This Newsletter explores ongoing issues and perspectives from India’s neighbouring countries, including - Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan.
June 29th, 2021
Issue #2
In Brief - Vaccine updates, Sri Lanka’s #MeToo Storm, China-Nepal Rail link, Bangladesh among India’s top five exports, UN call for an arms embargo against Myanmar, U.S support for Afghanistan
The Raging Pandemic
Nepal is said to procure 4 million vaccines from China under a non-disclosure deal. A latest report states that during a Covid Crisis Management Centre meeting on 16th June, Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli said the vaccines are expected to arrive by the end of June. Subsequently, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Raghubir Mahaseth was quoted in the report saying, “We are in talks with the World Bank to receive 5 million vaccines developed by Johnson & Johnson”.
Beijing expressed its dismay with the Himalayan Kingdom as they disclosed information on procuring Sinopharm vaccines from China. Media publications have revealed sensitive information regarding the pricing of the vaccines at $10 per dose. A report by The Kathmandu Post says multiple officials the Post spoke to confirmed China had communicated its disappointment to Nepali authorities, given the nature of the deal. Having signed a non-disclosure agreement, the price of the commodity, quantity in advance and mode of payment, among other details, cannot be revealed. The report also mentions that similar Sinopharm deals have created trouble in other neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, The Hindu reports that Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering is for mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccine doses to immunise its population of 7,00,000 people. He said, “Knowing immunology, knowing how our body reacts to vaccines, I am comfortable to secure a second dose of any vaccine that is, of course, approved by the WHO”. Amid facing a vaccine shortage, Bhutan received positive news earlier on June 23rd. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $35 million Development Policy Credit to support the tiny Himalayan Kingdoms efforts to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 and growth thereafter.
Bangladesh received similar aid from the Asian Development Bank a day before, on June 22nd. The regional development bank approved a loan package of $940 million for the government of Bangladesh to purchase vaccines. The Dhaka Tribune also reported that Health Minister Zahid Maleque confirmed on June 25th that Bangladesh was set to receive 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine in the next 7-10 days. “We have received a letter today (June 25th) from COVAX...they will provide us with 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine..within 7-10days”, he said.
Finally, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports on June 24th that the Biden administration plans to deliver 3 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week to Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka’s #MeToo Storm
Reports surfaced of sexual harassment allegations from journalists in Sri Lanka last week, on June 24th. A latest report in The Hindu states that women have called for urgent reform of newsrooms. Many women journalists took to Twitter to describe accounts of sexual harassment faced by male colleagues, including threats of rape. Such details did not emerge previously in 2019 when similar allegations had surfaced on social media. The women, however, did not reveal the names of any perpetrators. The report also quotes the Editor of The Sunday Morning weekend newspaper Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema saying:
“We have told our staff that the paper takes the issue very seriously and that they should feel free to raise any concern without fear. We also hope to have regular discussions with our teams on what in their view constitutes sexual harassment, and what action they think would be appropriate, so that we can collectively come up with an organisational policy”
A local news report by nation.lk mentions that the Sri Lankan government will probe into the matter, with the Mass Media Ministry ordering an investigation into allegations of workplace sexual harassment at media institutions. The experiences shared by female journalists are adding to the internationally renowned #MeToo campaign in Sri Lanka.
Do read this detailed Twitter thread by a female journalist called Aisha Nazim for further details about the controversy.
In other news, The Economic Times reports on June 17th that India has extended a $100 million Line of Credit (LOC) to Sri Lanka to help the island nation finance Solar energy infrastructure projects and ensure renewables sources attain the country’s 70% power requirements by 2030. An agreement has been signed between the Sri Lankan government and the Export-Import Bank of India. “A glorious new chapter in the multi-faceted partnership between India and Sri Lanka,” said the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka in a tweet. The move implies a boost in energy relations between the countries. A press release from the Indian High Commission said the LOC would help finance projects such as rooftop solar photovoltaic systems for households and government buildings.
Bangladesh, too, is seeing positive developments in its renewable energy sector. An article in PV Magazine mentions that a Bangladeshi government minister has announced 40% of the nation's electricity will come from renewable energy sources by 2041. The article further states that, at an inauguration ceremony for Bangladesh’s largest solar rooftop - a 16 MW array in Chittagong, junior power minister Nasrul Hamid said, “Renewable energy will be the main source of energy in the future”.
Likewise, at the Maldives Energy Investor Conference on June 23rd, the independent island country drafted an ambitious plan to restructure the country’s energy industry. The conference was organised jointly by the government of the Maldives and the World Bank. The government expressed its desire to reach net-zero emissions by 2030 through international assistance and private investments.
China-Nepal Rail-Link
According to a latest report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), A senior engineer involved in the project mentioned that a part of the proposed China-Nepal railway link might have to go through the main protected area of the Himalayan mountains. The report further states that six routes have been proposed for the railway, but none have been agreed upon. The environmental risks are high for constructing routes through core protection zones, and Chinese law forbids large-scale construction activities in an environmental protection zone. This makes deciding on an appropriate route challenging for Chinese officials and their counterparts in Nepal. However, the report also mentions that according to a paper published in the domestic journal Railway Standard Design on June 23rd, a decision was reached that the railway would cross the Himalayan range through a 30km (18.6 miles) tunnel. In the paper, a lead engineer mentioned that more than a third of the tunnel will be inside a core protection zone but would be entirely underground. He was quoted saying that the proposal will be submitted to the Chinese and Nepalese governments as final recommendations with a “sufficient firm stance against challenges’’.
Another Chinese road construction project in Nepal’s Sindhupalchawk is causing anger among locals over increased landslides and damage to property in the area. A report by The Business Standard mentions a local Nepali news publication that reports citizens protesting against the Chinese firm responsible for the construction project and demanding payment for damages in return. According to the report, the firm is also accused by citizens of causing serious environmental harm in a district highly vulnerable to risks.
On a more positive note, India and Bhutan signed an MoU for developing cooperation on environment-related issues on June 18th. The press release mentions that the signed MoU intends to expand bilateral cooperation in climate change and waste management. It also aims to enhance Indian and Bhutanese partnership in the share and exchange of practices in areas like prevention of air pollution and chemical management. The MoU will also strengthen technological, scientific and management capabilities to promote a mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.
Bangladesh among India’s top 5 exports
The Hindustan Times reports that Bangladesh has now surpassed Hong Kong to become India’s fourth-largest export destination over just the first three months of the financial year. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, India’s exports to Bangladesh rose 46% on an annual basis at $3.16 billion in January-March, after the US, China and UAE. Bangladesh jumped from the ninth rank in 2019-2020 to fifth for FY21. The reasons mentioned in the report for growth in exports include fewer disruptions in the movement of goods and increased demand for farm produce. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) director-general and CEO Ajay Sahai was quoted saying, “A combination of three factors helped in rising exports to Bangladesh - diplomatic efforts, logistics in terms of rail and waterways, and demand for agricultural items”.
Concurrently, The Kathmandu Post reported on June 24th that Nepal’s soybean oil exports to India hit a high ₹42.34 billion in the first eleven months of the financial year, a four-fold increase from ₹10.12 billion the previous year, making it the top export commodity in the country. The number of exports could increase in the coming years due to reasons stated, such as - rent-seeking mentality of Nepali traders and the eagerness of the government to create revenue, allowing traders to exploit loopholes in the zero-tariff privilege given to Nepal, being a least developed country. But, despite impressive export statistics, the contribution of soybean trade to the Nepali economy is minimal, with very few job opportunities existing.
Meanwhile, have a look at China’s trade relations with some of its neighbours (in terms of the value of exports and imports) in 2020, according to data put together by the firm China Briefing and the Observatory of Economic Complexity(OEC):
Data Source: China Briefing and OEC
*Data given in table as of 2020*
UN calls for an arms embargo against Myanmar
The BBC reported on June 19th that the UN has called for an arms embargo against the junta in Myanmar. In response to the violence by the military coup in the country, the UN general assembly has additionally called for the release of political prisoners and an end to violence against protestors.
Source: Twitter
The call for a halt to arms sales to Myanmar was supported by 119 countries out of which Belarus was the only one to vote against it. Another 36 countries abstained from voting, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan from South Asia. Maldives and Afghanistan were exceptions, who favoured the ban. China and Russia, the junta’s two biggest arms suppliers, abstained too.
Meanwhile, violence erupted in the city of Mandalay, which began shortly after 7 am, on June 22nd, reported the New York Times (NYT). According to the report, Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar and it was the first time that clashes occurred between the military and an anti-junta armed civilian group known as the People’s Defence Force (PDF). According to another latest report by CNN, the clashes occurred in response to a military raid on one of the group's bases in the city. A post on the PDF’s social media page said, “We retaliated as one of our guerilla base camps was invaded”. No exact number of casualties were mentioned but NYT states that the PDF has said that six of its members had been arrested in Mandalay and an unspecified number had been injured.
Following the violent skirmish, Reuters reported on June 25th that Myanmar security forces had seized a large cache of weapons on a truck bound for Mandalay this week, as per state media reports. The situation across the country is worsening and a humanitarian crisis is unfolding, as an estimated 230,000 people have been displaced by violence and are in urgent need of emergency assistance. A report by Al Jazeera quotes the UN office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in one of its reports saying:
“Displaced people, as well as communities in affected areas, are in urgent need of a wide range of humanitarian assistance, including food and basic household materials, shelter, access to healthcare, water and sanitation, as well as various protection services, including psychosocial support”
Adding to this, the influx of refugees crossing the Indian border is steadily rising. A report in The Print on June 28th reveals that over 700 civilians from Myanmar entered the North Eastern state of Mizoram in just the last few weeks. Further, taking into account the total number of refugees who have crossed into Mizoram since the coup began in February, the report states that all together, 10,025 nationals have so far arrived in the Indian state.
U.S support for Afghanistan
A press release was issued by the White House on June 25th. The statement expressed the United States support to Afghanistan through diplomatic and economic assistance to support a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. The statement was issued following a meeting of the US president Joe Biden, along with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah on the same day. Some of the key points mentioned in the statement regarding America’s assistance to Afghanistan include:
Providing COVID-19 vaccines to the Afghan people
Providing critical emergency medical assistance to respond to the COVID-19 crisis
Providing needed assistance to help with the pandemic’s impacts
Contributing life-saving humanitarian assistance to Afghans in need
Continuing security assistance
Sustaining development assistance to support a secure, stable, unified, democratic, and self-reliant Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours
Mobilizing diplomatic support for peace and stability
Standing with partners in support of the Afghan people
If you want to look at the details of the clauses mentioned, you can read the full statement here.
Violence is continuing to increase in several districts in Afghanistan, with the latest developments coming from Taliban advancement and occupation of Khash district in the Northern Badakhshan province on June 23rd, as per a report in The Global Times. Another report by The Hindustan Times said that on June 27th, at least 11 people, including women and children, were injured in an explosion in the city of Charikar, in Afghanistan’s Parwan province.
Finally, concerns are mounting in India too as the Indian army fears a U.S pullout in Afghanistan could push militants into the fragile region of Kashmir. The Hindu quotes General officer Commanding (GoC), 15 corps, Lieutenant General D.P Pandey saying, “Whatever happened 30 years ago has caused huge distress to the people of Kashmir. Yes, there is a possibility that the U.S. forces’ pull-out from Afghanistan may push some militants into Kashmir, but the situation is not what it was 30 years ago”.
Other Stories
In a major embarrassment, China has withdrawn from financing three infrastructure projects in Bangladesh after allegations of embezzlement of funds increasing project costs emerged, reports The Economic Times
The World Bank’s board of executive directors has approved a $191 million credit to Bangladesh and an $18 million grant to Afghanistan to help the countries strengthen their higher education sector in response to the pandemic, reports The Daily Star
Putting aside a rift over the Rohingya refugee crisis, Bangladesh is continuing to import rice from Myanmar, months after the country had officially put a halt on the grain import, reports The Dhaka Tribune
Nepal to switch to light electrical vehicles by 2031 as fossil fuel import balloons, reports The Kathmandu Post
India in ‘close touch’ with Sri Lanka amid concerns over new Colombo-Beijing bonhomie, reports The Print
Turkey will not send additional troops to Afghanistan as part of a plan to run and secure Kabul’s airport following the U.S and NATO pullout from the country, reports Reuters
Gorkha soldiers from Nepal, formerly serving in the Indian Army, have requested India’s Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane to provide them and their dependants with COVID-19 vaccines, reports The Print
Myanmar's junta leader thanks Russia, a major weapons supplier to the troubled Southeast Asian country, for strengthening the army, reports WION
Suggested Reads
The Role of BIMSTEC in Revitalising India’s Northeast - writes Sohini Nayak and Sreeparna Banerjee
The Indian State may not want to learn from Nepal - but Indians can - writes Shekhar Pathak
Sri Lanka has potential to attract local, foreign investors for future development: president - writes Chinese state media news source Xinhua
Bidens Afghanistan Pullout Could Make the China Problem Harder - writes Michael J. Green and Gabriel Scheinmann
Once a ‘growth star’, Myanmar GDP could contract 13% due to political crisis: Oxford Economics - writes Sharon See
As Nepal Political Crisis Prolongs, Narrative on India’s Influence on Internal Matters Gains Steam - writes Kamal Dev Bhattarai
Bangladesh’s peacekeeping mission in Mali: Lessons for the international community - writes Shahab Enam Khan
What we know so far about the ‘Nepal mutation’ of Delta variant - writes Sally Cutler, The Conversation
Facebook Tried to Ban Myanmar’s Military. But Its Own Algorithm Kept Promoting Pages Supporting Them - writes Billy Perrigo
China bolsters ties with Myanmar junta despite international condemnation - writes Edward White and John Reed
Before you go, do listen to Episode 231 of ‘The Seen and Unseen’ podcast by Amit Varma featuring Manoj Kewalramani, discussing his new book ‘Smokeless War: China’s Quest for Geopolitical Dominance’ and much more!
If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, go over to the Amazon link here.
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This Newsletter is written by Ameera Rao, a Research Assistant at the Takshashila Institution. She has previously completed a BA (Hons) in International Relations from King’s College London.