Tag: Russia

Brief Summary of Indo-China conflict and the role US has played over the years

Due to the clash between soldiers of both the countries – India and China around Pangong Lake in Ladakh, one thing is clear that nobody knows what’s coming up next. Once India’s friendship with China seemed natural as the country has put socialist principles in its national constitution and prided on taking a neutral stand during the cold war. Under its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, India was interested in broadening ties with other socialist nations, including Russia & China. But factors more powerful than the ideologies knocked off the relationship leading to tensions and war-like situations today.

At first, the relationship was all smiles based on five principles enunciated under the Panchsheel Agreement: mutual non-aggression, mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful coexistence and equality and mutual benefit. A slogan also went out, “Hindi Chini Bhai-Bhai”– India and China are brothers.

But soon, India and China started to disagree on the border between the two nations. All thanks in part to the legacy of certain colonial boundaries. The Ardagh- Johnson Line was drawn by British India that showed Aksai Chin inside Jammu& Kashmir in India. This didn’t go down well with China as they never accepted this border. Instead, they argued for Macartney-MacDonald Line, a later boundary that gave it more territory.

There were talks in India in 1960 between Nehru and Zhou Enlai, the Chinese Premier to address border issues but no solutions came up. Keen to maintain the strategic relationship between the two countries, India hosted Dalai Lama when he fled and kept funding resistance movements in Tibet.

The brotherhood died after the two nations went to war. The events of 1962 are broadly seen as humiliating domestically for India.

Even more critical to understand India- China relationship is an alliance between Pakistan & China. As both have border issues with India, a common goal emerged. In recent years, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his predecessors have maintained deeper ties with China through initiatives such as Chinese funding for Gwadar port, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and other economic initiatives. Because of this, Pakistan’s cooperation with the US has also crumbled up under pressure. If another Cold War happens, it already seems Pakistan has chosen its side.

This has helped India to strengthen its relationship with the US. India choosing free markets was a drastic change for the nation, and a shift to the Western economic sphere soon followed. As India started seeing high rates of growth, it started becoming China’s competitor. India also managed to tighten relations with American allies such as Vietnam and Japan.

Today, the United States plays a key role in the Indo-China relationship. In recent times, India has sought to strengthen ties with the US, powered by fear of Chinese political and economic influence in the region. Even since the Chinese have got more aggressive in the Indian Ocean, India is seeking an ally in the US to bolster deterrence.

All this clearly shows we are a long way in Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai.

 

 

Putin for life?

Russia may have command of Putin till 2036, know how it is possible.

In 1999, Indian politics was going through a period of instability. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister at that time, but he had to leave the chair within 13 months. Two months after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin knocked into power in Russia.  Since 1999, India has seen three Prime Ministers but Putin is still the President of Russia and this sequence can continue till 2036. The people of Russia have supported the necessary constitutional amendment for Putin to remain in power till 2036 in the referendum. According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, the ballot count is almost complete and 78 per cent of the people have supported the constitutional amendment so far. On the other hand, the opposition has accused the government of disturbing the voting. Let us know that Putin’s current six-year term is ending in 2024. Russia’s constitution prescribes a two-term term for the presidency, so after 2024, Putin would have to be out of power.
Putin has been the President of Russia from 1999 to 2008 and from 2012 till now. He was also the Prime Minister of Russia in 1999 and till 2008-12. If 67-year-old Putin remains in power in Russia until 2036, then his age will be 83 years.


The date of the referendum on constitution amendment was fixed earlier on 22 April but due to the Corona epidemic, it had to be postponed.  Apart from allowing Putin to serve two terms of the president, the referendum also includes about 200 other amendments. This includes issues like guarantee pension and bans on gay marriage.  This amendment will also increase Putin’s dominance over Ukraine.
In January, when the entire cabinet of Putin, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, resigned, there was speculation that Putin was going to make a big perversion. It is now clear that this was done to ease the process of the constitution amendment process.

Putin first became president in 1999 for the first time. He held this post after Boris Yeltsin resigned. Before joining politics, he used to work in the Soviet Union’s intelligence agency KGB.  The constitution of Russia allows the president only for two consecutive terms. Hence Putin became Prime Minister after his initial two terms.
When Putin crossed this deadline in 2008, he swapped positions with Medvedev very easily.  However, he remained in control of the government even during this.
Putin has been in power in Russia since 1999.  After Stalin, the record for the longest tenure in the name of Putin is recorded. Leader of the Opposition Alexei Navalny said in an interview that all the changes are simply giving the same message that Putin is not going to give up power in any case. After this new step, some editorial articles are also saying how stupid those people were who were talking of Putin’s farewell in 2024!