The Hindu Editorial Analysis | 29th October ’21

Table of Contents

A clear signal | TH

China passing a new border law amid a continuing stalemate in negotiations with India sends a clear signal to New Delhi that Beijing is in no mood to quickly end the 18-month-long crisis along the LAC.
The law, which will take effect on January 1, designates the responsibilities of various agencies in China, from the military to local authorities, in guarding the frontiers.
It “stipulates that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable”.
Calling on the military to “guard against and combat any act that undermines territorial sovereignty and land boundaries”, the law says the Chinese military “shall carry out border duties” to “resolutely prevent, stop and combat invasion, encroachment, provocation and other acts”.
While the law says Beijing will negotiate with its neighbours to settle its borders, India reminded China that the legislation will have little bearing on the India-China boundary as both sides are yet to resolve the boundary question.
Responding to India’s concerns, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the law would not affect the implementation of existing agreements.
The Chinese side may justify the law as an “internal” matter akin to India’s abrogation of Article 370 and the creation of a Union Territory in Ladakh, which China strongly opposed because it included Aksai Chin, but there is one crucial difference.
The last round of LAC talks, held on October 10, ended with both sides trading accusations, Beijing blaming India for making “unrealistic” demands and New Delhi countering that the other side offered no real proposals for a solution.
Even as India and China continue negotiations, the law is the latest signal that the current state of affairs along the border, marked by continuing deployments by both sides in forward areas and a build-up of infrastructure, is likely to continue over the longer term.

A climate dividend | TH

COP26 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow
India is adopting the stand that a national deadline for net zero carbon dioxide emissions is uncalled for.
An immediate leap into net zero may yet be avoided.
A core message at Glasgow would be that rich countries are yet to deliver on the promised $100 billion a year from 2020 to help poor nations adapt to climate change.
It is essential for governments to draw up precise technological, socio-economic, and financial policies and requirements to demonstrate a commitment to the 1.5° C goal.
The country must seize the moment and present convincing plans that will be rolled out in the present decade in order to attract climate finance, even while buttressing the argument for a medium-term window to taper down carbon emissions.
If severe floods, droughts and more frequent storms erode the assets of citizens, governments of the future will have to pay for lack of foresight today.

Grant That Waiver | ToI

CAATSA (Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act)
Enacted in the US in August 2017, it aims to prevent revenue flowing to the Russian government.
It’s a crude tool that hurts both friend and foe.
India is an ally that fell within CAATSA’s purview as it had signed an agreement with the Russian government in 2016 to buy the S-400 air defence system.

While India has been diversifying its military equipment procurement, Russian origin military platforms are still dominant.
In August, China tested a hypersonic missile that orbited the globe before heading towards its target.
India too has worked extensively on a missile development programme, with the Agni-5 missile being test-fired this week.
This surface-to-surface missile has a range of up to 5,000 km and provides the possibility of a second strike capability.
Tying down a fellow Quad member through an ill-conceived sanctions programme meant to hurt Russia will be counterproductive.
Biden should grant India a waiver and work on deepening defence ties.

Bread or blood | IE

In the CURRENT public unrest in France over the rising price of the baguette are echoes of what happened 232 years ago.
Back then, the fact that a staple had been priced out of the reach of the masses led to the French Revolution and the dramatic, bloody collapse of the ancien régime.
The situation isn’t quite so dire right now — the president of the French Confederation of Bakeries and Pastry Shops has said that unlike then, bread is still available, even if it’s more expensive.
Around the world, the unaffordability or non-availability of food has, from time to time, led to mass unrest, and even the collapse of governments.
Bread riots had preceded the fall of the Bastille in 1789, which was stormed in part because the starving sans culottes were looking for grain.
Similarly, in 1918 a precipitous rise in the price of rice caused riots in Japan, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Terauchi Masatake and his cabinet.
Onion price rise was also one of the factors in the ousting of the BJP in the 1998 Delhi Assembly elections.
France’s current surge in the price of the baguette is due to bad harvests in Russia, which have led to a global rise in the price of wheat.
Greater energy prices have also made ovens more expensive to operate.
As history teaches us, when people complain about basic foodstuff being unaffordable, governments can’t just ask them to eat cake.

NEWS

PM Modi says, ASEAN’s unity and centrality always important priority for India
PM to embark on 5-day visit to attend G-20 Summit in Italy and World Leaders’ Summit of COP-26 in UK
Supreme Court clears the way to declare results of NEET-UG 2021 exam
Govt extends Covid-19 restrictions in the country till November 30
Over 104 cr doses of COVID vaccine administered in the country so far
Centre releases Rs 44,000 crore to states, UTs to meet GST compensation shortfall
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launches 6th edition of National Formulary of India
Govt is seriously assessing the challenges being faced in coastal security: Amit Shah
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to inaugurate 14th Urban Mobility Conference 2021 today
Union Minister Jitendra Singh addresses 75,000 farmers to commemorate 75th year of India’s independence
China says, new land border law will not change country’s position on border issues
South Africa to deploy 10,000 soldiers for municipal elections