Punjabi ਭਾਰਤ-ਚੀਨ ਵਿਚਾਲੇ ਬਦਲੇ ਸਬੰਧਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵੀ ਭਵਿਖ ਨੀਤੀ

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China's impact on Maldives is definite. The Maldivian defence force on Thursday said it will have operational authority over the helicopter given by India to the island nation and the civilian crew that will pilot it. Addressing a press conference, the principal director of plans, policy, and resources management for the Maldives National Defence Force, Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohamed said that discussions are underway for withdrawing Indian troops from the Maldives. He emphasised that the government of President Mohamed Muizzu has decided not to permit any foreign troops to remain stationed in the Maldives beyond May 10, PSM News, the state broadcaster reported. Last week, India said its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the Maldives to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation.
"The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing on February 29.
Following a second meeting of the high-level core group that was set up to address the issue of withdrawal of the Indian military personnel, the Maldivian foreign ministry had said India will replace all its military personnel in two phases by May 10.
India's ties with the Maldives came under stress as Muizzu, seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president in November that he would keep his election promise of expelling all Indian military personnel from his country.
Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.
His government this week signed a deal with China's military under which Beijing will supply "non-lethal" weapons to the Maldives free of cost. Local media quoted President Muizzu as saying that the non-lethal weaponry would include tear gas and pepper spray.
Colonel Mujthaba also said that the Indian helicopter stationed in Addu City is currently undergoing repairs, and in its place, 26 civilians have arrived in the Maldives with a replacement helicopter.
He noted that the familiarisation process is in progress and said the Indian troops will depart from the Maldives as planned.
He also said the MNDF will have operational authority over the Indian civilians and vehicles associated with the helicopter.
According to the Maldivian government, 88 Indian military personnel were in the Maldives primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions.
The Indian aviation platforms have provided humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the Maldivians for the last few years.
Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.
The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region.
The overall bilateral ties, including in defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.

 

[dalvinder45]

'No right to interfere': China says as India backs Philippines' sovereignty over South China Sea territorial row The South China Sea is a major waterway and has been at the centre of a territorial conflict between China and its maritime neighbours, ..

 

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India has reaffirmed its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, dismissing China's claims and asserting that the state has always been and will remain an integral part of the country. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized this stance at the Corporate Summit 2024 organized by Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He stated that changing names does not alter the reality of Arunachal Pradesh being an Indian state. India's firm stance is in response to recent actions by China, including renaming places along the border with India.​

He stated, "If today I change the name of your house, will it become mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be a state of India. Changing names does not have an effect."

China's Defense Ministry recently reiterated its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it "Zangan--an inherent part of China's territory." In response, India rejected the claims, calling them "absurd" and "baseless."

The Ministry of External Affairs released an official statement, emphasizing Arunachal Pradesh's integral status in India and its continued development under Indian initiatives. The statement said, "Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India. Its people will continue to benefit from our development programmes and infrastructure projects."

In a related development, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs announced the renaming of 30 places along the border with India, including areas within Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as "Zangnan." This move is seen as an attempt to assert territorial claims.

Jaishankar responded to these actions, stating, "Our army is deployed at the Line of Actual Control." He reiterated that renaming places does not change the ground reality. China has long claimed Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet and has objected to Indian leaders' visits to the region.

India's firm stance on Arunachal Pradesh's sovereignty is based on historical and legal grounds. Despite China's efforts to assert its claims, India remains resolute in its position, emphasizing the state's integral status within the country.

Background of the Dispute
China has disputed India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh for decades. The region, bordering Tibet, has been a point of contention between the two countries, leading to occasional tensions and diplomatic spats.

India-China Border Dispute
The border dispute between India and China dates back to the 1962 Sino-Indian War, which resulted in China gaining control of Aksai Chin. Since then, both countries have made efforts to resolve the border issue, but disagreements persist, particularly in areas like Arunachal Pradesh.

Impact on India-China Relations
The ongoing dispute over Arunachal Pradesh and other border areas has strained India-China relations. Despite efforts to improve ties, including high-level meetings and diplomatic engagements, the border issue remains a major point of contention between the two nations.

Future Prospects
The recent developments highlight the complex nature of the India-China relationship, with territorial disputes continuing to be a major challenge. Both countries will need to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to these issues to ensure stability in the region.