Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials — July 7, 2020

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India and Japan recently finished a joint naval exercise. Photo: Twitter

SCMP: India set to pose growing challenge to China at sea

* New Delhi is developing its strategic partnership with the US, Australia and Japan as part of efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean
* Some observers say its relationship with Washington has already developed in a quasi-alliance

India is likely to pose an increased challenge to China at sea following their recent confrontation on land,
analysts said.

Last week, the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force held a joint exercise in the Indian Ocean, as part of the nascent “Quad” that also involves the United States and Australia.

India has already held regular bilateral exercises with the other three armed forces and has said it might invite Australia to join the “Malabar” war games it holds with Japan and the US.

Read more ….

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials — July 7, 2020

Did China miscalculate the rise of India? — Shi Jiangtao, SCMP

What was the deadly India-China border clash really about? — Tariq Mir, Al Jazeera

What are Hong Kong police’s new powers? — AFP

Suspected cases of the bubonic plague have popped up in China and Mongolia. Should I be worried? — ABC News Online

China Has a Plan to Crush the Tibetan Diaspora — Gordon G. Chang, National Interest

America and China Are Entering the Dark Forest — Niall Ferguson, Bloomberg

Europe’s East Is Not in Bed With China — Andreea Brinza, The Diplomat

Seoul Doubles Down on North Korea Gambit — Tae-jun Kang, The Diplomat

Accident or sabotage? What we know of deadly explosion at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site — France 24

Where are Lebanon’s reforms? — Alan MacKenzie, DW

Ethiopia’s democratization at risk — Cristina Krippahl, DW

Britain’s Magnitsky sanctions will hit Putin where it hurts — Andrew Foxall, The Spectator

Was ‘IS’ trying to sell €1 billion worth of drugs in Europe? — Alex Matthews and Giulia Saudelli, DW