Beijing’s global consolidation major worry
-: R Muthu Kumar :-
People say that the future is full of hopes. but what stares the next leader who is going to occupy the Prime Minister’s seat after the general polls results on June 4 in India is news and leaks that by 2027 China may attempt to consolidate Taiwan by force – then, stimulated by it, nuclear-capable North Korea, too!
Meanwhile to the surprise of India and a shocker to China, Pakistan’s second-largest naval air station, PNS Siddique in Turbat, came under attack early this week.
According to a statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, the Chinese diplomatic missions immediately activated emergency response work and called for Pakistan to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack and severely punish the perpetrators.
Reports said a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project undertaken by a Chinese company. The engineers were on their way from Islamabad to their camp at the dam construction site in Dasu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
This was the third major attack on security forces and installations this year in Balochistan.
The Majeed Brigade of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has taken credit for the assault on the Naval Airbase in Turbat.
The Majeed Brigade is critical of China’s investments in Balochistan, accusing both China and Pakistan of exploiting the region’s resources.
The BLA claimed that its fighters have infiltrated the airbase. Additionally, Chinese drones are reportedly deployed at this facility.
As the situation unfolded, Turbat witnessed a significant increase in military activity, as several helicopters were seen patrolling the skies. Ground reported stated that heavy gunfire and explosions continued for over three hours.Previously, on January 29, the BLA targeted Mach city, followed by an attack on the Military Intelligence headquarters in Gwadar on March 20.
During the March 20 attack in Gwadar, two Pakistani soldiers and eight terrorists were killed in the ensuing confrontation after multiple explosions and gunfire erupted at the Pakistan Gwadar Port Authority Complex.
The surge in terrorist activities in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, follows the termination of a ceasefire between the government and the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022, reported Dawn, reputed newspaper from Pakistan.
All these are a big pinprick to be watched keenly for India as it goes to general polls that concludes on June 2.
Despite the fact that fugitives from Chinese law have been setting up shop across Southeast Asia as Beijing sees them as a useful tool for advancing its interests. Now what will be the Chinese response to present terror attacks they face in Pakistan soil? will be of great interest to Indian authorities.
What seems more likely is that China will act selectively. Beijing wants to garner diplomatic praise when it does take action, while bolstering its influence with regional security services.
Despite the indications that Indian prime minister Modi and his team are immersed in domestic politics , does not mean that we are not closefully watching the developments in our borders?Well even yesterday India backs the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty and seeks “staunch adherence” to a rules-based order, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said amid a flaring up of tensions between Beijing and Manila over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
Strategic cooperation between India and the Philippines, especially in defence and security, has grown significantly in recent years.
India is “deeply invested” in the region because of its Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision and strongly supports Asean’s centrality and unity.
