I Overview
China:
• Politburo meets on economic work for 2021
• Central Economic Work Conference Held
• Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng clarifies on “Wolf Warrior Diplomacy”
• FM Wang Yi takes stock of China’s Diplomacy for 2021
• EAM Jaishankar says India – China ties have been “significantly damaged”
• India issues a National Security Directive on Telecom Sector
Japan:
• Japan sets record US $ 52 billion military budget
• Quad consultations take place to further decisions taken at FM le
All Posts (20)
I Overview
China:
• 5th Plenary Session of Central Committee of CPC held
• China’s Reaction to Malabar Naval Exercises
• India – China Border Imbroglio Continues
• G-20, SCO and BRICS Summits held virtually – PM Modi and Xi both attend
Japan:
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Tokyo
• Japanese start-up Ispace Inc. to design lunar landers for NASA
• Japan’s Consumer Prices fall at fastest rate in October 2020
• Australia and Japan conclude Reciprocal Access Agreement
South Korea:
•
I Overview
China:
• China’s Politburo holds Study Session on Quantum Science and Technology
• China posts good economic results for Q3
• China to impose sanctions on US firms selling arms to Taiwan
• 5th Plenary Session of Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee meeting in Beijing
• India – China border faceoff continues
Japan:
• Quad Foreign Ministers meet at Tokyo
• External Affairs Minister Jaishankar meets his Japanese counterpart
• PM Suga delivers policy speech at opening of spec
I Overview
China:
• Foreign Ministers meet at Moscow
• Local Commanders meet at Chushul/Moldo
• China – EU Summit held
• TikTok arrives at agreement with Oracle
Japan:
• PM Abe steps down; Suga takes over as new PM
• PM Modi speaks telephonically with PM Suga
• Senior Officials of Quad meet virtually
• PM Suga holds telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi
• PM Suga addresses the UN General Assembly
Hong Kong:
• Human rights situation in HK comes up at UN Human Rights Council
No
I Overview
China:
• Industrial output rises in July
• India – China border situation continues to fester
• Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign against the police in China
• Pakistan FM Qureshi visits counterpart Wang Yi in China
Japan:
• Japan is warned by China not to ban TikTok
• Japan marks 75th Anniversary of atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• Japanese shipping firm considers compensation for Mauritius oil spill
• Shinzo Abe becomes Japan’s longest continuously serving PM
Ho
I Overview
China:
• Chinese Economy posts positive growth in Q2
• China undertakes Phase – 2 trials of an anti Covid-19 vaccine
• China launches its first Mars mission
• China told to close its Consulate General in Houston, retaliates by shutting US Consulate General in Chengdu
Japan:
• Covid cases spike in Japan
• Japan’s H-2A Rocket launches UAE Mars probe
• Annual Defense of Japan White Paper released
South Korea:
• South Korean economy contracts in Q2
• South Korean Trade Minister v
SPECIAL ISSUE
• INDIA – CHINA BORDER STANDOFF AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
What is happening in Eastern Ladakh?
In early May 2020, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) moved several divisions of its troops to the area, under the pretense of conducting exercises there. Since there were large numbers of troops involved along several locations of a stretch of the India – China border, it is now obvious that these moves were planned, pre-meditated and carefully camouflaged.
On the ground, what the PLA att
I Overview
China:
• India – China Border Imbroglio
• China issues a White Paper on its efforts to tackle Covid-19
• Resurgence of Covid-19 in Beijing
• US and China top diplomats meet in Hawaii
Japan:
• PM Abe announces a second stimulus package
• Japan’s handling of Covid-19
• Japanese Defense Minister warns of China’s intentions in Asia
South Korea:
• PM Modi greets President of South Korea on 70th Anniversary of Outbreak of Korean War
North Korea:
• North Korea blows up office shar
I Overview
China:
• The “2 Sessions” to be held soon
• Australia presses the World Health Assembly to undertake an independent investigation into the causes of spread of Covid-19
• Indian and Chinese border patrols cross paths in the Himalayan border region
• Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Power Station construction awarded to a China – Pakistan JV
Japan:
• Japan partially lifts state of emergency announced due to Covid-19
• Japan supports Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly
• Japan lau
H I G H L I G H T S
• Overview
• Developments in China
• Developments in Japan
• Developments in South Korea
• US-China Trade and Technology War
I Overview
China:
• China quietly increases number of deaths in Wuhan city due to Corona virus by 50%
• China’s Economy contracted in Q1
• Leadership meetings held in Beijing
• China’s purchase of Indian assets and changes in our FDI rules
Japan:
• Tokyo Olympics Postponed to 2021
• PM Abe declares state of emergency in Japan and unveils a stim
MARCH 2020 | VOL 02 ISSUE 02 | MONTHLY
|
|
|
I Overview |
I Overview
China:
• Outbreak of the Corona Virus
• President Xi Jinping visits Myanmar
• India – China Trade down in 2019 as compared with 2018
• China’s Great Wall Motors to buy GM plant
• Huawei permitted to participate in 5G trials in India
Japan:
• Japan confirms 3 new cases of corona virus
• PM Abe considering Moscow visit in May
• Former Emperor Akihito Collapses and Loses Consciousness
Hong Kong:
• 10 cases of corona virus in HK
The US – China Trade and Technology War:
• Phase – 1 Deal ma
Overview
Japan:
• G-20 Summit
• Japan-USA-India (JAI) interaction at Osaka
China:
• Russia-India-China (RIC) Trilateral Summit Meeting at Osaka
• BRICS Leaders Meeting at Osaka
• Hong Kong
• Next India-China Informal Summit
DPR Korea (North Korea)
• Chinese President Xi visits Pyongyang
• President Trump meets Kim Jong-un at the DMZ
The US – China Trade and Technology War
• Negotiations Resume
Developments in Japan
G-20 Summit
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted the 14th G-20 Summit at Osaka
I Overview
Japan:
• India – Japan Annual Summit Postponed
• PM Abe to visit China for Trilateral Summit
• PM Abe to meet South Korean President Moon
China:
• 22nd Round of Special Representatives meeting on Boundary Issues held
• China’s attempt to raise Kashmir again at UN Security Council thwarted
• Macau marks 20th anniversary of return to China
• Annual Central Economic Work Conference held
Hong Kong:
• HK protests continue
The US – China Trade and Technology War:
• Phase – 1 Trade Deal in s
I Overview
Japan:
• Japanese PM Abe to visit India in December for Annual Summit
• Japan-South Korea decode to continue with their bilateral GSOMIA
• Japan hosts G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting
China:
• Fourth Plenum of 19th Central Committee held at Beijing
• US Vice President Spence elaborates on US Policy towards China
• India and China announce 70 activities to mark the 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
Hong Kong:
• Huge victory for pro-democracy candidates in District Council Elections
I Overview
Japan:
• Enthronement of Japanese Emperor Naruhito
• Typhoon Hagibis hits Japan
China:
• 2nd India-China Informal Summit at Mamallapuram
• Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s visit to China
• Chinese President Xi visits Nepal
- 9th Xiangshan Forum held at Beijing
Hong Kong:
• Protest and Violence continue in Hong Kong
• HK Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited Japan for the Enthronement Ceremony
The US – China Trade and Technology War
• A ray of light in the trade and technology war
II Developments in
I Overview |
Japan: |
Overview
Japan:
• Japan-South Korea Relations Deteriorate
China:
• China's Reaction to Revocation of Article 370
• Visit to China of EAM Dr. Jaishankar
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
The US – China Trade and Technology War
• Differences Persist Despite Discussions
Developments in Japan
Japan- South Korea Relations Deteriorate
Over the past few months, relations between Japan and South Korea have taken a sharp downturn and last week the South Korean government announced that it was withdrawing from an
Overview
China:
• China hosts Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations
• President Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia
• Protests in Hong Kong
• PM Modi and President Xi meet in Bishkek
Japan:
• US President Trump visits Japan
• PM Abe visits Iran
The US – China Trade War
Developments in China
China hosts Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations
In the backdrop of the US-China trade and technology conflict, with a view to negating the Huntington theory of a ‘clash of civilizations’, China
Overview
China:
• 2nd Belt and Road Forum
• Listing of Masood Azhar at the UN
• US-China Trade War Shifts into Higher Gear
• Indian Navy Participates in the 70th Anniversary Celebrations of PLA Navy (PLAN) at Qingdao
Japan:
• New Reiwa Era Begins
• Navies of Japan, India, US and Philippines Demonstrate Joint Presence in the South China Sea
DPR Korea (North Korea):
• North Korea Launches Two Short-Range Missiles
Developments in China
2nd Belt and Road Forum
China hosted the 2nd Belt and Road For
About the Author
Ambassador Gautam Bambawale
Former Ambassador of India to China and Distinguished Fellow, Ananta Centre Former Ambassador to Bhutan, China and High Commissioner to Pakistan
Ambassador (Retd) Gautam Bambawale was a member of the Indian Foreign Service from 1984 to 2018. He was India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Pakistan and China.
Bambawale was stationed in Washington DC in 2004-07 during the Indo-US nuclear deal which transformed ties between the two countries. He has been India’s first Consul General in Guangzhou (China) 2007-09. He was Director of the Indian Cultural Centre, Berlin 1994-98.
Ambassador Bambawale worked in the Prime Minister’s Office 2002-04. At the Ministry of External Affairs he was Joint Secretary for East Asia from 2009-2014. Bambawale has dealt with China for 15 years of his 34 year diplomatic career. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and German.
Ambassador Bambawale is currently Distinguished Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Symbiosis International University, Pune and teaches a course on Diplomacy and International Governance at the Symbiosis School of International Studies. He has an M.Phil. in Economics from the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune.