1) Taiwan Expands Presence in India with TECC in Mumbai: Recently, Taiwan has announced plans to open its third representative Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC), in India, specifically in Mumbai.
India-Taiwan Relations:
- India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations but since 1995, both sides have maintained representative offices in each other’s capitals that function as de facto embassies. India has backed the “one-China policy”.
- Trade ties amounted to USD 7.5 billion in 2019,up from USD 1 billion in 2000.
- India and Taiwan in 2018 signed a bilateral investment agreement.
- Both sides have also expanded educational exchanges after a mutual degree recognition agreement in higher education was signed in 2010.
Opportunities:
- Taiwan’s expertise in R&D and entrepreneurship can complement India’s talent pool and digital economy, fostering collaboration in emerging technologies.
- Taiwan and India share a vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, providing avenues for cooperation on maritime security, counter terrorism, and disaster management.
Challenges:
- India finds it difficult to realize the full potential of its bilateral relationship with Taiwan, as India is adhered to One China policy.
- Taiwan’s increased investments have occurred in the face of cultural challenges, bureaucratic hurdles, and pressure on India from domestic producers.
2) PCA Asserts Competence in India-Pakistan Hydroelectric Projects Dispute: The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) recently ruled that it has the competence to hear Pakistan’s objections to India’s Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. India, however, rejects the constitution of the “Court of Arbitration,” asserting that it goes against the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Indus Waters Treaty:
- The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan.
- The treaty was brokered by the World Bank and signed on September 19, 1960.
- Under the treaty, three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej) are allocated to India for unrestricted use, while the 3 western rivers are allocated to Pakistan.
- The treaty permits India to construct run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on the western rivers, subject to certain conditions.
- Dispute Resolution:
- Communication via Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) – PIC has a commissioner from each country. Parties inform each other about planned projects on the Indus River.
- Neutral Expert: If the PIC fails to resolve the issue, it advances to World Bank-appointed neutral expert.
- Court of Arbitration (CoA): Next is CoA. The IWT states that Neutral Expert and CoA steps are mutually exclusive, meaning that only one of them can be used at a time for a given dispute.
3) Protecting the Honour of National Anthem: Recently the Executive Magistrate in Srinagar sent 11 men to jail after detaining them for allegedly not rising for the National Anthem at an event where J&K Lt Governor was present.
SC’s Views Regarding Honour of the National Anthem:
- Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors vs State of Kerala & Ors. (1986): The law around alleged disrespect to the National Anthem was laid down by the Supreme Court (SC) in this case. The SC held that standing up respectfully but not singing oneself neither prevents the singing of the National Anthem nor causes disturbanceto people assembled to sing. Hence, it does not constitute an offence under Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971.
- Shyam Narayan Chouksey vs Union of India (2018): The SC held that – “Playing of the National Anthem prior to the screening of feature films in cinema halls is not mandatory, but optional or directory”.
