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Sino-India Competition in South China Sea and Indian Ocean
LOCATED in the south of China the South China Sea is traditionally considered its backyard by China It has its commercial value; however its strategic importance outweighs the former for China Its strategic importance for China is similar to that of the English Channel for the UK and the Central Pacific Ocean around Hawaii for the USA Taiwan Philippines Malaysia and Vietnam have borders along the Sea and have disputes over territories including the Spratly and Paracel Islands, the Scarborough Shoal, and the Gulf of Tonkin Although India has no dispute with any other state in the region, including China its growing interest is alarming for China particularly from the prism of the IndoUS strategic alliance to counter the growing China in the region India has somehow chosen Vietnam as a gateway for its entry into the South China Sea
What’s the motivation of India to venture into the South China Sea when even Australia is reluctant to openly alienate China through posturing in the region? The answer lies implicitly in the Modi government s vision of the Indo-Pacific Region capitalizing on ASEAN countries and using waterways for its economic and strategic compulsions
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But India is not alone South East Asia is of great importance in the contemporary scenario for both India and the USA to contain China China is already exerting its influence in the traditional Indian sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean through its Strings of Pearl policy which stretches from the Asia Pacific to the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and even the Red Sea
Vietnam has a common objective with the USA and India to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region The USA and Vietnam have been signatories to Comprehensive Partnership since 2013 which is likely to be translated into Strategic Partnership if gauged from the outcome of the April visit of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Vietnam The pivot revolves around a connected open Indo-Pacific in line with US strategic policy in the region
However Vietnam is cognizant of its strategic geographical position and the ongoing tugof-war between the two powers If, on the one hand, it is considering strategic relations with the USA then on the other it is also celebrating
15 years of Comprehensive Cooperation Policy with China The day the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan sailed into Vietnam on June 23, the Vietnamese premier met the Chinese Leadership in Being So a delicate balance in Vietnam is being maintained in terms of its foreign policy objectives India however is trying to appease the countries alongside the South China Sea The defence collaboration between India and Vietnam is at least a decade old Vietnam purchased 12 offs h o r e high-speed patrol boats for its Navy in 2013 through the Indian Defence LoC Vietnam also features regularly in the Milan Naval exercises being hosted by India India has also activated a satellite tracking system in Hanoi which helps Vietnam to track Chinese Naval activities in the region On June 22 India and Vietnam signed security-centric agreements for defence engagement India has also offered the Brahmos & Akash missile defence system to Vietnam torpedoes, and coastal batteries mony of that India is also trying to extend its influence on the ASEAN countries toward South China It succeeded in its projection by successfully participating in/conducting the IndiaASEAN Maritime Exercise (AIME) on May 23
Thus, India needs to align itself with the USA all along Since it suits India to adopt the US policy in the region against China for the time being for its strategic compulsions, however, she is cognizant of the possibilities of the changing scenarios in the few decades and thus is not going all out against China History shows that today's competitors might be in alliances in a few decades against today's partners
Recently, on July 23, it gifted INS KIRPIN to Vietnam as part of its Maritime appeasement policy toward Vietnam to counter Chinese outreach in the Indian Ocean Region Indian Foreign Minister Jai Shankar s recent statement in the Philippines calling for China to abide by the 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea is a testi-
The trend is clear that India is on the path to complement the US Indo-Pacific policy to counter China and its growing influence in the South China Sea by maritime development of Vietnam and diplomatic support to other countries of the region with regard to its disputes with China, however, India is aware of the emerging realities of the world On the one hand it is part of the USA Security apparatus; however, it is part of BRICS with China to counter US Economic dominance Thus, India needs to align itself with the USA all along Since it suits India to adopt the US policy in the region against China for the time being for its strategic compulsions however she is cognizant of the possibilities of the changing scenarios in the few decades and thus is not going all out against China History shows that today's competitors might be in alliances in a few decades against today's partners
The author retired as a commander from the Pakistan Navy and is now a researcher associated with Bahria University Islamabad who can be reached at senananees@yahoo com
Politicians are attracted by the support they will get the electables thrown their way The landscape seems littered with parties that at one time or another were flavour of the month However, no party leader at the moment seems comfortable with establishment interference in politics That is a problem for the establishment perhaps bigger than Imran‘s fate
The writter is member of staff
E d i t o r ’ s m a i l
S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r Pakistan Today 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y
Overcoming blood donation my ths
IN Pakistan, the need for blood donation is enormous, and it is a challenge to keep the supply chain moving The country faces several issues in maintaining an adequate and safe blood supply owing to various factors such as limited awareness misconceptions cultural barriers and inadequate blood donation infrastructure However none of the challenges is unsurmountable Pakistan faces blood shortage particularly during emergencies disasters and other such peak phases The limited availability of safe blood hampers the delivery of quality healthcare, leading to increased mortality rate
One of the major obstacles in encouraging blood donation in Pakistan is the prevalence of myths and misconceptions surrounding the process Common misconceptions include concerns about religious beliefs fear of infections and doubts regarding the safety of the donated blood It is crucial to debunk these myths and to educate the community about the reality of blood donation Through awareness campaigns, accurate information can be disseminated, helping to alleviate fears and misperceptions, and encouraging more people to donate blood Pakistan needs to foster a culture of voluntary blood donation Traditionally blood donation in the country has been reliant on replacement donations from family and friends which often leads to inadequate supply and a lack of diversity in blood types
What we need to do is to shift the paradigm and emphasise the importance of voluntary blood donation We should actively work towards promoting a culture where individuals willingly donate blood without any expectations of reciprocity, ultimately saving human lives and improving overall healthcare outcomes
We should mobilise our young educating them about the importance of blood donation and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to become advocates for this cause By encouraging youth participation the community may create a long-lasting impact and ensure a continuous supply of safe blood for those in need Improving the blood donation infra- structure is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and safety of blood donation programmes in Pakistan We should also focus on developing well-equipped blood centres where the donation process may be seamless and the safety of both the donors and the recipients gets prioritised
Through active participation the community can urge policymakers and stakeholders to invest in upgrading the existing infrastructure and establishing more blood donation centres across the country
ALI ASGHAR MIRJAT KARACHI
A tragic spectacle
The practice of lifting animals through cranes to apartments in high-rise buildings especially during the days leading up to Eidul Azha has been going on for the last several years This is quite tragic, actually In many cases animals suffer injuries and harm during the lengthy and cumbersome process but the practice has continued without there being any rationale behind it In all such cases, there is a lot of noise and commotion in the area as people gather to watch the ‘spectacle’ and they all have some piece of advice for the owner of the animal the crane operator and even for the poor animal All this actually adds to the tragedy as it unfolds The provincial government needs to take effective measures to stop this practice immediately With a full year to go before Eidul Azha visits us again, the government definitely has time on its hand to plan, legislate and execute the ban on this preactice effectively
