For many in Taiwan, it is puzzling that former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou would interpret his China visit as ‘a journey of peace and friendship’, especially given Xi Jinping’s assertive actions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping in his New Year's Eve speech said these issues remained at ‘forefront’ of his mind & that his govt would ‘deliver a better life’ for the Chinese people.
Xi said preference was to retake Taiwan peacefully & no time frame was set. This comes amid ‘strategic ambiguity’ by US on Taiwan, which is set to hold presidential polls in January.
While China portrayed the Xi-Biden summit as a victory, the gains seem to favour the US—the most pivotal being the reinstatement of military-to-military communication.
Marcos said he voiced concern over South China Sea incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels, including one collision. He said he also raised plight of Filipino fishermen.
US president Joe Biden & his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held ‘most constructive discussions’ at summit amid backdrop of trade war & ties between the 2 nations reaching nadir in decades.
The issue of the Muslim quota has the potential to polarise SCs, STs, and OBCs along religious lines in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. It benefits the BJP.
Germany’s erstwhile Christian Democratic Union govt, led by Angela Merkel, prevented sale of small arms to police forces in states they perceived had ‘bad human rights record’.
A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.
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