Lakshya UPSC PT 2022 - International Relation Lecture 1 Complete 1 year current affairs

Table of Contents

Topic 1- China’s New Sea-Road- Rail Link to Indian Ocean

Named China-Myanmar New Passage.

Link western China with the Indian Ocean”.
The new trade corridor passage connects Chengdu (China) with Yangon (Myanmar).
It connects the logistics lines of Singapore, Myanmar, and China.

Topic 1- China’s New Sea-Road-Rail Link to Indian Ocean

Key Points

China also has plans to develop another port in Kyaukphyu in the Rakhine state, Myanmar.
China plans to develop this region in Myanmar as a ‘border economic cooperation zone’ under the Belt and Road Initiative.
This trade corridor is another direct Chinese outlet to the Indian ocean.
- The first one being at the Gwadar port in Pakistan.

Topic 1- China’s New Sea-Road-Rail Link to Indian Ocean

This trade route is also China’s alternative to the “Malacca Dilemma”.
Malacca Dilemma is a word coined in 2003, by the then Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Since most of China’s oil imports pass through the Straits of Malacca, a maritime blockade here could paralyze China’s economy.

Topic 2- Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was recently signed between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
It is India’s first bilateral trade agreement in the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
One of the primary objectives is increasing the bilateral non-oil trade to US$ 100 billion in the next five years. Currently, the trade between the two countries is US$ 60 billion.
The UAE is India’s third largest trade partner after the USA and China and the second largest export destination

Topic 3- AUKUS Grouping

The S., U.K. and Australia announced a new trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region named ‘AUKUS’

Features

Under it, the U.S., the U.K will help Australia deploy nuclear- powered submarines in the Pacific region.
Advancing strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quad is not a security grouping, so the AUKUS brings a security adjunct to the Quad.
The three countries are already sharing extensive intelligence through the Five Eyes alliance.

Five Eyes Alliance

The Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
It is an intelligence-sharing arrangement.
The alliance was created during the Cold War (1946-1991).

Topic 4- India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships

India currently is working with ASEAN on multiple connectivity projects, through land, water, and air.
Actively developing infrastructure in North-eastern India.

India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway

First proposed in 2002.
- It will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar.
- Also India, Myanmar, and Thailand Motor Vehicles Agreement (IMT MVA) is in the final stage.
- The Trilateral Highway can be extended to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP)

To develop connectivity through water.
Initiated by the Indian government in 2008 and is entirely funded by
Connects Kolkata in India to Sittwe and Paletwa in Myanmar by sea and river respectively.
Alternative route through Myanmar for the transportation of goods to the northeast region of India.

Mekong-India Economic Corridor (MIEC)

Involves the integration of four Mekong countries – Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia – along with India.
Connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Dawei, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh with

Topic 5- US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP)

The revamped US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) was launched on 9 September 2021 during a virtual ministerial meeting held between Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

About

SCEP was launched in line with U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership- announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in April 2021 at the Leaders’ Summit on
It organizes inter-governmental engagement on the basis of five pillars of cooperation:
- Power and Energy Efficiency
- Responsible Oil and Gas
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainable Growth and
- Emerging Fuels

US-India Agenda 2030 Partnership

The aim is to create stronger bilateral cooperation on actions in the current decade to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The Partnership will proceed along two main tracks:
1. The Strategic Clean Energy Partnership
2. The Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue.

Topic 6 – 13th BRICS Summit

The 13th BRICS summit 2021 was held virtually under the chairmanship of India.

Theme

‘BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation, and ’

Priority Areas highlighted by India

1. Multilateral System.
2. Counter-Terrorism.
3. Using Digital and Technological Tools for achieving SDGs.
4. Enhancing People to People exchanges.

Adopted Delhi Declaration

The declaration called for reforms of the principal organs of the United Nations including that of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
It is the first time that BRICS has taken a collective position on ‘Strengthening and Reforming Multilateral Systems’.

BRICS

An acronym for the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (the world’s leading emerging economies).
British Economist Jim O’Neill (2001) coined the term BRIC to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010.
India was the chair for 2021.
China (2022 host)

Topic 7- Food Emergency in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency over food shortages on August 31, 2021 after private banks in the country ran out of foreign exchange to finance imports.

Factors Responsible for Crisis

The tourism industry, which represents over 10% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and brings in foreign exchange, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Depreciating Currency – the price of food items has risen in tandem with the depreciating rupee.
Food Shortage – Sri Lankan Government’s recent decision to ban import of chemical fertilizers and adopt an “organic only” approach.

Topic 8- Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)

The Prime Minister of India (PM) addressed the plenary session of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) via video-

About

EEF was established by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation in the year 2015.
It takes place each year in Vladivostok, a city in Russia.
It supports the economic development of Russia’s Far East and expands international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific
It serves as a platform for the discussion of key issues in the world economy, regional integration, and the development of new industrial and technological sectors, as well as of the global challenges facing Russia and other nations.
Over the years, it has emerged as an international platform for discussing the strategy for developing political, economic, and cultural ties between Russia and the Asia

FAR EAST

The Far East is the easternmost part of Russia.
It borders two oceans, the Pacific and the Arctic, and five countries (China, Japan, Mongolia, the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK))