UPSC Daily Current Affairs : 18-June-2020

Topic Covered :

‘Exaggerated’: India’s late night rebuttal on China’s new claim over Galwan Valley
China opens another front, steps up cyberattacks that target India: Intel
India elected unopposed to UNSC’s non-permanent member seat
Restricted access to market in plan to counter Beijing

‘EXAGGERATED’: INDIA’S LATE NIGHT REBUTTAL ON CHINA’S NEW CLAIM OVER GALWAN VALLEY

Why in news?

The Galwan Valley - the site of the bloody clash between soldiers from both sides - has been one of the few areas along the Line of Actual Control where the difference in perception of the boundary between the two sides was minimal.

Highlights:

India on Wednesday responded sharply to the Chinese foreign ministry claiming Galwan Valley, asserting that this was an “exaggerated and untenable” claim.
New Delhi also reminded Beijing about the phone conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries who had agreed that the overall situation “should be handled in a responsible manner” and the understanding reached between military commanders of the two countries on 6 June “should be implemented sincerely”.
The Chinese statement is seen as an effort to create fresh areas of differences even as older differences turn into disputes.
The two countries have been trading charges of what triggered Monday night’s face-off in Galwan Valley that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and 76 more wounded including 18 with serious injuries.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar told his counterpart in a phone conversation that the Chinese side’s “pre-meditated and planned action” was behind the violence and casualties.
Jaishankar also added that the “Chinese side sought to erect a structure in Galwan Valley on our side of the LAC” and set up the clash.

CHINA OPENS ANOTHER FRONT, STEPS UP CYBERATTACKS THAT TARGET INDIA: INTEL

Why in news?

China has opened another front against India with sustained DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks on Indian information websites and the country’s financial payments system.

Highlights:

DDOS attacks are malicious attempts to overwhelm a network by flooding it with artificially created internet traffic.
A variety of targets were zeroed in on, including government websites and the banking system including ATMs.
Most of the attacks were traced back to the central Chinese city of Chengdu.
The capital of Sichuan province, Chengdu is known for being the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army’s Unit 61398, the Chinese military’s primary covert cyberwarfare section.

INDIA ELECTED UNOPPOSED TO UNSC’S NON-PERMANENT MEMBER SEAT

Why in news?

India on Thursday has been elected to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member from the Asia-Pacific category.

Highlights:

India, with its unopposed victory, will hope to use its eighth term as a non-permanent member to further bolster its claim to a permanent seat with the avowed goal of forging a “new orientation for a reformed multilateral system”.
Among the seven nations vying for the seat, India was standing unopposed from the block for 2021-22 term.
This is for the eighth time that India has been elected to the expanded security council.
Earlier this month, external affairs minister S Jaishankar had laid out India’s priorities and approaches when the country had another term on the Security Council.
“Reformed Multilateralism to reflect contemporary realities” will be one of India’s priorities, Jaishankar said.
Each new Security Council member needs to win two-thirds of the votes cast -- meaning 128 votes if all 193 nations vote. Delegates could have to vote multiple times to certify a winner.
The Security Council has 10 non-permanent members in addition to the veto-wielding Big Five -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

RESTRICTED ACCESS TO MARKET IN PLAN TO COUNTER BEIJING

Why in news?

India is mulling economic measures, including limiting China’s access to its vast market, even as its armed forces went into a state of high alert to deal with any threat to national security following the significant escalation of the border conflict with China after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a brutal clash with Chinese soldiers on June 15.

Highlights:

The army has strengthened its posture across the length of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) where reinforcements have been sent, the Indian Air Force is keeping its contingency plans ready and the navy is also on an operational alert in the Indian Ocean region where scores of warships are ready for any task.
On the economic front, at least 100 Chinese products are staring at anti-dumping action and future investments from China, including participation of its firms in big and important projects such as the 5G market, could be barred.
India will, however, not resort to any knee-jerk reaction. It will take well considered action at an appropriate time, necessary to protect integrity and sovereignty of the country and its national interest.
Chinese aggression came at a time when New Delhi is aggressively pursuing an economic policy of self-reliance, anti-China sentiments have gripped major global economies such as the United States, and it is the prime suspect for spreading the Covid-19 virus

De Facto IAS