Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US military may be forced to confront a Chinese invasion of Taiwan without top allies.</li><li>Japan, Australia, the UK and Canada are likely to provide no military forces to counter China.</li></ul>If the US decides to defend Taiwan from Chinese invasion, it may have to do so alone.Several of America's biggest allies are unlikely to commit troops to save Taiwan, either because they lack the military capability or don't want to risk all-out war with an increasingly formidable China, according to a new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3108-1.html">report</a> by the RAND Corp..For Japan, Australia, the UK and Canada, aid "would be confined to diplomatic support for Taiwan and endorsement of likely US sanctions on China," concluded RAND, an American think tank, which surveyed experts in the four nations. If this proves right, it means that any military response to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-missing-how-china-could-seize-taiwan-without-invading-experts-2024-5">Chinese invasion</a> would be limited to American forces."Our respondents believe that the US will receive logistics and materiel support from other countries, but its forces will have to go it alone in responding to an invasion by China," Rafiq Dossani, a RAND senior economist who co-authored the study, told Business Insider. However, there was more support in Japan and Australia to commit their navies to assisting an American-led effort to break a Chinese blockade of Taiwan.That Canada, for example, might not be able or eager to rush to Taiwan's defense isn't a surprise. But for Japan, whose security would be gravely affected by a Chinese takeover of Taiwan, the issue is more complicated."Despite its military power, commitment to the region, and US backing, Japanese pacifism (both popular and constitutional) and the fear of a retaliatory attack by China are likely to limit Japan's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-arming-taiwan-against-china-invasion-but-it-could-backfire-2023-11">military support for Taiwan</a>, perhaps only to logistics and supplies," RAND said. "Any support that they would offer to a US-led military response would likely be limited to logistics and materiel support."The goal of the RAND study, which was sponsored by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was to examine how America's medium-sized allies may deter or mediate a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-taiwan-drills-looked-like-rehearsal-for-invasion-us-admiral-2024-5">conflict between China and Taiwan</a>, a democratic island that China's communist leaders consider a breakaway province. The US is highly dependent on its regional allies like South Korea and Japan for basing, but the prospect it would have to fight without their ships and troops against what's likely to be a larger Chinese force may tarnish its deterrent power.Researchers classified Japan, Australia, the UK and Canada as "middle powers," which RAND defined as nations "that are not small but lack the sheer size and influence to significantly disrupt the global order." The study excluded nations that already faced a risk of direct conflict with China, the US and their respective allies. India and South Korea were also excluded "because those countries have declared that they will not play a mediating role in a cross-Strait conflict."RAND sent questionnaires to 49 diplomats, defense officials, policy analysts, business executives, journalists and legislators in the four nations. The various responses shared "remarkably common" views about a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-doesnt-have-military-power-invade-taiwan-experts-csis-us-2024-1">China-Taiwan war</a>.What is especially striking is the pessimistic self-image. The British experts, for example, felt that "the UK's distant location and weak military assets, in addition to its trade dependence on China, lead to limited UK interest in defending Taiwan militarily."Nor do the four US allies believe that Beijing fears them enough to refrain from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-missing-how-china-could-seize-taiwan-without-invading-experts-2024-5">attacking Taiwan</a>. "Our respondents thought that China views these four middle-power countries as too weak militarily to take on China on their own and as marginal players in a US-led coalition," the report found.On the other hand, America's top allies don't <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-trying-boost-its-economy-is-china-preparing-war-taiwan-2024-5">share</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/red-flags-tell-us-when-chinas-ready-to-invade-taiwan-2024-4">American fears</a> that a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-china-missile-problem-getting-worse-2024-5">massive Chinese military buildup</a> and Chinese leader <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/xi-claim-us-trying-trick-china-invaded-taiwan-divide-allies-experts-2024-6">Xi Jinping's</a> avowed determination to "reunify" Taiwan with China are steps toward war, but rather may be nationalistic posturing. "According to our respondents, China's main goal is to legitimize its current domestic political system (i.e., the rule of the Chinese Communist Party)," the report said. "To accomplish this goal, China must be seen within as a great power, preeminent in Asia, and able to achieve high economic growth. An invasion of Taiwan would jeopardize such perceptions and thus be deemed an unacceptable risk relative to the status quo."<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-taiwan-seals-would-fight-a-chinese-military-invasion-2021-12">Taiwan's military</a> is not inconsequential, with nearly 200,000 active-duty soldiers, anti-ship missiles and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-taiwan-could-use-sea-mines-to-stop-chinese-invasion-2024-3">mines</a>, and soon F-16 fighters and submarines. But this is a fraction of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-showed-how-easily-no-notice-it-can-surround-taiwan-2024-6">China's military</a> might, and Taiwan would probably need outside assistance to repel an invasion or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-missing-how-china-could-seize-taiwan-without-invading-experts-2024-5">break a blockade</a>. While the US would provide the bulk of such a relief effort, allied contributions would be vital, as would unfettered use of bases in Japan and Australia.To American hardliners already resentful that some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-didnt-scare-nato-defense-spending-putin-did-experts-2024-2">NATO nations </a>aren't spending enough to defend Europe, the reluctance of its allies may smack of cowardice, and stick the US with the burden of Pacific security. But this may also reflect military and geographic reality. Canada's small military could muster only a token force for Taiwan's defense. Britain's shrinking armed forces, which already have European commitments, would struggle just to dispatch a small carrier task force 6,000 miles to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-ax-attack-philippines-south-china-sea-grab-territory-experts-2024-6">South China Sea</a>.Though <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/aukus-plans-for-new-submarine-base-amid-increased-undersea-competition-2023-5">Australia</a> is a Pacific nation, and has diesel-electric submarines and F-35 stealth fighters, it still lacks the ability to project and sustain military operations 5,000 miles away in Taiwan.But the biggest question mark is Japan: Okinawa is about 500 miles from Taiwan, Japan has territorial disputes with China over various islands in the East China Sea, and the Japanese military is rated among the 10 most powerful in the world. Furthermore, Japan's territory and the US military bases it hosts will be essential to any <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-plans-turn-taiwan-strait-into-drone-hellscape-against-china-2024-6">US effort</a> to counter China.Yet if Japan, Australia, Britain and Canada are reluctant to confront China, there are actions they can take to help Taiwan. RAND recommends that they create a joint plan for trade sanctions to deter China from attacking Taiwan. In addition, the four middle powers could play a role in mediators to prevent a Taiwan war from happening."Indeed, middle powers might be the only ones that can play a mediating role in such a conflict if tensions between the great powers were to escalate," the study noted. "However, as of this report's writing, no middle power has enough influence over both great powers to play such a role, even in coalition with other middle powers."Which means these middle-ranked nations need to build up their capabilities, military and otherwise. "To build credibility with both great powers, the four middle powers need to rebuild and bolster their strategic autonomy, material power, and commitment to the Asia-Pacific region."The study also implicitly raises questions about how much the US can count on its NATO allies for support outside Europe. While NATO nations did send small contingents during the Afghan war, confronting China is different."I think that NATO should take seriously the possibility of European middle powers preferring not to be involved in a conflict in which their adversary does not directly threaten their national security," Dossani said."Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

In a Taiwan war, the US could find itself fighting China without its top allies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk made a surprise visit to China, meeting officials and striking a deal with Baidu.</li><li>The deal brings Tesla a step closer to introducing its self-driving features in cars sold in China.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>'s surprise visit to China appears to have paid off.The billionaire unexpectedly traveled to Beijing over the weekend, meeting with high-ranking officials and striking a deal with the Chinese search giant Baidu.The whirlwind visit came just a week after the billionaire decided not to make a planned trip to India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla</a>-related "obligations."Instead, Musk with Premier Li Qiang, China's second-highest-ranking politician, in Beijing to discuss the rollout of Tesla's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-fsd">Full Self-Driving technology</a> in the world's biggest auto market. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-29/tesla-clears-key-china-fsd-hurdle-with-baidu-mapping-deal">Bloomberg</a> reported that the electric-vehicle maker was expected to get the green light for the tech in China, citing an unnamed source.Approval of FSD software could help boost Tesla's sales in China, which have slumped amid steep competition from local rivals and suffered elsewhere from rising anxiety about EVs.<div type="image" title="Elon Musk stepping out of a minibus." height="1998" width="3000" msid="109696562" hostid="261"></div><h2>'Golden opportunity'</h2>The partnership with Baidu revolves around mapping and navigation functions for Tesla's autonomous-driving software.Bloomberg reported that Baidu's lane-level navigation and mapping was likely to let Tesla make its autonomous-driving services available in China.Such a move could be a much-needed boost for Tesla, which has lost its market leadership in the world's largest EV market.Tesla has had difficulty keeping up with a brutal price war against Chinese suppliers. In 2023, it lost its title as <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-byd-tesla-electric-car-ev-race-2023-11">the world's top EV seller</a> to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-16/byd-s-smart-car-features-include-drones-and-in-car-video-games">BYD</a>, which is also planning to release its own autonomous-driving technology.China's sluggish economy and property-market woes have also dampened consumer demand and made some wary of big-ticket purchases.Approval for FSD could have a significant impact on Tesla's revenues, given it charges $8,000 in the US for it or $99 a month for a subscription.In an interview with Bloomberg TV, the Wedbush analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HcPMxl_UWo">Dan Ives</a> said of the deal, "This could open up FSD in China, which I view as unlocking what could be, really, the golden opportunity for them."Chinese authorities also said Tesla's cars made in the country now passed data-security requirements. In 2021 Beijing cracked down on the use of Teslas by state personnel over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-tesla-ban-military-government-personnel-2021-3">security concerns</a> posed by the vehicles' cameras. <h2>Musk's battle plan</h2>Musk's China visit came amid tough times for Tesla.The EV maker reported its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-stock-tsla-quarterly-earnings-call-report-live-updates-2024-4">first decline in quarterly revenue since 2020</a> in its earnings call last week, missing Wall Street's already-low expectations. The revenue drop represented the first major decline since the pandemic disrupted vehicle production and deliveries.Telsa has also been <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-layoffs-job-cuts-2024-2">laying off 10% of its workforce</a>, or about 14,000 employees, and has had to recall recently launched Cybertrucks.Despite the miserable earnings, the company's stock jumped after the news that Tesla's long-awaited <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-investors-cheaper-cars-soon-musk-said-earnings-stock-up-2024-4">cheaper EVs</a> were coming soon. Musk didn't give many specifics on the new vehicles, such as exactly how much they'd cost or when they'd be available, but it was enough to soothe nervous investors.The stock surge confirms that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-meta-earnings-prove-power-of-musk-word-despite-promises-2024-4">Musk's promises still have meaning</a> for many investors. Tesla is set to rise again by close to 10% when trading begins on Monday.The combined might of China's car makers is a formidable adversary, but Musk's visit shows he's coming out fighting.Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Elon Musk comes out fighting as China throws Tesla a lifeline

<ul><li>Smartphone makers have urged the government to rationalise input tariffs.</li><li>The <keyword id="7825659" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india-cellular-and-electronics-association" source="Orion">India Cellular and Electronics Association</keyword> has called for reduction of tariffs to three slabs.</li><li>This, the body claims, will help <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> compete with other countries globally.</li></ul>An association of smartphone makers has urged the government to look into input tariffs on smartphones and related components, asking for rationalisation. The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), as per a report by the Economic Times, has sent a request to the <keyword id="47209" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="finance-ministry" source="Orion">Finance Ministry</keyword>, claiming that the current tariff regime has outlived its utility and put the country at a competitive disadvantage against countries like China and Vietnam. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The argument" comment="subhead" text="The argument">The argument</cmsannotation> The input tariffs, according to the association, puts India at a disadvantage when compared to other countries. "The high input tariffs are completely incompatible with India's exports ambitions and put us at a massive disadvantage with countries like China, Vietnam, Mexico and Thailand," the ICEA said. Therefore, ICEA has urged the Finance Ministry to rationalise the tariffs and match the input tariffs being offered by other countries in the next two years. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Limiting the tariff slabs" comment="subhead" text="Limiting the tariff slabs">Limiting the tariff slabs</cmsannotation> India currently provides a range of tariffs, including 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. In addition to this, certain surcharges are also levied on the products. "This is not only excessive but also results in nuisance tariffs such as those charged at 2.5% which fail to support domestic industry and also create confusion leading to disputes between the importers and custom authorities," the ICEA added. The body has urged the ministry to do away with the above tariffs and limit them to 0%, 5% and 10%. “Given the scale of electronics trade, which is close to $100 billion, we request that a senior level panel of two officials, one each from the ministry of finance and Meity be created to regularly provide accurate tariff classification for imports. Well-established principles should be used to reach conclusions,” the association added. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="India’s export rise" comment="subhead" text="India’s export rise">India’s export rise</cmsannotation> The Indian government’s policies have given a good boost to the country’s <keyword id="3849052" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphone-production" source="Orion">smartphone production</keyword>, for both domestic consumption and exports. India’s<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/india-surpasses-85000-cr-worth-mobile-phone-exports-in-fy23/articleshow/99339214.cms"> smartphone exports</a> in FY 22-23 crossed the ₹85,000 crore mark, up from ₹45,000 crore during the preceding year. In yet another milestone,<a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/devices/may-iphone-exports-swell-to-record-rs-10000-crore/101092753"> iPhone exports</a> in May 2023 crossed the ₹10,000 crore mark, taking the total smartphones exported from India in May 2023 to ₹12,000 crore. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/jiophone-5g-leak-reveals-design-key-specifications-ahead-of-launch/articleshow/101209095.cms">JioPhone 5G leak reveals design, key specifications ahead of launch</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/carl-pei-led-nothing-may-launch-a-smartwatch-after-nothing-phone-2/articleshow/101182896.cms">Carl Pei-led Nothing looks set to join the smartwatch party in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-nord-3-nord-ce-3-specifications-leak-ahead-of-july-launch/articleshow/101156655.cms">OnePlus Nord 3 specs leaked, a foldable phone foray is imminent too</a>

Smartphone makers want India to take the fight to China and Vietnam further

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Three years after a deadly clash, India and China's disputed border in the Himalayas remains tense.</li><li>Both sides are beefing up their presence there, basing more troops and building more infrastructure.</li></ul>Three years after the first deadly clash on India's and China's disputed Himalayan border in decades, the region <a href="https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/05/why-we-should-all-worry-about-china-india-border-dispute" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remains tense</a>.Repeated rounds of talks over disengagement <a href="https://thewire.in/diplomacy/no-progress-on-resolving-chinese-border-ingress-in-ladakh-in-18th-round-of-military-talks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have failed</a>, and Chinese and Indian soldiers were wounded in another <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-china-border-scuffle-injured-troops-both-sides-indian-defence-minister-2022-12-13/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brawl</a> in December. Both countries continue <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/both-china-india-ramp-up-infrastructure-on-north-bank-of-pangong-tso/article67034490.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">to build up</a> military forces and infrastructure around hotspots on the border.An important part of that buildup has been China's deployment of light tanks, which can maneuver well on mountainous terrain and deploy quickly in large numbers. Their presence has exposed shortcomings in the Indian military's armored inventory, which relies heavily on main battle tanks that struggle in high altitudes.Consequently, India is planning to developing its own light tank to level the playing field.<h2>Light tanks</h2><div type="image" title="Army M24 Chaffee light tank Bologna Italy" height="1367" width="1823" msid="101441088" hostid="261" sizebytes="201378"></div>Light tanks are intended to provide direct support to infantry against enemy positions and light armored vehicles rather than square off against enemy tanks on their own. Their design puts an emphasis on speed and maneuverability at the cost of armor and firepower.Interest in light tanks is growing and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amid-armor-battles-in-ukraine-militaries-building-new-light-tanks-2023-3" target="_top">isn't limited to India and China</a> — the US and Japan are also reinvesting in the concept — but China's and India's need is especially pronounced, as the terrain separating them is particularly difficult for main battle tanks.This was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-india-tanks-armor-could-make-future-war-much-deadlier-2021-5" target="_top">proved</a> in 2020 and 2021, when, as a result of a deadly border clash in Ladakh that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers, both countries deployed armored units to parts of the Himalayas with altitudes of 11,000 feet and higher.The low air pressure at those altitudes hindered the performance of tank engines, and freezing temperatures forced soldiers to turn their armored vehicles on for up to 30 minutes every two or three hours to prevent engine components from freezing. Heavier vehicles also had trouble with the terrain.Despite the difficulties for armored vehicles, neither side is willing to deploy troops to the area without them, largely because of the important role tanks still play on the battlefield.<h2>The Type 15</h2><div type="image" title="China Type 15 tank" height="1336" width="2000" msid="101441091" hostid="261" sizebytes="107876"></div>China has coped with these issues by deploying its <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/vt5_light_weight_main_battle_tank_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures_video_11711164.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Type 15</a> light tank, one of the few modern light tanks produced in the 21st century.Unveiled <a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-11/03/content_27259981.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 2016</a>, the Type 15 — also known as the ZTQ-15 — is billed as a lighter, cheaper alternative to heavier, more complex tanks produced by Russia or Western countries. Weighing in at 33 tons to 36 tons, depending on its load, the Type 15 is considerably lighter than China's 41-ton <a href="https://www.militarytoday.com/tanks/type_96.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Type 96</a> tank and 55-ton <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_heavy_armoured_vehicle_tank_uk/ztz99_type_99_wz123_main_battle_tank_technical_data_sheet_information_description_intelligence_uk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Type 99</a> tank and less than half as heavy as recent versions of the US-made M1 Abrams.The Type 15 reportedly entered service in 2018, though it first appeared publicly as an <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/new_light_tank_type_15_at_rehearsal_of_chinese_military_parade.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in-service</a> tank in 2020 during the military parade for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. China's military is believed to have about 500 in service.<div type="image" title="China Type 15 tank" height="1333" width="2000" msid="101441093" hostid="261" sizebytes="194556"></div>Its 105 mm rifled gun is equipped with an autoloader and it has an ammo capacity of 38 rounds. Its secondary armament comprises a remotely operated 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. It has a top speed of 43 mph on paved roads and 25 mph off-road.The tank is made of standard steel but is fitted with explosive reactive armor blocks on its turret and sides. It can also <a href="https://thediplomat.com/2019/08/chinas-vt5-lightweight-tank-to-be-fitted-with-active-protection-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">be equipped</a> with a Chinese-made active protection system.The Type 15 is equipped with a suite of modern electronics, including a laser range finder, nighttime and thermal optics, a warning sensor system, satellite communications, and inertial and satellite navigation systems.In addition to its weight, the Type 15 has other features that make it suitable for mountainous operations. Its hydro-pneumatic suspension allows it to aim its gun higher or lower than standard tanks, which is useful for targets at high elevations. It also has oxygen generators, which help the engine run at high altitudes.<h2>Project Zorawar</h2><div type="image" title="India Arjuna main battle tank" height="1333" width="1777" msid="101441094" hostid="261" sizebytes="382618"></div>India's army hasn't had a light tank in service since its Soviet-designed PT-76 was retired in 1989.Instead, it relies almost exclusively on its heavily armored <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/meet-indias-t-90m-bhishma-tank-russian-tech-indian-made-136987" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T-90</a> and <a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/t-72.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">T-72</a> tanks, which weigh 43 tons and 46 tons, respectively, and its <a href="https://www.army-technology.com/projects/arjun-mbt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arjun series</a> main battle tanks, which weigh between 58 tons and 68 tons. Those tanks were acquired with Pakistan in mind, and they are better suited for open plains and deserts.India has tried on and off since 1983 to develop a new light tank but has never settled on a model. The Ladakh clash in 2020 — followed by a Chinese military buildup in which the Type 15 operated with comparative ease — prompted new action to acquire a light tank. (One retired Indian general even <a href="https://raksha-anirveda.com/light-tanks-the-himalayan-game-changer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> that a lack of light tanks hindered India's ability to deter Chinese aggression in the first place.)In 2021, the Indian Ministry of Defense <a href="https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/sites/default/files/RFI-Lt%20Tk%2016%20Apr%20%2021%20%28Final%29%20%281%29_0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">requested information</a> from industry about the production of 350 light tanks, each weighing no more than 25 tons and crewed by two to three people. Additional requirements included an autoloader, a remote-controlled machine-gun, the ability to fire "smart munitions" and anti-tank guided missiles, and the ability to add explosive-reactive-armor blocks.<div type="image" title="India army convoy Kashmir Ladakh" height="1710" width="2500" msid="101441098" hostid="261" sizebytes="699856"></div>Initially, there was speculation that India might buy the <a href="https://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_light_armoured_vehicle_uk/2s25_sprut-sd_self-propelled_anti-tank_gun_technical_data_sheet_specifications_description_uk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2S25 Sprut-SD</a> from Russia, which has <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-light-tank-tender-russians-ready-to-respond-to-indian-army-tender-2987880/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repeatedly offered</a> to transfer the technology needed to build it. But the Indian government has indicated that it wants a domestic design, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" policy.Late last year, India's Ministry of Defense approved the purchase of 315 tanks, which will compose seven regiments. Indian media has <a href="https://www.firstpost.com/india/indian-army-concerned-over-chinese-moves-at-lac-may-induct-700-zorawar-light-tanks-12431122.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that India's army may increase the order to nearly 700 tanks.Indian multinational firm Larsen &amp; Toubro <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indias-zorawar-programme-inches-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was announced</a> as the government's development partner in September, and the company was <a href="https://www.ajaishukla.com/2023/04/l-gets-order-to-build-prototype-of.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awarded</a> the contract for the first prototype in April. It will feature an 800-horsepower engine made by a German subsidiary of Rolls Royce and a 105 mm gun turret made by a Belgian firm.Indian officials have <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/drdo-light-tank-zorawar-to-be-ready-for-trials-by-year-end-along-china-border/articleshow/100356991.cms?from=mdr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the first tanks will be ready for trial testing by the end of this year and that the initial order will number 59 units.In what may be a reflection of the opponent the Indian army has in mind for its new light tank, the effort has been called "Project Zorawar," in reference to Zorawar Singh, a general who conquered Ladakh from Chinese rulers in the early 19th century.

India and China are buying new tanks designed to fight on one of the world's highest battlefields

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US needs to assemble its own naval coalition, retired US Navy Adm. James Stavridis said.</li><li>This, he said, is necessary if the US wants to match up to China's growing naval fleet.</li></ul>The US needs to build a coalition of allies if it hopes to stand a chance against China's fast-growing navy, says retired US Navy Adm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-nato-commander-alliance-should-bring-in-new-members-asia-2024-4">James Stavridis</a>."Today, China's fleet of at least 350 warships outnumbers America's of 290," Stavridis, a former NATO commander, wrote in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-05-01/china-s-navy-can-be-blocked-by-us-japan-philippines-australia-korea">Bloomberg op-ed</a> on Wednesday."Given the global demands on the US fleet and the fact that any combat in the South China Sea would take place in the shadow of the Chinese mainland — in effect, a massive and unsinkable aircraft carrier — the US must pursue a coalition strategy to balance the numbers," he added.In his op-ed, Stavridis said the US could start by corralling its treaty allies — Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. The US, Stavridis wrote, could also partner with friendly nations like Singapore, Vietnam, and India.The coalition could "come together for major maritime exercises in the South China Sea," Stavridis suggested in his op-ed.China has claimed sovereignty over the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-timeline-the-china-philippines-south-china-sea-dispute-2016-7">hotly contested South China Sea</a>. The country has ignored competing claims by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam, violating international law."The Chinese, when operating in their figurative backyard, pose a formidable naval challenge to the US and its Pacific allies, partners, and friends," Stavridis wrote. "Standing up to them and deterring further aggression is a team sport."This op-ed isn't the first time Stavridis has offered his assessment of the US's naval capabilities. Back in January, Stavridis told radio host John Catsimatidis in an interview that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-needs-bigger-navy-match-up-against-china-retired-admiral-2024-1">US needed to expand its naval forces if it wanted to stand up to China</a>."We have a lot more experience, but quantity has a quality on its own. We need to build more warships. We need to think about a US Navy that approaches 350 ships," Stavridis said.The US Naval Institute said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://news.usni.org/2021/11/03/china-has-worlds-largest-navy-with-355-ships-and-counting-says-pentagon">report</a> in 2021 that China has the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-navy-destroyers-photos-fleet-list-2022-9">world's largest navy</a>, with over 355 vessels in its fleet. In comparison, the US only has 296 ships, according to a 2021 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/us-military-forces-fy-2022-navy">report</a> from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Then, in July, leaked US Navy intelligence revealed that China's shipbuilding capacity was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-chinas-shipbuilding-capacity-200-times-greater-than-us-2023-9">232 times greater</a> than the US's.The US expects China to grow its fleet to 400 ships by 2025 and 440 ships by 2030, per the Pentagon's <a target="_blank" href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23321290/2022-military-and-security-developments-involving-the-peoples-republic-of-china.pdf">2022 annual report</a> on China's military development.The growing gap between the US's and China's respective naval fleets underscores the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-shrinking-china-biggest-fleet-shipbuilding-taiwan-2024-4">extent to which US shipbuilding capacity has lagged behind China's</a>."One of China's largest shipyards has more capacity than all US shipyards combined," David Sacks, fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told BI last month. "We have to maintain ships as well as, obviously, build new platforms, and we don't have the workers or the facilities to do that."

The US needs allies to help build a naval coalition if it wants to stand a fighting chance against China's massive fleet, retired admiral says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US X-37B and China's Shenlong are unmanned spacecraft that play secretive roles in space.</li><li>Space-based technology has long given the US military an edge.</li></ul>Just before the start of 2024, the United States and China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/x-37-chinese-space-plane-launch/">launched</a> what may be their most secretive spacecraft into orbit to little fanfare.Commonly referred to as space planes, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/missions-experiments-for-space-force-mysterious-x-37b-space-plane-2020-5">American X-37B</a> and the Chinese Shenlong are unmanned spacecraft so secretive that their launches were marked with little more than vague general statements from their governments.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-launched-a-top-secret-military-spaceplane-into-orbit-2023-12">launches</a> are the seventh and third missions for the respective spacecraft, and although they are highly classified, observers have had limited success in tracking some of their movements.The missions demonstrate exceptional leaps in the development of space planes, and come at a time when both the Chinese and US militaries have ramped up their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-must-control-space-in-future-wars-top-marine-general-2023-12">space operations</a> — a new frontier that can determine the course of war.Space-based technology has long given the US military an edge. It can track the movements of enemy weapons with powerful <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/manned-orbiting-laboratory-crewed-us-spy-satellite-never-sent-to-space-2024-1">spy lenses</a> and provide the navigation and communications systems ships, aircraft, and troops in the field depend upon.Enter the space plane. From one vantage, they could be robot keepers who keep these large networks fueled and functional, but from another, they could be orbiting spies and saboteurs.What's clear is that their missions are getting more complex, as is their centrality to the strategies of the two countries that fly them.<div type="image" title="The uncrewed X-37B, seen here after its 2019 landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, is believed to be about 30 feet long." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112761598" hostid="261" sizebytes="82008"></div><h2 id="3dc83e63-5cf2-42d5-8174-a6f3d2577c69">X-37B</h2>A space plane is a reusable spacefaring craft that can maneuver in space independently and also fly and glide within Earth's atmosphere. They are sent into space via a detachable <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-launch-secret-spy-satellites-space-force-government-2022-8">rocket booster</a>, and contain a cargo bay to deploy satellites and other objects for use and experimentation.After completing their mission, they independently return to Earth's atmosphere, land at a designated landing site on their own power, and prepare for their next mission. The most well-known space planes are the American <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/challenger-video-nasa-space-shuttle-program-2016-1">Space Shuttle</a> and the Soviet <a target="_blank" href="https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/soviet-buran-shuttle-one-flight-long-history">Buran</a>. But in contrast to the Space Shuttle, the X-37B is owned and operated by the military.The X-37B's origin begins in 1999, when the civilian space agency NASA awarded Boeing a contract to develop a small unmanned spacecraft capable of fitting inside the Space Shuttle. What they created was a small space plane measuring approximately 30 feet long and with a wingspan of 15 feet — roughly one-fourth the size of the now-retired Space Shuttle.It also contains a cargo bay measuring about 7 feet by 4 feet, which, in addition to housing satellites and other space cargo also holds a solar panel enabling the space plane to recharge. Boeing says the plane's avionics automate its descent from orbit and landing.In 2004, before a working prototype had even been built, the project was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.space.com/337-nasa-transfers-37-project-darpa.html">transferred</a> to the US Defense Department, specifically the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Glide tests on the first testing prototypes (known as the X-37A), <a target="_blank" href="https://www.space.com/1226-rutan-white-knight-carries-37-space-plane-aloft.html">began in 2005</a>, with the first fully successful free glide occurring in 2006.That same year, the project was transferred from DARPA to the United States Air Force Space Command, which then built another model, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/details-about-air-force-space-plane-that-spent-2-years-in-space-2017-5">the X-37B</a>. Also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), two X-37Bs have been built.They have flown seven flights so far, with each being <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unmanned-craft-us-space-force-lands-2-5-years-orbit-2022-11">longer</a> than the previous one. Though most of the details of the flights and their results remain classified, some information has been released to the public.<div type="image" title="The X-37B launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2017." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112761595" hostid="261" sizebytes="88120"></div>The first flight began on April 22, 2010, and saw the first X-37B remain in orbit for a total of 224 days. The second flight, which was the second X-37B's inaugural mission, began on March 5, 2011, and was extended well beyond its original 270-day limit to a total of 468 days. The third flight, beginning on December 11, 2012, marked the first time an X-37B had been reused, and lasted 674 days.The fourth flight began on May 20, 2015. Over the course of 717 days, the space plane tested new propulsion technology for satellites as well as the effects of radiation on certain objects.The X-37B's fifth flight on September 7, 2017 was launched atop Space X's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-9/">Falcon 9</a> rocket (all previous launches were with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/atlas-v">Atlas V</a> rocket). Over the course of 780 days — a little over two years — the space plane performed a number of activities and experiments, including the deployment of multiple <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/topics/cubesats">CubeSat</a> satellites, which NASA foresees as an orbiting sensory network that can solve complex tasks with a "powerful central spacecraft."The sixth flight began on May 17, 2020, and lasted <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unmanned-craft-us-space-force-lands-2-5-years-orbit-2022-11">908 days</a>. It was the first mission conducted under the command of the newly formed U.S. Space Force and may have been one of the busiest missions yet. It exposed select materials to space, tested the effects of space radiation on seeds, and deployed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usafa.edu/research/research-centers/space-systems-research-center/">FalconSat-8</a>, a satellite built by US. Air Force Academy cadets to conduct five experiments.The X-37B's most recent and current flight began on December 28, 2023. Its mission is classified, with the Space Force <a target="_blank" href="https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3583347/department-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission/">stating</a> only that it will be "operating the reusable space plane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA."The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/space-force-guardian-nick-hague-spacex-rocket-iss-2024-2">Space Force</a> has not given the X-37B's flight path, but because it was launched atop SpaceX's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photo-spacex-falcon-heavy-launchpad-blasted-lightning-rocket-spaceflight-musk-2023-5">Falcon Heavy rocket</a>, there has been speculation that the space plane could be headed for a much higher orbit than previous missions, as the rocket is one of the most powerful in the world.<div type="image" title="A Long March-2F rocket blasted off in October carrying a manned spaceship from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Shenlong was launched on December 14 from the same center without images or fanfare." height="1333" width="2000" msid="112761594" hostid="261" sizebytes="201664"></div><h2 id="ef23e953-67f4-4399-8bc9-c452d0019685">Shenlong</h2>Named after the most important dragon god in Chinese mythology and first revealed in 2007, the Shenlong is thought to be a direct Chinese response to the X-37B.The program is surrounded in such extreme secrecy that there are no known images of the space plane in its current form. Images of what is believed to be a Shenlong test prototype <a target="_blank" href="https://www.space.com/18410-china-space-plane-project-mystery.html">mounted under the fuselage of an H-6 strategic bomber</a> in 2007 indicate that the craft is likely to be similar in appearance to the X-37B.Though its specific capabilities remain classified, it is known that, like the X-37B, the Shenlong is unmanned, that it is deployed via a rocket, that it is capable of adjusting its position and maneuvering in space, and that it can carry and deploy satellites and other space objects.Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Shenlong is the speed of its development. Though the exact start date is unknown, academic models of a Chinese space plane were reported as far back as 2000.Years of modelling, wind tunnel testing, and prototype test fights via deployment from H-6 bombers followed, and in 2011, the Shenlong reportedly made its first suborbital flight.On September 4, 2020, the Shenlong made its <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinese-reusable-experimental-spacecraft-releases-object-before-returning-to-earth/">first orbital flight</a>, which lasted two days and saw it release an object into orbit before returning to China on its own power. A second orbital flight began on August 4, 2022, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-lands-secretive-space-plane-after-months-in-orbit-2023-5">lasted</a> nine months.<div type="image" title="The X-37B launched on its sixth flight in May 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station." height="1280" width="2000" msid="112761596" hostid="261" sizebytes="165564"></div>In addition to being considerably longer, the Shenlong's second flight was far more eventful. About two months into its flight, the space plane <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-spaceplane-conducted-proximity-and-capture-maneuvers-with-subsatellite-data-suggests/">deployed a subsatellite and then practiced recovering it</a> at least two (and possibly even three) times, a capability for so-called proximity operations that may allow it to snatch an enemy's satellite.The Shenlong embarked on its third and current flight on December 14, 2023, just seven months after its second mission. In May, the Shenlong <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-secretive-spaceplane-conducts-proximity-operations-with-small-spacecraft/">released an object from its cargo hold, and began proximity operations</a>, possibly even recapturing it.How much longer the Shenlong will remain in orbit, as well as its future plans more broadly, remain secrets that the Chinese government has shown little appetite for divulging. The government has only <a target="_blank" href="https://app.xinhuanet.com/news/article.html?articleId=b9141bb29a221c45ac2ad0d44dc87fc6">said</a> that the space plane will eventually land in China, and that "reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space."The vague wording resembles previous statements, like those of its builder, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which has previously said that the Shenlong "will provide a more convenient and inexpensive way to access space for the peaceful use of space in the future."<div type="image" title="The satellite networks of the US and its allies could be targeted by enemy spaceplanes." height="1280" width="1920" msid="112761592" hostid="261" sizebytes="362914"></div><h2 id="2f25d6b5-fe78-4384-a750-e76f8663eacb">Satellite threat</h2>Given the immense secrecy of the crafts and what is known about their capabilities, it's easy to understand speculation that the two space planes could be orbiting weapons platforms.The very fact that the US Department of Defense is in charge of the X-37B instead of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/nasa">NASA</a> confirms that the US government believes that there is a military application for the space plane. Similarly, the fact that the Chinese government has been so silent on the Shenlong's activities despite its penchant for boasting about its other space accomplishments may be a tacit indication that there is more to the Shenlong than the 'peaceful use of space.'One of the most impactful possible uses of the space planes is as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-condemns-irresponsible-russian-anti-satellite-test-threatening-space-station-2021-11">anti-satellite assets</a>. Both have deployed satellites from their cargo bays, and the Shenlong's proximity operations may be training runs for attacks on hostile satellites in orbit.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-inspector-satellite-chasing-secret-us-military-satellite-cat-mouse-2023-4">Proximity operations</a> are murky. They could be dress rehearsals for disrupting or eavesdropping on an enemy's satellite, just as they could be drills for missions to refuel and repair one of the country's own satellites.Satellites are among the most important assets for any first-rate military, as they are essential for secure communications, navigation, and intelligence gathering via orbital imaging and communication intercepts. They are even sometimes used to guide smart munitions to hostile targets as well.Neutralizing an enemy's satellites would be one of the most important objectives in any potential conflict between the world's foremost military powers. <a target="_blank" href="https://swfound.org/media/9550/chinese_asat_fact_sheet_updated_2012.pdf">China</a>, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4198/1">US</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2019/04/indias-asat-test-an-incomplete-success?lang=en">India</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2021/11/the-dangerous-fallout-of-russias-anti-satellite-missile-test?lang=en">Russia</a> have each demonstrated a capability to destroy satellites in orbit with anti-satellite missiles, but each of those tests resulted in the creation of large debris fields in orbit that took sometimes took years to disappear. Such debris fields could also pose a very severe threat to friendly satellites as well. China's anti-satellite missile test in 2007 triggered a space debris cloud that was an <a target="_blank" href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/hollywood-space-disaster-gravity-uses-kessler-syndrome-for-scares">inspiration</a> for the blockbuster film "Gravity."Having a way to neutralize or even capture satellites, then, could be a better alternative. Tapping into enemy satellites to eavesdrop or shut down their data streams and communications could also serve as a better alternative, and may also be possible with the assistance of space plane (similar to the tapping of underwater cables by submarines).With the militarization of space <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/there-path-counter-russias-space-weapons">seemingly fast becoming</a> reality and with China's space program demonstrating that it can <a target="_blank" href="https://spacenews.com/chinas-shijian-21-spacecraft-docked-with-and-towed-a-dead-satellite/">tow away satellites</a>, it is likely that space planes will only become more important in the years ahead.Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point.

America's X-37B vs. China's Shenlong: Top space planes and their shadowy role in orbital war

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Brazilian Supreme Court issued an order to ban certain X accounts.</li><li>Elon Musk said he'd ignore the order and demanded that Brazil uphold free-speech principles.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-passes-elon-musk-on-bloomberg-billionaires-index-2024-4#:~:text=Meanwhile%2C%20Musk%2C%20the%20Tesla%20CEO,drop%20in%20nearly%20four%20years.">Elon Musk</a> is wading into a war with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/learned-portuguese-dating-brazil-less-serious-2023-12">Brazil</a> over orders from the country's supreme court to ban certain X accounts that helped spread election misinformation.While the country deals with a debate about balancing free speech with significant threats to its democracy, Musk's outsize voice — which is emboldening an antidemocratic wing of the far-right — isn't helping, a civil-liberties expert told Business Insider.Musk posted on Saturday that he'd oppose an order from Alexandre de Moraes, a top judge on Brazil's supreme court, to ban an unknown number of X accounts related to Brazil's far right after an official X account initially said the <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/GlobalAffairs/status/1776729732970594483">company would comply</a>.In response, de Moraes said in a court decision that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-fight-brazilian-supreme-court-justice-x-2024-4">Musk would be investigated</a> for obstruction, criminal organization, and incitement and called the X chairman's weekend posts a "disinformation campaign," the <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-musk-x-supreme-court-investigation-a645757b95a66ee658832802908466ab">Associated Press</a> reported. He said Musk would also face a fine of about $20,000 a day for each blocked account reinstated in Brazil, the AP reported.The judge's actions are part of a wider initiative from the country to combat hate speech and false information, and de Moraes is at the forefront of this crusade.De Moraes began an investigation in 2019 into what he called digital militias, or groups spreading disinformation online. In 2022, he briefly banned <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-997fac5ee9124f195a7d398651ab892f">Telegram</a>, saying it was facilitating the spread of false information, and ordered tech companies such as Meta to remove <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/21/world/americas/brazil-online-content-misinformation.html">misinformation</a> or face suspension in the country.De Moraes' work became more relevant after far-right rioters stormed the country's congressional building on January 8, 2023, acting on false claims made by then-<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bolsonaro-ditched-brazil-new-president-inauguration-crashed-with-mma-fighter-2023-1">President Jair Bolsonaro</a> that the election had been stolen.De Moraes ordered an <a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/bolsonaro-brazil-stimony-insurrection-investigation-82abe53068e6f48ea12ce0ad0f98607e">investigation into Bolsonaro's role</a> in the attempted coup that uncovered coordinated social-media efforts to undermine Brazil's election systems — which also happens to be a violation of <a target="_blank" href=" https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/election-integrity-policy">X's own guidelines</a>."Suspended accounts on X echoed these efforts and were related to Bolsonaro's political base," Veridiana Alimonti, the associate director of Latin American policy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told BI.The Brazilian publication <a target="_blank" href="https://www.estadao.com.br/politica/elon-musk-alexandre-de-moraes-contas-x-luciano-hang-allan-dos-santos-daniel-silveira-monark-oswaldo-eustaquio-npr/">Estadão</a> found a few of these accounts ordered to be blocked on X. Names on the list included election-misinformation influencers and at least one <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-60317432">Nazi influencer</a>.Alimonti said Musk's defense of these accounts was "backed by the Brazilian far right" — including by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jair-bolsonaro-following-trump-lead-with-baseless-voter-fraud-claims-2021-8">Bolsonaro</a> himself, who pushed baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the country similar to those of former US President <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-indictment-2020-election-fraud-big-lie-prosecutors-2023-8">Donald Trump</a>.Musk has previously been <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1776779948419617170">cozy with Bolsonaro</a>: After Musk's tirade on Saturday, the former president posted a video of himself <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jair-bolsonaro-elon-musk-44-billion-twitter-breath-of-hope-2022-5">praising Musk</a> when the pair met in 2022.<h2>Musk 'undermines' a relevant debate</h2>Alimonti said there were legitimate concerns about de Moraes' actions.De Moraes has been given extensive discretion about which online accounts to suspend in the name of national security. There is little transparency around his decisions, and while his actions have been crucial to maintaining democratic stability, he faces criticism for an overreach of power, Alimonti told BI in an email.The country's left argues that false information is <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/jorgemessiasagu/status/1776760509842210957">eroding Brazilian democracy</a>, pointing to the coup attempt as proof.The right, including Bolsonaro, has painted De Moraes' actions as draconian.But Alimonti said Musk's voice wasn't helping to foster nuanced debate."Musk's claims in defense of free speech within this dispute undermines, rather than enhances, a qualified debate over ensuring user freedom of expression online and effectively balancing rights in content moderation," Alimonti said.Like in the US, freedom of expression is enshrined in Brazil's constitution. But the country's protection of free speech isn't absolute, giving the federal government greater discretion to ban certain types of speech — such as <a target="_blank" href="https://rioonwatch.org/?p=34301">hate speech</a>.Representatives for Musk and Brazil's supreme court didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.<h2>An inconsistent defense of free speech</h2>The decision to fight Brazil's government brazenly departs from Musk's previous stance of complying with government limits to speech. The billionaire refused to speak out against <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-moraes-brazil-china-freedom-of-speech-x-oppose-2024-4">China</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/musk-twitter-no-actual-choice-censorship-governmental-request-free-speech-2023-5">India, and Turkey</a> for restrictions on X.Notably, Musk has had <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/free-speech-censorship-elon-musk-throttled-tweets-turkey-presidential-election-2023-5">business dealings</a> in these countries.It highlights a pattern with Musk — the right to unhindered speech becomes a concern when those in his ideological or business circles are involved.A recent example includes X <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/XNews/status/1773821491626295487">supporting the lawsuits</a> of two X users who were <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/XNews/status/1771902773358916041">fired from their jobs</a> because of posts made on the site. One of these lawsuits included a former employee of Block, cofounded by Jack Dorsey, who said they were fired for, among other things, posting <a target="_blank" href="https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-lawsuit-chloe-happe-jack-dorsey-block">anti-trans and ableist slurs</a> on one of their pseudonymous accounts. Musk has previously shared <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-shares-anti-trans-content-twitter-2023-6">transphobic views</a> on the platform.But Musk quickly combats speech critical of him and his companies. A recent ruling against the tech billionaire by federal Judge Charles Breyer said Musk's company was using the courts to try to punish the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/judge-throws-out-hate-speech-lawsuit-elon-musk-x-2024-3">Center for Countering Digital Hate</a> for reporting that hate speech had gone up on X."If there is any question about the 'punishing' part, X Corp. filed a similar suit, not before this Court, in November of 2023 against <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/media-matters-fraud-investigation-elon-musk-ken-paxton-antisemitism-advertisers-2023-11">Media Matters</a>, another non-profit media watchdog, for 'reporting on ads from major brands appearing next to neo-Nazi content,'" Breyer wrote in a footnote in the lawsuit.And it's this type of speech that Musk is going to bat for in Brazil — speech that can have serious implications for the country.Nina Santos, a digital-democracy researcher at the Brazilian National Institute of Science &amp; Technology, told <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.wired.com/story/brazil-court-elon-musk-far-right/">Wired</a> that the far right was "trying to use Brazil as a laboratory on how to interfere in local politics and local businesses," adding: "An opinion from an American billionaire should not count more than a democratic institution."

Elon Musk may have a point in his fight against Brazil, but he's not actually helping

<keyword id="19916613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris" source="keywords">Paris</keyword>: <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s Pooja Jatyan went down fighting against China's Wu Chunyan in the quarterfinals of the Women's Individual Recurve Open at the ongoing Paris <keyword id="20396851" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paralympics" source="keywords">Paralympics</keyword> 2024. Pooja lost the quarterfinal clash 4-6 against the Chinese opponent on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday, the Indian archery pair of Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi clinched the <keyword id="20257145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bronze-medal" source="keywords">bronze medal</keyword> in the Mixed Team Compound event with a win over Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonnacina of Italy at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. They defeated the Italian pair with a scoreline of 156-155 in the bronze medal match of the ongoing marquee event on Monday. With this win, they bagged a bronze medal for their country. India have clinched 20 medals in the ongoing marquee event so far. Let's take a look at the medal winners from India. Indian para-shuttler <keyword id="20474682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nithya-Sre-Sivan" source="keywords">Nithya Sre Sivan</keyword> clinched a bronze medal in the women's SH6 category at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. She defeated Indonesia's Rina Marlina 21-14 and 21-6 on Monday and got her first-ever medal at the Paralympics. India tasted gold medal success in para-badminton after shuttler Nitesh outplayed Great Britain's second-seeded Daniel Bethell to clinch a gold medal in the men's singles SL3 category at the ongoing Paralympics. In a game that went right down to the wire, Nitesh ousted Daniel with a 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 win to claim his place at the top of the podium. Murugesan lost the first set to China's Yang Qiu Xia 21-17. In the second set, the Indian player struggled and lost the match with a scoreline of 21-10, securing a silver medal. In the bronze medal match of the same category, Manisha outclassed Denmark's Cathrine Rosengren 21-12, 21-8. The Indian player dominated throughout the match, securing another medal for the nation. In the men's singles SL4 category, France's Lucas Mazur completely ousted the Indian Suhas with a straight-set win. The para-shuttler went down against the French player after enduring a 9-21, 13-21 defeat and win a silver. Para-shooter AvLekhara clinched India's first gold at the Paris Paralympics after dominating the final of the women's 10m air rifle. She ensured her place at the top of the podium with 249.7 points, which also marked her personal best performance in the event. Mona Agarwal snatched the bronze medal in the same event. Manish Narwal clinched the silver medal after securing 234.9 points in the men's 10m air pistol SH1 pistol. He started the match on a good note, but in the middle, the Indian shooter dropped to the sixth. However, he didn't lose hope and ended the event with a silver medal around his neck. Francis finished third and bagged a bronze medal in the P2 - Women's 10m Air Pistol SH-1 final. Preeti secured third place and won the bronze medal after clocking 14.21 seconds in the 100m T35 event at the Paris Paralympics. She got her hands on her second medal in the ongoing Paralympics in the 200m T-35 race. Preeti delivered an eye-catching performance that saw her take away the bronze medal. Athlete Nishad Kumar won the silver medal in the men's high jump T47 event with a leap of 2.04m. Yogesh Kathuniya bagged the eighth medal for team India following his silver medal triumph in the men's Discus Throw F56 final. Indian archery pair of Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi clinched the Bronze medal in the Mixed Team Compound event with a 156-155 win over Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonnacina of Italy. India javelin thrower Sumit Antil reigned supreme and successfully defended his gold at the Paris Paralympics with a record-breaking throw on Monday. In the men's javelin throw F64 final, the defending champion broke his record at the Paralympics twice to clinch India's third gold in the ongoing marquee event in Paris. Indian para-sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji bagged the 16th medal for India as she won the bronze on Tuesday in the women's 400m T20 final at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024.

Paris Paralympics: India's para-archer Pooja Jatyan bows out of Women's Individual Recurve Open quaterfinals

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Sanctions are pushing Russia into the arms of rogue states and deepening dependence on China, a think tank said. </li><li>The threat of sanctions against foreign lenders is crippling Moscow's war production, a note from CEPA said. </li></ul>Western sanctions are straining Russia's ability to fight in Ukraine, even if its war economy appears resilient and its <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-economy-oil-price-increase-impact-tax-revenue-western-sanctions-2024-4?_gl=1*12m8y8e*_ga*MTMxNDIwNDI1Ni4xNjc1Njg3OTU4*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcxMjY4Mjc0Ny4yOTguMC4xNzEyNjgyNzQ3LjYwLjAuMA..">output seems largely unfazed</a>, a think tank expert said.Writing for the Center for European Policy Analysis, Stephen Blank noted that the Kremlin's issues are becoming more acute, especially considering the relationships it's formed to stay afloat."Its defense output is clearly facing problems given the Kremlin is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-deals-north-korea-iran-no-laughing-matter-ukraine-experts-2024-3">constantly running</a> to North Korea and Iran for missiles, drones, and even artillery shells, thereby incurring serious IOUs that must be paid to these rogue states in the future," the Foreign Policy Research Institute senior fellow said.The way Blank sees it, that's a consequence of improving sanction efforts. Of note is a US executive order from December, allowing the Treasury Department to place restrictions on foreign financial institutions that support Russia's military industry. "This may well be a harbinger of a whole new generation of sanctions targeting Russian military production, not just the financial facilitators of Russia's war machine, but the trans-shippers, the intermediate companies, possibly even the salespeople and manufacturers that help Russia's war machine keep humming," he wrote for <a href="https://cepa.org/article/us-throws-spanner-into-russias-industrial-machine/">CEPA in January</a>. Already, this order has put off lenders in India, China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates from working with Russia, Blank said. Even an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-russia-western-sanctions-raiffeisen-foreign-bank-exit-deripaska-stock-2024-3">Austrian bank is under notice</a> from the US, due to a branch it holds in Russia. Not only is this slowing Moscow's defense production, it's cutting into its oil revenue, with energy firms in the country <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-china-economy-trade-oil-payments-sanctions-banks-delays-vtb-2024-4">waiting months to receive payments</a>. Individual sanctions have also targeted vessels carrying Russian crude above the Western $60-barrel price cap, reducing the Kremlin's ability to trade.With fewer available tankers, freight costs have climbed, and the discount Russia has offered on its oil has eroded. That's caused India to increasingly look <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/russia-oil-trade-crude-india-discount-barrel-sanctions-price-cap-2024-2">elsewhere for crude</a>, despite being the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian oil in 2023.Instead, China now bears that title, deepening a partnership with Moscow that favors Beijing."It also signals the Kremlin's growing dependence on China, which contradicts the entire raison d'être of Russian security policy, namely the assertion of its sovereignty and supposed rights as a great power," Blank said.Others have gone as far as calling Russia a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cia-chief-ukraine-war-failure-for-russia-on-many-levels-2024-1">new economic vassal state</a> of Beijing, securing discounted oil for China and a large market for its products. Bilateral trade between the two countries hit $240 billion last year, while Chinese <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-outlook-exports-trade-war-russia-partnership-us-sanctions-2024-3">exports into Russia rose 12.5%</a> in the first two months of 2024. Although Blank considers criticism that sanctions have been ineffectual to be misplaced, he argued that more needs to be done for the West to fully cripple Russia's war efforts and disincentivize trade with it.The US and its allies, he said, need to provide a more robust strategy alongside these restrictions, such as timely weapons provisions to Ukraine, and counteroffensive measures to Russian disinformation.

Sanctions are squeezing Russia, turning up its dependence on China and 'rogue' states, think tank says

Indian para-archers <keyword id="20036346" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harvinder-Singh" source="keywords">Harvinder Singh</keyword> and Pooja Jatyan advanced to the <keyword id="20288129" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="quarterfinals" source="keywords">quarterfinals</keyword> of the Mixed Team Recurve Open at the ongoing <keyword id="19916613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris" source="keywords">Paris</keyword> <keyword id="20396851" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Paralympics" source="keywords">Paralympics</keyword> 2024 on Thursday. The Indian pair defeated Amanda Jennings and Taymon Kenton-Smith of Australia in a shoot-off. They will either face hosts (France) or Poland in the last eight. Earlier on Wednesday, Harvinder secured a historic gold <keyword id="20619512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="medal" source="keywords">medal</keyword> for the country at the ongoing marquee event becoming the first-ever Indian to have won a medal in the sport across both the Olympics and Paralympics. In the gold medal clash of the individual recurve para-archery against Poland's Lukasz Ciszek, Harvinder won 6-0. He also secured a medal in two successive Paralympics, having won a <keyword id="19934350" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bronze" source="keywords">bronze</keyword> medal in the recurve para-archery at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. Harvinder's success marked <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>'s second medal in <keyword id="20417950" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="archery" source="keywords">archery</keyword> at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. The Indian archery pair of Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi clinched the bronze medal in the mixed team compound event. On the other hand, Pooja went down fighting against China's Wu Chunyan in the quarterfinals of the Women's Individual Recurve Open at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. She lost the quarterfinal clash 4-6 against the Chinese opponent on Tuesday. Para-athlete Sachin Khilari clinched the <keyword id="19934349" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="silver" source="keywords">silver</keyword> medal in the men's shot put F46 final at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. Sachin secured the second spot with a 16.32-metre throw, which is also the area best (AB). However, the Indian athlete was unlucky to miss the top spot after getting short of a 0.6m. On Monday and Tuesday, the Indian contingent won 13 medals for the country, jumping the medal tally to a record 20 consisting of three gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals. The Indian contingent has now added 24 medals to its growing tally (five gold, nine silver, and ten bronze) and will have an opportunity to further extend its record medal haul in a single edition of the Paralympics. India is ranked 15th in the medal tally and with more days left, they have a chance to add plenty more. In the Tokyo edition (August 24 - September 5, 2021), India recorded its best-ever medal haul with a tally of 19, including five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals. (ANI)

You Searched For "India China fight" and got 10 results

In a Taiwan war, the US could find itself fighting China without its top allies

Michael Peck

Elon Musk comes out fighting as China throws Tesla a lifeline

Beatrice Nolan

Smartphone makers want India to take the fight to China and Vietnam further

Sourabh Jain

India and China are buying new tanks designed to fight on one of the world's highest battlefields

Benjamin Brimelow

The US needs allies to help build a naval coalition if it wants to stand a fighting chance against China's massive fleet, retired admiral says

Kwan Wei Kevin Tan

America's X-37B vs. China's Shenlong: Top space planes and their shadowy role in orbital war

Benjamin Brimelow

Elon Musk may have a point in his fight against Brazil, but he's not actually helping

Hannah Getahun

Paris Paralympics: India's para-archer Pooja Jatyan bows out of Women's Individual Recurve Open quaterfinals

ANI

Sanctions are squeezing Russia, turning up its dependence on China and 'rogue' states, think tank says

Filip De Mott

Paris Paralympics: Para-archers Harvinder Singh, Pooja Jatya advance to QFs of Mixed Team Recurve Open

ANI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides