NSG Waiver No Big Deal

MV Kamath
So the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has finally decided to provide a waiver to India. In plain worlds, it seems that India supposedly can now secure access to nuclear trade and advanced technology, despite refusing to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But will it get uranium? Australia has already made it clear that it will not sell uranium to India unless it agrees to sign the NPT. If that is the case, what good is the NSG’s decision for India? Access to technology has been denied to India with a vengeance, ever since it held the first Pokhran tests in 1974. It was a vicious act on the part of the Great Powers to permanently keep India under their racist thumb. India cocked a snook at them, determined to stand up for its self-respect come what may, and proceeded single-mindedly to advance its own technology in pursuance of national security, largely succeeding in its drive. That Pakistan took umbrage at it and conducted its own tests in another matter. Since then, India has decided not to conduct any more tests on its own. There is no immediate need to do so, anyway. As of September 2005, India was estimated to have had a stockpile of around 100 to 140 warheads and Pakistan between 60 to 200. In contrast, the stock of the United States is between 4,075 and 5,535, and Russia, between 5,200 and 8,800 (estimates published by the bulletin of Atomic Scientists). It is highly unlikely that any nation (China, France and the United Kingdom included) would dare to use nuclear weapons at this point in time. Among strategic thinkers in India, it is strongly believed that nuclear missiles are not usable war-fighting instruments. They merely proclaim the nation’s capabilities. India has proclaimed that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons and its immediate neighbour to the West knows that it would be inviting large-scale disaster if it challenged India in this matter. India’s Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM) Programme is fully matured and operational and the world is aware of that fact. In these circumstances, when India issued a political statement reiterating its commitment to its unilateral voluntary moratorium, it was not succumbing to outside political pressure but from a genuine inner conviction that use of nuclear weaponry made no sense. Then why did China try to play foul at the NSG meeting? One can attribute it to pettiness. In the first place, China has no moral standing to sit on judgement upon India. It has been actively helping Pakistan to process nuclear weaponry, and the same is a well-known fact. It does not even have any natural right to be a member of the NSG. For that matter, by what right could Austria, New Zealand and Ireland claim membership of the NSG? As PK Aiyangar, former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, puts it: “God alone knows what kind of suppliers they are!” There is a gathering belief that these nobodies were playing proxy to either or both China and the United States; the latter merely to show how strongly it has been supporting India’s demand for a waiver, fighting on India’s behalf right down to the last minute. Under these circumstances, all the hype about the NSG waiver being a ‘historic occasion’ can be ignored. Two points need to be remembered in this connection. One is a statement by current AEC Chairman Anil Kokodhar that the NSG agreement does not say anything about barring India from conducting nuclear tests. As he put it: “Our legal rights have been preserved”. That, of course, means nothing. If India conducts more tests, the Big Powers will once again come down heavily on it, and one should have no illusions on that score. In politics there are no friends. But as former president APJ Abdul Kalam said, “When it is about supreme national interests, no pact, no treaty, nothing can come in our way”. So by making a unilateral declaration that it will observe a moratorium, India loses nothing. If it serves as a face-saver to some anti-India nations within the NSG, what is wrong with it? Major powers like the US, France and Russia are just waiting for orders from India for all kinds of technological and nuclear equipment, the cost of which could run into billions. Some analysts have estimated that the deal could generate business worth $100 billion over the next decade as India ramps up power production in the nuclear sector. ASSOCHAM chairman Venugopal N Dhoot puts the figure at Rupees two lakh crore within 15 years! When asked if there was a risk of American companies becoming handicapped if the US Congress does not give its final approval to the Indo-US Nuclear Deal at its closing session, US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was quick to point out that the US Government has already talked to the Indian Government about this. She told reporters: “I think they (Indian Government) recognize and appreciate American leadership about this, and because of that I think we will have ways to talk to them about not disadvantaging American companies”. Once might think that the US has done a great favour to India by fighting for the waiver, but the reverse is equally true. India will be doing an equally big favour to America’s slackening economy and to US business interests. As Ron Somers, president of the US-India Business Council, puts it, “If this landmark initiative benefits global energy security, stems global warming and brings India into the global nonproliferation mainstream, it will only be an additional bonus.” Primarily it will greatly help American business interests. Currently, the Department of Atomic Energy is envisaging the Nuclear Power Corporation (a government-controlled entity) of importing 40,000 MW of nuclear capacity (almost ten times the current domestic nuclear capacity) from countries such as Russia and France. The US does not want to be left behind. Russia is very much in the field. The prospect of six more Koodankulam-type reactors coming up with Russian assistance cannot be dismissed lightly. In these circumstances, India does not have to bow and scrape before either the NSG in general and the US in particular. What is important is for India to know how to exploit the situation to its advantage. To the US it can say: Thank you, but no thanks. What should worry India is a recent report that both the US and China are arranging to provide over 100 fighter jets to Pakistan’s Air Force. That is not a friendly act. The US must be warned than it cannot have Indian orders for nuclear plants when Washington is strengthening Pakistan's Air Force to India's great disadvantage. China, meanwhile, has certainly shown that it cannot ever be a true friend. In shaping its foreign policy, India must take that into account. source: sentinel assam

‘China-Bangla military ties not a cause of worry’

Raju Das
SHILLONG, Sept 27 – IAF Chief of Air Staff, Fali Homi Major today said, increased China-Bangladesh military relations was “not a cause of worry” for India.

The Air Chief said every sovereign nation has its right to do business with any other sovereign nation and India has no problem with it.

He added that Bangladesh procuring military hardware from China was “not a worrying factor” in that context.

Bangladesh has recently set up a missile launch pad with China’s help near Chittagong port. Dhaka also conducted its first anti-ship cruise missile test (C-802A) having a strike range of 120 km this year, again with Chinese assistance.

“Bangladesh has every right to acquire what they want as a sovereign nation… India has nothing to worry about it,” the Air Chief stated.

Asked about China, Air Chief Marshall Major said that India was on par with China militarily. However, he added that China has developed more air assets over the years.

“Yes, China has built many defence assets, but this too does not concern us and India’s aerospace has also become more potent and effective over the years,” he asserted.

On perceived threat from China, the Air Chief said: “we go by intents and not by threat perceptions.”

He, however, said that the Indian Air Force is upgrading all the existing Advanced Landing Grounds in the North East and two more airfields were being developed in the region, sharing a long international border with China.

“The Tezpur airbase is being upgraded and very soon squadrons of the Sukhoi would be based there,” he informed.

The Air Chief said that India’s much-talked about Aerospace command was still evolving, adding the initial groundwork has been completed. source: assam tribune

Air Chief down plays B’desh-China missile ‘deal’

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali S Major has downplayed reports of Bangladesh trying to build its missile arsenal with help from China, saying Bangladesh has every right to upgrade its weaponry.

Addressing reporters at Eastern Air Command headquarters, Upper Shillong on Saturday, Mr Major said the move on the part of Bangladesh to equip itself with Chinese missiles was not at all a cause for concern for India.

"Every sovereign nation has a right to upgrade its weaponry and other equipment. This does not gives us (India) any worry as we are also in the transformation period in terms of modernisation of our weaponry," the Air Force chief said in his keynote address at the three-day annual Station Commanders' Conference of IAF Eastern Air Command which began in the city on Saturday.

Mr Major also ruled out any threat from China. "We do not go by any threat perception, but our force restructuring will be done only by analysing the intention of China," he said.

According to the Air Force chief, all Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the North-East are being upgraded.

Mr Major said Tezpur air base would be deployed with Sukhoi SU-30MKI combat jets very soon to enhance India's air dominance.

"Upgradation of infrastructure and other facilities of Air Force in India will undergo a sea change in the next five to seven years. We will take every step to see that the Indian Air Force looks different, and the support of the government in this regard has been overwhelming," he said. source: theshillongtimes.com

Energy security and alternative sources

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— Pabitra Chaudhuri
With the surging demand of energy and burgeoning rise of crude oil price, the crying call today is energy security particularly with the voracious demand of energy by the emerging economic powerhouses like China and India. There is a concentrated effort by the government and the premier oil companies to attain energy security. With that end in view, companies like ONGC and Oil India, have been scouting all over the world to enter into consortiums to explore and produce oil and in fact ONGC has been successful in producing oil from their Russian field Shakaline and has recently bought a Company named Imperial oil Company. Apart from ONGC and OIL, down-stream companies like IOC, BPCL, GAIL have entered into various consortiums to find oil and natural gas. OIL has started their operation of exploration along with another global company in Libya and is working out various plans to obtain oil exploration rights in Gabbon, Nigeria and Sudan. In the immediate context, such an endeavour’s gestation period is long and securing oil from such blocs abroad will take quite some time. Within the country, both on-shore and off-shore, there are many blocs, which have been awarded to the oil companies to explore oil and gas. Krishna-Godavari find has been a good boost, particularly in the gas sector and oil find in Rajasthan by Cain Energy Ltd has opened a new vista of hope and has put Rajasthan in a big way in the oil map of India joining the pantheon of Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. OIL has introduced various modem methods like Horizontal and J Bend drilling to boost up their production in Assam fields and endeavouring to make their heavy oil found in their Rajasthan field pumpable. Yet there is a yawning gap between the indigenous supply and demand in the country.With the above scenario, it is necessary to look for alternative sources. Biofuel has already become a buzz-word translated into reality in Brazil, Sweden, Germany and the USA - we in India can also play our role in our quest for energy security. Securing oil in foreign lands with various consortiums is a long and arduous task and certainly cannot match the burgeoning requirement of oil in the country. To fill this gap, some indigenceous efforts can be made in acquiring bio-diesel from Jathropa plantation by using the fallow lands lying in Assam and other states. The North-East has good climatic condition with adequate rainfall to grow bio-diesel trees. The State Government in Assam has a Jathropa Mission, which by now should be in place to plant and grow bio-diesel trees- it is necessary to put it on a fast track.It may be noted that in 1900 when Rudolf Diesel introduced the diesel engine for the first time in the world, the first engine ran on peanut oil. The world has again come full circle using bio-diesel in the backdrop of the high cost of crude oil. The western countries barring USA have signed the Kyoto Protocol, which enjoins them to use bio-diesel in the immediate future. Since then the USA has also become conscious of global warming and worldwide pollution and has been making determined strides in introducing alternative sources of energy like bio-diesel, even making a dent in their food production.India is poised at the threshold of reaching higher and sustainable growth path and has become a substantial economic power-house. To maintain this growth, energy security is a crying need. Assam, being the home land of petroleum industry (first oil well was drilled in 1889, ten years after the first world’s oil well (popularly known as Drake’s well) was drilled, has to play an important role and ONGC and OIL will have to achieve better results. Fortunately OIL has found its place as a good E and P Company and according to their own announcement is focused to double their crude oil/gas production in the next 5 years.Changes are taking place rapidly in the hydro-carbon industry with competition becoming intense. Boundaries are quickly vanishing with globalisation of economy. Within the country there is a large potential for growth, the key engine for attainment of success is the use of better technology for seismic, drilling, well services, emission reduction and knowledge management tools.By all accounts sedimentary rock formation in Assam-Arakan basin has natural gas potential for e.g. proved production in upper Assam, Cachar, Tripura and likely deposits in Mizorum, Manipur and Nagaland, the enormous natural gas find in Rakhine (Arakan Basin) in Mynmar has opened up a new vista where it is estimated 20 mscmb can be supplied for 20 years. If ever a pipeline materialises carrying gas from Rakhine to India through Assam with the addition of gas from North East, the region will grow and develop. Today the resource that has surfaced to the top of the energy pile is natural gas now regarded as cheaper, more efficient and more plentiful than the fast depleting oil and also more cost effective.Another project, which can be seriously thought of, is the conversion of sugar cane into ethanol (already a certain percentage of power-alcholol is being used in petrol). Brazil and USA have been using over 14 billion litres of ethanol as automobile fuel more than our present annual petrol consumption of about 12 billion litres. India’s peak production so far of 350 million tonnes of cane can be processed entirely into 26 bi1lion litres of ethanol or conversely the same quantity of sugar cane can be processed into 18 million tonnes of sugar and 15 billion litres of ethanol. However an area of concern is if somehow indigenous production of ethanol gets affected by vagaries of climate etc and in such an eventuality it will be necessary to firm up supplies from abroad. Naturally a question may be asked whether normal petrol engine can take a total ethanol fuel. Flexible fuel engine will need to be introduced which can burn petrol or ethanol or combinations of both. This technology once used will cost about 100 dollars, per vehicle, which is nothing much, which can be further reduced with the increasingly big volume of vehicles in India.Coal liquefaction is another route for energy security. Although it is a costly project yet it could be cost-effective in the background of burgeoning price of crude oil. Production of synthetic fuel from coal is a strategic option to be properly studied. Oil India has carried out various experiments — mainly CTSL coal only catalytic two-stage liquefaction and Direct Coal liquefaction. It is understood that the DCL route is a good economic return in the backdrop of high cost of crude oil. It is further understood that OIL in partnership with Engineers India Ltd has decided to set up a small commercial plant before going an a full scale commercial plant. Another route for alternative source could be coal-bed methane (CBM), which now is well up in the cards in USA. Methane is associated with coal as a by-product of the coal formation process-it is trapped in coal beds. If effectively recovered coal bed methane could be a significant potential source of energy. Although the process is in the infancy in India, there is some work going on in Jharia coalfield, Jharkhand and the project cost of Rs.77 crore is sanctioned by the Government of India. The prognosticated CBM resource in India as per Directorate General of Hydro-carbon is pretty high. CBM could be used in power generation, auto-fuel in form of compressed Natural gas (CNG), feed-stock for fertilizer, fuel for industrial use and host of other uses.Another process is under-ground coal gasification – this is primarily to exploit coal resources which are either uneconomic to work by conventional under-ground coal extraction or inaccessible due to depth or other geological considerations. UCG is a method of converting unworked coal, deep underground, into combustible gas which can be used for industrial heating, power generation or the manufacture of hydrogen synthetic natural gas other chemicals.Solar energy is taking a front seat in all the developed countries and India also is very much in the government scanner. The Prime Minister is well-seized with its importance and while releasing the National Action Plan on Energy stated that solar power has the potential of changing the face of India. The objective is to generate atleast 1000 MW of solar thermal power. To change the face of the nation it is a very modest plan in a country, which is bestowed with abundance of sunlight in most of the areas including the deserts. We need to go in a big way as the other developed countries are doing and with our technical ingenuity and knowledge, with private-public partnership we could become Solar Thermal Electricity Generation (STEG) technology leader and suppliers to the world along with it get plenty of clean energy in the country. Wind energy is another source of clean energy and is already installed in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. This needs to be further spread out particularly in the long coastal areas of the country. Anothersource of energy which does not cost much should be introduced is the conversion of municipal garbage into energy — along with using animal waste to produce energy; multiplied into millions of houses, the energy production will be mind-blowing. Nuke deal has formed the main headlines in the media and the Lok Sabha passed it. Nuclear energy is a must for the country; not only it would produce energy but also can turn into world’s workshop for building nuclear power-houses — the engineering and technological knowledge of India could certainly make a success of this endeavour in the next few years.Political and administrative will is necessary to have a blue-print and implement it to obtain energy security in the country. We need to put in place in a solid manner public-private partnerships in this endeavour and it has to be put on a fast track. source: assam tribune editorial 03.09.08

Dynamic Sino-Indian relations

— Shibdas Bhattacharjee

Among the neighbours of India, the largest and the most powerful country is China. India always admits the fact that China is her most powerful next-door neighbour and it is in her national interest to cultivate friendly relations with that country. But it is quite unfortunate that the amicable relations based on mutual belief and understanding between these two important nations of the continent have not been sustained throughout history despite the fact that every country wants peace at her borders, peaceful co-existence and dynamic bi-lateral relations with the neighboring countries. It is largely Beijing’s anti-India foreign policy which is responsible for that. In fact, since the Bandung Conference in 1955 China adopted the policy of expansion in South-East Asia that initiated the Sino-Indian border disputes which has been the most contentious issue throughout the history of New Delhi-Beijing bilateral relations. On the other hand, China was convinced and saw India as a serious rival to her ambitions, to dominate the region and so tried to evolve friendly ties with Pakistan. China realized that Pakistan’s hostile attitude towards India would naturally bring Islamabad closer to her and so one of the attributes of Chinese foreign policy has been to Support Pakistan’s anti-India activities and propaganda which created hurdles before evolving, amicable Sino-Indian relations.Considering all these the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s recent visit to China was of utmost importance during which the leadership of both the nations gave enough indications that they realised the fact that both New Delhi and Beijing will have to be “patient and realistic” in resolving the festering boundary disputes. The Indian External Affairs Minister also disclosed New Delhi’s determination not to allow the boundary dispute to be an obstacle in enhancing bilateral ties which is undoubtedly a significant development that clearly manifests one important fact that both the nations want to give new definitions to their bi-lateral relations in the changed world order. So also, both India and China agreed to work together to ensure peace and stability in Asia and beyond by evolving a new security architecture and restructuring of UN and other global political and economic institutions to bring them attune with current realities. Mukherjee also opposed creation of sub -regional security arrangements that are narrow and ultimately ineffective. In this context, it is really noteworthy to mention here that while disclosing the present foreign policy of India, particularly the one towards China, the Indian Foreign Minister said that both the countries must ensure that regional integration processes were inclusive so that they could contribute towards building an Asian Economic Community that will be open, transparent and inclusive, and that provides a platform to create ever widening, economic opportunity. So also it was admitted that the boundary between the two countries is not peaceful and the two countries had agreed on to set of’ Political Parameters and Guiding Principles to find a mutually satisfactory solution. Mukherjee during his talks with his Chinese counterpart Beijing’s Yang Jiechi raised the issue of Beijing recent claim over the finger area in Sikkim and Arunachal borders, while both sides emphasized their determination to maintain peace and tranquility along borders and not to disturb the status quo. Explaining the contours of India’s foreign policy, Mukherjee said that India guards its strategic autonomy and stands by the principles of independence and freedom of action in external relations. So also, China agreed to provide India with flood season hydrological data of the Brahmaputra which will ensure the safety and security of the people living along the river. A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed during Mukherjee’s stay in China. The MoU on the sharing of flood season hydrological data of Brahmaputra/Yarlang Zangbo, Chinese name of the Brahmaputra, was signed by India’s Ambassador to China, Nirupam Rao and the Vice-Minister of China’s Ministry of Water Resources, Hu Siyi in the presence of Mukherjee and Yang.. The two governments decided to set up an expert-level mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on the provision of flood season hydrological data, emergency management and other issues regarding trans-border rivers during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to India in November 2006 as well as during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s China visit in January this year.On the other hand, since the start of the new century, every ambitious target set for bilateral trade between India and China has proved not to be ambitious enough , despite the statistics zooming ever upwards with a momentum seemingly of their own and Indian Industry is gearing up to flex its muscles in the heart of China but unfortunately despite considerable improvements in the political ties the lack of a final settlement on the boundary dispute between them makes it difficult to totally dispel the mutual suspicion which is a major impediment in the way of enhancing bi-lateral trade- ties. In fact, on the trade front, the major continuing worry is the composition of the trade basket. India’s export to china are overwhelmingly dominated by low-value, primary products with a huge reliance on iron ore. Despite Indian trade officials having repeatedly expressed concern over the lopsided nature of Indian exports to China situation has not taken any positive turn. So also, Chinese investments in Indian infrastructure projects continue to repeatedly be blocked due to security concerns and such fears underline the continuing vein of mistrust that lies deep in the overall Sino-Indian ties even as Beijing and New Delhi attempt to forge new strategic partnership. In fact, India is keen to learn from China’s remarkable success in developing Special Economic Zones and expects the trade target of USD 60 billion between the two countries to be surpassed before 2010. This was expressed by Mukherjee during his recent visit to China. He also disclosed the fact that Gurongdong province of China, which accounts for one-third of the country’s total foreign trade, had always been at the forefront of the country’s economic reform and opening to the outside world.So as far as the above developments are concerned, Mukherjee’s recent visit to China was a sincere initiative taken by the Congress-led UPA Government to enhance bilateral cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing by addressing all contentious issues. source: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jul0408\edit3

China quake hits Indian silk industry

NEW DELHI, June 30 (PTI): Indian silk industry with an annual business of over Rs 10,000 crore has been hit hard by the last month’s earthquake in China, a major supplier of raw silk for the manufacturing units in the country. The industry claimed that hundreds of units in Varanasi, Bangalore, Madurai, Coimbatore and Bhagalpur have closed down as the raw material costs of silk have gone up by up to 40 per cent and over one lakh persons engaged in the sector have lost jobs after the earthquake in Sichuan province of China. Sichuan is the primary supplier of raw silk yarn and dupion to Indian manufacturers of silk products. Majority of the mulberry gardens have been destroyed due to the quake, which has led to a sharp fall in production in India. “The earthquake and subsequent floods in Sichuan has affected the import prices of raw material, which have gone up by about 30-40 per cent,” Indian Silk Export Promotion Council Chairman T V Maruthi said. Further, he said the industry has also been hit by increasing transportation costs due to hike in fuel prices apart from labour and other costs. The Council has approached the Textile Ministry seeking abolition of 31 per cent duty on imports to save the industry from the crisis, pointing out that the industry was already hit by about 12 per cent rupee appreciation against dollar last year. Official sources said silk garment and other products’ export target of Rs 3,770 crore is likely to fall by 15-20 per cent this fiscal due to US slowdown and hike in raw material costs. source: assam tribune

Increasing Chinese Threat to India

Increasing Chinese Threat to India

Dina Nath Mishra

In the history of the world there had been numerous rulers with the ambition to lord over the whole world or at least a large chunk of it. The Second World War happened due to the overriding ambition of Adolf Hitler. Thereafter, the Soviet Union nourished the ambition to have its ideological hold sway over the world through its puppet governments. We all know about the end of the story. Today the US nurtures the same ambition. However, it is China that is trying to dominate Asia.Today the emergence of China as a world power at par with the US is a global threat. Being a neighbour, India should be the most worrying country. India has not yet forgotten the humiliation of 1962 at the hands of the invading Chinese. The first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was naïve enough to underestimate Chinese designs and diplomacy and lived in his own make-believe world in spite of timely warning from Sardar Patel through a long letter addressed to him detailing the expansionist ambitions of the Chinese. The History of China published recently by the Chinese Government contains a map showing Chinese territory, which includes Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Laddakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The map also includes Burma, Malaya, Thailand, North and South Vietnam, Combodia and huge chunks of territories of Soviet Siberia, Mangolia, Republic of Tajakistan and Khirurgiia. The book declares the determination to bring back every territory one day or the other. There are thinking people who say that by and large status quo would prevail in the world order, but if one looks at the geopolitical map of the world of the last 500 years with an interval of 50 years each, the map would look drastically changed. Those who cannot think beyond status quo get shocked whenever the international boundaries happen to change. Nearly a month back, Defence Minister AK Antony plainly said that “with China developing anti-satellite missiles, lasers and other space capabilities, India has no option but to be fully prepared for Star War in future.” Army chief General Deepak Kapoor added that space war was increasingly becoming the ultimate high ground to dominate the war in the future. I can quote dozens of such warnings. China has positioned its nuclear submarines in Gwadar naval base at Baluchistan and more than half-a-dozen naval bases at Suludao, Quingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Hongkong etc. We have naval bases but inferior submarines at Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam and Port Blair. China has developed observatory towers from where they can watch our movement at Sriharikota and other centres. Encirclement of India in the Indian Ocean by the Chinese is complete. They have since prepared metal road up to India, Nepal and Sikkim borders to their nearest points. Their missiles stationed at Tibet are targeted towards all Indian cities. Even US targets are also included. It must be noted that the defence budget of China in relation to India is almost double. According to Pentagon’s assessment, China’s military build-up poses a direct threat to India as well as Taiwan, Japan and Russia. China has pushed 75 million Hans into Manchuria, seven million into Sinkiang (hitherto Muslim-dominated area), 8.5 million into inner Mangolia, and 7.5 million into Tibet. The Chinese leadership has always followed the teachings of war strategy of their master Suntzu. Mao was particularly influenced by him. Suntzu said, “To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence, supreme excellence lies in breaking the enemy resistance without fighting”. This is what China is doing. There are experts in India who opine that there is no immediate threat from China, for China’s priority is to develop its economy. But this opinion can be discounted by the ground realities. Source: sentinel assam

PM to release Vision 2020 on July 2

PM to release Vision 2020 on July 2

KOLKATA, June 19 – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unveil ‘Vision 2020’, a document aimed at the socio-economic development of the North-Eastern region, in New Delhi on July 2, Union Minister for Development of North-Eastern region Mani Shankar Aiyar has said. The ‘Vision 2020’ was prepared after three years of uninterrupted consultations with 50,000 common people of the North East and a host experts and institutions to take care of the shortcomings in the region Terming the vision document as an ‘Aam Aadmi (common man) document’, DoNER Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said it would require Rs 13 trillion for the implementation of Vision 2020 in the region. The document had been endorsed by the North Eastern Council and Chief Ministers of the region, he told members of the four industry chambers at an interactive session on N-E development, last evening. Aiyar said if India wanted to match the GDP growth of China, then it will have to consider the contribution of the North-East where growth potential was immense. –PTI

State Joha producers hit

State Joha producers hit

By Ajit Patowary
GUWAHATI, June 18 – The Government of India ban on the export of non-Basmati rice has landed State’s aromatic Joha rice producers in a tough situation. The Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) has therefore requested Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Manishankar Aiyar to initiate measures for lifting the ban from this variety of rice produced only in Assam. FASS is a non-Government organization (NGO) operating throughout the world to promote NE Indian cause.Last year, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) arranged export of 17.5 MTs of State’s organic Joha rice to Switzerland through the exporters’ firm M/S Sunstar Overseas Ltd. This year, the State produced 60 MTs of organic Joha with the involvement of 150 farmers of Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Udalguri districts.These farmers tied up with the exporters for another three to four years with the latters agreeing to pay the certification cost and to bear the miscellaneous expenses for exporting this variety of rice. The farmers also secured the NOP certificates mandatory for exporting organic products to the USA. But the ban changed the entire scenario.The Union Government imposed the ban on export of non-Basmati category of rice in mid-October 2007, though it was relaxed for certain countries due to some special considerations on occasions.In its memorandum to the Union Minister, the FASS said that since Joha was grouped under non-Basmati category, its export got forbidden. As per Union Government records, there are only two categories of rice in the country – Basmati and non-Basmati.Joha has a number of varieties like Tulasi Joha (which is similar to Kaljira of Bangladesh), Khorika Joha, Suagmoni Joha etc. While the price of other varieties of non-Basmati rice in the State ranges from Rs 11 to Rs 22 per kg depending on their quality, the price of Joha starts from Rs 25 and goes up to Rs 38 in Guwahati. Joha rice is the expensive variety and has no shortage in the domestic market. For, it is not the common man’s rice and even those who consume this variety of rice do not do it regularly, said Bidyananda Barkakoty of the FASS Guwahati chapter. He also underlined the need to test the aromatic and nutritious qualities of the Joha varieties of rice.The traditional belief in Assam is that Joha varieties of rice help growth of finer qualities in those who consume them regularly, he said.The Union Government ban on the export of non-Basmati category of rice has also created problems for State’s other varieties of rice like Bora Chaul, which resembles the sticky rice of China, Komal Chaul, which is used for cereals etc. For, these varieties of rice also fall under the non-Basmati category, said the FASS in its memorandum to the DoNER Minister.It further said that NE India might practically be called the motherland of rice. Probably, it is here where the Neolithic rice revolution started some time around 6000 BC and spread even to China. With high quality milling and good packaging, the Assam Joha has the potential of competing with any other premium quality rice in the world.Especially, organic Joha rice has tremendous potential in the world market. With such potential, if this variety of rice is cultivated in large areas and marketed world wide another success story, like the small tea growing movement, can be written in the State in the days to come. This will undoubtedly help Assam prosper and perhaps solve many of its social problems largely, said the NGO.According to available information, APEDA has contacted the Union Commerce Ministry on the issue and the Ministry has shown eagerness to help the State farmers.Barkakoty while talking to this correspondent made an appeal to the Assam Government and leading organizations of the State to come forward for wresting registration for the State’s above varieties of rice under the GI Registration regulation. Source: assam tribune

China-Dalai talks likely next month

China-Dalai talks likely next month

MELBOURNE, June 12 – The Dalai Lama today said that talks between his envoys and China on the festering Tibet issue may resume next month as he reminded Beijing that “stability must come from the heart, not a gun.” The Dalai, now on a visit to Australia to deliver a series of meditation lectures, said he hoped that a new round of talks between his envoys and Chinese officials would take place “maybe next month.” Representatives of the Tibetan government-in-exile met with Chinese officials in early May in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and held inconclusive talks on the Tibet issue, weeks after the worst anti-government riots erupted in mid-March in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. The two sides had agreed to meet again but did not specify any date. The Dalai Lama said he backed China’s quest for a stable and harmonious society, but he also renewed his call for Tibet to be granted meaningful autonomy. “Stability must come from the heart, not a gun,” he said. The Tibet violence spread to neighbouring provinces in which at least 22 people were killed. The clashes fuelled anger over China’s rule in Tibet and the Olympic torch relay became the target of Tibetan pro-independence protests in Paris, London, San Francisco and other cities that threatened to cast a shadow over the Beijing Games in August. At a press conference in Sydney, the 72-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader also urged Tibetans not to hamper the Beijing Olympic torch relay when it passes through the restive Himalayan region. “We have fully supported the Olympic Games right from the beginning. The torch is part of that,” he said.“Over 1 billion Chinese brothers and sisters feel really proud of that. We should respect that,” he said, adding that “I don’t think there will be any trouble” when the torch relay passes through. The Olympic torch relay is due in Tibet from June 19 to 21. China blames the Dalai Lama for the recent Tibetan unrest, saying it was part of a campaign to split the region from the rest of the country. The Dalai Lama has denied these charges, saying he wants a meaningful autonomy for his people under China’s rule, not independence. – PTI

Over 8,500 killed, 900 students buried as powerful quake hits China

Over 8,500 people were killed and nearly 900 students were reported to be buried in one of China's strongest earthquakes in decades that struck the country's southwest Sichuan province on Monday.

Described as a 'disaster' by premier Wen Jiabao, the tremor measuring 7.8 of the Richter scale injured thousands in the mountainous province even as the shock waves rattled Chinese cities and caused casualties in Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces and Chongqing municipality.
Chinese state media said that 8,500 people had died in Beichuan county in Sichuan province from the massive quake.

It said another 10,000 people were believed hurt in the same county in the devastating tremor.
Nearly 900 students were feared buried after a high school building collapsed in Dujiangyan City, about 100 kms from the earthquakes epicentre of Wenchuan County in Sichuan province, official Xinhua news agency said. It gave no other immediate details.

The quake jolted vast swathe of China sending waves of panic as thousands of people came out of high rise buildings and poured into the streets in cities including Beijing and Chinas economic hub Shanghai, where China's tallest building Jinamo tower was also evacuated. There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties.

The quake was also felt as far as in Bangkok, capital of Thailand and Hanoi in Vietnam.
Troops were rushed to the affected areas for disaster relief work, while President Hu Jintao ordered 'all out efforts' to help the victims.
China previously reported an earthquake of similar magnitude on July 28, 1976 in Tangshan city near Beijing in which over two lakh people were killed.

"My fellow Chinese, facing such a severe disaster, we need calm, confidence, courage and efficient organisation," Premier Wen Jiabao said as he flew to the disaster-struck area to oversee relief work.

Telecom networks in Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhengzhou cities were paralysed after the quake. In Chengdu, cracks were seen some buildings, Xinhua said
The quake that jolted eastern Beijing measured 3.9 on the Richter scale.
Lisa Wang, an office worker in Oriental Plaza in downtown Beijing, said the whole building was evacuated after the tremor.

Officials said 80 per cent of the buildings toppled in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu, 146 kms from Wenchuan County, the epicentre of the killer quake.
"My colleagues, more than 50 people, rushed downstairs from the sixth floor into the plaza in front of the building. A large number of people, other office workers, were already there and more people poured out," she said.

She said hundreds of people stayed outside for about 15 minutes before returning to their offices. Similar experiences were reported by others, some saying they even felt dizzy.
Before the strong earthquake struck, the Sichuan provincial seismological bureau detected a moderate quake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale in Mianzhu city of Deyang, Xihnua said.
Monday's quake was the strongest to hit Sichuan province in more than 30 years. Overall, 44 aftershocks had been reported, the strongest one measuring 5.6, it said.

Chinese Air Force has sent helicopters to assist in relief work in the quake stricken areas, while the State Seismological Bureau is also dispatching a team to gauge the situation.
Image: Rescuers search in the rubble of the collapsed Juyuan middle school in China's Sichuan province after the devastating earthquake on Monday.
Source: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/may/12china.htm