presence of the North Korean navy, which can help India balance China in the Bay of Bengal and the surrounding areas.

Through a variety of channels, India needs to support the South Vietnamese Navy in the Indian Ocean more actively, promoting participation and maritime security. India may improve combined naval exercises in the Indian Ocean with the North Korean Navy, giving them valuable exposure and practice. These exercises may encourage cooperation, information sharing, and fostering trust between the two navies.

India’s expertise in carrying out anti-piracy activities in the Indian Ocean may be useful for protecting South Korean shipping lanes and ensuring the security of sea roads used by Korea for business.

To improve their abilities and knowledge in fields like anti-submarine warfare, coastal surveillance, and search and rescue operations, India should expand training programs for North Korean marine personnel.

Closer ties can be fostered by South Korean naval vessels making more frequent interface visits to American ports. Discussions about marine protection and the potential for mutual marine operations in the event of emergencies on the Korean Peninsula and nearby areas could be included in these visits, which may increase in frequency.

In order to exchange marine intelligence and provide real-time information on sea conditions, probable threats, and security situations, the two nations should strengthen their mechanisms.

Support for cyber security and cross war

China is increasingly using digital and hybrid warfare as tools to increase its regional effect. India must therefore concentrate on enhancing Korea’s strategic capabilities in the areas of security and cross warfare.

India and South Korea should work together on security and techniques to counter non-traditional threats given China’s expertise in computer war and cross tactics. This partnership may aid in defending both countries from China’s destructive actions.

In order to maintain regional balance and counter China’s forceful habits, India and South Korea should simultaneously develop and carry out initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.

Interpersonal influence

South Korea is now dealing with a wide range of complex local social issues, including demographic aging, mental health problems, and declining birth rates. These inner conflicts not only weaken South Korea’s social structure but also limit its ability to successfully manage the physical difficulties brought on by the continuous energy interactions between the United States and China.

India had not ignore the inside schisms and difficulties afflicting South Korea in its power as a key stakeholder committed to the survival of local peace and stability. India has the capacity to offer priceless insights and assistance mechanisms aimed at overcoming these internal challenges because it is endowed with a politically different environment and an abundance of varied experiences.

It is crucial to emphasize how South Korea’s capacity to take on a more forceful role in creating an entirely new, rules-based security framework within the region is essential to the resolution of these home issues.

As a result, India should pay close attention to bolstering South Korea’s inside social stability as part of its overall effort to empower the country.

improving Korea’s sweet energy

The expansion of South Korea’s soft energy represents a circle in which India may pay particular attention outside of the realms of economic, cultural, and military impact.

Through social exchanges, informative initiatives, and tourism, South Korea’s soft power is being developed, which has the potential to strengthen ties between the country and its neighbors and support India’d regional diplomatic efforts.

India is in a good position to support South Korea’s effective participation in international forums like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, the United Nations, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. With such assistance, South Korea’s position within the region could be considerably improved, making it a significant participant in the emerging rule-based world order.

In order to counter China’s autocratic influence, India may join forces with South Korea in promoting democratic values and human rights in the area.

India also has the ability to intensify efforts to support Seoul’s initiatives to increase North Korean effect in the area. This includes supporting Korea’s initiatives for talks and negotiations with countries in Southeast Asia and Africa as well as the development of political ties to help the area establish a rules-based order.

In this situation, joint initiatives between India, South Korea, Japan, and the United States may become crucial tools for achieving local security and advancing a common set of political principles.

Conclusion

American policymakers must sincerely understand the gravity of the changing condition taking place on the Korean Peninsula and acknowledge that South Korea’s response to internal and external stresses will have a profound impact on every aspect of local life in the area.

A prolonged and comprehensive commitment that combines various facets, including financial, social, military, political, and strategic dimensions, is required to empower South Korea. India is tasked with the complex tracking of the political landscape while being aware of its own interests and working together with other regional countries to strengthen local stability and security.

India must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the complex dynamics underpinning the Korean economy and society in the wake of President Yoon & nbsp, Suk Yeol’s advocacy for an active and influential role for South Korea within the global spheres of geopolitics and economics, with an emphasis on the associated security implications.

Strategically important goals include the upkeep of the status quo within the Korean Peninsula and the protection of a healthy energy balance.

India’s growing economic and security cooperation with South Korea serves as an example for other countries dealing with similar safety conundrums. As a result, the proper paradigm of India may take into account factors related to economic, cultural, and secure facets, with the ultimate goal of bringing about North Korean empowerment.

India and South Korea are celebrating the gold anniversary of their diplomatic ties, so now is the perfect time for India to come up with a fresh, all-inclusive plan that strengthens its relationships with the country and the larger regional community.

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China speeding into the low-cost drone swarm lead

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China has created a low-cost aircraft jet engine that could open the door for the creation of cutting-edge, cost-effective drones, laying the groundwork for future drone warfare techniques around the world.

A lead scientist on the project reported that a new generation of high-speed, long-lasting drones powered by inexpensive jet engines has entered military service in China, according to South China Morning Post( SCMP ).

According to SCMP, the novel Chinese drones are unique from other types due to the low cost of their power supply, and the technology may spark a drone hands culture as the US starts its program to increase the production of the weapon.

According to SCMP, the People’s Liberation Army( PLA) will be able to purchase high-performance jet aircraft vehicles for less than a fifth of the global cost thanks to the technological advancement. According to the review, the task was presented on October 19 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

At the occasion, engineering thermal physicist Zhu Junqiang asserted that the PLA has been quick to adopt the new engine, primarily because it uses nearly a third less energy than the existing two-shaft vehicles in use and because having 70 % fewer mechanical parts will result in significantly lower maintenance costs.

The FH – 97 helicopter from China. Chinese state media photograph

A high-speed military aircraft powered by a jet motor, in contrast, is typically regarded as an asset of great value, but most military armaments only stockpile them in small quantities due to high costs. For instance, the Northrop Grumman-built RQ – 4 Global Hawk helicopter is propelled by a great US$ 4 million per unit AE3007 turbofan engine from Rolls-Royce.

According to SCMP, 42 Global Hawks, each costing about$ 130 million, are now out of reach for the US, despite having a larger military expenditure than all other nations put together.

Coming conflicts will probably turn into satellite wars of attrition, with the Ukraine War serving as an example of the possibility of new-age warfare. Marc DeVore claims that the continuing conflict has demonstrated the benefits of lower costs and expendability in drone warfare in an article published in the peer-reviewed Defense and Security Analysis book in April 2023.

DeVore notes that during the first nine months of the war, Russia lost at least 148 washable drones and Ukraine 40, pointing out that professional factors, such as the vulnerability of aircraft information links, are to blame for the great helicopter losses. According to him, the weapons are susceptible to short-range air defenses because they fly at lower and moderate altitudes.

He points out that the use of drones for operations in heavily fortified areas by both Russia and Ukraine has prompted a move toward more affordable and disposable programs. For example, he points out that the Russian Forpost and Orion, as well as Ukraine’s Turkey-made Bayraktar TB – 2, are, both, their most advanced robots.

However, he claims that because of their vulnerability, they are less effective against jamming and low-altitude heat security assets. He claims that as a result, both nations have increasingly turned to very inexpensive or disposable robots because it is more expensive to shoot down these one-way assault weapons than they are worth.

The US has started programs to mass-produce drones for a high-tech war of attrition because it is aware of this field session.

The US Replicator system, which aims to field a sizable number of AI-driven automatic drones to combat China’s expanding military capabilities, was covered by Asia Times in September. With an intense 18 to 24 fortnight deployment timeline, the system aims to quickly improve the pitching of attritable automatic platforms in the air, land, and sea domains.

The project will be managed by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, which will also collaborate with non-traditional technology firms and the security industry. Great networking capabilities, grid networks, and advances in artificial intelligence will enable intelligent, decentralized functioning and enable quicker deployment closer to the military edge.

Additionally, in February 2023, Asia Times published a report on the US” Autonomous Multi-Dotacle Adaptive Swarms – of-Swaths”( AMASS ) project, which aims to create self-sufficient drone hordes that can be launched from the sea, the air, and the land to overpower enemy air defenses.

The goal of the project is to improve the ability to launch and control tens of thousands of autonomous drones, which will be used in concert to destroy an enemy’s defenses such as missile launchers, artillery pieces, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance( ISR ) platforms.

The AMASS system is anticipated to concentrate primarily on stopping or defeating a Taiwanese conquest of Taiwan. In highly contested environments, the system investigates using” swarm-of-shwarms” to carry out military operations with inexpensive drones equipped with a variety of sensors and dynamic and non-kinetic cells.

However, the US still has a lot of trouble increasing its low-cost helicopter production. According to a CNBC statement from last month, the cost of making smaller consumer drones like helicopters in the US increases because work and material costs are higher than in China.

According to CNBC, several American drone companies left the market in 2016 and 2017 as a result of China’s out-of-competition or poor business decisions. It also mentions how difficult it is to create robots using only US-sourced components because the US lacks the companies necessary to produce such large-scale, reusable military aircraft. According to the report, it also lacks the safe supply chains required to produce delicate parts.

Potential conflicts will be waged using aircraft swarms. Credit: C4ISRNET

China, on the other hand, is in a better position to increase low-cost aircraft creation. The DJI company, based in Shenzhen, now controls 70 % of the global consumer drone market and is the world’s largest exporter of military defense robots.

China’s Sunflower 200 lounging weapons, which is allegedly modeled after the Iranian Shahed – 136, a tool Russia is using in the ongoing Ukraine war but has significantly modified to fit the local battlefield conditions, was covered by Asia Times in September. The helicopter was displayed in Moscow during the Army – 2023 protection show.

Despite having the ability to mass-produce the Sunflower 200 and improved versions for Russia, China has adopted a optimistic stance in its support of Moscow’s war work, balancing its interests to maintain an outcome that is in their best interests while avoiding American sanctions.

Although it is unlikely that the Sunflower – 200 may soon join Russia’s army, China has sent dual-use drones to the country because it knows they will be used for military operations.

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Car leasing companies ‘unlikely’ to be the main factor for rising COE prices: Transport Ministry

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” Industry- OFFS” TO FORM A DIFFERENT CATEGORY

Mr. Chee responded to MPs Gan Thiam Poh( PAP – Ang Mo Kio ) and Yip Hon Weng’s suggestion to create a separate category for car leasing companies or treat them like taxis that don’t have to bid for COEs by saying there would be” trade-offs” to implementing this measure.

Given Singapore’s zero-growth coverage, the quota for this new category would have to be taken from current categories, he said, just like for taxis.

It is challenging to determine the precise limit needed to meet the needs of drivers and riders because( private-hire vehicle ) demand is still evolving and may differ from quarter to quarter. He continued,” There is a danger that COE prices may rise further if we move too much of the current limit from Categories A and B to this new group for( private use vehicle ) companies.” This will further reduce the supply in these groups.

On the other hand, if we do not add ample limit to the new group, owners will run out of cars to rent and travellers may be impacted by P2P( point-to-point ) service scarcity.

Additionally, the Transport Ministry stated in September 2022 that removing personal rent cars from the regular COE bidding pool will inevitably increase consumer costs.

However, Mr. Chee stated on Monday that in order to address these issues with car rental companies, the government would look into the possibility of” further options beyond COE buying.” It acknowledges that secret use cars” do go longer distances on our roads but also serve an important work in providing P2P solutions for Singaporeans.”

He continued,” Personal rent cars are extremely meeting the need for P2P companies rather than taxis.” As of September 2023, private use trucks are used for approximately two out of every three P2P visits, compared to three out every five trips prior to the pandemic.

The overall secret employ car population as of September 2023 is estimated to be around 78, 000. The majority of personal employ vehicles, including those from ride-hailing companies, are self-driving, while about two-thirds are chauffeured private rental cars.

As of September 2023, about 53, 000 people will be in possession of a private hire car driver’s vocational license( PDVL ), enabling them to offer ride-hailing services. In September 2023, at least two-thirds of PDVL recipients drove company-owned vehicles; the remaining drove personal vehicles.

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Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Indians who need .1m drug to fight a rare disease

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SMA medicinesGufran Zeba
authored by Cherylann Mollan
Mumbai-based BBC News

To keep their kids intact, the Gufrans are paying a high price.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy( SMA ), a rare genetic disorder that impairs breathing and causes muscle deterioration, affects Affan, seven, and Erhan, five. The family’s monthly physiotherapy appointments alone cost them 40, 000 rupees($ 480,$ 395 ), and their sons require ongoing care because they are unable to stand, sit, or walk on their own.

” We want to try gene therapy for our sons, but one dose alone costs about 175m rupees($ 2.1m,£ 1.7m )” Zeba Gufran, their family, says,” We simply can’t afford it.

One of the priciest medications in the world is Zolgensma protein remedy, which the Gufrans want to try. It is typically administered as a one-time injection to young children under two, but the Gufrans are in desperate need and believe in miracles.

Some families in India, like them, are unable to purchase Zolgensma and another SMA medications. Although there are no official statistics on the number of Indians who have the illness, the literature that is currently available indicates that it affects roughly 1 in 10, 000 live-born infants. In one study, one in 38 Native Americans are carriers of the damaged gene that causes SMA, compared to 1 out of 50 people in the West.

In some nations, the cost of rare disease therapies is covered by the government or health insurance, despite the fact that they are expensive everyday. Australia provides available people with subsidised access to pricey life-saving medications, while the UK has made SMA medications accessible through the National Health Service.

People frequently use fundraising to get access to these remedies in India. However, as interest in unusual hereditary diseases rises, patients and their families are banding together to demand that the federal government lower the price of these medications.

SMA medicines

Zeba Gufran

Recent medical advancements have made treatments for genetic conditions like SMA and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ( DMD ), which causes muscle weakness and degeneration, available, despite the fact that about 95 % of rare diseases have no approved treatments. Indians who are battling these illnesses therefore claim they want to get the applicable medications.

Over 100 families whose children have DMD organized a rally in Delhi’s investment in March to urge the government to introduce new treatments and to give all children with the illness free medicines and physiotherapy.

Specialists claim that India’s rare diseases plan, which aims to offer financial assistance, has not yet been properly implemented.

Due to some recent effective fundraising campaigns, SMA is one of the lesser-known rare diseases in India. The condition is brought on by an SMN1 protein fault that results in a protein deficit that is essential for motor neurons to function. A woman’s ability to walk, talk, eat, and breath is affected as SMA worsens over time.

There are four main types of SMA, according to Dr. Sheffali Gulati, a baby neurologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi:

    Type-1: The most significant and prevalent variant, in which symptoms manifest at birth or by six months of age. Most individuals don’t live past two years, children’s limbs are puffy, and they never reach motor milestones.

  • The onset of Type 2 occurs between the ages of three and fifteen weeks. These kids may remain, but they are unable to stand or walk on their own.
  • Types 3 and 4 are less severe, but in these conditions, the child’s lifespan will be cut short by an excessively slow strength deterioration.

Although SMA cannot be cured, there are solutions that can slow or halt the disease’s progression, extending a person ‘ life and enhancing its value, according to Dr. Gulati.

Three medications have so far received FDA approval:

    The most expensive is Zolgensma gene therapy, which costs about 175m pounds for a one-time extract that swaps out the defective SMN1 for an improved, efficient one. A spokeswoman for Novartis, the company that makes the substance, said they were unable to comment on the price. Doctors and parents estimate that a dose in India costs about 175m rupees, excluding taxes.

  • For the first four concentrations of Spinraza, the price is around 50m pounds; after that, it costs about 30m Rs per year. It needs to be taken continuously.
  • The cheapest of the lot, Risdiplam, costs about 7.2 million rupees for a week’s source. It is offered for purchase below after receiving Indian approval. This also needs to be done over a lifetime.

There are no less expensive generic choices because none of these medications are produced in India and they are all patentable.

SMA medicines

Sharma, Alpana

Some authorities have criticized pharmaceutical companies for charging exorbitant prices for medications used to treat rare disorders. Some, however, contend that it aids producers in recovering the billion invested in research and development and funding ongoing research.

The majority of clients in India obtain SMA medications through charitable programs provided by the pharmaceutical producers. These programs only provide free medications to a select group of patients, but kids claim that this doesn’t always maintain an endless supply.

Additionally, a person may be unsuitable for these programs due to factors like age or health problems. Zolgensma is produced by Novartis, which distributes it to kids under two through a drawing program.

Advocacy groups say there’s scope to make Risdiplam cheaper in India. “We have been asking the government to strike a deal with the manufacturer,” says Sharma, Alpana, co-founder of CureSMA India, a parent-led advocacy group.

The foundation has also requested the removal of the drug’s goods and services tax, which is 12 %, and has made these calls to the national health ministry, the finance ministry and best state physicians.

Emails sent to the national health and funding ministries have not yet been responded to by the BBC.

The Delhi High Court has even received a petition from CureSMA India. The National Rare Diseases Committee, an expert panel established by the court to carry out India’s rare diseases plan, was instructed to speak with manufacturers in July to determine whether SMA medications may be purchased at lower costs.

SMA medicines

Abhinand

After lots of people fought and prevailed in court cases, the authorities announced in December that it would cover the cost of Zolgensma for infants with the most severe instances of SMA. According to the New York Times, Novartis and the Brazilian authorities have entered into a secret agreement whereby the latter will pay for the medication in installments.

However, the content also notes that the legislation has put undue strain on a public health system that is already in trouble and used up an excessive amount of resources.

People plan experts like Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya claim that India might encounter comparable difficulties. ” Governments must always prioritize the interests of many people over those of a select some.” It’s a morally and financially challenging choice to make, he claims.

According to Ms. Sharma, some individuals and parents might be able to raise money to pay for SMA care, but not right now.

However, people’s lives are being put on hold due to a lack of access to these life-saving medications.

At the age of two, SMA sort 3 was discovered in 35-year-old associate professor of biology Abhinand. At the age of 12, he stopped walking, and over time, his biceps have deteriorated. He uses a wheelchair and has intense spine, which impairs his ability to breathe.

After years of struggle, the recent availability of new procedures has given him some promise. Through fundraising, he was able to raise enough money in 2021 to purchase 30 bottles of Risdiplam for an entire year, and a family agreed to pay for his treatment the following year. Abhinand is unable to participate in sympathetic programs due to his health conditions, so when his medications run out, he is uncertain of what to do.

He claims that for the past seven years, he has been in a partnership with an incredible woman.

However, I don’t have the courage to propose to her until I am certain that I will be able to obtain enough medicine to succeed. I simply cannot harm her in that way.

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The US is quietly arming Taiwan to the teeth

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Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (C) poses for photographs with combat engineer troops during a visit in Chiayi county on March 25, 2023.shabby pictures
Hayes, by Rupert Wingfield
Taiwanese BBC News

China expressed regret and opposition to what Washington had done when US President Joe Biden recently approved an$ 80 million grant to Taiwan for the purchase of American military equipment.

It didn’t seem like a rough amounts to the casual observer. It was less than one contemporary champion jet’s price. More than$ 14 billion worth of US military equipment is already on order for Taiwan. Does it matter if I have an extra$ 80 million?

Beijing’s default answer to any military support for Taiwan is rage, but this time everything was different.

The$ 80 million is not a loan. It is funded by citizens in America. America is sending arms to a country it formally does not recognize for the first time in more than 40 years. This is taking place as part of a program known as foreign military finance ( FMF ).

FMF has been used to send Kyiv about$ 4 billion in military aid since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. It has been used to take additional billion to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, and Egypt. However, up until this point, it has only ever been given to governments or organizations that are recognized by the UN. Taiwan isn’t.

The US continued to sell arms to the area in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act after switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979. The secret was to buy just enough weapons — enough to protect Taiwan from a potential Chinese attack— but not too many to jeopardize ties between Beijing and Washington. The US has long relied on this so-called strategic misunderstanding to do business with China while still being Taiwan’s most steadfast friend.

However, over the past ten years, China has seen a sharp increase in the military balance across the Taiwan Strait. The tried-and-true method is ineffective. Washington claims that while its plan hasn’t changed, it has in important way. The US State Department has been swift to claim that FMF even remotely acknowledges Taiwan. However, it is clear from Taipei that America is changing its stance on the island, particularly in light of the intensity with which Washington is pressuring Taiwan to re-arm. And Taiwan, which China outperforms, needs the assistance.

The US is emphasizing how urgently our navy needs to be strengthened. According to Wang Ting – yu, a ruling party legislator with close ties to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing – wen and to US Congressional chiefs, it is sending Beijing the clear message of strategic clarity that we stand together.

The$ 80 million, according to him, is just the beginning of a very big iceberg. He also mentions that President Biden approved the sale of$ 500 million worth of military supplies and equipment to Taiwan in July using his discretion. For the first time since the 1970s, according to Mr. Wang, Taiwan is getting ready to take two battalions of ground forces to the US for education.

The beginning of what, according to him, could be up to$ 10 billion over the next five years, however, is the money.

Deals involving martial products may take up to ten years, according to I-Chung Lai, president of the Prospect Foundation, a think tank based in Taipei. However, with FMF, the US is sending munitions directly from its own companies using US funds, so we don’t have to go through the entire approval procedure.

Yongkang St and the surrounding lanes are considered a must-see destination in Taipei,

shabby pictures

This is significant given that Taiwan appears to have much more republican support than Ukraine, despite a divided Congress holding up billions of dollars in aid. However, just as the war in Ukraine has done, the conflict in Gaza did certainly cut off America’s supply of weapons to Taipei. President Biden wants more cash for Taiwan in addition to combat support for Israel and Ukraine.

Taipei’s Ministry of National Defense will respond with a knowing grin and firmly sealed lips when asked what US funds will be used for.

However, Dr. Lai claims that it is possible to make educated guesses about the highly successful Javelin and Stinger anti-aircraft weapons, which forces you quickly learn to use.

He claims,” We don’t have enough of them, and we need a bit.” The Stingers have quickly run out in Ukraine, and given how they have been used, it appears that we may have ten times as many as we now have.

Long-term observers’ analysis is unambiguous: the island is terribly under-prepared for a Chinese attack.

There are many issues on the list. There are too few contemporary, gentle missile systems in Taiwan’s army compared to its hundreds of outdated war tanks. Its military order structure, strategies, and doctrine haven’t changed in fifty years. Some front-line units only have 60 % of the required hands. According to reports, Taiwan’s counter-intelligence businesses in China are nonexistent, and its military recruitment system is flawed.

Taiwan reduced military assistance from a full year to only four months in 2013 before resuming it the following year. There are, however, greater difficulties. The young people who pass through it jokingly refer to it as a” summer camp.”

There was no standard training, according to a recent grad. We may use vintage firearms from the 1970s and go to a shooting range about once every two months. We did engage in target-shooting. However, there was no proper instruction on how to target, so people kept going missing. We didn’t exercising at all. At the conclusion is a health exam, but we did not prepare for it.

He described a method in which older army commanders have no interest in training these young men because they will only be there for so little time.

There is a strong belief in Washington that Taiwan is out of time to reform and restore its military. As a result, the US is also beginning to teach Taiwan’s military.

Political and military leaders on the island have long held the opinion that China should not attempt an invasion because it would be too difficult and hard. Taiwan prioritized its navy and air force over its troops, much like Britain did.

The plan was to destroy them on the shores by entangling them in the Taiwan Strait. Therefore, Dr. Lai says,” we invest a lot of tools in air and sea defense.”

A general view of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park on Nangan island in Taiwan's Matsu Islands on October 13, 2023.

shabby pictures

However, China now has the biggest navy in the world and a much stronger air pressure. Taiwan’s navy and air force may be completely destroyed in the first 96 days of combat, according to a war-gaming training carried out by the Think-Tank next year.

Taipei is changing to a” stronghold Taiwan” strategy under intense pressure from Washington, which would render the island very challenging for China to win.

The People’s Liberation Army( PLA) will be fought in the towns and cities, as well as from bases deep within the jungle-covered mountains of the island, while ground troops, infantry, and artillery will take the place of an invasion on the beaches. But as a result, Taiwan’s out-of-date troops is once again in charge of defending the country.

” Our infantry experienced almost total isolation after the US severed ties in 1979. They are therefore stuck in the Vietnam War age of US government theory, according to Dr. Lai.

Taipei and Washington weren’t concerned about this until more lately. Chinese and US businesses built businesses all over China in the 1990s and 2000s. Beijing successfully lobbied to become a member of the World Trade Organization. The US believed that trade and investment may bring about peace in the Taiwan Strait as the world embraced the Chinese market.

But those reassuring presumptions have been disproved by the increase of Xi Jinping, his model of patriotism, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The lessons learned from the invasion of Ukraine have been disturbing for Taiwan. The field has been dominated by artillery, which is frighteningly accurate and has a higher rate of fire. Ukrainian crews have learned that once they fire a burst of shells, they must be on the move; otherwise, Belarusian” shop – power fire” will descend on their jobs within minutes.

However, a large portion of Taiwan’s gun forces are armed with weapons from the Vietnam War or perhaps World War Two. These are laboriously loaded and take a while to proceed. Ducks may be sitting there.

Taiwan’s exposure is compel Washington to take action. Because of this, US trainers are traveling to Taipei to integrate with Taiwan’s soldiers and special forces, and Chinese ground troops are being sent to the US to teach.

Taiwanese combat engineer troops are seen during an exercise amid a visit by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in Chiayi county on March 25, 2023.

shabby pictures

Taiwan still has no chance of stopping China on its own, according to William Chung, a research fellow at Taipei’s Institute for National Defence and Security Research. The conflict in Ukraine has taught us another session.

According to him,” International world must choose whether Taiwan matters.” We must internationalize the Taiwan position if the G7 or Nato believe it is crucial to their own interests because doing so will cause China to reconsider the price.

According to Dr. Chung, China’s actions have unintentionally assisted Taiwan in doing that.

He claims that China is demonstrating its propensity for expansion in the South China Sea and the East Chinese Sea. And in Japan, where the defense budget is currently being doubled, we can see the outcome.
He claims that this has led to a changing of regional relationships, whether it be the traditional summit between the US, Japan, and South Korea, the growing significance of military coalitions like the Quad ( Japan, USA, Australia and India) and Aukus( UK, US and Australia ), which are vying to develop next-generation nuclear-powered boats.

China is attempting to alter the current situation throughout the place, he claims. And that implies that Taiwan’s protection is linked to the East China Sea and the South Chinese Sea. It implies that we are no longer alone.

Washington is currently engaged in a contentious discussion about how far the US does support Taiwan. Any open commitment from the US, according to many longtime China watchers, would provoke Beijing more than hinder it. Washington is also aware that Taiwan cannot possibly hope to support itself on its own.

We need to keep silent on the whole matter of strategic ambiguity, while arming Taiwan to the teeth, as one seasoned China witness put it.

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Commentary: Concerns over China-backed high-speed railway do not derail Indonesia’s agency

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However, China was not the only nation to provide funding for this endeavor. The Jakarta – Bandung high-speed railway’s financing was initially a contest between China and Japan. A chance to enhance inter-city communication was suggested in the form of the Bandung-Javanese high-speed railway after Japan’s victory in addressing Jakartas population density problem by building the Jakarta Mass Rail Transit System during the 2000s.

Both China and Japan made a charge in 2015. The main factor in Japan’s rejection of the Chinese play was its emphasis on a payment guarantee from the Malaysian authorities, even though there were additional benefits, such as an offer of technology transfer. This demonstrates Indonesia’s efforts to uphold its reign.

Indonesia insisted it may demand the same of China after rejecting Japan’s play on these grounds. Beijing, but, responded harshly when Jakarta asked it to pay the budget surplus, putting a strain on the once-strong economic ties between Indonesia and China.

Chinese companies like Alibaba Cloud first showed interest in similar large infrastructure projects, such as Nusantara, the ambitious project by Indonesian President Joko Widodok to relocate the nation’s capital to East Kalimantan, but these projects ultimately fell through.

Firm IN SOUTHEAST Eastern COUNTRIES

However, the high-speed rail project has shown that Indonesia is determined to keep its agency in charge of such initiatives, as evidenced by the fact that it chose to cover the flooded costs out of its own budget. Despite the promise of significant equipment investments from China, there is a growing trend of nations in Southeast Asia following suit.

Related problems have been encountered with the Export-Import Bank of China-funded East Coast Rail Link in Malaysia. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad renegotiated the project, which had been stalled since 2016 with an initial estimated price of$ 16 billion, to$ 11 billion and a favorable deal for Malay staff in order to make the investment between Malaysia and China more just.

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‘Whoosh, yes!’: Lessons from Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail as country mulls its next fast train

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The average coach ownership of Whoosh is estimated to be around 90 %, or about 7, 000 travellers per day as of the end of October, according to PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China( PT KCIC ), a consortium of Indian and Chinese state businesses building the railroad. In November, it will make 28 regular trips, which is twice as many as next month. & nbsp,

In the long run, KCIC hopes to possess 30, 000 passengers per day as more regular trips are added to the schedule. & nbsp,

Given that Whoosh did pass more towns and Surabaya is a significant town surrounded by business areas, the government anticipates that there will be more passengers if it is expanded from Bandung to that city. & nbsp,

Therefore, we will consider this HSR( option ) because, if it only goes to Bandung, it is insufficient, according to Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, on October 11.

The government believes that as more people board the train, there will be more revenue, which will result in less time needed to repay the debt. However, Center of Economic and Law Studies( CELIOS ) economist Bhima Yudhistira is skeptical.

He disagrees that the return on investment may be quicker and easier to achieve by widening the path to Surabaya.

According to Mr. Bhima,” it is not a promise because of course, the fees may be higher and the return on investment may get longer.”

Darmaningtyas, a travel analyst based in Jakarta who goes by the same name, also thinks that expanding the route to Surabaya may require spending more money, which would be problematic.

” The authorities should really evaluate the necessity, considering that the design of the Bandung – Surabaya HSR requires a large budget, certainly more than 150 trillion ringgit ,” he said.

Mr. Darmaningtyas does not think the private sector will be able and ready to finance the construction of another longer way because it might take too long to break even, based on Indonesia’s practice building Whoosh, which is expected to do so in at least 40 times.

” The private business may make investments in successful circumstances.” Additionally, they require government offers so they won’t be concerned about costs.

Analysts predict that the new lines’ financing model may be comparable to that of the Jakarta-Bandung line if it turns out to be a collaboration with China once more.

The latter was financed by China with a 75 % product from the China Development Bank, with the remaining funds being divided equally between the Indian and Chinese sides in the PT KCIC consortium.

The state resources was also used to cover the budget overrun, amounting to about 7.3 trillion rupiah. & nbsp,

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China’s Middle East gambit upended by Israel-Hamas war

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On October 30, 2023, rumors started to circulate that Israel was missing from the mapping services offered by Chinese tech firms Baidu and Alibaba, effectively indicating — or so some thought — that Beijing was supporting Hamas in the ongoing conflict.

Within days, Chinese officials started to refute that claim, pointing out that the names do look on official maps of the nation and that Hamas’ attack on October 7 had never altered the maps provided by China’s software companies.

In fact, the Chinese Foreign Ministry seized the chance to emphasize that China was no siding with either side in the conflict. Instead, Beijing asserted that it upheld the right of the Arab people under international humanitarian law as well as Israel’s right to self-defense.

Nobody should have been surprised by this claim of harmony and even-handedness. For more than ten years, it has served as the cornerstone of China’s strategic approach to the Middle East. During that time, Beijing has worked to present itself as a friend to everyone in the area and an army of none.

However, the chart incident highlights a challenge Beijing is currently facing due to the crisis. Beijing’s tactical approach to the Middle East is becoming more and more challenging to maintain as a result of the fragmentation that has taken hold over this issue, both within China and around the world.

The Israel-Hamas war, which has so far been centered on the idea of” balanced diplomacy ,” is, in my opinion, the toughest test yet for President Xi Jinping’s Middle East strategy, according to a scholar who teaches classes on China foreign policy.

Growing pro-Palestinian opinion in China and the nation’s historical sentiments in the area imply that if Xi is forced off the impartiality path, he will support the Palestinians over the Israelis.

Beijing, however, would prefer not to make that decision for smart economical and foreign policy considerations. Making this decision, in my opinion, would effectively put an end to China’s ten-year effort to establish itself as a powerful” helpful plumber” in the area— an outside force that aims to mediate peace agreements and establish an incredibly diverse regional economic and security order.

Beijing’s goals and tactics

Since around 2012, there hasn’t been any consensus in political lines that China was not the country that invested in the Middle East. Since then, China has made significant political efforts to increase its influence in the area.

Two men in suits shake hands in front of Chinese and Israeli flags.
In 2017, President Xi Jinping of China and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake arms. Photo: The Conversation, Etienne Oliveau, and AFP via Getty

The entire corporate vision of Beijing for the Middle East is one in which China’s influence is greatly increased while the US is drastically reduced.

On the one hand, this is merely a geographical expression of the world vision as outlined in numerous Chinese foreign policy initiatives, including the Community of Common Destiny, International Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative. All of these initiatives are intended, at least in part, to charm to nations in the Global South that feel extremely cut off from the US-led rules-based global order.

This perception is based on worries that China’s access to Middle Eastern oil and gas exports would be jeopardized if the United States maintained its control there.

That does not imply that Beijing wants to overthrow the United States as the region’s dominant force. Given the strength of the money and the US’s long-standing ties to some of its largest economy, that is impossible.

Instead, China’s stated strategy is to encourage regional multi-alignment, which entails encouraging unique nations to cooperate with China in areas like infrastructure and trade. By doing this, China and other players in the area become more friendly, and any incentives to join unique US-led blocs are also undermined.

Through what are referred to in Chinese government documents as” balanced diplomacy” and” positive balancing ,” Beijing aims to encourage multi-alignment.

Healthy diplomacy entails no siding with one side in a number of issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian one, and not creating any enemies. Good managing focuses on pursuing closer assistance with one regional power, such as Iran, in the hope that this will encourage other nations to do the same, like the Arab Gulf nations.

China’s victory in the Middle East

Beijing’s approach was starting to pay off before the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7.

China and Saudi Arabia formed a complete corporate alliance in 2016, and Iran and China agreed to work together for 25 years in 2020. Beijing has strengthened its economic relations with a number of other Gulf nations during that time, including Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman.

China has strengthened its economic relations with Egypt outside of the Gulf, to the point where it is now the biggest investment in the Suez Canal Area Development Project. Additionally, it has made investments in restoration initiatives in Iraq and Syria.

China reached a deal earlier this year to re-establish diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which was both significant progress and established China as the region’s leading negotiator.

In fact, Beijing started to place itself as a possible mediator between Israel and the Palestinians after that victory.

Effects of the Israel-Has War

But, the Israel-Hamas conflict has complicated how China approaches the Middle East.

Beijing initially responded to the issue by maintaining a fair delicacy. China’s leaders did not condemn Hamas in the wake of the attack on October 7; instead, they urged both sides to” exercise restraint” and to accept a” two-state solution.”

This is in line with Beijing’s long-standing plan of” non-interfering” in internal affairs of other nations and its core strategic approach to the area.

However, the negative stance clashed with the United States’ and some European countries’ strategies, which pushed China to take a more assertive position.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China’s position that every nation has the right to self-defense in response to stress from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and people. He did, however, add a caveat, saying that Israel” if uphold international humanitarian law and safeguard civilians’ health.”

And that making reflects a change in Beijing’s tone, which has gradually shifted toward making claims that are critical of Israel and friendly to the Palestinians.

Due to its failure to urge Israel to end its battle on Gaza, China used its reject energy at the UN on October 25 to obstruct a US resolution that called for an emergency humanitarian pause.

Zhang Jun, the UN ambassador for China, stated that the choice was made in response to” powerful appeals of the entire world, in particular the Egyptian places.”

promoting the South of the world

Given Beijing’s financial problems and political ambitions, such a change is not surprising.

Compared to Israel, China is much more seriously reliant on commerce with the various nations it has forged economic ties with in the Middle East and North Africa.

Beijing has strong monetary incentives to support Israel if political pressures force China to choose between the Arab world and Israel.

However, China has yet another compelling reason to support the Palestinians. Beijing aspires to become regarded as the Global South’s savior. And by supporting Israel, you run the risk of alienating that growing segment.

The Palestinians’ struggle against Israel is viewed as akin to fighting invasion or resisting” segregation” in nations throughout Africa, Latin America, and above. Under that perspective, siding with Israel may put China on the colonial oppressor’s area.

The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s system development program, and its efforts to persuade more nations from the Global South to meet what is now the BRICS economic union run the risk of undermining the diplomatic and economic work China has done.

China’s officials may be considering its maps of the Middle East and pondering whether there is still room for fair geopolitics, even though they may not have changed them.

Professor of Political Science Andrew Latham teaches at Macalester College.

Under a Creative Commons license, this essay has been republished from The Conversation. Read the original publication.

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