Saturday, 19 March 2022
ISLAMABAD, MAR 19: The Supreme Court began hearing on Saturday a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), urging it to direct all state functionaries as well as political stakeholders to allow peaceful execution of proceedings for the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly against the prime minister and prevent a possible “anarchic situation” that could result from the government and opposition clashing with each other.
A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Munib Akhtar are hearing the petition.
Meanwhile, the top court’s registrar’s office said “no suo motu [notice] has been taken”. The statement comes shortly after reports that the SC had taken notice of the storming of Sindh House a day earlier.
During the hearing, Justice Bandial said the SCBA had approached the court and wanted enforcement of the law. The CJP asked Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan if he also wanted to approach the court, to which the AGP said a decision was made to file a presidential reference on Article 63(A) by Monday.
The chief justice said the SCBA wanted public order and implementation of Article 95 of the Constitution. He clarified the hearing was not a suo-moto proceeding as the court had previously received an application.
“What would you say on the freedom of expression and the right to protest? What would you say on yesterday’s incident?” Justice Bandial inquired from the AGP, referring to the storming of Islamabad’s Sindh House by PTI supporters.
The CJP said the incident went against the freedom of speech, to which the AGP agreed, saying that there was no justification for it. Khan said he wanted to elaborate on the background of yesterday’s incident.
A day earlier, PTI workers stormed the Sindh House in Islamabad after protesting outside for hours against dissident MNAs who are staying in the building.
Television footage showed PTI workers climbing over the walls of Sindh House with some of them later breaking down the doors to enter the building. They also carried lotas in protest against “turncoats”.
The petition
The SCBA’s petition, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, comes amid a heated political situation with the government and opposition trading barbs at each other and threatening to flex muscles in roadshows ahead of a crucial vote later this month that would decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The two sides have announced to hold rallies in the capital ahead of the parliament session, prompting fears of political instability and anarchy that the SCBA expressed in its petition.
In the plea filed with the Supreme Court on Thursday, the SCBA cited statements from the prime minister wherein he had said “I will fight against them until [my last breath]. I will face them and I am completely prepared for whatever [they throw my way]”.
It also included statements by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, telling lawmakers that they would have to pass through a million PTI supporters to enter the National Assembly on the day of the vote.
Likewise, the petition also quoted statements from opposition leaders including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman when he appealed to his workers to converge in Islamabad before the session “and stay on the Constitution Avenue till voting on the no-trust resolution and … provide safe passage to members to the Parliament House”.
The prime minister, the federation of Pakistan, Ministry of Defence secretary, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, National Assembly secretary, Islamabad chief commissioner, Islamabad deputy commissioner and Islamabad police chief have been made respondents in the plea.
The petition says circumstances involving confrontation between the government and the opposition could trigger an “anarchic situation” in the country.
“It is evident from the political history of our country that preventing the constitutional process from taking its course has produced dire consequence for democracy and rule of law,” the petition says.
The SCBA sought the court’s directions for all state functionaries “to act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law and they be restrained from acting in any manner detrimental to and unwarranted by the Constitution and the law”.
It also demanded that officials tasked with the responsibility to maintain law and order in Islamabad must “prevent any assembly, gathering, public meetings and/or processions that could hamper the assembly proceedings or participation of members in the session”.
The plea also urged the court to bar authorities from taking any “coercive measures against, and including arrest and detention of the, members of the National Assembly”.
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Courtesy Dawn News
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KARACHI, MAR 19: Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's match-saving and record-breaking 196 against Australia in the final innings of the second Test in Karachi was lauded as among the best fourth innings batting displays this century by Wisden.
Azam's 10-hour stay on the pitch ranked third among the 10 best match-saving fourth-innings efforts of the 21st century, released on Thursday. The report said the Pakistan captain lived up to his reputation when his team needed him the most and "piled misery" on the Australian team to raise hopes of Pakistan's win.
"The hosts had been bowled out for 148 in the first innings and were under immense pressure in the second innings after being set a target of 506. All of this didn’t seem to matter to Babar, who played an all-time great knock," the report added.
Azam had come in to bat when the team was reeling at 21 for 2. He had formed an incredible 228-run partnership for the third wicket with Abdullah Shafique but did not flinch even when the young’un departed a few short of his century.
The skipper was closing in on his first-ever double century when he fell prey to Nathan Lyon. In all, he had scored 196 off 425 balls, hit 21 boundaries and a solitary six.
It was his best and most memorable knock in Pakistan colours — certainly in Tests and maybe even in all formats. Azam had broken the following three records with his performance:
- Highest score by a Pakistani batter in fourth innings
- Highest score by a captain in the fourth innings.
- Most balls consumed by a Pakistan batter in the fourth innings
“It was a team effort, as others chipped in with useful contributions too," the Pakistan captain had said after the match. “We tried to be positive and play our shots. The team needed this knock, so I tried to bat for as long as I could.”
His score was so impressive that even foreign media figures — including those from neighbouring India — couldn't help but wax lyrical about him.
The following are the top 10 fourth-innings batting performances listed by Wisden:
- Australia's Ricky Ponting – 156 (275) vs England at Manchester, 2005
- South Africa's Faf du Plessis – 110* (376) vs Australia at Adelaide, 2012
- Pakistan's Babar Azam – 196 (425) vs Australia at Karachi, 2022
- India's Rishabh Pant – 97 (118) vs Australia at Sydney, 2021
- South Africa's Hashim Amla – 25 (159) vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, 2014
- England's Matt Prior – 110 (182*) vs New Zealand at Auckland, 2013
- Australia's Usman Khawaja – 141 (302) vs Pakistan at Dubai, 2018
- England's Ian Bell – 78 (213) vs South Africa at Cape Town, 2010
- South Africa's Faf du Plessis – 134 (309) vs India at Johannesburg, 2013
- West Indies' Dwayne Smith – 105* (105) vs South Africa at Cape Town, 2005
Friday, 18 March 2022
ISLAMABAD, MAR 18: Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), is responsible for promoting and assisting international students to pursue higher education in Malaysia.
EMGS CEO Radzlan bin Jalaludin is in Pakistan and presented opportunities, possibilities and benefit of seeking higher education in Malaysia at a Press Conference held in Marriott.
He emphasized on the presence of foreign students in Malaysia will offers economic benefit to the country and will add value to its education system.
According to UNESCO data, Malaysia is currently in the top 11 charts in terms of Inbound student mobility. As of 2020 figure, the total number of international students enrolled in Malaysian universities and academic institutions are 131,000.
Malaysian Government has raised the level of their education system which helped them to compete with top ranking countries like USA, Australia and UK in the field of education by highlighting its own uniqueness in terms of diversity and educational prowess.
Radzlan bin Jalaludin CEO EMGS emphasized on benefit being offered to international student who choose to study in Malaysia. “Students will experience world-class education in Malaysia with top ranking institutions of the world offering a degree that is well recognized globally.
Based on QS world university rankings, 32 Malaysian programs were placed among the top 100 universities for the study of their academic subjects. Malaysian has 435 state-of-Art higher education institutions across the country showing large capacity to absorb international students.
Malaysia offers diverse culture, affordable living, safe environment and dynamic lifestyle to its international students”.
EMGS is responsible for promoting Malaysia as the international education hub of choice and positioning Malaysia amongst the top 10 education destinations. EMGS also manages the movement of international students in Malaysia, which includes facilitating of visa processing.
It has also launched a new portal, 'Discover Education Malaysia Portal', an information portal on all higher education institutions in Malaysia in line with the 'Study in Malaysia' brand. This portal has complete information such as background, program, fee structure, career path, student testimonials, and informative articles from Malaysian institutions.
Beside this, EMGS has also created 'Course Talk Series' where we invite representatives from higher education institutions to share information about programs and faculties at their institutions live on social media platforms.
EMGS is committed to supporting all initiatives made by the Government of Malaysia for the country's economic recovery through various methods. EMGS will also continue to be consistent in making Malaysia the global education hub of choice and ensuring the welfare of all international students in Malaysia.
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Islamabad, MAR 18: A grassroots grant assistance project for construction of a special education self-support training center for persons with disabilities in Lahore, funded by the Government of Japan, was inaugurated on March 18, 2022.
The Government of Japan had provided a US$74,173 grant (equivalent to around PKR 13 million ) to Milestone Society for the Special Persons, a local NGO working for spreading awareness and accessibility for persons with disabilities, for implementing the project.
At the inauguration ceremony, WADA Mitsuhiro, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan congratulated the organization for completing the project in a professional way.
He also showed great appreciation for its staff members who work wholeheartedly as a team for encouraging persons with disabilities to be independent and take an active part in community.
Shafiq Ur Rehman, President of Milestone, while speaking on the occasion thanked the people of Japan for the well-equipped facility and expressed his hope that the training programs conducted at this self-support training center will contribute more to promoting independence and employability of persons with disabilities.
The Government of Japan will continue to provide flexible and timely support to improve the social well-being of the people of Pakistan at the grassroots level in cooperation with local organizations.
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LAHORE/BAKU: On March 16, 2022, direct flights started between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. An official ceremony was held on the occasion of the launch of direct flights at Lahore Airport.
Speaking at the ceremony Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, CEO of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Secretary Aviation Division Shoukat Ali noted that the launch of the direct flights will contribute to the further deepening of relations between the two brotherly countries, especially ties in economy and tourism.
They congratulated the people of
the two countries on the occasion of this historical event and wished them
success in future joint activities.
On the same day, a direct flight
departed from Lahore to Baku. Along with Pakistani passengers, Azerbaijani
Ambassador KhazarFarhadov, CEO of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik and Secretary
Aviation Division Shoukat Ali also travelled to Azerbaijan.
The Heydar Aliyev International Airport of Azerbaijan received the first passenger flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). On this occasion, an official ceremony was held at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Pakistan
Khazar Farhadov, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee, Director of the
State Civil Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and
Transport of AzerbaijanArifMammadov, Vice President of AZAL EldarHajiyev, CEO
of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik, Secretary Aviation Division Shoukat Ali and
other officials attended the ceremony.
Director of the State Civil
Aviation Agency under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of
Azerbaijani Republic A.Mammadov, Vice President of AZAL E.Hajiyev, Air Marshal
Arshad Malik, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee spoke at the event
and stressed of the importance of the launch of the direct flights, which
contribute to growing ties in all directions between Azerbaijan and Pakistan,
as well as increasing the number of direct flights as a result of future
cooperation between the two countries' airline companies, and they
congratulated the people of both countries on this occasion.
On the same day, the Pakistani
airlines carried out a direct flight from Karachi to Baku as well.
It should be noted that the PIA will operate the direct flights from Karachi and Lahore to Baku twice a week.
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ISLAMABAD, MAR 18: NAB has tried to target white collar crime but without much success because it has little expertise and/or lacks the will to tackle white collar crime.
What has the SBP, which has the expertise, done to prevent ‘fake accounts’ and punish the banks & the conniving bankers facilitating money in them? Corruption money and even clean assets are taken out of Pakistan easily, this deprives the country of taxes and money which does not contribute to the development of the very place where the money was earned or stolen
• ‘Fake accounts’ & money laundering is certainly one reason why Pakistan has been kept in the FATF black/grey list. Being on the list hampers our growth.
• Imran Khan’s PTI was created to fight corruption, to clean the system and to bring justice to the deprived parts of society. But look what has happened? People like Aleem Khan, top of NAB's targets, now owns media channels to help him make his past, present and future look bright.
• Both individuals and institutions must honestly face life and shed hypocrisy.
Karachi, March 18, 2022: In his keynote speech, titled ‘Pakistan at Crossroad - A way forward’, Mr. Sehgal elaborated that growth is not possible because institutions are simply avoiding doing their job.“In every financial institution the buck must stop at the hierarchy, has anyone been held responsible? That Pakistan has been on the FATF black/grey list for years is because this negligence to hold people accountable. And despite the public counting of how many FATF points have already been done away with, “fake accounts” and money laundering is certainly one reason why Pakistan has been kept on the list recently. Incidentally western countries applying the FATF on us are also rank hypocrites, they look the other way at the tainted money flowing into their accounts.” He added.
“Pakistan’s banking system makes windfall profit but is part and parcel of our system’s hypocrisy and hypocritical practices. How is it possible to have fake accounts in a bank without connivance of bank officials up the line? What has the SBP done to prevent this and to punish the banks and the conniving bankers hiding money in fake accounts, which are used to viz to prevent taxation or/and to help getting the money out of the country?” These thoughts were expressed today by Mr. Ikram Sehgal, Chairman Pathfinder Group, at the ‘CEO Summit Asia’, themed ‘Growth in testing times – Reshaping the future of Pakistan". Explaining the rationale, Mr. Sehgal said that hypocrisy is inherent in the institutions which do not conform to the expressed moral rules and principles. Our situation is aggravated in no small part by most Pakistanis of any consequence being rank hypocrites. From there it goes into the families and schools, children are brought up in an environment where their elders blatantly do not conform to what they are saying in their deeds. This then travels upto the highest echelons of the state where politicians and bureaucrats have finessed the art of seldom practicing what they preach. To hide their hypocritical behaviour in the non-compliance with the moral standards being professed, people resort to telling lies. Telling lies in Pakistan has become almost an automatic behaviour; people lie about anything everywhere even when no lie is actually required.
How can you expect growth when most money, legitimate or otherwise, goes abroad? Blatant display of their looted wealth is common practice, the ultimate for prominent Pakistani politicians, industrialists, entrepreneurs etc may be to stash away in tax havens, mainly in the UK, a fashion statement in London to flaunt their wealth. Until today London remains one major place for depositing the dirty cash of the world. After UK left the EU this capacity has been further expanded by London enhancing its safe-haven status by further cutting taxes for the rich once the EU financial market regulation did not count any more. Corruption money and even clean assets are taken out of Pakistan easily, this deprives the country of taxes and money which does not contribute to the development of the very place where the money was earned or stolen. Instead, whatever investment is made has to be made is from borrowed money, this burdens the exchequer because the loan has to be returned and the interest thereof has to be paid. Pakistan’s investment in the social sector like education and health care has thus been neglected because very little money can be made there. In order to change this, both health care and education have been privatised to make them more profitable for investors but this has resulted in the lowering of quality with only few good institutions in between.
Hypocrisy on grand scale is the basis of our politics. Parliament, the government and its institutions – all have their share in hypocrisy. How otherwise would it be possible to observe the wheeling and dealing in money and other goodies between the members of Parliament before the upcoming no-confidence vote? Look at the PTI dissidents holed up in the Sindh House in Islamabad, and Article 63 does not apply to them?
The same vote buying can be watched before and during elections, national elections, provincial elections, senate elections, even elections of governing bodies of institutions. Nobody is surprised, almost all votes have a price tag. How can any political system, nothing to talk about democracy, survive or function under these circumstances?
Imran Khan’s has tried to fight corruption, to clean the system and to bring justice to the deprived parts of society. But look what has happened. When he tried to cleanse his own stables, stalwarts like Aleem Khan is on top of the NAB list to be prosecuted! And while he was being investigated by NAB, how was Aleem Khan permitted to acquire a TV channel? To launder his blatant corruption? Honest people seldom get rich! Those who have no money have no clout because they can neither afford expensive lawyers nor buy corrupt judges. In order to win an election in a perverted democracy like the Pakistani one you need “electables” in your party: those who own big chunks of land and the poor population inhabiting it or due to their religious standing with many “followers”. This democracy needs rich people in one’s party who can finance the election campaign. The money spent for the party during the elections is almost never clean money; this money has been made by disregarding the laws and regulations, by evading taxes and other means.
One can blame all and sundry for hypocrisy, but does one change the system when the people sitting in the parliament are beneficiaries of the prevalent corruption and thus not interested in electoral reforms? The current situation suits them because it not only brought them into power but will bring them there again and again. Moreover, how does one change the system when the bureaucracy meant for governance is refusing reforms because it would endanger their own position whereby they have in many cases become rich beyond compare? How to change the system when there is no regard for laws including the Constitution and most people think that they are so special that law does not apply to them?
We know the economy is in bad shape but why are all the key sectors making windfall profits like cement, textiles, steel, banking, oil and gas, etc even the airlines are not doing badly barring PIA? There is inflation, the price hike of consumer items, mainly food items has become is too much for the common man but why don't we put a mechanism in place to check the markets?
Unlike the rest of South Asia, which has had famines every 10-20 years, the area comprising Pakistan, fed by the Indus after the confluence of five rivers has never been short of food and clothing, you can go back to the Mehrgarh civilization 8000 years ago. However, while we have had “Roti and Kapra” for the most part what we do lack is Makan. Can anyone explain to me how the poor can afford a Makan accept in the slums (Katchi Abadis) when 80% of our adult population does not have bank accounts?
We have a doomsday scenario here, look at the situation reflected by not only Buzdar but also the Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar. I was asked to speak at a Seminar on Pakistan-Bangladesh relations in which Sarwar turned up for about 10 minutes, Most of the time was spent in cheers for him, clearly the crowd was paid. Sarwar was trying to out-Imran Imran. There was no mention about “Pakistan or Bangladesh” what to talk about Pakistan-Bangladesh relations. When you combine this disaster propagating only himself with a disaster like Buzdar in the largest Province of the country, what does one expect?
Concluding his address, Mr. Sehgal said that fighting hypocrisy is a difficult thing and it starts at home. “We have an excellent Chief Minister in Sindh and similarly a very good Governor, but do we have good governance? The Chief Minister is unfortunately hampered by the shenanigans of the leaders of his party whose greed has no bounds. If there is lack of good governance in Sindh, will the powers that be so complacent and naïve in allowing a similar situation in Islamabad. That is not hypocrisy alone, that is disloyalty to the State!
And in the end I am going to make a calculated prediction, and you are welcome to hold me to it, If I go wrong! Imran Khan is not going anywhere, he will remain the PM of Pakistan till he finishes his term!
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ISLAMABAD, MAR 18: After the presence of nearly a dozen Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) legislators in the Sindh House became public knowledge on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to commence the sitting of the lower house on March 21 and take action against “PTI’s possible turncoats”.
The decision was made in a meeting convened at the PM House, attended by Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan and the NA Speaker.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders claimed that some opposition MNAs were in close contact with the government and ready to lend their support to the treasury benchers.
However, opposition members and some constitutional experts were of the view that after the submission of no-confidence resolution against the prime minister, the speaker — in his capacity as custodian of the house — should not be taking part in any meetings called by the PM.
Also Read: BREAKING: Have advised PM Imran to impose Governor's rule in Sindh: Sheikh Rashid
In a press conference, PTI leaders called Sindh House “the new Changa Manga” and claimed that money was being used to buy the loyalties of PTI lawmakers.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn that a decision to summon an NA session would be taken by the speaker, and not the prime minister.
When asked about possible action against what he termed ‘PTI turncoats’, he said: “PM Khan has decided to de-seat them before voting on the no-trust motion.”
He said the treasury members currently in Sindh House had violated the Constitution and under Article 63 of the Constitution, the leader of the party could take action against them.
“PTI has initiated legal proceedings on the matter as per Article 63 (A) (1), if a party leader comes to a conclusion that a member of his party has defected, he can move a reference for their disqualification,” Mr Chaudhry added.
In a joint press conference with the information minister and Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar said that PM Khan could also throw money at opposition lawmakers, but would not do so because he does not stand for the “politics of blackmailing and bribery”.
“Imran Khan is in politics not for himself, but for the nation,” he added. He also claimed some opposition MNAs were also in close contact with the government.
“We want to make it clear that we will not do any deals and will not disburse ministries to stay in power. We will remain engaged with our allies but there will be no wheeling and dealing,” said Mr Azhar.
Governor’s rule
Separately, on Thursday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed triggered a new debate when he suggested that governor’s rule be imposed in Sindh on the grounds that ‘open horse-trading was underway at Sindh House”.
Talking to reporters, he said he had advised the PM to do so because the Sindh government was “buying and selling” lawmakers’ votes, which he said was a “conspiracy against democracy”.
“We are not sending police to Sindh House because [dissident PTI lawmakers] went there because of their greed,” he said, adding that the matter was between the lawmakers and their electorate.
“On February 25, 2009, on the recommendation of the then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the then president Asif Ali Zardari under Article 237 of the Constitution imposed governor rule in Punjab against the government of Shehbaz Sharif. The governor rule has been imposed in Sindh province for three times until now,” Rashid later said in a series of tweets.
However, perhaps the minister misquoted the constitutional provision, as it is Article 234 of the Constitution that deals with the power to issue proclamation in case of failure of constitutional machinery in a province.
This article empowers the president to “assume to himself, or direct the governor of the province to assume on behalf of the president, all or any of the functions of the government of the province”, except the powers of the assembly, which are vested with the National Assembly.
Earlier in the day, while commenting on reports about 12 MNAs from PTI were staying at Sindh House, the interior minister had said the nation would reject those who sell their conscience.
He said members of the National Assembly had the right to cast votes in accordance with their conscience and assured there will be no obstacles on the route leading to the National Assembly on the day of voting on the no-trust motion.
The minister said the PM has directed cabinet members to continue consultations with their allies.
It is worth noting that former president Asif Ali Zardari had imposed governor’s rule in Punjab two months, putting then-governor Salman Taseer in charge of the provincial set up.
The move was imposed shortly after the decision of Supreme Court disqualifying Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
It was, however, lifted after little over a month amidst rising political tensions, as a step towards national reconciliation.
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Courtesy Dawn News
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South China Sea Dispute: Beyond
Paradigms
Introduction:
The South China Sea has become one of the most complex and dangerous conflict zones of contemporary times. An altercation started as a territorial dispute over rocks and reefs has grown into a clash overfishes, trade and natural resources. The South China Sea is basically a valuable body of water, comprised of many islands. However, the ownership of these islands is disputed.
Many states including China, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are a contestant of their proprietorship. However, the largest claimant is China with its infamous 9 dash lines.
In addition to regional
states, many international players have also shown immense interest because of
their immense wealth, waterway and natural resources. Amongst them are the
United States, Japan and India.
Geography:
The South China Sea is basically an extended arm of the Western Pacific Ocean that is bordered by the South Asian mainland. This is an extensive water mass with a total area of 3,700,000 km2, ranging from Singapore to the Strait of the Philippines.[1] This makes it the largest body of water after 5 oceans.
States and territories bounding the sea include China, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Major rivers that flow
into it embody the Pearl, Min, Jiulong, Red, Mekong, Rajang, Pahang, and Pasig
Rivers. Besides water, it contains more than 200 islands and reefs, mostly in
the Spratly islands.[2]
Importance:
Any territory’s value is defined primarily by two factors i.e. Natural Resources and Strategic location. The South China Sea is abundant in both.
It occupies an untapped reservoir of oil that makes up to 150 Billion Barrels and gas cenotes of 900 Trillion cubic feet.[3] The value of these resources is spiraled further as they are located near energy-hungry states with growing economies.
Another factor that adds to its importance is fishing. The South China Sea is one of the best breeding grounds for fishes because of its high plankton formation [1]. This makes it one of the highly concentrated fishing beds.
Not only does it
satisfy the dietary requirements of the neighboring, high seafood consuming
nations but also generates tremendous economic and employment activities.
Last but not least is its centrally located
position. South China Sea’s strategic position makes it one of the busiest
waterways in the world. It connects Eastern and South East Asia with the rest
of Eurasia and Africa. Thus enabling it to conduct trade worth trillions of
dollars annually.
States Included:
As mentioned earlier, there’re many states involved
both directly and indirectly. Some of the regional states involved forthwith
are as follows:
• Vietnam:
Vietnam's
claim to the South China Sea is historical in nature. It asserts that many of
these islands have been used by Vietnamese fishermen for centuries. Moreover,
many of these islands were annexed to Vietnam during the French colonial
period.[2]
Vietnam also filed a claim in the UN along with Malaysia in 2009.
• Malaysia:
Malaysia’s
claims are based on Continental Shelf Principle. According to which the
Exclusive Economic Zones are extended by several nautical miles with reference
to the continental shelf i.e. submerged part of land underwater. Furthermore,
it claims that the Spratly islands were annexed by Malaysia after 1945. Therefore,
they belong to Malaysia.
• Brunei:
Its
claims lay a rectangle that ranges up to the edges of Spratly islands. It also
has indulged in a dispute with Vietnam due to overlapping borders.
•
Philippines:
It
also claims that most of the islands belong to them both historically and
legally. Its claim, however, clashes with all the ones mentioned above.
• China:
The main elephant in the room is China. It lay its claims on the basis of a document drafted in the 1930s called the 9-dash lines. It was drafted by the then Republic of China to establish its frontiers on the basis of historic evidence.
Although the regime changed and the communists took over but the 9
dash line remained the same. This is also popularly known as the cow’s tongue
and claims almost 90% of the total South China Sea to the People’s Republic of
China.
There are also states that are not directly involved
in the region but are indirectly associated in one way or another to preserve
and protect their national security or economic interests. Some of them are
discussed briefly:
• India:
India
has two folded interests in the region i.e. Economic and Strategic.
Economically, its trade relies on the Strait of Malacca through which it is
connected with the Indo Pacific Ocean. While strategically, it wants to curtail
China’s growing influence as both of them share bitter rivalries dating back to
the 1950s.
• Japan:
Japan
has a high reliance on the South China Sea as its economy is highly dependent
on the sea routes passing through it. Moreover, 70% of its energy imports are
from the Middle East which ultimately passes through the South China Sea.
Furthermore, it also wants to curtail China’s influence as both of them share
territorial disputes, particularly on the status of Taiwan.
• United
States:
The
U.S. has significantly increased its presence in the region since 2010.
Although some of its economic interests lay there its chief objective is
strategic in nature. As China is an emerging global power, therefore, U.S.
wants to curb its growth and maintain a World Order. For this purpose, it
regularly conducts Freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea by
performing regular naval exercises.
Current Status at International Level:
As mentioned earlier, the South China Sea has evolved into a very tense conflict zone; home to a lot of intense activity by regional and global powers.
However, because the two giants in the room are US and China, therefore, the situation mostly revolves around actions by the two. The United States has started to exert maximum efforts to curtail the ever-increasing influence of China.
For this purpose, it has initiated bilateral security agreements with various regional states including Malaysia, South Korea and Indonesia. Moreover, to curb China economically, it has signed a TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) which allows the other contestant countries to trade freely with the US, instead of China.
Moreover, the US continuously conducts the Freedom of navigation exercises operated by US Marines.[1] For this purpose, the US has turned the South China Sea into a heavily militarized zone by deploying Aircraft carriers and warships.
So far the big
stick policy of the United States hasn’t triggered any severe conflict but the
increasing tensions in the region can escalate the situation at any time.[2]
In response to US assertive measures, China has also taken a number of steps. For instance, in response to TPP, China has introduced a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which offers a better incentive to the signatories of TPP.
Moreover, to assert its influence, China has established 2 new administrative districts in the Islands of Paracel and Spratly. Furthermore, it has developed a large scale Blue water navy and fisherman boats that are claimed to have guerilla warfare capabilities.
Usually, navies of both powers are seen eyeball to eyeball. Lastly, to decrease its dependence on the South China Sea; China has initiated a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) program.
That will provide an adequate substitute to the
waterways, ranging from Beijing to Rotterdam, passing through 120 countries.
Thus providing a substitute to the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea’s
waterways.
Future:
There are three possible future solutions to the ongoing conflict. The most expected of which is that China might be able to assert its growing influence on other contestants and legitimize its claims.
Secondly,
there might be an international arbitration and all the players might reach a
mutually agreed division of boundaries. Lastly, and the most feared includes a
military conflict, that should be avoided at all cost.
Muhammad Sadiq Farooq.
Undergrad student of history at QAU, Islamabad.
He can be reached at Email: isadiqfarooqkhattak@gmail.com
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Thursday, 17 March 2022
ISLAMABAD, MAR 17: Hours after several dissenting MNAs of the PTI were found staying at Sindh House in a clear indication that they would go against their party in the upcoming no-trust move, a trio of key government ministers held a press conference in Islamabad, saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan could also throw money at opposition lawmakers but would not do so as he does not stand for “politics of blackmailing and bribery”.
“Imran Khan does not do politics for himself but for the nation,” said Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar as Energy Minister Hammad Azhar and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry sat by his side. “There is no personal interest of his and that is why he neither blackmails anyone nor gets blackmailed.”
“He has never done this sort of politics and will never do it in the future. Nobody should have any doubt that PTI will fight till the end but the only difference is that what we will do will be within the ambit of law and Constitution.
“We will not do any thing illegal,” he added.
“The entire nation is seeing that they (the opposition) only use the name of democracy under the garb of which they mean to do business.”
Energy Minister Hammad Azhar said: “The nation saw that this is the system against which Imran Khan took a stand. This is the system of horse trading, bribery, and auctions to the tune of 200m and 400m.
“We want to make it clear that we will not do any deals and will not disburse ministries to stay in power. We will remain engaged with our allies but there will be no wheeling and dealing.”
Earlier in the day, dissenting PTI MNAs Raja Riaz and Malik Nawab Sher Waseer had said that they would vote on the no-confidence motion tabled against Prime Minister Imran Khan in “accordance with their conscience”.
Commenting on that remark, Azhar said: “This is not the voice of their conscience but [rather the voice of] money.”
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the PTI rejected the politics of “blackmailing and wheeling dealing because of the promise we made to our people”.
“This is the business model of Zardari: invest, come in government and take money.”
The minister said this was the kind of politics that “we say in the 90s, which was the era of darkness”.
“Now it is obligatory upon the people to reject this darkness and rise in support of Imran Khan.” he added.
“Our workers are angry. I ask them not to take law into their hands but protest is your right.’”
He said his party has already initiated legal proceedings on the matter, saying that “as per Article 63 (A) (1), if a party leader comes to a conclusion that a member of his party has defected, then he can move a reference for their disqualification.”
“After the videos, there is no doubt that they have left the party,” added Umar.
When asked about a dissident PTI MNA, Dr Ramesh Kumar, claiming that three federal ministers had left the party, Umar expressed ignorance and said “only Dr Kumar has received this news”.
Following that, a reporter pointed out that most of the dissident lawmakers in the PTI were those who had left their parties to join it.
To that, Umar agreed that it was the case broadly. But, he addedd, there were many members “who had joinedthe PTI after leaving other parties and they are still standing strong with Imran Khan”.
“So we cannot say that everyone who joins the PTI after leaving a party is wrong,” the minister added. On the matter of giving party tickets, party workers should be prioritsied in most cases.
On changes in the federal cabinet, he said the changes could be made if the prime minister believed that it would improve the government’s performance.
In this connection, he clarified that the government intended to induct more members from allied parties in the cabinet and had discussed this with the allies.
The process was interrupted after the filing of the no-confidence motion, he said, adding, “I want to make this clear that none of the allies has made any demand [for ministries] yet.”
He further said that the opposition was in contact with PTI lawmakers but refused to take any names.
Near the press conference’s end, Azhar commented that the “match has entered interesting overs”.
“The captain’s innings is about to start … don’t draw any conclusions yet,” he said.
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Courtesy Dawn News
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