India and China on Monday held the seventh round of high-level military talks with a sole agenda of finalising a roadmap for disengagement of troops from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh. As the border standoff entered the sixth month, an early resolution to the row appears dim. The talks at the Corps commander level began at around 12 noon in Chushul on the Indian side of the <keyword id="49399" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Line-of-Actual-Control">Line of Actual Control</keyword> (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, official sources said. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="78162853" title="India-China decide ‘early date’ needed for military talks on border issue — but stalemate continues" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The Indian delegation is led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and includes Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA). Close to 100,000 Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh as both sides are holding their ground and also showing readiness for a long-haul even as diplomatic and military talks to find an amicable solution continue. The talks in Chushul are underway, the sources said. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="78613147" title="China launches Earth observation satellite amid border tensions with India" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Ahead of the talks, the sources said India will press for an early and complete disengagement of troops by China from all the friction points besides demanding restoration of immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April. The standoff began on May 5. The agenda for the talks is to firm up a roadmap for disengagement of troops from all the friction points in eastern Ladakh, the sources said. The China Study Group (CSG) comprising Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs on Friday finalised India's strategy for the military talks. The CSG is India's key policy making body on China. The sources said India will strongly oppose any demand by China for withdrawal of Indian troops from several strategic heights on the southern bank of the Pangong lake to kick-start the disengagement process. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="78380509" title="India-China border at 'no war no peace' status, says IAF chief" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> During the sixth round of Corps commander talks on September 21, the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA) insisted on withdrawal of troops by the Indian Army from several strategic heights in Mukhpari, Rezang La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank of Pangong lake. Indian troops had occupied the strategic heights after the PLA soldiers attempted to intimidate them in the southern bank of Pangong lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. India has been maintaining that the disengagement process has to start simultaneously at all the friction points. At the talks, the two sides are expected to further explore steps to maintain stability on the ground and avoid any action that may trigger fresh tension in the region where troops from both sides will be facing difficult conditions in the next four months due to harsh winter, the sources said. Following the sixth round of military talks, the two sides announced a slew of decisions including not to send more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters. The military talks were held with a specific agenda of exploring ways to implement a five-point agreement reached between Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting in Moscow on September 10 on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) conclave. The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC. Days after the military talks, the two sides held diplomatic parleys under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, but no concrete outcome emerged from the negotiations on September 30. After the diplomatic talks, the MEA said it was agreed that the next round of the meeting of senior commanders should be held at an early date so that both sides can work towards an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with the existing bilateral agreement and protocols. Srivastava, who has been leading the Indian side at the WMCC talks, also attended the military parleys on September 21 for the first time. It is Lt Gen Singh's last round of talks with the PLA in the current standoff as he is due to take charge as head of the prestigious Indian Military Academy(IMA) this week. His successor at the 14 Corps Lt Gen PGK Menon is also part of the Indian delegation. At the previous six rounds of military talks, the Indian side insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated following at least three attempts by the Chinese soldiers to "intimidate" Indian troops along the northern and southern bank of Pangong lake area between August 29 and September 8 where even shots were fired in the air for the first time at the LAC in 45 years. As tensions escalated further, the foreign ministers of India and China held talks in Moscow on September 10 where they reached a five-point agreement to defuse the situation in eastern Ladakh. The agreement was the basis for the sixth round of Corps commander-level talks. In the last three months, the Indian Army rushed tanks, heavy weaponry, ammunition, fuel, food and essential winter supplies to various treacherous and high-altitude areas of the region to maintain combat readiness through the harsh winter of around four months starting around mid-October. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/latest-updates-on-india-china-border-issue/articleshow/78162853.cms">India-China decide ‘early date’ needed for military talks on border issue — but stalemate continues</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/china-launches-earth-observation-satellite-amid-border-tensions-with-india/articleshow/78613147.cms">China launches Earth observation satellite amid border tensions with India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/chinese-army-will-be-using-thermal-shelters-to-fend-off-the-sub-zero-temperatures-along-the-india-china-border-this-winter/articleshow/78554233.cms">Chinese Army will be using thermal shelters to fend off the sub-zero temperatures along the India-China border this winter</a>

India-China 7th round of high-level military talks underway

The seventh round of Corps Commander-level talks between armies of India and China is scheduled to take place on October 12 with a specific agenda of firming up a roadmap for disengagement of troops from friction points in eastern <keyword id="26604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ladakh">Ladakh</keyword>, government sources said on Sunday. At the talks, the two sides are also expected to look into further steps to maintain stability on the ground and avoid any action that may trigger fresh tension in the region where troops from both sides will be facing difficult conditions in the next four months due to harsh winters, they said. A senior official of the <keyword id="6374106" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-external-affairs">Ministry of External Affairs</keyword> (MEA) is set to be part of the Indian delegation at the talks which will be led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps of the Indian Army, the sources said. Lt Gen PGK Menon, who will succeed Lt Gen Singh as the commander of the crucial corps in mid-October, will also join the Indian team at the seventh round of military talks, they said. Following the last round of military talks on September 21, the two sides announced a slew of decisions including not sending more troops to the frontline, refraining from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoiding any actions that may further complicate matters. The military talks were held with a specific agenda of exploring ways to implement a five-point agreement reached between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting in Moscow on September 10 on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) conclave. The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the <keyword id="49399" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Line-of-Actual-Control">Line of Actual Control</keyword> (LAC). Days after the military talks, the two sides held diplomatic talks under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, but no concrete outcome emerged from the negotiation on September 30. After the diplomatic talks, the MEA said it was agreed that the next round of the meeting of senior commanders should be held at an early date so that both sides can work towards early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with the existing bilateral agreement and protocols. Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs Naveen Srivastava, who has been leading the Indian side at the WMCC talks, also attended the military talks on September 21 for the first time. The sources said Srivastava is likely to be the representative of the MEA at the seventh round of talks. It will be Lt Gen Singh's last round of talks with the Chinese military as he will take charge as head of the prestigious Indian Military Academy around October 15. Lt Gen Menon was also part of the Indian delegation at the sixth round of talks. At the previous six rounds of Corps Commander-level talks, the Indian side led by Lt Gen Singh insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated following at least three attempts by the Chinese military to "intimidate" Indian troops along the northern and southern bank of Pangong lake area between August 29 and September 8 where even shots were fired in the air for the first time at the LAC in 45 years. As the tensions escalated further, the foreign ministers of the two countries held talks in Moscow on September 10 where they reached on the five-point agreement to defuse the situation in eastern Ladakh. The agreement was the basis for the sixth round of Corps Commander-level talks. In the last three months, the Indian Army rushed tanks, heavy weaponry, ammunition, fuel, food and essential winter supplies into various treacherous and high-altitude areas of the region to maintain combat readiness through the harsh winter of around four months beginning mid-October. 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Next round of India-China Corps Commander talks scheduled for October 12

<ul><li>Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane believes that the tensions between India and China along the border can be resolved through talks. </li><li>The countries’ defence ministers are likely to interact on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Moscow and the foreign ministers will bump shoulders during the BRICS virtual meeting, later today. </li><li>However, India remains alert on the ground matching its troops to China’s build up and putting up tougher scrutiny of Chinese influence groups.</li></ul>India and China continue to face-off along the border in Ladakh, but Indian Army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, believes that the ongoing talks between the two countries will help bring an end to the situation. “We are sure the problem can be resolved fully through talks,” he told <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/army-chief-general-manoj-mukund-naravane-says-talks-can-resolve-border-row-with-china/articleshow/77925569.cms">ANI</a> while highlighting that the situation along the border between India and China is ‘slightly tense’. India’s Defence Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> is also likely to meet his Chinese counterpart in Moscow today evening on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet. China and India’s foreign ministers are also set to bump shoulders at the BRICS virtual meeting later today. But, it’s not just China that India has to worry about. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat believes that China is in cahoots with Pakistan to initiate ‘coordinated action’ along the northern and western borders of India. He added that even if that is the case, India is capable of handling the two-front threat while speaking at a seminar organised by the United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum on Navigating New Challenges, In light of threat, the Indian Army has already <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">repositioned itself</a> along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to strengthen its stance along the border. “The morale of jawans is high and they are ready to deal with all challenges,” Naravane told <a href="https://twitter.com/timesofindia/status/1301753703410462722">ANI</a>. More troops, more visa scrutiny and more pressure from the US India may be betting on talks to work things out but there is no indication of it backing off from the border. The Indian Army has increased its troop deployment in the northern region to match China’s additional forces. <div type="image" title="finger area pangong tso lake" msid="77929310" hostid="261"></div> A senior official told <a href="https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-army-dominating-pangong-tso-heights-but-chinese-still-control-finger-4-1718195-2020-09-03">India Today</a> that the Indian Army currently dominates the strategic heights in the Finger Area along the banks of Pangong Tso Lake, while the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is currently positioned at the Finger 4 ridge. “The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was taken by complete surprise. It has moved additional forces opposite the Chushul sector in a show of force. But we are well-entrenched and well-prepared there, as elsewhere in eastern Ladakh,” an official told <a href="https://m.timesofindia.com/india/army-iaf-chiefs-visit-forward-areas-as-china-moves-more-forces-to-chushul/amp_articleshow/77920284.cms?__twitter_impression=true">Times of India.</a> The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also ordered tougher scrutiny of visa requests by a Chinese non-profit group called the Chinese Association of International Understanding (CAIFU). Sources told <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/lac-face-off-india-steps-up-scrutiny-of-chinese-influence-group/articleshow/77924211.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=TOIIndiaNews">Reuters</a> that the group is associated with the Communist Party Central Committee’s United Front Work Department suspected of running influence operations outside China. The move follows in the footsteps of the US and Australia who are also implementing tougher scrutiny of Chinese cultural and language institutions within their respective countries. According to the US Department of Defence, also called the <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2020/Sep/01/2002488689/-1/-1/1/2020-DOD-CHINA-MILITARY-POWER-REPORT-FINAL.PDF">Pentagon</a>, China will use everything ‘short of armed conflict’ to meet its nationalist objectives. 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India bets on talks to resolve China border row even as it prepares for a two-front threat on the ground

The <keyword id="6354416" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> on Monday handed back to <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> a soldier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), three days after apprehending him at the southern bank of Pangong Tso in <keyword id="2572623" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="eastern-Ladakh">eastern Ladakh</keyword>, official sources said. The soldier was returned to China at the Chushul-Moldo border point in eastern Ladakh at 10.10 am, they added. The Chinese soldier was captured at the southern bank of Pangong lake in the early hours of Friday after he transgressed across the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The PLA soldier, who was apprehended on January 8, was handed back to China at Chushul-Moldo at 10.10 am on Monday," a source said. Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months. The faceoff began in <keyword id="9768916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="may-last-year">May last year</keyword>, following a clash between the two sides in the Pangong lake area. "The PLA soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area. Troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since friction erupted last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops," the Army said in a statement on Saturday. Following the capture of the soldier by the Indian Army, China had sought his immediate return on Saturday. It was the second such incident of <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> capturing and subsequently returning a Chinese soldier in the last three months. Indian troops had captured Corporal Wang Ya Long of the PLA on October 19 last year after he "strayed" across the LAC in Ladakh's Demchok sector. The corporal was handed back to China at the Chushul-Moldo border point following the laid-down protocols. The areas around the Pangong lake along the LAC have remained tense in the last few months. Around four months ago, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank of the Pangong lake, after the Chinese military attempted to intimidate them in the area on the intervening night of August 29 and 30 last year. Chief of Army Staff Gen. MM Naravane visited various high-altitude forward areas in eastern Ladakh last month, including certain positions on the south bank of the Pangong lake, and reviewed India's overall military preparedness. Nearly 50,000 troops of the Indian Army are currently deployed in a high state of combat readiness at various mountainous locations in eastern Ladakh in sub-zero temperatures as <keyword id="7687111" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Multiple-rounds">multiple rounds</keyword> of talks between the two sides have not yielded a concrete outcome to resolve the standoff. China has also deployed an equal number of troops, according to officials. The two countries held another round of diplomatic talks last month under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs. The eighth and last round of military talks between the two sides took place on November 6 last year, during which both sides had broadly discussed disengagement of troops from specific friction points. India has all along been maintaining that the onus is on China to carry forward the process of disengagement and de-escalation at the friction points in the mountainous region. Following the sixth round of military talks, the two sides had announced a slew of decisions, including not to send more troops to the frontline, refraining from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoiding taking any action that may further complicate matters. This round of talks was held with a specific agenda of exploring ways to implement a five-point agreement reached between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting in Moscow on September 10 on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conclave. The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC. 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Indian Army returns Chinese soldier after  three days

<ul><li>The seventh round of military talks between India and China lasted well over 11 hours on Monday. </li><li>Despite India’s insistence that China withdraws its troops from friction points along the border, an additional brigade of <keyword id="151196" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinese-troops">Chinese troops</keyword> has reportedly been deployed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Pangong Tso Lake.</li><li>“This clearly means that PLA has no plans for disengagement at least this winter,” a military commander told Hindustan Times. </li></ul>During the seventh round of military talks between India and China, the Indian side insisted that China withdraws its troops from friction points along the border. Instead, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is repotedly rotating 200 troops at a time with an additional brigade in the mix. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="78625776" title="India insists China disengages from all friction points along LAC at 7th round of military talks" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> “This clearly means that PLA has no plans for disengagement at least this winter,” a military commander told <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pla-rotates-lac-troops-shows-hand/story-BTArWOVpwKeuPCrPcVY9FJ.html">Hindustan Times.</a> India and China were locked in discussions for approximately 11 and a half hours, with talks coming to an end around 11:30 pm last night. Military experts gauge that disengagement is likely to be a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-has-hardened-its-stance-experts-decode-the-india-china-joint-statement-on-border-tensions/articleshow/78270081.cms">long, drawn-out process</a> that will take a while to complete. With winter ready to set in by the end of the month, and reports of troop additions, the border between India and China is starting to look a lot like the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. India races to build border roads Amid the endeavour to resolve the border dispute, Indian Defence Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> iterated that China and Pakistan are in cahoots to cause chaos along India’s geographical boundaries. “You are aware of the situation on our eastern and northern borders. It appears as if border disputes are being created under a mission, first by Pakistan and now even China,” he said at an inauguration event yesterday with kicked off operations on 44 new bridges in border areas — including seven in Ladakh. “These bridges are designed to facilitate movement of heavy civil and military traffic in border areas," said Lieutenant General Harpal Singh from the Border Roads Organization(BRO), which builds all infrastructure along South Asian nation’s borders. And, there are more border roads to come. The Modi administration has completed 74 strategic roads along the eastern border so far and has plans to finish 20 more by next year. India-China border stalemate hardens The stalemate along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) seems to be deepening with both countries preparing their troops for winter and sending in more supplies. The Asian giants have been locked in a standoff for over five months now with <a href="https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3105218/india-china-border-stalemate-endures-fear-ladakh-new-kashmir">18 rounds of meetings</a> between them at diplomatic, political and military levels to try and resolve the tensions. However, withdrawal of troops is yet to be seen despite Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart Wang Yi meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial meeting and agreeing on a ‘five-point plan’ for quick disengagement. Going forward, there may be a glimmer of hope, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese Xi Jinping set to face each other for the first time since the Galwan Valley incident at the BRICS Summit on November 17. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/wipros-second-quarter-will-be-telling-of-how-its-new-ceo-is-steering-the-ship/articleshow/78623027.cms">Wipro's second-quarter will be telling of how its new CEO is steering the ship</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/sitharaman-offers-states-12000-crore-interest-free-for-the-next-50-years-if-they-can-spend-it-on-capital-projects-by-march-2021/articleshow/78616741.cms">Sitharaman offers states ₹12,000 crore interest-free for the next 50 years if they can spend it on capital projects by March 2021</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/itcm-nirbhay-missiles-maiden-launch-cancelled-due-to-technical-snag/articleshow/78619468.cms">ITCM Nirbhay missile's maiden launch cancelled due to 'technical snag'</a>

Chinese PLA is reportedly rotating troops despite India's insistence on disengagement from friction points along the border

Moscow, Jun 23 () Russia on Tuesday ruled out mediating between India and China following the violent clashes in the Galwan Valley, saying the two nations do not need any kind of assistance to resolve their disputes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks came after a virtual conference of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also attended the conference. The conference was held amid escalating tension between India and China following the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead, significantly escalating the already volatile situation in the region. "I do not think that India and China need any help, any kind of assistance specifically aimed at helping them to resolve disputes," Lavrov said. "As soon as the border incidents took place, meetings were held and contact was established between the military command on the ground and the foreign ministers," Sputnik News quoted Lavrov as saying. "As I understand, these contacts are ongoing, and neither party has made any statement indicating a lack of willingness to negotiate based on generally acceptable approaches. We naturally expect it to continue that way," Lavrov said. India and China have rejected any role for other parties in finding a peaceful resolution to their boundary issue. Russia has maintained close ties with both China and India. Russia last week expressed concern over the clashes but hoped that both of its close allies can resolve the conflict themselves. Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh is currently in Moscow to attend Wednesday's parade on Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II. NSA AKJ NSA

Russia rules out mediating between India and China

By K J M Varma Beijing, Jun 23 () Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Russia, India and China should correctly handle and properly deal with "sensitive issues" in bilateral ties to safeguard the overall interests of their relations. Wang's remarks at a virtual conference of the foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) trilateral came amidst a violent clash between the militaries of India and China that led to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley on June 15. In his address to RIC Foreign Ministers, Wang said the three countries should "correctly handle and properly deal with sensitive factors in bilateral relations and safeguard the overall interests of mutual relation," without directly referring to the current round of India-China military tensions along the Line of Actual Control, (LAC). External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were also present in the meeting. He backed Russia's proposal to hold the first RIC defence ministers meeting to enhance the level of defence and security cooperation. Wang emphasised that China, Russia, and India are big countries that insist on strategic autonomy, a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. He said the three nations should grasp the opportunity to enhance overall cooperation. "Starting from the common interests of promoting the development of the three countries and safeguarding the world's peaceful development, we should correctly treat and properly handle the sensitive factors in bilateral relations and maintain the overall situation of mutual relations," he said. "We should make good use of the overall momentum of cooperation in which the three countries are partners and opportunities for each other proceed from the common interests of promoting the development and revitalisation of the three countries and safeguarding the world peace and development," he said. He said the three counties should adhere to multilateralism and improve global governance, resolutely defend the victory of the Second World War and promote the democratisation and the rule of law in international relations. They should maintain the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, ensure the authority and effectiveness of the UN, and strengthen communication and coordination within the UN framework. They should build an open world economy, maintain the multilateral trading system based on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and ensure the safe and smooth operation of the global industrial supply chain. The three nations should improve the cooperation level of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in various fields and maintain unity and cooperation of the BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries. he three countries should strengthen the cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic and work together to overcome it by carrying out mutual exchanges and lessons learned from their experiences to carry out epidemic information sharing, drug and vaccine R&amp;D (Research and Development) cooperation. The three nations should explore the establishment of a joint defence and joint control mechanism and establish a "fast channel" for the exchange of personnel and a "green channel" for logistics, he said. The three countries should jointly promote international anti-epidemic cooperation, resolutely resist stigmatising the epidemic situation, and resolutely oppose making political essays in the name of anti-epidemic. They should support the World Health Organisation (WHO), promote the improvement of global public health governance and build a community of human health, he said. China has come under increasing global pressure over lack of transparency in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which originated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Wang suggested a tripartite joint force to perfect the cooperation mechanism. "It is recommended to establish a tripartite ministerial dialogue mechanism in the professional fields of economy, trade, energy, transportation, education, culture, and health; establish a panel of experts and celebrities to provide suggestions for deepening the tripartite cooperation," the press release said. KJV NSA AKJ NSA NSA

Russia, India, China should properly deal with 'sensitive issues' in bilateral ties: Wang Yi

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">AP Photo/Julie JacobsonMichael Cohen.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>In a sentencing memo released on Friday, federal prosecutors said Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, "acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1" - Donald Trump.</li><li>The Southern District of New York recommends Cohen face 3.5 years of prison time and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/special-counsel-mueller-recommends-three-half-year-sentence-for-michael-cohen-2018-12">$100,000 fine.</a></li><li>On the same day, special counsel Robert Mueller's office released its sentencing memo, which recommended prison time concurrent with that recommended by federal prosecutors.</li><li>Mueller's sentencing memo also details contact with a Russian national who wanted to arrange a meeting between Trump and the president of Russia, and offered the campaign "political synergy." Cohen did not follow up on this request, the memo states.</li><li>Cohen is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12.</li></ul>Two sentencing memos <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/special-counsel-mueller-recommends-three-half-year-sentence-for-michael-cohen-2018-12">related to Michael Cohen</a>, the former personal attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump, dropped on Friday.In <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-plea-deal-prosecutors-trump-2018-8">August, Cohen pleaded guilty</a> to eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations in a case brought by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-plea-deal-reveals-most-pivotal-time-of-2016-election-trump-russia-events-2018-11">On November 29</a>, he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, in relation to the Mueller investigation.Each sentencing memo revealed something new about the charges against Cohen being investigated by federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the special counsel Robert Mueller's office.Among the revelations in the <a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5453395/USDOJ-Cohen-20181207.pdf">40-page sentencing document</a> from federal prosecutors was that Cohen "acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1."Individual-1 is widely believed to be President Donald Trump. This coordination relates to the payment of two women who allege that they had affairs with Trump."With respect to both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election," the memo states. "Cohen coordinated his actions with one or more members of the campaign, including through meetings and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments.""In particular, and as Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1," the document continues. "As a result of Cohen's actions, neither woman spoke to the press prior to the election."In the sentencing memo submitted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to Judge William H. Pauley III, federal prosecutors rejected Cohen's attorney's call for no prison time, saying that "Cohen, an attorney and businessman, committed four distinct federal crimes over a period of several years.""He was motivated to do so by personal greed, and repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive ends," the memorandum continues.It acknowledges that Cohen cooperated with the special counsel's office, but says that his "extensive, deliberate, and serious criminal conduct" warrant 3.5 years of prison time.<h3>The surprising revelation from Mueller's memo included the words "synergy" in regards to contact with a Russian national.</h3>"In or around November 2015, Cohen received the contact information for, and spoke with, a Russian national who claimed to be a 'trusted person' in the Russian Federation who could offer the campaign 'political synergy' and 'synergy on a government level,'" the Mueller memo claims. "The defendant recalled that this person repeatedly proposed a meeting between Individual 1 and the President of Russia."Said person allegedly told Cohen that contact could have a 'phenomenal' impact 'not only in political but in a business dimension as well,' which was allegedly a reference to the "Moscow Project" - or Trump's attempts to build a luxury tower in Moscow. Cohen did not follow up on this offer, the memo says.Due to Cohen's "substantial and significant efforts to remediate his misconduct accept responsibility for his actions, and assist the SCO's investigation," <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5453418-Mueller-Cohen-filing.html">Mueller's office recommended</a> to let Cohen "serve any sentence imposed in this case concurrently with any sentence imposed in United States v. Cohen."The White House responded to the Cohen memos."The government's filings in Mr. Cohen's case tell us nothing of value that wasn't already known," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders <a href="https://twitter.com/Acosta/status/1071193521028251649">said in a statement</a>. "Mr. Cohen has repeatedly lied and as the prosecution has pointed out to the court, Mr. Cohen is no hero."Cohen is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anthony-scaramucci-trump-press-economy-2018-11">Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

Federal prosecutors say Cohen committed crimes 'in coordination with and at the direction of' Trump

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">AP Photo/Kathy WillensRetired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn, left, chats with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, right, and Trump attorney Michael D. Cohen, center, in the lobby at Trump Tower, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, in New York.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>This week, special counsel Robert Mueller's office released two sentencing memos related to the investigation into whether President Donald Trump's campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.</li><li>The Flynn and Cohen sentencing memos are different in terms of how much was revealed and what the special counsel's office recommends in terms of sentencing.</li><li>Here's what's different about the two memos.</li></ul>It's a tale of two memos. This week, special counsel Robert Mueller's office released two sentencing-recommendation documents related to the investigation into whether President Donald Trump campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 US election.On Friday, Mueller's office also released its sentencing recommendations for Cohen.The release was one of three documents predicted for this week. On Tuesday, Mueller's office released the sentencing memo for retired general Michael Flynn, who served as a campaign advisor and short-lived national security adviser.On Friday evening, Mueller filed a document alleging that Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, violated his plea agreement.The Flynn and Cohen sentencing memos are quite different in terms of how much was revealed and what the special counsel's office recommends in terms of sentencing. Here's a look:<h2>Michael Flynn</h2>The alleged crime: <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/12/1/16724742/michael-flynn-plead-guilty-lied-fbi">Lying to the FBI about his contact with the Russian ambassador</a> during the Trump transition in late 2016, which Flynn was highly involved with.Mueller's memo claims he lied about what he said to the Russian ambassador regarding sanctions: "When the FBI interviewed the defendant on January 24 about his interactions with the Russian ambassador, the defendant falsely stated that he did not ask the Russian ambassador to refrain from escalating the situation in response to the sanctions, and falsely disclaimed any memory of his subsequent conversation with the ambassador in which the ambassador stated that Russia had acceded to the defendant's request."Flynn also made false statements to the Department of Justice about his contact with Turkey.The memo: His sentencing recommendation memo was 13 pages in total, but a good portion of the memo (the addendum to the sentencing memo) <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5425867-Flynn-SCO-Supp.html">was redacted</a>.The recommendation: Due to Flynn's <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5425867-Flynn-SCO-Supp.html">early cooperation</a>, which may have "affected the decisions of related firsthand witnesses to be forthcoming with the SCO and cooperate" - Mueller is recommending no prison time.Date of his sentencing: December 18, 2018.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-michael-cohen-told-mueller-about-moscow-trump-tower-talks-2018-12">Everything Michael Cohen told Mueller about the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia, according to the memo that could land Cohen a 'substantial' prison sentence</a><h2>Michael Cohen</h2>The alleged crime: Lying to Congress - the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence - about the so-called "Moscow Project" or attempts to secure a deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Specifically, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about how long he had been working on the deal (it turns out it was until June 2016, not January 2016) and to what extent he discussed it with other parties at the Trump Organization.The memo:The memo was released shortly after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/special-counsel-mueller-recommends-three-half-year-sentence-for-michael-cohen-2018-12">another sentencing memo pertaining to Cohen</a> - that one was from the Southern District of New York, where in 40 pages federal prosecutors detailed crimes and sentencing recommendations on charges of tax fraud, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations.The recommendation: Mueller recommends "that it would be appropriate to allow the defendant to serve any sentence imposed in this case concurrently with any sentence imposed in United States v. Cohen. In that latter case, federal prosecutors recommended 3.5 years of prison time.Date of his sentencing: December 12, 2018.<h2>The takeaways</h2>The broader takeaways have less to do with Cohen or Flynn - and their respective sentences - and more to do with the investigation itself and what was learned from these two documents.Flynn spoke to DOJ prosecutors or the Mueller investigation 19 times, and his cooperation was described as "substantial" in the memo. The six-page addendum that was highly redacted, suggests that there's more to come out of the investigation.In Cohen's sentencing memo, it was revealed that in November 2015 - roughly five months into Trump's campaign for president - he was in contact with a Russian national who "repeatedly" proposed connecting "Individual 1" (thought to be Trump) with Russian Vladimir Putin. This Russian national also suggested that connecting would provide "political synergy" and would be advantageous both for <keyword id="6358883" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="politics">politics</keyword> and business. Cohen did "not follow up" on setting up the meeting.Some are suggesting that this November 2015 meeting lines up with a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ivanka-trump-cohen-dmitry-klokov-trump-tower-moscow-2018-6">BuzzFeed News</a> report that Ivanka Trump introduced Cohen to Russian athlete Dmitry Kolkov to set up a meeting. Cohen, decided not to pursue the connection.Cohen and Flynn's sentencing recommendations differed in part because of the other crimes that Cohen has pleaded guilty to in another case against being brought by federal prosecutors.While one escaped a recommendation of prison time and the other was recommended jail time, in both sentencing memos the special counsel's office acknowledged the defendants' cooperation with the investigation. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/anthony-scaramucci-trump-press-economy-2018-11">Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

The important differences between Mueller's sentencing memos for Michael Flynn and Michael Cohen

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Murad Sezer/ReutersRussia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan attend a news conference in Istanbul December 3, 2012.</div></div></div>Turkey is looking into joining a Chinese- and Russian-led alliance known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan <a href="http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2016/11/20/tired-of-eus-delaying-tactics-erdogan-points-to-shanghai-pact">told reporters Sunday</a> at the end of his official tour of Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Erdogan said that he met with SCO leaders over the weekend and expressed his interest in joining the Eurasian political, economic, and military alliance as an alternative to joining the European Union, which has not been receptive to Turkey's repeated bids for membership that began in 1963.France, Germany, and Belgium - home to Brussels, where the EU is headquartered - <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/22/vote-leave-turkey-warning-ignorance-european-realities">have long opposed</a> Turkey's accession into the EU. Erdogan's reluctance to sign on to certain membership requirements, and his increasingly authoritarian leadership over Turkey, has also sparked concern among European leaders that he is not committed to a Western conception of human rights and civil liberties. Thousands of Turkish civil servants - as well as military personnel, police officers, academics and teachers - have been purged or arrested on suspicion that they were associated with a failed coup attempt against Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in July. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">REUTERS/Kenan GurbuzOne of the 11 fugitive commandos who attempted the coup in Turkey is arrested.</div></div></div>Dozens of journalists, primarily working for opposition newspapers, have also been arrested since the attempted coup, while several opposition outlets have been shut down altogether.Erdogan insisted in a recent interview with "60 Minutes" that "these measures are being taken by prosecutors and judges in full accordance with the rule of law." But the crackdown has led the European Commission <a href="http://www.politico.eu/article/europe-warns-turkeys-democracy-is-backsliding/">to warn Turkey that it is "backsliding"</a> in human rights and democracy - an accusation at which Erdogan appeared to scoff."From time to time, we see insults directed at myself, claims that there was no freedom of expression in Turkey," Erdogan <a href="http://www.dailysabah.com/diplomacy/2016/11/20/tired-of-eus-delaying-tactics-erdogan-points-to-shanghai-pact">said</a> Sunday."Meanwhile, terrorists prance around in French, German and Belgian streets. This is what they understand of freedom."<h2>A rejection, or a bluff?</h2>Increasing disenchantment with the EU and the perception that he is being lectured to by the US - which supports anti-ISIS Syrian Kurds viewed by Turkey as terrorists - has apparently spurred Erdogan to look east, where his domestic policies have not been heavily scrutinized or condemned."Erdogan feels much more comfortable and at home among the authoritarian regimes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization rather than facing the scrutiny and criticism of the European family of nations," Aykan Erdemir, an expert on Turkey and senior fellow at the Foundation for <keyword id="6354810" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Defense">Defense</keyword> of Democracies, told Business Insider on Monday. Joining or even threatening to join the Shangai bloc, moreover - which is heavily influenced by Russia and China - would rattle the West and, as Erdogan said on Sunday, "considerably broaden Turkey's room to maneuver."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://pictures.reuters.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZ5M578U2&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1239&amp;RH=850#/SearchResult&amp;VBID=2C0BXZ5M578U2&amp;SMLS=1&amp;RW=1239&amp;RH=850&amp;PN=2&amp;POPUPPN=93&amp;POPUPIID=2C0BF1O7XF9MR">Reuters/POOL New</a>Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as they attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.</div></div></div>"If Turkey were to actually join the SCO, it would of course drastically alter relations with the US and NATO," Middle East analyst Michael Koplow, policy director of the Israel Policy Forum, told Business Insider on Monday."It would be viewed as a rejection of the Western alliance, and make it incredibly difficult to include Turkey in any type of high-level strategic dialogue, given concerns about Russian expansionism," he added, saying Turkey, unlike other NATO members, is already a partner country to SCO dialogue.Still, many analysts are skeptical that Erdogan is prepared to put his money where his mouth is. He <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-turkey-rapprochement-2016-10">has been flirting </a>heavily and publicly with Russia since the summer, but it is unclear whether a closer alliance with Russia and China would benefit Turkey politically or economically. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Osman Orsal/ReutersRussia's President Vladimir Putin (front L) and Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (front R), with Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov of Russia (L) and Ahmet Davutoglu (C) of Turkey in the background. Davutoglu has since been replaced by Binali Yıldırım.</div></div></div>"Erdogan's weathervane foreign policy characterized by frequent U-turns is not based neither on values nor principles," said Erdemir, a former member of Turkish parliament. He noted that Erdogan made the same announcement about possible SCO membership during a November 2013 meeting with Putin, yet never acted on it.Michael Kofman, an expert on Russian and Eurasian affairs and fellow at the Wilson Center, said that the SCO is "not a cohesive economic or political block" and would offer little to Turkey in practice other than to "instill the perception that the West is somehow 'losing Turkey' and should chase Erdogan to get it back."<h2>'A rogue and dysfunctional' ally</h2>Complicating the Western temptation to write off Erdogan's comments as empty threats, however, is Turkey's recent deal with the EU to help stem the flow of refugees trying to enter Europe from Syria. "Erdogan knows that the EU views Turkey as critical to staunching the flow of refugees into Europe," said Koplow of the Israel Policy Forum. "He has a long history of making these types of threats in order to pressure Europe into concessions of various sorts. It's a gambit that will probably be successful if recent history is any guide."Over the summer, the EU agreed to pay Turkey €3 billion - and German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised to speed up Turkey's EU bid - if Turkey pledged to harbor the vast amount of refugees and migrants seeking asylum in Europe.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ReutersA US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing lands at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Turkey gave the US permission to use Incirlik as a base for anti-ISIS operations in July 2015.</div></div></div>Turkey's entry into the SCO would also complicate its relationship with NATO. "In theory, SCO membership would not require Turkey's exit from NATO," geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk firm Eurasia Group, told Business Insider on Tuesday. "In practice, however, it would severely strain Ankara's ties with other NATO members."Ultimately, however, Bremmer believes Erdogan is just looking for leverage."Erdogan wants the US to rely less on the Syrian Kurds, and to extradite Gulen, rather than a signal of a historic and strategic shift away from the West," he said, noting that many existing SCO members don't necessarily even want Turkey to join."Erdogan himself said yesterday relations with the US and NATO are on track, so I think there's lots of smoke, no fire here," he added.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Thomson ReutersTurkey's President Erdogan arrives for the NATO Summit in Warsaw</div></div></div>Indeed, Erdogan told CBS over the weekend that Turkey is "moving in the same direction with NATO that we have always done." But July's failed coup appears to only have made him more determined to stomp out dissent, whether it's coming from his own citizens or from the international community.The FDD's Erdemir, meanwhile, predicted that Turkey's "gradual drift from NATO" will continue."Putin will make sure that this is a slow and painful process for Turkey and the transatlantic alliance," he said. "He knows that as a rogue and dysfunctional NATO ally, Turkey is of greater use to Moscow than as a defector to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seal-hell-week-training-2016-11">Forget 'Hell Week' - a Navy SEAL reveals the hardest part of training</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="h0Z29hMzE6L-FUbTLLal5qmV-po1eCpa" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

NATO's second-largest military power is threatening a dramatic pivot to Russia and China

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>There's no question that the Ukraine conflict has led Russia to shift more toward China - but that doesn't mean that everything is smooth sailing for the two countries.One of the major byproducts of Moscow pulling toward Beijing will be "expanded" cooperation in Central Asia, <a href="http://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/ECFR126_-_A_Soft_Alliance_Russia-China_Relations_After_the_Ukraine_Crisis.pdf">according to Alexander Gabuev</a>, a <a href="https://twitter.com/alexgabuev">senior associate</a> and chair of the Russia in Asia-Pacific Program at Carnegie Moscow Center."It is Inner Asia - Afghanistan, Mongolia, and the five post-Soviet states of Central Asia - that is likely to see the most impact from the deepening of Sino-Russia integration," writes <a href="https://twitter.com/dmitritrenin">Dmitri Trenin</a>, the director of Carnegie Moscow Center, in <a href="http://carnegie.ru/publications/?fa=59728#">a paper on the Sino-Russo entente</a>."What is likely to emerge is a trade and investment zone covering all of central, northern, and eastern Eurasia. With China as its powerhouse, this area can be called Greater Asia - from Shanghai, its business center, to St. Petersburg, its outpost at Europe's doorstep."Already we've seen several Beijing-led and Moscow-endorsed notable initiatives such as the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/china-is-planning-to-rebuild-the-silk-road-and-transform-global-trade-routes-2015-4">Silk Road Economic Belt</a>, the development of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-has-a-crucial-advantage-over-the-us-in-the-arctic-2015-4">Northern Sea Route</a>, a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-builds-moscow-to-beijing-high-speed-train-2014-12">high-speed rail link</a> that will connect Moscow to Beijing, and the <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/int/sco.htm">Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</a>.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>"Putin's vision of a 'greater Europe' from Lisbon to Vladivostok, made up of the European Union and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, is being replaced by a 'greater Asia' from Shanghai to St. Petersburg," writes Trenin.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div>However, despite the infrastructure projects and political cooperation, it's not all smiles in Central Asia."Mutually useful and apparently friendly with each other, the 'has-been superpower' and the 'wannabe great power' are engaged in a contest for primacy in Eurasia," <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/unequal-partners-china-and-russia-in-eurasia/">writes Anita Inder Singh</a>, a visiting professor at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution in New Delhi, in The Diplomat."As Russia turns its strategic axis eastwards it is struggling to maintain its influence in Central Asia - while China is moving westwards with the intent of becoming a great Eurasian power."The tension arises out of the fact that China's become the main moneylender in Russia's backyard (which is composed of states that were formally in the Soviet Union that have been heavily integrated with Russia since the 1991 collapse.) At the same time, financially strained Russia can't offer the same "largesse and investment" as Beijing.And China's investments in Kazakh energy "annoy Russia," according to Singh, and Turkmenistan (the fourth-largest holder of gas reserves) "seeks new report routes to minimize its dependence on oil pipeline in Russia." Singh adds that the post-Soviet states "fear that Russia could use the EEU to bully them and make them dependent on a collapsing ruble," writes Singh. (Notably, we've already seen Kazakhstan <a href="http://www.rferl.org/content/kazakhstan-rejects-moscvows-single-currency-proposal/26972232.html">reject</a> Russia's single currency proposal.) <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>Nevertheless, "Russia, in particular, supports Chinese economic activities and Russian officials and analysts posit a distinct division of labor that both sides are comfortable with: China provides economic investment, while Russia provides security and exerts political influence." <a href="http://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Cooley%20Testimony_3.18.15.pdf">writes Alexander Cooley</a>, a professor at Barnard College.But this split between political and economic doesn't always line up nicely. As Cooley points out, Russia has "quietly opposed or dragged its feet on nearly every major economic initiative" that China's proposed within the SCO."Russia is reluctant to further empower China, even in a multilateral setting, as it prefers instead to promote its own regional economic architectures," such as the Eurasian Economic Union or the Russian-Kazakh Eurasian Development Bank, according to <a href="http://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Cooley%20Testimony_3.18.15.pdf">Cooley</a>."Beijing in private has grown frustrated with this Russian reticence, but, undeterred, China has continued its economic activities bilaterally," he <a href="http://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Cooley%20Testimony_3.18.15.pdf">adds</a>. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>That being said, China knows that it has to publically present its relationship with Russia as a "friendship of equals" right now, as it will help it achieve its economic and political aims in the region and globally."Within the SCO, Russia enjoys an informal co-leadership role alongside China. Beijing also respects Moscow's red-lines on establishing political alliances and military bases in the former Soviet space," Trenin writes in his paper on the Sino-Russo entente. "This contrasts starkly with the Western policies of NATO and the EU enlargement in the former Soviet borderlands in Eastern Europe."A submissive Russia will give China more resources to prepare itself for the ultimate struggle for great-power status in Asia-Pacific. Russia may become a space for Chinese 'pilot schemes' to test the global governance models (most notably in finance) that Beijing wants to promote."In any case, there's always more than meets the eye when it comes to Russia and China's political partnerships. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/prevent-blisters-jogging-running-shoes-sneakers-athletic-shoelace-hole-2015-5">Someone figured out the purpose of the extra shoelace hole on your running shoes - and it will blow your mind</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="lyNnMwdToPHeoBdqEnriXIBVrqyIR6er" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

You Searched For "jaishankar sco moscow meet" and got 11 results

India-China 7th round of high-level military talks underway

PTI

Next round of India-China Corps Commander talks scheduled for October 12

PTI

India bets on talks to resolve China border row even as it prepares for a two-front threat on the ground

Prabhjote Gill

Indian Army returns Chinese soldier after three days

PTI

Chinese PLA is reportedly rotating troops despite India's insistence on disengagement from friction points along the border

Prabhjote Gill

Russia rules out mediating between India and China

PTI

Russia, India, China should properly deal with 'sensitive issues' in bilateral ties: Wang Yi

PTI

Federal prosecutors say Cohen committed crimes 'in coordination with and at the direction of' Trump

Sarah Gray,Sarah Gray

The important differences between Mueller's sentencing memos for Michael Flynn and Michael Cohen

Sarah Gray,Sarah Gray

NATO's second-largest military power is threatening a dramatic pivot to Russia and China

Natasha Bertrand

China and Russia are 'engaged in a contest for primacy in Eurasia'

Elena Holodny