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<ul class="summary-list"><li>India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Russia to visit its president Vladimir Putin. </li><li>It's a visit that risks annoying India's ally the US. </li></ul>When India's prime minister arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, he greeted Russia's famously chilly president, Vladimir Putin, with an exuberant bear hug.It was a move likely <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/modi-putin-russia-india-relationship-not-worried-us-biden-mad-2024-7">to rile the US, </a>India's most important geopolitical ally, which has placed pressure on New Delhi to loosen its ties with Russia over Putin's invasion of Ukraine.But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fear of China — a key Russian ally — means that he's willing to risk American anger to keep Putin close."New Delhi sees Moscow as an important buffer in their relationship due to Moscow's strong ties with Beijing," Sarang Shidore, an analyst at the Quincy Institute, told Business Insider."It is not in Russia's interest to have China and India at loggerheads, so it could, to a degree, act as a restraining agent."<h2 id="0ad4840d-1eb0-4f3e-a27c-3953a5a682f0">India ignores US pressure to cut Russia ties</h2>During the Cold War, the Soviet Union was among India's most important allies, with the Kremlin providing military support during India's clashes with Pakistan.They've remained close ever since, but the relationship is being tested anew in the fallout from the Ukraine war.The US has attempted to persuade India to take part <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-nations-general-assembly-biden-narendra-modi-india-82c9273cf3143cf16e9da23c3dd48170">in its campaign to isolate</a> Russia over the Ukraine invasion — but with little success."Russia is one of India's oldest strategic partners, and New Delhi wants to maintain this relationship regardless of Russia's diplomatic isolation following the war in Ukraine," Rahul Bhatia, an analyst at the Eurasia Group, told BI.India has increased its purchase of Russian goods, including oil and fertilizer, at reduced prices after the US imposed sanctions on Russia.It continues to buy Russian armaments, with around <a target="_blank" href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/more-than-60-70-of-india-armed-forces-equipped-with-russian-origin-weapons-indian-envoy/articleshow/76903811.cms?from=mdr">70% of its weapons systems believed to be Russian</a>-made, and its military reliant on the Kremlin for spare parts and upgrades."Taking a hardline position against Russia could have both economic and security ramifications for India," said Richard Rossow, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.<h2 id="a68bd311-605c-44db-97ac-44c2056c27c0">China's threat to India increases</h2>The threat from Chinese leader Xi Jinping is another key factor in Modi's determination to ignore US pressure and retain good ties with Putin.China's regional might is growing, and it's menacing India, Asia's other major economic power.In 2020, a long-simmering border dispute resulted in deadly clashes between Indian and Chinese troops. China ha<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-produces-vast-undersea-maps-submarine-warfare-report-says-2024-1">s bolstered its presence in the Indian Ocean</a>, and the two are jostling for influence in countries in the region.China has built stronger ties with Russia in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, hoping a Russian victory<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xi-china-putin-russia-frenemies-limits-power-sphere-influence-2024-7"> will damage US power and enhance its own global</a> might. And it's this friendship Modi's seeking to drive a wedge between."There is a real chance of future conflicts, and India would prefer to avoid Russia exporting advanced military hardware to China," said Rossow.Some Indian analysts believe that China poses a greater threat to Russia than NATO in the long term and that India can exploit those differences."The Russia-China 'alliance' may be short-term in nature, and that historical conflicts between the two, such as over their long border and under-developed natural resources in Russia's east, will resurface and trigger renewed tensions," said Morrow.But for the time being, Russia's new "no limits"<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-china-no-limits-partnership-yuan-bank-loans-sanctions-2024-2"> partnership has got Modi worried</a>, and he'll likely be hoping for a swift end to the Ukraine war. By maintaining good relations with Putin he's hoping he can contain the fallout."The war does not at all benefit its interests. The war also opens the door to legitimizing violations of territorial integrity, and endangers a principle that New Delhi has backed strongly," said Shidore.

Fear of China is behind India's exuberant display of friendship with Vladimir Putin 

<ul><li>Indian and Chinese troops reportedly fired weapons in the air to scare each other near <keyword id="9899667" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="shenpao-mountain">Shenpao Mountain</keyword> along the southern bank of <keyword id="837007" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pangong-Tso-Lake">Pangong Tso Lake</keyword> in Eastern Ladakh where both countries share a border. </li><li>China claims that the fresh skirmish is a result of Indian troops firing 'threats' at the the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), which forced them to take counter measures. </li><li>"We request the Indian side to immediately stop dangerous actions," said Colonel Zhang Shuili of the PLA's Western Threater Command in a statement.</li></ul>India and China indulged in a fresh skirmish at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh where the militaries of both countries fired in the air to scare and push back each other. The incident happened near Shenpao mountain near the south bank of Pangong Tso (Lake) on Monday. China issued a statement that the Indian army "blatantly fired threats" to the patrol personnel of the Chinese border guards who had made representations, and the Chinese border guards were forced to take "countermeasures to stabilise the situation on the ground". "India's actions seriously violated the relevant agreements and agreements between China and India, pushing up regional tensions and easily causing misunderstandings and misjudgments," China stated. The statement said it is serious military provocations and are of very bad nature. "We request the Indian side to immediately stop dangerous actions, immediately withdraw cross-line personnel, strictly restrain front-line troops, and strictly investigate and punish personnel who fired shots to ensure that similar incidents do not occur again," said Chinese People's Liberation Army's Western Theater Command, Colonel Zhang Shuili in a statement. Sources in Indian Army to stated that China resorted to firing in air to scare their patrol. The Indian Army's official statement is yet to come. India and China are engaged in around four-month-long standoff at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Despite several levels of dialogue, there has not been any breakthrough and the deadlock continues. On June 15, as many as 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops were killed in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/indias-successfully-tested-its-indigenously-developed-hypersonic-technology-demonstrator-vehicle/articleshow/77971186.cms">India successfully tests its hypersonic missile carrier than can also launch satellites into orbit</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-bets-on-talks-to-resolve-china-border-even-as-it-prepares-for-a-two-front-threat-on-the-ground/articleshow/77929308.cms">India bets on talks to resolve China border row even as it prepares for a two-front threat on the ground</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-says-border-situation-is-a-direct-result-of-chinese-actions-as-it-repositions-troops-in-ladakh/articleshow/77913259.cms">India says border situation is a ‘direct result’ of Chinese actions as it repositions troops in Ladakh</a>

New skirmish at India-China border along Pangong Tso Lake

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="11893746" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="indian-air-force" source="Orion">Indian air force</keyword> is in the midst of a massive modernization and expansion effort.</li><li><keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has focused on archrival <keyword id="11893449" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pakistan" source="Orion">Pakistan</keyword> for decades, but it is now contending with a much larger foe: <keyword id="11892748" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>.</li></ul>Earlier this month, at the end of India's annual Independence Day parade in New Delhi, the Indian Air Force showed off its aircraft inventory in multiple flyovers of the Rajpath, a ceremonial boulevard in the capital.The flyovers included transport aircraft, helicopter gunships, fighters, and fighter-bombers. It was the latest show of force for a military branch that, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/after-himalayan-clash-india-prepares-navy-to-take-on-china-2021-6" target="_top">like its naval counterpart</a>, is in the midst of a massive modernization and expansion effort.Focused for decades on the threat from archrival Pakistan, India is now preparing its air force to fight another much larger foe: China.With roughly 2,000 combat aircraft from its air force and navy, China has the largest aviation force in Asia and the third largest in the world. Worse for India, China's increasingly close relationship with Pakistan is <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/the-china-pakistan-partnership-continues-to-deepen/" target="_top">resulting in closer military cooperation</a>, including joint development of fighter jets.Faced with the potential for an air war against two enemies, the IAF is increasing its size and capabilities.<h2>A significant inventory</h2><div type="image" title="Indian MiG-29 fighter jet" height="1116" width="2000" msid="85853169" hostid="261"></div>With well over 1,000 aircraft itself, the IAF is by no means small. Since India's independence, it has mostly fielded Russian aircraft made entirely in Russia or licensed for local production.Even today, the biggest fleets in the IAF inventory are those of the <keyword id="12004876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mig-21" source="Orion">MiG-21</keyword>, MiG-29, and the <a href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/su-30mki-multirole-fighter-aircraft-india/" target="_top">Su-30MKI</a> - a version of Russia's Su-30 made specifically for and by India. (India signed a contract for the Su-30MKI in the 1990s and has built more than 200 of them domestically since the mid-2000s.)The service also has some European models, such as SEPECAT Jaguars and Mirage 2000s, which are the IAF's <a href="https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0912kargil/" target="_top">primary strike platforms</a>. But those aircraft, which were acquired in the 1980s, are showing signs of age, and the IAF plans to retire them by 2030.India's MiG-21s, first introduced in the 1960s, are also expected to be retired by 2030 - even the modernized MiG-21 Bison models. The jet has <a href="https://theprint.in/defence/11-down-in-5-yrs-3-in-2021-but-many-in-iaf-still-swear-by-mig-21s-despite-its-safety-record/663813/" target="_top">a poor safety record</a>; as of 2013, more than 480 of India's MiG-21s had been involved in accidents that had caused over 200 deaths.<h2>Threats on two fronts</h2><div type="image" title="Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI" height="800" width="1200" msid="85853174" hostid="261"></div>The Su-30MKI purchase was more than just a general upgrade. It came after the Pakistan Air Force in 1982 accepted the first of 28 US-made F-16s, which seriously increased the PAF's capabilities a decade after it <a href="http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/1971-air-war-battle-for-air-supremacy/" target="_top">last fought</a> the IAF.The US <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/pakistan%E2%80%99s-long-controversial-love-affair-f-16-fighting-falcon-47682" target="_top">paused</a> F-16 deliveries in 1990 because of Pakistan's nuclear program, but they resumed in 2005, and the PAF now has some 75 F-16s. Their use is <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2020/08/how-americas-experience-with-pakistan-can-help-it-deal-with-turkey/" target="_top">conditional and closely monitored</a> by the US, but Pakistan would likely have no qualms about using them in an all-out war.In 2019, a <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26836/we-cut-through-the-conflicting-claims-and-misinformation-surrounding-indias-strikes-on-pakistan" target="_top">series of skirmishes</a> between India and Pakistan included airstrikes on each other's territory and resulted in one MiG-21 Bison being shot down by PAF fighters, possibly by an F-16. It was the first time since 1971 that air attacks had been conducted across the Line of Control.During the Cold War, China sold Pakistan its J-6 and J-7 fighters, which were Chinese copies of Russia's MiG-19 and MiG-21. The PAF has also benefitted from Pakistan's closer ties with China in recent years.<div type="image" title="India Kashmir MiG-21 Bison crash" height="998" width="1400" msid="85853179" hostid="261"></div>Their air forces <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/China-and-Pakistan-conduct-joint-air-drills-with-eye-on-India" target="_top">re</a><a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/China-and-Pakistan-conduct-joint-air-drills-with-eye-on-India" target="_top">gularly</a> conduct joint <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1211811.shtml" target="_top">exercises</a>, and they have even jointly developed a fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft, the <a href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/fc1xiaolongjf17thund/" target="_top">JF-17</a>, of which Pakistan has over 100.China and Pakistan are now <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-pakistan-upgrading-fighter-aircraft-used-against-indian-air-force-report/story-BS87X5ux3Xaj8QqS6jtssN.html" target="_top">planning</a> upgrades to Pakistan's JF-17 fleet, and China has <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chinese-pla-tries-to-psyche-indian-army-by-supplying-armed-drones-to-pak/story-tySb4UnKimFUYIxJdP3xGL.html" target="_top">announced</a> the sale of 50 <a href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/wing-loong-unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav/" target="_top">Wing Loong II combat drones</a> to Pakistan. Pakistan may also <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/is-the-chinese-jh-7-an-answer-to-the-pakistan-air-forces-deep-strike-needs/" target="_top">acquire</a> Chinese strike aircraft.China's own air force also poses a threat to the IAF. Particularly worrying for India are the <a href="http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/j10.htm" target="_top">J-10</a> and <a href="http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/j11.htm" target="_top">J-11</a> fighters and the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2020/08/17/chinese-stealth-fighters-head-west-to-confront-india/?sh=5f36556a1b85" target="_top">J-20</a> stealth fighter.The aerial threat from China was abundantly clear after last year's deadly standoff along its disputed border with India.India has a longer history of air operations in the area, but China is <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41065/tracking-chinas-sudden-airpower-expansion-along-its-western-border" target="_top">rapidly building and expanding</a> air bases and defenses along its western borders.<h2>A major modernization</h2><div type="image" title="Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet" height="1333" width="2000" msid="85853182" hostid="261"></div>Appreciating the threats, the IAF has committed to modernization.In 2016, India signed a contract with French firm Dassault Aviation four 36 Rafale multirole fighters. Twenty-six of them have been <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-has-received-26-rafale-aircraft-till-date-govt/article35585665.ece" target="_top">delivered</a> so far, and some have <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/indian-air-force-deploys-first-rafales-in-east-to-counter-china-121072900013_1.html" target="_top">already been deployed</a> to counter possible Chinese aggression.The IAF has also purchased 15 CH-47 Chinook helicopters and 22 AH-64 Apache gunships, both of which have also been <a href="https://theprint.in/defence/iaf-deploys-apache-attack-helicopters-and-chinooks-in-ladakh-increases-combat-air-patrols/445072/" target="_top">deployed</a> to the border region.India has developed its own lightweight <keyword id="12004878" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fighter-jet" source="Orion">fighter jet</keyword>, the <a href="https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/tejas/" target="_top">HAL Tejas</a>, and has about 20 in service. The original order for 40 fighters was supplemented by <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rs-48000-crore-landmark-deal-india-clears-purchase-of-83-tejas-jets-for-iaf/articleshow/80251469.cms" target="_top">an additional order</a> of 83 improved Tejas Mark 1A variants, with a second production line <a href="https://theprint.in/defence/govt-clears-rs-48000-cr-deal-for-83-tejas-mk-1a-all-you-want-to-know-about-the-aircraft/584743/" target="_top">built</a> to speed up production.To meet its needs in the near-term, India is <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/after-tejas-india-moves-ahead-to-procure-more-mig-29s-sukhois/articleshow/80320199.cms" target="_top">buying</a> another 21 MiG-29s and 12 Su-30MKIs. It is also <a href="https://tass.com/defense/1316503" target="_top">upgrading</a> its MiG-29 fleet and modifying its Su-30MKIs to be able to fire Brahmos cruise missiles.<div type="image" title="Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet" height="1326" width="2000" msid="85853185" hostid="261"></div>The IAF is also seeking 114 medium multirole combat aircraft.The US-made F/A-18E/F and F-15, the French-built Rafale, the European-made Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russia's MiG-35 and Su-35 - all twin-engine jets - are in the running, as are the single-engine Swedish-built JAS 39 Gripen and US-built F-21, a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lockheed-martin-unveils-f21-fighter-jet-to-compete-for-india-contract-2019-2" target="_top">version of the F-16</a> designed specifically for India.India also has a number of high-profile domestic projects in development. It plans to fly a prototype from its own <a href="https://eurasiantimes.com/indias-5th-gen-aircraft-iaf-to-model-its-amca-on-us-f-35s-instead-of-j-20-or-su-57-jets-experts/" target="_top">fifth-generation stealth fighter program</a> by 2025 and recently <a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/hal-announces-unmanned-fighter-jet-207899" target="_top">unveiled</a> an unmanned fighter jet program.India has relied on foreign suppliers for much of its military hardware - especially <a href="https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/07/21/russia-sees-india-as-prospective-buyer-for-checkmate-jet-but-will-iaf-want-it.html" target="_top">Russia</a>, with which it has a longstanding but <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/india-s400-purchase-risks-us-sanctions-amid-competition-with-china-2021-5" target="_top">increasingly fraught</a> relationship - but many of the new acquisition efforts will require some degree of local production as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.Amid ongoing tensions with China and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china-pakistan-india-jockey-position-afghanistans-new-great-game-2021-08-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">renewed uncertainty</a> about the future in Afghanistan, India's efforts to expand and modernize its air force show how serious it is about countering the threat from its two most contentious neighbors.

India is updating its air force for a modern war, and China isn't its only concern

<ul><li>India will conduct its first ever simulated space war exercise this week.</li><li>‘IndSpaceEx’ will last two days with the aim of discovering which ‘imminent threats’ face India in outer space.</li><li>India’s apprehension is preceded by China developing space weapons and the US announcing its own Space Force.</li></ul>The Indian Defence ministry is conducting its first ever simulated space war exercise this week called ‘<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/eye-on-china-india-set-to-kickstart-1st-space-war-drill/articleshow/70354760.cms?utm_source=Native_Share_Tray&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=TOIMobile">IndSpaceEx</a>’ that will last for two days. It’s not alone in worrying about a conflict. Space is getting increasingly congested and competitive — especially with China <a href="https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/China_Military_Power_FINAL_5MB_20190103.pdf">developing weapons</a> that it can deploy in Earth’s orbit. The US President, Donald Trump, has already announced plans for the country to set up its own <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/Trump-wants-to-create-the-first-US-military-branch-to-fight-in-space-heres-what-the-Space-Force-could-look-like/articleshow/63307230.cms">Space Force</a>. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (<a href="https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_167181.htm">NATO</a>), which includes the US and most European nations, has outlined its own strategy for operations in Earth’s orbit. Looking for ‘imminent threats’ IndSpaceEx will be conducted by tri-service integrated defence staff (IDS) on Thursday and Friday to determine ‘imminent threats’ that it could face in outer space in the background of China expanding its capabilities. The space defence exercise is only one part of the puzzle. India reportedly has plans to launch a new agency — the Defense Space Research Agency — to develop new weapons systems for outer space combat, according to <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/modi-govt-approves-new-agency-to-develop-space-warfare-weapon-systems-119061100627_1.html">ANI.</a> Other nations have similar reasons to have a contingency in place in case outerspace does ever end up becoming a battlefield. The impetus for US’ Space Force is that space is a "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/were-getting-the-first-details-of-trumps-proposed-space-force-which-would-be-the-first-new-military-branch-in-over-half-a-century/articleshow/65345522.cms">war fighting domain</a>" and that other global powers like Russia and China are already treating it as such, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trumps-space-force-is-about-beating-china-as-beijings-talking-like-it-already-owns-space/articleshow/65356674.cms">according to</a> US Vice President Mike Pence. NATO, on the other hand, is not looking to start an arms race in outer space. “From the ability to navigate and track forces, to satellite communications, and detecting missile launches, our new policy will guide our approach to space, the opportunities and the challenges. This is not about militarizing space,” stated <a href="https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_167245.htm">NATO Secretary General</a> Jens Stoltenberg. Nonetheless, anti-satellite weapons tests and surveillance satellites are toeing the line of what could be considered an act of aggression. According to the<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613749/satellite-space-wars/"> MIT Tech Review,</a> it’s not uncommon to find examples of US satellites spying on other countries or China engaging in what looks like preparations for anti-satellite strikes. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/how-chinas-scavenger-satellites-are-being-used-to-develop-ai-weapons-drones-and-robots/articleshow/69003064.cms">How China's scavenger satellites are being used to develop AI weapons, drones and robots</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/trump-wants-to-send-the-military-into-space-heres-how-a-fight-in-space-would-go-down/articleshow/64702424.cms">Trump wants to send the military into space - here's how a fight in space would go down</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-asat-mission-shakti-creates-space-debris/articleshow/68594904.cms">India's test of its anti-satellite weapon may have weakened its fight against dangerous space debris</a>

India next in line after NATO and the US to strategize for war in space

<keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> and <keyword id="3001" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pakistan">Pakistan</keyword>, with which <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> shares border conflicts, have entered into a military cooperation under which Pakistan would be authorised by China to produce <keyword id="899272" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ballistic-missiles">ballistic missiles</keyword>, <keyword id="426236" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cruise-missiles">cruise missiles</keyword> and a <keyword id="445028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Multi-Role-Combat-Aircraft">multi-role combat aircraft</keyword> for it. 
 
The report has been shared by official Chinese media. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/China-Is-Giving-6-5-Billion-To-A-Huge-Pakistani-Nuclear-Project/articleshow/27854438.cms">China Is Giving $6.5 Billion To A Huge Pakistani Nuclear Project</a> 
 
Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was in China for talks with General Fang Fenghui, chief of the Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission of China. 
 
Bajwa also met Chinese Executive Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, General Fan Changlong and Commander of the People's Liberation Army General Li Zhuocheng to discuss regional security, economy defence cooperation and other issues of mutual interest between China and Pakistan. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/India-must-be-worried-about-Chinas-46-billion-gift-to-Pakistan-Know-why/articleshow/46997631.cms">India must be worried about China's $46 billion gift to Pakistan. Know why</a> 
 
Fang said that the strategic partnership has withstood several changes in the international community, terming it ‘all-weather’. 
 
One of the weapons produced under this program is FC-1 Xiaolong, known as JF-17 Thunder in Pakistan. This is a lightweight and multi-role combat aircraft made by collaboration of both countries, and the production would be done at a mass level after the recent talks. 
 
China's authorisation to Pakistan to produce ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles and main battle tanks in Pakistan is also on the agenda, said Song Zhongping, a military expert who served in the Second Artillery Corps (now known as the PLA Rocket Force). 
 
China and Pakistan also vowed to ensure the safety of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is an important part of the One Belt and One Road initiative started by China. 
 
Reportedly, Pakistan has deployed more than 15,000 troops to protect the CPEC, while its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Pakistan-is-buying-8-war-ready-submarines-from-China/articleshow/48203891.cms">navy</a> has raised a special contingent for the protection of Gwadar Port. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/India-wants-to-challenge-China-to-become-Asias-leading-shipping-hub/articleshow/53431603.cms">India wants to challenge China to become Asia’s leading shipping hub</a> 
 
Pakistan needs military support because of frequent threats from Taliban and al-Qaeda, especially in the regions where China has invested heavily. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/china-raises-concern-over-taiwan-delegations-india-visit-says-india-is-playing-with-fire/articleshow/57165724.cms">China raises concern over Taiwan delegation’s India visit; says India is playing with fire</a> 
 
Another threat that needs to be jointly battled is the East Turkestan Islamic Movement active in Xinjiang, the connecting point of the CPEC, which has been held responsible for several violent attacks in the past few years. 
 
(Image source: TechJuice)

China to fund weapon building in Pakistan

<ul><li>On the last day of 2018, US President Donald <keyword id="6354862" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="trump">Trump</keyword> signed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act. </li><li>Under the act, around $1.5 billion worth of funding will be channeled into improving US ties with partners in the region for the next five years. </li><li>While the act frames a comprehensive strategy for the US in the Asia, it singles out <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> as an important military partner with a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. </li><li>The act also highlights threats from <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword>, citing the country’s “illegal construction and militarization of artificial features in the South China Sea” as well as its “coercive economic practices.” </li></ul> The US President Donald Trump signed a number of acts on the last day 2018. A particularly noteworthy one, with respect to India, was the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2736/text#toc-H00AC660EEB9C435D8D91F69FBF988311">Asia Reassurance Initiative Act</a> (ARIA). The US Senate passed the act in the first week of December, with the US Congress following suit in the second week. Under the act, around $1.5 billion worth of funding will be channeled into improving US ties with partners in the region for the next five years. It is likely to put the fears of a US retreat from the region to rest. While the act frames a comprehensive strategy for the US in the Asia, it singles out India as an important military partner with a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. It also calls for a strengthening in trade and diplomatic ties with India and well as increased exchange of military technologies and information. The US reiterated its commitment to all bilateral pacts signed with India, including the 2012 United States-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative and the 2015 Joint Strategic Vision for the <keyword id="1551039" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indo-Pacific">Indo-Pacific</keyword> and Indian Ocean Region. The act also stressed the importance of the Quadrilateral security dialogue between the US, Australia, India, and Japan. In September last year, India signed the the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-and-the-us-just-signed-a-landmark-military-intelligence-sharing-agreement/articleshow/65716448.cms">Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA),</a> which facilitates the sharing of military intelligence with the US. Under the pact, India will be given access to a host of technologies like advanced drones and communication platforms. Of course, since this is an act about the US’s strategy in Asia, China receives significant mention given the government’s fears about China upsetting the current power order in the world. The act highlights the country’s “illegal construction and militarization of artificial features in the South China Sea” as well as its “coercive economic practices,” the latter referring to China’s trade policies, as threats. In a clause that could prove controversial, it also recommends increasing the sale of arms to Taiwan to help defend it from possible incursions by China. The Trump administration’s foreign policy stance has largely been transactional -- ‘Help us and we will help you’. It’s no different with respect to India. The ARIA makes it clear that the US requires India’s help to counter China’s influence in Asia if the two are to become better friends. As 2019 progresses, India will look to the US for a number of concessions, such as the lifting of trade restrictions, a go-ahead for the Chabahar Port project in Iran and an exemption from sanctions for buying a missile shield system from Russia. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-and-the-us-just-signed-a-landmark-military-intelligence-sharing-agreement/articleshow/65716448.cms">India and the US just signed a landmark military-intelligence sharing agreement</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/senior-chinese-military-officer-calls-for-attacks-on-us-ships-in-the-south-china-sea/articleshow/67029057.cms">Senior Chinese military officer calls for attacks on US ships in the South China Sea</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-what-trump-had-to-say-about-india-at-the-un-general-assembly/articleshow/65960850.cms">Here’s what Trump had to say about India at the UN General Assembly</a>

The US government is enforcing an act that calls for a stronger partnership with India in order to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region

Threat of attacks on the cyberspace cannot be fathomed without accepting the fact that the internet, by definition, is an entity without any borders. What this implies is that cyberspace of a particular country or region cannot be excluded from the global network, which affects the latter and vice-versa. 
 
Cyberspace’s growth directly proportional to cyber crime 
 Expansion of the cyberspace, globally, has been exponential which, in turn, has raised questions about how secure this international network is. However, it is this ability of the internet to grow and expand that also makes it one of the most important inventions of the last century. So, in a way, this openness is a double-edged sword. What makes the internet brilliant is also what causes online espionage, web terrorism, <keyword id="154740" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cyber-warfare">cyber warfare</keyword> and cyber crime. In developing nations and emerging markets, the onus for security might even be greater as these are regions where the number of internet users is rapidly increasing along with those who are using smartphones and mobile devices. 
 
Rapid increase of <keyword id="414255" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="internet-users-in-India">Internet users in India</keyword> 
 
In India, about <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.P2">18 percent out of the 1.3 billion people</a> are said to have internet access. While this might seem low when placed against US’s 87.4%, but since India has a huge population, this percentage accounts for roughly 354 million people. Interestingly, only 3.95% of the total population had internet access in 2007. This drastic rise over an eight-year period can largely be attributed to the expansion of the smartphone industry in India. Through mobile devices, around 159 million Indians browse the web. 
 One of the core concerns of <keyword id="1418370" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-security-in-india">cyber security in India</keyword> is the vulnerability of information when it is accessed through mobile devices. Limiting internet access to these devices is not a solution since this rapidly expanding web-savvy populace is also dependent on ‘connectivity’ for social and economic reasons. Developing nations, where ‘growth’ is the omnipresent mantra, cannot afford to curb it in the name of ‘security’. The only solution is identifying the threats and fortifying the network using technology. 
 
Cyber attacks against developing countries 
 Speaking of threats, <keyword id="887217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-cyberspace">Indian cyberspace</keyword>, which recently saw cyber breaches, surged by a record 117%, did not enjoy a safe season in 2013-2014, when <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/it-services/Cyberattacks-on-the-rise-in-India/articleshow/31757791.cms">attacks peaked</a>. That time period saw a 136% increase in cyber offenses against Government of India organizations and a 126% rise in offensives against financial institutions. According to a Norton report, offensive cyber acts such as spear-phishing and ransomware cost Indian people and companies around $4 billion. 
 
Another developing country, Brazil, which is also one of the BRICS nations along with India, also had its share of cyber attacks. Interestingly, one of the biggest threats came from the NSA in the US. The American agency was accused of monitoring networks, emails and telephonic conversations of people involved with Petrobras, a Brazilian semi-government, semi-private energy corporation so that American rival companies had access to information regarding the specifics of the Brazilian company’s plans for expansion and/or future tenders. 
 
The BRICS solution 
 
Following such cyber threats, Brazil, as part of the BRICS collective, is trying to bypass US-based web services. Like most other Latin American nations, Brazil routes its internet traffic through Miami-based Network Access Point. This makes it very difficult for the country to keep its digital information safe from American agencies. The solution in this case is the BRICS cable, a 34,000 km long telecommunications cable connecting access points in Brazil, South Africa, India, China and ending in Russia. Not only will this bolster the internet security of developing nations like India, Brazil, South Africa and China, but it will also save them the huge costs of using hubs based in Europe and US. 
 
Cyber warfare is real 
 One of the core challenges of <keyword id="137092" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-security">cyber security</keyword> with respect to developing nations lies in identifying foreign nation state aggressors that perpetuate such attacks. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Stuxnet-Attack-On-Irans-Nuclear-Plant-Was-Far-More-Dangerous-Than-Previously-Thought/articleshow/26113763.cms">Stuxnet</a>, a virus that disrupted Iran’s nuclear capabilities, was a joint US-Israel project. The NSA has also been accused of hacking into Chinese Telecom giant <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/22/nsa-huawei-china-telecoms-times-spiegel">Huawei</a> believing that doing so would reveal details of the Chinese military. China, on the other hand, has been accused of hacking into emails of Indian academicians who were known to be pro-Tibet. Indian security agencies also claim the foreign agents also accessed information related to <a href="http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/india-cyber-security-at-risk/1/191786.html">Indo-Tibetan Border Police</a> (ITBP), something that only China would be interested in. 
 
All of these point to one fact – cyber warfare is here to stay. The global concerns related to cyber security, especially from the point of view of developing countries, need to be addressed immediately. Countries like India and China can also greatly benefit when these concerns are addressed as the solutions will definitely involved technical expertise and tools, something which these countries have in abundance. 
 
 (Image: Thinkstock)

Cyber security: Identifying threats and fortifying networks in developing countries

<keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword>, India’s Minister of External Affairs, said in the <keyword id="48510" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajya-Sabha">Rajya Sabha</keyword> that China is trying to change the status quo in the <keyword id="4788912" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="doklam-tri-junction-area">Doklam tri-junction area</keyword>. "Over the years, China has been trying to get closer and closer to where the tri-junction point ends. It has done things like repair roads, re-tar them and things like that," Swaraj said when asked why India is at a standoff with China on the border. She then went on to describe what happened on June 16 that triggered the latest standoff. "This time though, they came with bulldozers and construction equipment with the aim of breaching the point where the tri-junction ends. That is a threat to our security," said Swaraj. "We have the law and right on our side," she said about India's position in the standoff. When asked about China's <keyword id="3316632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="One-Belt-One-Road">One Belt One Road</keyword> (<keyword id="3694058" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="OBOR">OBOR</keyword>) project, Swaraj said that India doesn’t agree with it and has maintained its stand right from the start. "As soon as we learned that they are making <keyword id="1934950" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="China-Pakistan-economic-corridor">China-Pakistan Economic Corridor</keyword> (<keyword id="6363059" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="CPEC">CPEC</keyword>) a part of OBOR, we registered our protest," she said. Swaraj added India’s allies are cautious about OBOR and China's motivations behind the ambitious projects.

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