In Geopolitics Today - Tuesday, January 4th
Beijing Looks to Strengthen Territorial Claims, Pakistan Set to Purchase Chinese J-10C Fighter Aircraft, and South Korean Government Seeks Peace Deal with North Korea
Beijing Looks to Strengthen Territorial Claims
A Chinese government ministry has renamed certain territories of India in official maps and designations. China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs has announced the conclusion of a standardization process involving 15 places in what Beijing calls Zangnan and what India considers its territory of Arunachal Pradesh. The 15 new designations include eight residential areas, four mountains, two rivers and a mountain pass. The Chinese move to assign names to places in Arunachal is broadly aimed at strengthening territorial claims in China’s disputed border region with India.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded to the move by dismissing China’s standardization as “invented names” that will not alter the reality on the ground. India has cause to be concerned as this is not the first such move by Beijing, and the Chinese government has indicated further such standardization will take place for established villages along disputed borders with India. China has used a similar internal standardization process in the South China Sea when it listed an official set of Chinese names for 80 islands and reefs. The move will further complicate relations in an already tense relationship, complicating any resolution to the border dispute between India and China this year.
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Pakistan Set to Purchase Chinese J-10C Fighter Aircraft
Pakistan is rumoured to have completed the acquisition of Chengdu J-10C fighter jets from China. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rasheed Ahmed, told the media that Pakistan has acquired 25 J-10CE aircraft, which is the export variant of the J-10C. The J-10C is a single-engine, multirole fighter capable of all-weather operation and features an active electronically scanned array radar and long-range air-to-air missiles. With a squadron (18) expected to arrive in time for the March 23 Pakistan Day Parade, Islamabad expects to receive more such J-10CE aircraft going forward as a counter to India’s growing Rafale fleet.
While the statements made by Pakistan’s interior minister seem to confirm the purchase of at least two squadrons of the J-10CE, precise info about the total number of J-10s that Pakistan is buying remains unclear. The Minister’s mention of differs from statements made by the Pakistan Air Force, which is reportedly expecting a total of 36 aircraft to equip two squadrons with 18 each. The price or scale of the deal between China and Pakistan remains secret, but the very short time for such a large delivery of fighter aircraft indicates that a deal might have been signed a long time ago and kept secret.
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South Korean Government Seeks Peace Deal with North Korea
In his final New Year's address in office, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that he would to push toward establishing an "irreversible peace" with North Korea. With elections due to take place in May this year, President Moon has promised to use his last months in office to push for a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea, despite Washington’s hesitation and Pyongyang’s refusal to make concessions on its nuclear capabilities.
Moon has made multiple attempts at ending the still-undecided war on the Korean Peninsula during his time in office. Yet despite several summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, including one in Pyongyang, and even an intensified period of negotiations in 2018 and 2019, the process has faltered over entrenched disagreements. Pyongyang insists that sanctions must be removed before demilitarization can occur and refuses to commit to denuclearization. On the other hand, Washington is also unlikely to support a deal without total denuclearization as it would leave a balance of power that is not conductive to its interests on the Korean Peninsula. As such, Moon’s push for an end of war declaration is unlikely to bring about any dramatic change before he leaves office.
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