VIF Information Alerts - 21th August 2018

As part of CPEC, 'Chinese only’ colony coming up in Pakistan

Published: The Economic Times
21 Aug 2018

China is building a city for 5,00,000 Chinese nationals at a cost of $150 million in Gwadar as part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This will be the first such Chinese city in South Asia.

Half-a-million Chinese citizens, who will be housed in this proposed city by 2022, will be workforce for the financial district that Beijing is planning to set up in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar. Only Chinese citizens will live in this gated zone, which basically means that Pakistan will be used as a colony of China.Click here to read... [2]

In fresh diplomatic setback, Taiwan loses El Salvador to China

Published: The Indian Express
21 Aug 2018

Taiwan lost another ally to Beijing on Tuesday when diplomatic ties with El Salvador were severed, the third country to swap allegiances from the self-ruled island to China this year. Taiwan now has formal relations with just 17 countries worldwide, many of them smaller, less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific like Belize and Nauru.Click here to read... [3]

How will China's ageing population meet the costs of social welfare?

Published: Business Standard
20 Aug 2018

China's rapidly ageing population which has touched 241 million, accounting for one-fifth of over 1.4 billion people in the world's most populous country, has sparked a fierce debate on who will foot their bills, the state media reported. Ageing means pension contributions by workers no longer cover retiree benefits, forcing the Chinese government to fill that gap.Click here to read... [4]

India, Japan resolve to deepen maritime cooperation

Published: The Economic Times
20 Aug 2018

India and Japan today decided to expand their maritime cooperation and work together to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, which is witnessing growing Chinese assertiveness, officials said. The two countries also decided hold the first-ever joint Army exercise later this year besides deepening cooperation in co-development of military hardware and weapons.Click here to read... [5]

Build an innovation corridor to strengthen Singapore-India ties: Minister

Published: Business Standard
21 Aug 2018

Singapore Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat has suggested greater support for start-ups from India and Singapore and called for an innovation corridor between the two countries.

First, besides liking up established businesses, we can do more to support our start-ups and build an innovation corridor between Singapore and India, said Heng after inaugurating the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) annual lecture here yesterday.https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/build-an-innovation-corridor-to-strengthen-singapore-india-ties-minister-118082100113_1.html" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Taliban to Attend Afghanistan Talks in Moscow

Published: The Wall Street Journal
20 Aug 2018

The Taliban have accepted a Russian invitation to travel to Moscow to join regional talks on Afghanistan’s future that are likely to exclude the U.S., people familiar with the decision said.

Moscow has taken an increasingly active role in efforts to end the 17-year war in Afghanistan, citing concerns about the emergence of Islamic State and the U.S. failure to negotiate a political solution. The Taliban’s decision to accept the invitation comes at a time when the group is extending its political engagement with the U.S., in what appears to be a continuing effort to hedge between rival powers.Click here to read... [6]

BIMSTEC envoys bat for FTA

Published: The Hindu
20 Aug 2018

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join a summit of leaders from BIMSTEC countries in Kathmandu on August 30-31 and hold bilateral talks with most of them, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Oli. At an event organised by business chamber FICCI just ahead of the summit, envoys of BIMSTEC countries said the FTA should be the top priority for them.Click here to read... [7]