Explain why disputes are intensifying in the south china sea

The story so far: On June 17, China unveiled its first indigenous aircraft carrier , the new-generation Fujian. Touted to be the most-advanced aircraft carrier so far, it marks a milestone for a nation that is looking to extend its military power, especially in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Also Read China’s ‘inevitable’ global dominance The Fujian has been named after China’s eastern coastal province which lies across from Taiwan. It was launched near Shanghai amid heightened tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan . With the launch of the Fujian, China now has the most number of aircraft carriers after the U.S. The Fujian joins two other carriers currently operated by China — Shandong (Type 001), commissioned in 2019, and the Liaoning (Type 002), bought second-hand from Ukraine in 1998. The Fujian and its capabilities Fujian was completely designed and built domestically, as per Chinese state broadcaster CCTV . Under construction … [Read more...] about Explained | China’s new high-tech aircraft carrier Fujian and its advanced catapult system

India and Vietnam signed on Wednesday a Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 and also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries. While the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 is expected to significantly enhance the scope and scale of existing defence cooperation between the two countries, the logistics support agreement signed by Vietnam with any country is said to be a major step towards simplifying procedures for mutually beneficial logistic support. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day tour to Vietnam, met his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Giang in Hanoi during which they agreed on the early finalisation of the $500 million Defence Line of Credit extended to Vietnam. To this effect, the defence ministry said the implementation of the projects will add substantially to Vietnam’s … [Read more...] about India-Vietnam Defence Pacts Aim at Bolstering Maritime Security Amidst China’s Growing Presence in Region

HONG KONG/HAIKOU (China Daily/Asia News Network): The Hong Kong Observatory said it would consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No 3 on Thursday (June 30) evening as tropical storm Chaba intensified. The observatory issued typhoon signal No 1 at 9:10pm on Wednesday. "In the past few hours, Chaba gradually tracked north, and intensified slightly," the observatory said in a special cyclone warning bulletin issued at 2.45am Thursday. "According to the present forecast track, Chaba continues to edge closer to the coast of western Guangdong. Local winds will strengthen gradually tonight. The observatory will consider issuing the Strong Wind Signal No 3 then," it added Chaba, estimated to be about 660km south of Hong Kong at 3pm Thursday, is forecast to move north-northwest at about 15 kilometers per hour in the general direction of the coast of western Guangdong, the HKO said. “The outer rainbands associated with Chaba are already affecting the territory,” the bulletin reads. … [Read more...] about Hong Kong to consider issuing typhoon signal No 3

Russian troops withdrawing from Ukraine's Snake Island in the Black Sea, after repeated bombardments, could have wide-ranging significance, current and former Ukrainian officials have said. Snake Island became globally famous thanks to the now-legendary "go f*** yourself" response of the defending garrison when told to surrender to a Russian warship. Moscow has explained the withdrawal as a "gesture of goodwill" that shows Russia is "not impeding [United Nations] efforts to organize a humanitarian corridor to ship agricultural products from Ukraine," and avoid catastrophic global food shortages. But Ukrainian officials have dismissed Russia's explanation and declared the regaining of the island after 127 days of occupation as a significant strategic and symbolic victory. Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Ukraine's former defense minister, told Newsweek the forced Russian withdrawal denies Moscow use of what was essentially an "unsinkable ship." The island hosted Russian … [Read more...] about Ukraine “big victory” at Snake Island could be a turning point

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Tamil Nadu Director-General of Police C. Sylendra Babu counters the criticism over law and order in the State. He also explains the steps taken by the police to prevent crimes and to ensure women’ s safety, the drive against rowdy elements and operation ‘ganja vettai’. A spate of murders in Chennai — one incident happened on the eve of the Prime Minister’s recent visit — and elsewhere has triggered allegations of a poor law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. How do you react to this? The spate of crimes of murder in Chennai itself is a made-up story. The Commissioner of Police, Chennai City, clarified that it was not 20 murders in May as projected, but it was only 10. And, in eight of these murders ,there was no previous enmity between the victim and the accused! They were all due to sudden provocation. On the allegations of poor law and order, let us take a look at the present situation. There are no caste clashes, communal violence, … [Read more...] about Policing with a view to preventing crimes: DGP

Boris Johnson’s “illegal” law to scrap parts of his own Brexit deal passed its first hurdle last night - despite outrage from some Tory MPs. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill won a ‘second reading’ in the Commons by 295 votes to 221, and will now get detailed scrutiny in Parliament. It was carried through on Tory and DUP votes while Labour , the Lib Dems, SNP and other opposition parties voted against. Theresa May said it was not “legal under international law” and did not “maintain the standing of the UK in the eyes of the world”. Ex-Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell said it “brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty”, adding: "It trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally." And Simon Hoare, chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said it was “a failure of statecraft and it puts at risk the reputation of the United Kingdom. The arguments … [Read more...] about How your MP voted on ‘illegal’ Brexit Bill – full list of 72 Tories who failed to back it

As the Chennai Rainbow Pride Parade returned after a two-year gap on Sunday, the unassuming Langs Garden Road, Egmore turned into a riot of colour and song. Flags were aloft, drums were beating, speakers were blaring, as an estimated 7,000 people showed up over four hours. “In 2019, we had around 3,000 participants. This year, the crowd is larger after two years of COVID,” says transwoman G Sankari, co-founder of Nirangal Charitable Trust, one of the organisations that form Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition that unites to organise this parade. Sankari takes a couple of minutes to sit down and get her breath back, after hours of cheering and chanting with participants old and new. Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their supporters take part in the pride march in Chennai on Sunday | Photo Credit: B VELANKANNI RAJ Amid all the joyous mayhem, however, there also stood the quiet ones. The ones standing shy by their friends, others speaking gently when spoken to, a few keeping just … [Read more...] about Thousands celebrate as Chennai Rainbow Pride Parade returns after two-year gap