NIAS Area Studies
PAKISTAN READER
Photo : CNS Photo
IN BRIEF
By Keerthana Nambiar
INTERNATIONAL
Taiwan: Chinese FM spokesperson reinstates ‘Taiwan is not Ukraine’
On 28 March, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded to the remarks made by the top US military commander in the Indo-Pacific. Wang said: “We have made it clear many times that there is a fundamental difference between the Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue and there is no analogy between the two.” He further reinstated that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and fundamentally different from Ukraine, which is a sovereign state,” reported Global times. He also pointed out that this is a “deliberate analogy” made to create a new crisis at the expense of regional stability. (“‘Taiwan is not Ukraine,’ linking the two is to create new crisis across Taiwan Straits: Chinese FM,” Global Times, 28 March 2022)
COVID-19: The new Stealth variant of COVID-19 is now prompting surges worldwide
On 29 March, Reuters reported on the sub-variant of the highly transmissible Omicron variant known as BA.2. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the BA.2 variant is more transmissible and hi9ghly contagious than other Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.1.1. This stealth variant is spreading rapidly in China, Germany, the UK. (“Explainer: Omicron 'stealth' COVID variant BA.2 now dominant globally,” Reuters, 29 March 2022)
Pacific Islands: Solomon Islands PM makes a statement on the leaked security document with China
On 29 March, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare made a statement in the parliament regarding the leaked security document with China. PM Sogavare said: “We are not pressured in any way by our new friends and there is no intention whatsoever to ask China to build a military base in the Solomon Islands”. The Solomon Islands had previously contacted Australia regarding building a naval base which Canberra refused given its defense program with Papua New Guinea. PM further confirmed that the Solomon Islands has no intention “of pitching into any geopolitical power struggle.” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern commented on the issue expressing grave concerns about the “potential militarization of the region.” (“Solomons PM says backlash to security negotiations with China 'very insulting',” Reuters, 29 March 2022)
Afghanistan: China to host a meeting with Central Asian countries
On 28 March, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that China will host the third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan’s Neighbouring Countries on 30 and 31 March 2022. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson wang Wenbin said that foreign ministers from Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and acting foreign minister of Afghan interim government Amir Khan Mottaqi are scheduled to attend the meeting. Chinese FM spokesperson remarked that China hopes to take an active role in solving the issues in Afghanistan and urge the US to take up its main responsibility on economic rebuilding in Afghanistan. (“China to host meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors to tackle humanitarian needs, urge US to return Afghan assets,” Global Times, 28 March 2022)
INTERNAL
COVID-19: Snap lockdowns in China to control the spread of the virus
On 29 March, South China Morning Post reported that China is expected to use the strategy of snap lockdowns to suppress the surge of largest COVID-19 outbreaks. The current records note more than 70,00 cases of Omicron variant in 31 provinces. China plans to maintain a “dynamic zero-Covid” strategy to avoid the disruption of the economy and livelihoods. (“Omicron: snap lockdowns set to be China’s key tool for stopping spread ahead of Communist Party congress,” South China Morning Post, 29 March 2022)
TECHNOLOGY
Smartphone business: Huawei faces a major decline in revenue in 2021
On 28 March, China’s top telecommunication equipment maker Huawei released its latest annual report. The company saw its revenue decline by a steep 28.6 per cent in 2021. According to The Straits Times, the large drop is mainly due to the US sanctions imposed on Chinese companies. Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei said, “The multiple rounds of sanctions imposed by the US have significantly affected our business, especially smartphones and PCs.” She further added, “Despite a revenue decline in 2021, our ability to make a profit and generate cash flows is increasing.” In 2021, Huawei’s smartphone business was the world’s largest for months. The major revenue sector was setting up infrastructure for the 5G network which has now been affected by the bans. (“Huawei sees steep decline in revenue in 2021, as US sanctions continue to bite into company,” The Straits Times, 28 March 2022)
REGIONAL
Taiwan: Senior security official comments on China’s opportunity to boost the yuan amidst the Ukraine war
On 28 March, Reuters reported on a statement made by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Ming-tong. According to the official, China has gained an opportunity to raise the profile of the Chinese currency by challenging the US dollar amidst the war in Ukraine and Russia’s effective exclusion. Chen said: “Whether in renminbi trade or currency issuance system, this is an opportunity that must be taken.” Chen also said that there is a chance for China-US relations to improve if China stands with the US and imposes sanctions on Russia. But China has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the sanctions imposed on Moscow and declined to condemn Russia’s action in Ukraine or call it an invasion. (“Taiwan sees Ukraine war helping Chinese yuan's internationalisation,” Reuters, 28 March 2022)
South China Sea: Report on increased military presence of the US
On 29 March, China Daily published an article on a report published by Beijing-based thinktank, South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative. The report tracked the US military operations in the South China Sea and noted that US carried out at least 95 military operations in the Sea. The document read: “The US is continuously setting records in terms of the distance between its reconnaissance aircraft and China's territorial sea baseline, which poses increasingly high military risks.” The US has conducted its military operations with Australia, the UK, and Japan under the Indo-Pacific strategy. The report also pointed out Japan becoming the “vanguard of the US Indo-Pacific strategy.” (“US increases presence in S. China Sea,” China Daily, 29 March 2022)