BEIJING, 07 December 2022, (TON): People in China’s capital Beijing were allowed to enter parks, supermarkets, offices and airports without showing proof of a negative Covid-19 test, the latest in a mix of easing steps nationwide after last month’s historic protests.

Beijing readies itself for life again read a headline in the government-owned China Daily newspaper, adding that people were gradually embracing their newfound freedoms.

Authorities have been loosening some of the world’s toughest Covid-19 curbs to varying degrees and softening their tone on the threat of the virus, in what many hope could herald a more pronounced shift towards normalcy three years into the pandemic.

RIYADH, 07 December 2022, (TON): Asia’s largest economy is set to showcase its burgeoning economic and trade ties with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries during two summits on cooperation and development in the Kingdom this week.

In September, the Arab League expressed hope that the planned summits would prove to be a milestone in the strategic partnership between Arab countries and China.

The Chinese foreign ministry has released a comprehensive review of China’s long-standing relations with Arab countries, and highlighted the strategic mutual trust in Arab-Chinese ties in the new era, which Chinese experts believe points out the future direction of cooperation.

NEW DELHI, 07 December 2022, (TON): India, the world's largest democracy, is home to a great diversity of faiths, the United States said Tuesday noting that it will continue to encourage New Delhi to uphold its commitments to protect religious freedom for all.

The United States has designated 12 countries, including China, Pakistan and Myanmar, as "countries of particular concern" for the current status of religious freedom in these nations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “around the world, governments and non-state actors harass, threaten, jail, and even kill individuals on account of their beliefs.”

State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters "India of course, is the world's largest democracy. It's home to a great diversity of faiths. Our annual report on international religious freedom outlines some of the concerns we've taken note of when it comes to India.”

DHAKA, 07 December 2022, (TON): Foreign friends and partners of Bangladesh have reaffirmed the importance of free, fair, inclusive and peaceful electoral processes in line with the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to a joint statement issued by foreign missions in Dhaka "we support and promote democratic governance as a set of values and principles to follow for meaningful participation, equality, security, and inclusive human and economic development.”

The Missions are Australian High Commission, British High Commission, High Commission of Canada, Embassy of Denmark, Delegation of the European Union, Embassy of France, Embassy of Germany, Embassy of Italy, Embassy of Japan, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of Switzerland and Embassy of the United States.

DHAKA, 07 December 2022, (TON): Outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki had a farewell meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Momen appreciated Ambassador Naoki's efforts and contributions in further strengthening Bangladesh-Japan bilateral relations.

He also appreciated the Japanese ambassador for his efforts in facilitating enhancement of bilateral trade between the two countries and Japanese investment in Bangladesh.

DHAKA, 07 December 2022, (TON): US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes met Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and discussed a "comprehensive approach" to the protracted Rohingya crisis with international support.

Talking to reporters, Momen said the government of Bangladesh wants to see better life for the Rohingyas.

Asked about relocation of the Rohingyas by the United States, Momen said it is nothing but a drop in the ocean as Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas.

He said “the US did not say any exact number but he hinted the number could be 62 only at the beginning.”

 By Ali Hassan
Trade appears to be the only immediate resolve of Sri Lanka’s internal problems so far. The island nation welcomes visiting ships primarily in Colombo port, which is the busiest transshipment port in South Asia and a crucial supply chain hub. The island nation is situated along the main east-west maritime lanes in the Indian Ocean. Following the shocks of the nation’s debt crisis in April and the prime minister’s departure in May, Colombo experienced a decline in container volume in June. The port experienced a backlog earlier this year, in part because of fuel shortages that reduced the number of vehicles able to deliver containers of products. As a result, several shipping companies were forced to shift cargo to Indian ports, which caused supply chains abroad to be disrupted.
It is more difficult to gauge the effect on regional security, but thus far it seems to be minor. The frequency of stories of naval ship visits in local media has decreased since the start of the internal crisis, which begs the issue of whether foreign naval sailors have been avoiding visits to Sri Lanka because of this challenging time for the nation. Two visits in August, though, are generating headlines. The Yuan Wang 5 ship from China arrived in Hambantota port, which is notable since Sri Lanka is allowing a first-time Chinese visit here. The other is a Pakistan Navy ship that arrived in Colombo port. Given the controversies surrounding Hambantota, the visit is particularly noteworthy. The Chinese-built and financed port was leased to a company in 2017.
As per Sri Lankan masses, with an unpopular president who was chosen by parliament rather than the people and who supported using police and army forces to disperse the main demonstration site, the political climate in Sri Lanka is still tense. Additionally, in order to achieve the austerity measures necessary to rebuild Sri Lanka’s economy, reductions in military budget may be necessary. This might affect Sri Lanka’s maritime troops’ capacity to keep an eye on its exclusive economic zone. The ability of the nation’s navy and coast guard to carry out maritime security operations, such as marine pollution response operations along important Indian Ocean water lanes, search and rescue of ships in distress, could be hampered by cuts to military spending and prevention of illegal migration and human smuggling a topic of increasing concern to India, Australia, and other Indian Ocean countries considering Sri Lankans who are desperate to leave the country.
The movement for naval modernization is an increasing global trend within the broad category of maritime security, which includes dealing with piracy, terrorism, territorial disputes, trafficking, and natural disasters. In order to protect their interests, states modernize their navies by modernizing their tools and assets and integrating cutting-edge military technology into marine operations. Recent changes in the Indian Ocean, including an assertive and growing Chinese presence and its rivalry with regional and global powers like the United States and India, put pressure on small South Asian states like Sri Lanka to modernize their navies in order to protect their borders. However, Sri Lanka also has other pressing maritime concerns such as illegal/unregulated fishing and human and drug trafficking and it may be more vulnerable to these in the short-to-medium term than the effects of India-China maritime competition. However, despite serious budgetary constraints and significant foreign assistance in defense, the idea of naval modernization continues to get priority in Sri Lankan defense policy circles, as evidenced by the “Sri Lanka Navy Maritime Strategy 2025.” Sri Lanka should be more strategic about dealing with its maritime security issues, prioritizing action and investment in tackling urgent threats based on an assessment of its resources.
Sri Lanka must first assess its resources before it can effectively address threats to marine security. It is a significant difficulty for a nation that finds it difficult to pay off its external debt to reduce its fiscal deficit while simultaneously keeping a sizable military and modernizing it. Making the best possible use of its resources to combat the most pressing problems, such as IUU fishing and drug trafficking, while also making investments in cutting-edge technology, like maritime drones, is thus a wise course of action. But given its economic problems and lack of a defense industry base, Sri Lanka may always need outside help. However, Colombo must exercise caution while dealing with both regional and extra-regional nations that offer it military support. It must be sure to properly understand their objectives and interests in order to prevent any negative effects of war on or near its coastlines.

By S. Habib

Beijing has a long history of trade relations with almost all of the developing countries in South Asia. China's economic reforms in the region's geopolitics, and huge trade markets have strengthened her relationship in the region. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) formerly called as One Belt One Road (OBOR), is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by China in 2013 to invest in nearly 150 countries and international organizations. As of August 2022, 149 countries were listed as having signed up to the BRI. Belt is short for the "Silk Road Economic Belt" referring to the proposed overland routes for road and rail transportation through landlocked Central Asia along the famed historical trade routes of the Western Regions; whereas "road" is short for the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road", referring to the Indo-Pacific sea routes through Southeast Asia to South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Objective of BRI was "to construct a unified large market and make full use of both international and domestic markets, through cultural exchange and integration, to enhance mutual understanding and trust of member nations." The Belt and Road Initiative was to address an "infrastructure gap" and thus has the potential to accelerate economic growth across the Asia Pacific, Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. This project was planned to become a new economic corridor for different regions. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
With reference to BRI project, a number of infrastructure projects are being implemented in Bangladesh in collaboration with China. Several of these works are nearing completion. Analysts believe that Dhaka has adopted ambitious plans around these projects on the way up the ladder of economic development. In April 2021, a special report was published in China Daily, a newspaper run by the ruling Communist Party of China, mentioning the importance of the Chinese project in the development of Bangladesh. It said Bangladesh plans to move from a least developed to a developing country by 2026. One of the keys to achieving this goal is China’s cooperation.
A number of infrastructure projects, including the $3.3 billion Padma Bridge under construction in Bangladesh, are part of China’s proposed Belt and Road (BRI) initiative. Other Chinese-funded projects in the country include the $1.1 billion Payra Power Plant, the $1.32 billion power grid development, and a $1 billion digitization project. It is true that if the projects under Chinese BRI are fully functional, Bangladesh would benefit hugely. The Chinese projects are boosting Bangladesh’s economy. Bangladesh is benefitting from the BRI.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina had also spoken out in support of China. China is also Bangladesh's biggest arms supplier. Bangladesh signed 'China-Bangladesh Defense' 'Agreement' to cover military needs. In the current situation, the Bangladesh Defense Force has Chinese weapons, including warplanes, tanks, submarines, missile launchers and various weapons systems. Bangladesh had purchased two Chinese Ming-class submarines. In 2018 China spent more than $200 million for Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) to buy 23 Hongdu K-8W intermediate trainers. Defense relations are not only related to the import and export of weapons. China provides training for Bangladesh Army officers with joint Chinese and Bangladeshi army training. The Sino-Bangladesh defense relationship is so strong that the Chinese and Bangladeshi soldiers of both countries train at each other's Defense Academy, and the Bangladeshi army is more comfortable.
India is Bangladesh's permanent ally and neighbor, But Sino-Bangladesh relationship has become a source of anxiety for India, it has been criticized by most Indian scholars. Experts fear that growing Sino-Bangladeshi relations could destabilize Indo-Bangladesh's mutual confidence economically and politically, despite Bangladeshi diplomats undermining Dhaka's neutral and neutral stance between New Delhi and Beijing. Therefore, out of the proposed six international corridors (Hong Kong Trade Development Council [HKTDC], 2018; National Development Reform Commission [NDRC], 2015), four corridors, namely, the new Eurasia Land Bridge, China–Central Asia–West Asia Economic Corridor, the China– Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Economic Cooperation (BCIM), directly affect India’s economic and strategic linkages with these regions.
India perceives that the BRI initiative is nothing but an attempt by China to unsettle the established regional order and replace it with a China-centric system that would marginalise other major Asian powers such as India and Japan. India’s objections to BRI have mainly centred on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), for an investment of USD 60 billion CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of the BRI. India is also vocally objecting to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through deputed area Kashmir.
Scholars of India working in the area of strategic studies still evaluating those components of the BRI, which will improve India’s connectivity to major markets and resource supplies is also of the view that except CPEC because of sovereignty issues, India should explore those portions of the BRI infrastructure or connectivity which ‘serve India’s interest in improving connectivity and economic integration with the Asian and global economy’. In addition, he argues that even limited implementation of the BRI ‘will markedly change the economic and strategic landscape within which we operate, and India must prepare for that change’ ‘there is no need to fear the OBOR– both the OBOR and China need India as a partner’ ‘Chinacentric system in Asia’ that will marginalize other powers like India. And ‘if India joins, it will mean that it accepts the inevitability of China’s supremacy in Asia’ India’s difficulty is that the BRI will massively strengthen China’s influence in ‘India’s neighbourhood and marginalise Delhi’s regional primacy’ India is now surrounded by BRI projects and through these, China is trying to ‘leverage regional security and stability in South Asia’. As New Delhi lacks resources for a counter strategy, he feels ‘all we are left with is our vacuous negative propaganda to malign the BRI for which there are no takers abroad.

Many scholars who focus more on economic issues see BRI as an opportunity. It is argued that India could take advantage from China’s overcapacity and infrastructure investment in Asia. Therefore instead of opposing, New Delhi should integrate some of the BRI initiatives into its own connectivity plans. This will significantly enhance India’s access to Eurasia. The sovereigntyrelated issues concerning the CPEC and broader geopolitical implications within the Indian Ocean Region have overshadowed other aspects on the initiative.
So, it is suggested count the interests of Bangladesh first. It is natural for Bangladesh that the developing economy of Southeast Asia, which is struggling with many social and economic problems such as poor infrastructure development, large population, unemployment and poverty etc. accepts all the opportunities and investments offered to develop it. Bangladesh gets this smooth ease from China. Rather than fearing for India or seeing China's approach only as an antidote to America's "pivot to Asia" policy or a debt trap for Bangladesh under the "policy of" China's checkbook ', China's investments are many productive opportunities to develop Bangladesh. This is not just because of Dhaka's trade neutrality or the desire to establish a relationship with China, but because of the decline in the number of creditors in Bangladesh projects in recent years.

KYIV, 06 December 2022, (TON): Ukraine warned there would be emergency blackouts once again in several regions as it repaired damage from missile attacks it said destroyed homes and knocked out power, while Moscow accused Kyiv of attacking deep inside Russia with drones.

A new Russian missile barrage had been anticipated in Ukraine for days and it took place just as emergency blackouts were due to end, with previous damage repaired.

The strikes, which plunged parts of Ukraine back into freezing darkness with temperatures below zero Celsius, were the latest in weeks of attacks hitting critical infrastructure and cutting off heat and water to many.

SEOUL, 06 December 2022, (TON): North Korea fired around 130 artillery shells into the sea off its east and west coasts, South Korea’s military said, in the latest apparent military drill near their shared border.

Some of the shells landed in a buffer zone near the sea border in what Seoul said was a violation of a 2018 inter-Korean agreement designed to reduce tensions.

The South Korean military sent several warning communications to the North over the firing, the ministry of defense said in a statement.

North Korea did not immediately report on the artillery fire, but it has been carrying out an increasing number of military activities, including missile launches and drills by warplanes and artillery units.