Bharat BioTech on Wednesday claimed that its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine </a>Covaxin has an efficacy of 78 per cent against mild, moderate and severe cases of Covid-19, according to the Phase 3 interim analysis results.&nbsp;

It highlighted that the second interim data of the Phase 3 study showed that the hospitalisation rate due to novel coronavirus reduced by 100 per cent after taking the Covaxin shot.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The recent spike in Covid-19 infections led to 127 symptomatic cases being recorded after taking the vaccine's shot, leading to an efficacy of 78 per cent against mid, moderate and severe cases, the pharma company said in a statement.&nbsp;

It added that the vaccine has an efficacy of 70 per cent in asymptomatic infection.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covaxin-is-effective-against-multiple-variants-of-coronavirus-indian-medical-body-378960">Covaxin is effective against multiple variants of coronavirus: Indian medical body</a>

"Efficacy against SARS-Cov-2 has been established. Covaxin has demonstrated an excellent safety record in human clinical trials and in usage under emergency use. Covaxin is now a global innovator vaccine derived from R&amp;D in India," Bharat BioTech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.&nbsp;

Ella also said that the protocols for manufacturing, testing and release of inactivated vaccines meet the requirements of WHO, Indian, and other regulatory authorities.&nbsp;

"These protocols have delivered consistent results over a 15-year period with more than 300 million doses supplied globally, with excellent safety and performance record," the MD said.&nbsp;

The pharma company said final analysis results will be available in June and the final report will then be sent to a peer-reviewed publication.&nbsp;

Covaxin has been jointly prepared by Bharat BioTech and ICMR.&nbsp;

Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of Department of Health Research said that Covaxin "works well against" most variants of coronavirus. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Bharat BioTech on Wednesday claimed that its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has an efficacy of 78 per cent against mild, moderate and severe cases of Covid-19, according to the Phase 3 interim analysis results.

Bharat BioTech on Wednesday claimed that its coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has an efficacy of 78 per cent against mild, moderate and severe cases of Covid-19, according to the Phase 3 interim analysis results. It highlighted that the second interim data of the Phase 3 study showed that the hospitalisation rate due to novel coronavirus reduced by 100 per cent after taking the Covaxin shot. Watch | The recent spike in Covid-19 infections led to 127 symptomatic cases being recorded after taking the vaccine's shot, leading to an efficacy of 78 per cent against mid, moderate and severe cases, the pharma company said in a statement. It added that the vaccine has an efficacy of 70 per cent in asymptomatic infection. Also read | Covaxin is effective against multiple variants of coronavirus: Indian medical body "Efficacy against SARS-Cov-2 has been established. Covaxin has demonstrated an excellent safety record in human clinical trials and in usage under emergency use. Covaxin is now a global innovator vaccine derived from R&D in India," Bharat BioTech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Ella also said that the protocols for manufacturing, testing and release of inactivated vaccines meet the requirements of WHO, Indian, and other regulatory authorities. "These protocols have delivered consistent results over a 15-year period with more than 300 million doses supplied globally, with excellent safety and performance record," the MD said. The pharma company said final analysis results will be available in June and the final report will then be sent to a peer-reviewed publication. Covaxin has been jointly prepared by Bharat BioTech and ICMR. Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR and Secretary of Department of Health Research said that Covaxin "works well against" most variants of coronavirus.

Covaxin has an efficacy of 78% against severe Covid-19 cases: Bharat BioTech

Israeli researchers say they have invented a reusable face mask that can kill the coronavirus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger.

The disinfecting process takes about 30 minutes - and users should not wear the mask while it is plugged in, said Professor Yair Ein-Eli, who led the research team at Technion University in Haifa.

The new mask has a USB port that connects to a power source such as a standard cellphone charger that heats an inner layer of carbon fibers to up to 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), high enough to kill viruses.

Ein-Eli said disposable masks, in high demand globally during the health crisis, were not economically or environmentally friendly.

“You have to make it reusable and friendly, and this is our solution,” he said about the invention.

The prototype looks like a standard N95 face mask, with a valve at the front and rubber bands to hold it in place around the head.

The researchers submitted a patent for the mask in the United States in late March and say they are discussing commercializing the product with the private sector.

It will likely sell at a $1 premium over the price of a typical disposable face mask, the researchers say.

Israeli researchers say they have invented a reusable face mask that can kill the coronavirus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger. The disinfecting process takes about 30 minutes - and users should not wear the mask while it is plugged in, said Professor Yair Ein-Eli, who led the research team at Technion University in Haifa.

Israeli researchers say they have invented a reusable face mask that can kill the coronavirus with heat by drawing power from a mobile phone charger. The disinfecting process takes about 30 minutes - and users should not wear the mask while it is plugged in, said Professor Yair Ein-Eli, who led the research team at Technion University in Haifa. The new mask has a USB port that connects to a power source such as a standard cellphone charger that heats an inner layer of carbon fibers to up to 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit), high enough to kill viruses. Ein-Eli said disposable masks, in high demand globally during the health crisis, were not economically or environmentally friendly. “You have to make it reusable and friendly, and this is our solution,” he said about the invention. The prototype looks like a standard N95 face mask, with a valve at the front and rubber bands to hold it in place around the head. The researchers submitted a patent for the mask in the United States in late March and say they are discussing commercializing the product with the private sector. It will likely sell at a $1 premium over the price of a typical disposable face mask, the researchers say.

Self-cleaning mask can kill viruses with heat from phone charger, researchers say

With boarding pass in one hand and identification proof in the other, dozens of passengers flocked to the domestic airports to board flights to go back to their hometown.

Reaching the airport was a task in itself, as Chennai has not allowed cab services to function. Little did they know that they will reach the airport only to be told that the flight has been cancelled at the last minute.

The morning at Chennai domestic airport started with angry customers at Air India's window. Dozens of people, few who had travelled hours to reach the airport, were told to take a refund and go back home as the Civil Aviation Ministry cancelled few Air India flights at the last minute. When the angry crowd protested against it, the tickets were finally rescheduled for a later flight. 
 
<img alt="Travel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cc183cde-8d53-4cd5-b771-2f7cc4021a86" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Blog1.jpg" />

Absence of crowd

The Chennai domestic airport saw only 30 per cent of the usual rush, as few selected flights were allowed to take off and land. Passengers, including students and elderly, travelled from far off places.&nbsp;

Before entering, every passenger is asked to show the 'you are safe' badge on the Aarogya Setu app. The airport authority makes sure that passengers maintain the decided social distance before entering.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="Travel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dbd2aa3-ec0a-4e0a-a231-97d8fc1cbec9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Blog2.jpg" />

To enter the airport, after checking the Aarogya Setu App, the passengers are required to show the e-boarding pass and identification proof to the personnel standing behind a glass sheet. This is the first place where the passengers are asked to remove their masks for facial recognition.&nbsp;

Then, the luggage is checked in and boarding passes are issued, all while maintaining social distance.&nbsp;

The passengers are then asked to head to the security check, where once again personnel behind a glass wall ask to show the boarding pass along with an uncovered face in the camera.&nbsp;

Thermal screening

This is the point where all passengers expect to go through the much talked about thermal screening.

As the electronic gadgets go in the tray, and one steps into the security check booth, the passengers realize that there was no specific change and no identified thermal screening happening (although few cameras installed might be helping to screen the passengers). It was one policewoman doing the regular security check, but while wearing a face shield that resembles a bee-keepers face shield. 
 
A self-declaration form was also signed by and collected from the passengers, through which the passengers declare that they are ready to cooperate with the authorities if an unfortunate situation takes place.

A long wait

Since the passengers are urged to report 3-4 hours before the departure time, they had to wait for a long time in the waiting lounge. The waiting area's shopping area is functional. However, the food services are limited to liquids (barring alcohol) and packaged goods such as chips, chocolates and cup noodles.

The executives running the shops told WION, "Before entering the airport premises, they check our fever. If they suspect anything wrong, they don't allow us to enter. It is risky for us personally, but this is my job and I have to do it."

"The sales are obviously less, but it is better than zero sales," he said while talking about the downfall in business. 
 
<img alt="Travel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f6c128f-42cb-488d-80f4-f073aa469727" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/blog5.jpg" />

The waiting area is marked with social distancing marks, i.e. on a chair set of three, one middle seat had to be left unoccupied. All passengers waiting have to compulsorily wear facemasks and avoid all physical contact.&nbsp;

If this is the new normal, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will have to face financial blunt for the next few months.

Take-off

For boarding the flight, the passengers are asked to queue in small groups, depending on seat numbers. The ground staff, equipped with face masks and gloves only, stands behind a small glass screen and checks the boarding pass from behind the wall and hands over a care package to all passengers which consists of a face mask, a face shield and five sachets of hand sanitizer. All passengers are told to discard their old face masks and only wear the ones provided by the airlines. The face shields are compulsory from this point forward.

The passengers then go through one more temperature check, and are then greeted in the aircraft by flight attendants, who are dressed in PPE suits. 
 
<img alt="Travel" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74570f82-2758-4279-b5aa-2e63c27ea65e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Blog_7.jpg" /> 
 
That, surprisingly, was the end of the much talked and much-hyped strict health check-ups.

On landing, passengers are allowed to deboard in small groups. With no change in baggage claim, passengers are allowed to exit the airport through a specific gate which is manned by personnel keeping an eye on a camera-monitor screen.

And that is how flying domestic feels like in the new normal. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With boarding pass in one hand and identification proof in the other, dozens of passengers flocked to the domestic airports to board flights to go back to their hometown.

With boarding pass in one hand and identification proof in the other, dozens of passengers flocked to the domestic airports to board flights to go back to their hometown. Reaching the airport was a task in itself, as Chennai has not allowed cab services to function. Little did they know that they will reach the airport only to be told that the flight has been cancelled at the last minute. The morning at Chennai domestic airport started with angry customers at Air India's window. Dozens of people, few who had travelled hours to reach the airport, were told to take a refund and go back home as the Civil Aviation Ministry cancelled few Air India flights at the last minute. When the angry crowd protested against it, the tickets were finally rescheduled for a later flight. Absence of crowd The Chennai domestic airport saw only 30 per cent of the usual rush, as few selected flights were allowed to take off and land. Passengers, including students and elderly, travelled from far off places. Before entering, every passenger is asked to show the 'you are safe' badge on the Aarogya Setu app. The airport authority makes sure that passengers maintain the decided social distance before entering. To enter the airport, after checking the Aarogya Setu App, the passengers are required to show the e-boarding pass and identification proof to the personnel standing behind a glass sheet. This is the first place where the passengers are asked to remove their masks for facial recognition. Then, the luggage is checked in and boarding passes are issued, all while maintaining social distance. The passengers are then asked to head to the security check, where once again personnel behind a glass wall ask to show the boarding pass along with an uncovered face in the camera. Thermal screening This is the point where all passengers expect to go through the much talked about thermal screening. As the electronic gadgets go in the tray, and one steps into the security check booth, the passengers realize that there was no specific change and no identified thermal screening happening (although few cameras installed might be helping to screen the passengers). It was one policewoman doing the regular security check, but while wearing a face shield that resembles a bee-keepers face shield. A self-declaration form was also signed by and collected from the passengers, through which the passengers declare that they are ready to cooperate with the authorities if an unfortunate situation takes place. A long wait Since the passengers are urged to report 3-4 hours before the departure time, they had to wait for a long time in the waiting lounge. The waiting area's shopping area is functional. However, the food services are limited to liquids (barring alcohol) and packaged goods such as chips, chocolates and cup noodles. The executives running the shops told WION, "Before entering the airport premises, they check our fever. If they suspect anything wrong, they don't allow us to enter. It is risky for us personally, but this is my job and I have to do it." "The sales are obviously less, but it is better than zero sales," he said while talking about the downfall in business. The waiting area is marked with social distancing marks, i.e. on a chair set of three, one middle seat had to be left unoccupied. All passengers waiting have to compulsorily wear facemasks and avoid all physical contact. If this is the new normal, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will have to face financial blunt for the next few months. Take-off For boarding the flight, the passengers are asked to queue in small groups, depending on seat numbers. The ground staff, equipped with face masks and gloves only, stands behind a small glass screen and checks the boarding pass from behind the wall and hands over a care package to all passengers which consists of a face mask, a face shield and five sachets of hand sanitizer. All passengers are told to discard their old face masks and only wear the ones provided by the airlines. The face shields are compulsory from this point forward. The passengers then go through one more temperature check, and are then greeted in the aircraft by flight attendants, who are dressed in PPE suits. That, surprisingly, was the end of the much talked and much-hyped strict health check-ups. On landing, passengers are allowed to deboard in small groups. With no change in baggage claim, passengers are allowed to exit the airport through a specific gate which is manned by personnel keeping an eye on a camera-monitor screen. And that is how flying domestic feels like in the new normal. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Blog: Flying in the new normal days

Dr Sun Yat Sen, physician, philosopher, and the first president of the new Nationalist Republic of China, died of natural causes in 1925 at a relatively young 53 years of age. But, this was not before mentoring and driving a revolution that gave birth to a modern independent China. &nbsp;

Starting in 1911, Sun Yat-Sen succeeded in melding the warlords that then roamed across China, into a republic. At the time, the country was nominally under a non-functioning Qing Dynasty. &nbsp;

Political power was devolved into the hands of a main political party, broadly socialist in outlook, the Kuomintang (KMT). Sun Yat-Sen became its first president. &nbsp;&nbsp;

But soon enough, the anti-monarchical Sun Yat-Sen gave up his position of administrative power to preside over the political party apparatus instead. &nbsp;

The KMT, established on the mainland in 1911, also ruled unbroken in Taiwan till 2000. Taiwan now has the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the helm. The country was under martial law for a long time, from 1948 to 1987. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Today, Taiwan is in a process of democratic political reform to become more responsive to the wishes of its people, even as some elements do favour reunification with Communist China. But the bulk of the people regard them as infiltrators from the mainland, not to be trusted.&nbsp;

Sun Yat-Sen himself, as a world figure, is today relegated to the shadows of history. He was, in the end, the founder-mentor of the losing side in a momentous civil war. His successor General Chiang Kai Shek, who died only in 1975, was driven out of the mainland along with the Nationalists, by Mao Ze Dong and his Communists in1949. &nbsp;

The Mao era saw many excesses and miscalculations that resulted in the death of more than 30 million Chinese, but the Chairman held on doggedly to power until his death. After him, the Deng Xiaoping era was hugely successful economically for China till he, in turn, retired in 1992. And then came the turn of new strong men who pushed ahead with the economic miracle but with increasingly jingoistic and militarist overtones. It is this groundswell that raised Xi Jinping via the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).&nbsp;

But now, the time may be coming when Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai Shek’s nationalist successors can return the favour to mainland China. It is already challenged internally in some of its provinces. Hong Kong and Tibet are not happy at all. Neither is Xinjiang. All this despite the use of an iron fist to curb dissent. Can China become a democracy once again nudged in that direction by America and others? We will only know once all the chips have fallen in the ongoing drama. &nbsp;

There is, first going to be a strenuous competition for world domination. But this struggle is sure to be lost by a Communist China that had hoped to win by incremental steps, without having to fight economically or militarily. But this over clever thinking of President Xi Jinping is now being openly challenged by many countries led by America. &nbsp;

Red China is globally out of favour after the havoc wreaked by the bio-warfare unleashed using the Wuhan Virus and its ham-fisted attempts at cover-up, threats, and inducements. &nbsp;

The one-man virtual dictatorship of President Xi Jinping, combined with his bizarre, anachronistic and imperial megalomania, has put a question mark over the survival of Red Chinese Communism itself. The world is coalescing to curb its excesses, and a brutal, multi-nation economic blockade of China is on the cards.&nbsp;

Chiang Kai Shek and his Nationalists were driven out of mainland China to the nearby island of Formosa, so named by the Portuguese. It is now known by its older Chinese name of Taiwan. The Nationalists, impressively enough, have never given up the dream of reclaiming the mainland one day. &nbsp;

The Nationalists, who style themselves The Republic of China (ROC), did, in the beginning, run the whole of China for 38 years. &nbsp;They were driven out to the nearby large island, just 100 miles off the mainland. &nbsp;Taiwan is 240 miles long and 60 to 90 miles wide. But this 13, 976 sq. miles has proved enough to become a prosperous country with $1.3 trillion GDP, and a per capita income of over $55,000.&nbsp;

This despite being converted, 1971 onwards, into a de jure state of 23.7 million people. Still, most countries maintain representative offices at Taipei, its capital, which acts as de jure embassies. Taiwan never stopped being recognised officially by a handful of countries. It interacts with most leading world bodies but under a pseudonym. Or as a guest/observer. Or in some other unofficial capacity. &nbsp;

But despite the best efforts of Red China to either subsume or destroy it, Taiwan has secured its independent place in the world.&nbsp;

The People’s Republic Of China (PRC) or Red China lays claim to it under its “One China” credo. America aided and abetted this assertion. First, the ROC lost its UN seat to the PRC in 1971. That was when Red China and America entered into an entente cordiale during the Nixon administration. This not only raised Red China gradually to become the manufacturer to the world but also the No.2 economic power after America itself. &nbsp;

China now plans to topple America from its pinnacle. This quest was going well according to some analysts. But only till its infliction of the Wuhan Virus on the world changed everything. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, Taiwan, after losing its UN seat to Red China saw the US sever diplomatic relations too in 1978. Then the US let its defence treaty to protect the ROC lapse in 1980 as well.&nbsp;

But, all this is about to change in 2020. The US has announced it will reassess the status of not just Taiwan but a restive Hong Kong as well. This could well be followed by Tibet where the US has already questioned China’s handling of the Panchen Lama. Then will come the artificial islands and military bases on the South China Sea. The claims of territory in Bhutan, the various territorial claims and line of actual control (LAC) disputes with India. 
 
All this, in the context of acute sanctions placed on trade with China, capital flight, seizure of Chinese assets abroad, revocation of one-sided treaties and diplomatic loss of face everywhere.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the ROC keeps itself in a state of Israel-like military readiness for the ever-present existentialist threat. The size of its lean military tops half a million soldiers. It keeps most of its military machine underground, in reinforced facilities. Importantly, it is also a covert nuclear power, a status wheedled out of the US, a parting gift, to maintain the balance.&nbsp;

Today, as the sun on the ROC’s flag is shining brightly once again, that balance will help Taiwan eventually resurrect mainland China from the tyranny of a Communist dictatorship. China helped America destroy the USSR via the Nixon-Kissinger- Mao alliance. Today, as the last bastion of totalitarian Communism, China too will be destroyed by America.&nbsp;

Dr Sun Yat-Sen is secretly regarded by many Chinese as the true father of modern China. He was certainly an astute thinker. He famously let it be known that only 5 per cent of the people are capable of “Pre-seeing”, or visionary thinking. Another 10 per cent could promptly understand once they were told, the “Post-seeing”. But the bulk of people, 85 per cent of any populace, is “Unseeing”. They are incapable of understanding theoretical postulates. They must be instructed. &nbsp;

Today, the world is ready to instruct and command a regime change in China. The wheels may grind slowly but they are sure to grind fine. The direction is set. It is now only a matter of time.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Dr Sun Yat Sen, physician, philosopher, and the first president of the new Nationalist Republic of China, died of natural causes in 1925 at a relatively young 53 years of age.

Dr Sun Yat Sen, physician, philosopher, and the first president of the new Nationalist Republic of China, died of natural causes in 1925 at a relatively young 53 years of age. But, this was not before mentoring and driving a revolution that gave birth to a modern independent China. Starting in 1911, Sun Yat-Sen succeeded in melding the warlords that then roamed across China, into a republic. At the time, the country was nominally under a non-functioning Qing Dynasty. Political power was devolved into the hands of a main political party, broadly socialist in outlook, the Kuomintang (KMT). Sun Yat-Sen became its first president. But soon enough, the anti-monarchical Sun Yat-Sen gave up his position of administrative power to preside over the political party apparatus instead. The KMT, established on the mainland in 1911, also ruled unbroken in Taiwan till 2000. Taiwan now has the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at the helm. The country was under martial law for a long time, from 1948 to 1987. Today, Taiwan is in a process of democratic political reform to become more responsive to the wishes of its people, even as some elements do favour reunification with Communist China. But the bulk of the people regard them as infiltrators from the mainland, not to be trusted. Sun Yat-Sen himself, as a world figure, is today relegated to the shadows of history. He was, in the end, the founder-mentor of the losing side in a momentous civil war. His successor General Chiang Kai Shek, who died only in 1975, was driven out of the mainland along with the Nationalists, by Mao Ze Dong and his Communists in1949. The Mao era saw many excesses and miscalculations that resulted in the death of more than 30 million Chinese, but the Chairman held on doggedly to power until his death. After him, the Deng Xiaoping era was hugely successful economically for China till he, in turn, retired in 1992. And then came the turn of new strong men who pushed ahead with the economic miracle but with increasingly jingoistic and militarist overtones. It is this groundswell that raised Xi Jinping via the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). But now, the time may be coming when Sun Yat-Sen and Chiang Kai Shek’s nationalist successors can return the favour to mainland China. It is already challenged internally in some of its provinces. Hong Kong and Tibet are not happy at all. Neither is Xinjiang. All this despite the use of an iron fist to curb dissent. Can China become a democracy once again nudged in that direction by America and others? We will only know once all the chips have fallen in the ongoing drama. There is, first going to be a strenuous competition for world domination. But this struggle is sure to be lost by a Communist China that had hoped to win by incremental steps, without having to fight economically or militarily. But this over clever thinking of President Xi Jinping is now being openly challenged by many countries led by America. Red China is globally out of favour after the havoc wreaked by the bio-warfare unleashed using the Wuhan Virus and its ham-fisted attempts at cover-up, threats, and inducements. The one-man virtual dictatorship of President Xi Jinping, combined with his bizarre, anachronistic and imperial megalomania, has put a question mark over the survival of Red Chinese Communism itself. The world is coalescing to curb its excesses, and a brutal, multi-nation economic blockade of China is on the cards. Chiang Kai Shek and his Nationalists were driven out of mainland China to the nearby island of Formosa, so named by the Portuguese. It is now known by its older Chinese name of Taiwan. The Nationalists, impressively enough, have never given up the dream of reclaiming the mainland one day. The Nationalists, who style themselves The Republic of China (ROC), did, in the beginning, run the whole of China for 38 years. They were driven out to the nearby large island, just 100 miles off the mainland. Taiwan is 240 miles long and 60 to 90 miles wide. But this 13, 976 sq. miles has proved enough to become a prosperous country with $1.3 trillion GDP, and a per capita income of over $55,000. This despite being converted, 1971 onwards, into a de jure state of 23.7 million people. Still, most countries maintain representative offices at Taipei, its capital, which acts as de jure embassies. Taiwan never stopped being recognised officially by a handful of countries. It interacts with most leading world bodies but under a pseudonym. Or as a guest/observer. Or in some other unofficial capacity. But despite the best efforts of Red China to either subsume or destroy it, Taiwan has secured its independent place in the world. The People’s Republic Of China (PRC) or Red China lays claim to it under its “One China” credo. America aided and abetted this assertion. First, the ROC lost its UN seat to the PRC in 1971. That was when Red China and America entered into an entente cordiale during the Nixon administration. This not only raised Red China gradually to become the manufacturer to the world but also the No.2 economic power after America itself. China now plans to topple America from its pinnacle. This quest was going well according to some analysts. But only till its infliction of the Wuhan Virus on the world changed everything. Meanwhile, Taiwan, after losing its UN seat to Red China saw the US sever diplomatic relations too in 1978. Then the US let its defence treaty to protect the ROC lapse in 1980 as well. But, all this is about to change in 2020. The US has announced it will reassess the status of not just Taiwan but a restive Hong Kong as well. This could well be followed by Tibet where the US has already questioned China’s handling of the Panchen Lama. Then will come the artificial islands and military bases on the South China Sea. The claims of territory in Bhutan, the various territorial claims and line of actual control (LAC) disputes with India. All this, in the context of acute sanctions placed on trade with China, capital flight, seizure of Chinese assets abroad, revocation of one-sided treaties and diplomatic loss of face everywhere. Meanwhile, the ROC keeps itself in a state of Israel-like military readiness for the ever-present existentialist threat. The size of its lean military tops half a million soldiers. It keeps most of its military machine underground, in reinforced facilities. Importantly, it is also a covert nuclear power, a status wheedled out of the US, a parting gift, to maintain the balance. Today, as the sun on the ROC’s flag is shining brightly once again, that balance will help Taiwan eventually resurrect mainland China from the tyranny of a Communist dictatorship. China helped America destroy the USSR via the Nixon-Kissinger- Mao alliance. Today, as the last bastion of totalitarian Communism, China too will be destroyed by America. Dr Sun Yat-Sen is secretly regarded by many Chinese as the true father of modern China. He was certainly an astute thinker. He famously let it be known that only 5 per cent of the people are capable of “Pre-seeing”, or visionary thinking. Another 10 per cent could promptly understand once they were told, the “Post-seeing”. But the bulk of people, 85 per cent of any populace, is “Unseeing”. They are incapable of understanding theoretical postulates. They must be instructed. Today, the world is ready to instruct and command a regime change in China. The wheels may grind slowly but they are sure to grind fine. The direction is set. It is now only a matter of time. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Dr Sun Yat-Sen will ride again

The question is not if, but when the long-standing American defence umbrella in the Gulf, the world’s most militarised and volatile region, will be replaced by a multilateral security arrangement that would have to include China, as well as, Russia.

The United States’ perceived diminishing commitment to the Gulf and the broader Middle East and mounting doubts about the deterrence value of its defence umbrella leave the Gulf stuck between a rock and a hard place. The American umbrella is shrinking, but neither China nor Russia, despite their obvious interests, are capable or willing simply to shoulder the responsibility, political risk and cost of replacing it.

On balance, China’s interests seem self-evident. It needs to secure its mushrooming political and economic interests in the Gulf, which includes ensuring the flow of oil and gas and protecting its infrastructure investment and the expanding Chinese diaspora in the region. Nonetheless, China has, so far, refrained from putting its might where its money is, free-riding instead (in the words of US officials) on America’s regional military presence.

China’s approach is grounded in the belief that economics rather than geopolitics is the key to solving disputes

Indeed, for the longest time, China has been able to outsource the protection of its interests to the United States at virtually no cost. For the US, guaranteeing security in the Gulf has been anchored in an American policy which accepted that maintaining security far beyond the borders of the United States was in America’s national interest, including the protection of Chinese assets. All China needed to do, therefore, was to make minimal gestures such as contributing to the multi-national effort in the Gulf and adjacent waters to counter Somali pirates.

In the meantime, China could pursue a long-term strategy to bolster its capabilities. This included infrastructure projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with dual-purpose potential (such as the strategic ports of Gwadar in Pakistan and Duqm in Oman as well as commercial investment in Dubai’s Jebel Ali), the creation of China’s first overseas military facility in Djibouti, and significant expenditure on upgrading the Chinese armed forces.

All that potentially changed with the rise of US President Donald J Trump, who advocated an America First policy that attributed little value to past US commitments or to maintaining existing alliances. Hence Trump embarked on a trade war with China – viewed as a strategic competitor – and appeared to fuel rather than resolve regional stability by uncritically aligning American policy with that of Saudi Arabia and Israel and targeted Iran as the source of all evil.

This change has yet to translate into specific Chinese policy statements or actions. Nonetheless, the anticipated shift from a unipolar to multilateral security architecture in the Gulf has cast a new light on the first-ever joint naval exercise involving Chinese, Russian and Iranian naval forces, as well as China’s seemingly lukewarm support for a Russian proposal for a multilateral security approach in the Gulf.

China was careful to signal that neither the joint exercise nor its closer military ties with a host of other Middle Eastern nations meant it was aspiring to a greater role in regional security any time soon. If anything, both the exercise and China’s notional support for Russia’s proposed restructuring of regional security suggest that China envisions a continued US lead in Gulf security, despite the mounting rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.

The Russian proposal in many ways fits China’s bill. Its calls for a multilateral structure involving Russia, China, the United States, Europe and India that would evolve out of a regional security conference along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). While backing Russia’s proposal in general terms, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stopped short of specifically endorsing it. Geng welcomed ‘all proposals and diplomatic efforts conducive to de-escalating the situation in the Gulf region’.

China’s reluctance to endorse the Russian proposal more wholeheartedly is rooted in differing approaches towards multilateralism in general and alliances in particular. China shies away from alliances, with their emphasis on geo-economics rather than geopolitics, while Russia still operates in terms of alliances. Despite favouring a continued American lead, China sees a broadening of security arrangements that would embed rather than replace the US defence umbrella in the Gulf as a way to reduce regional tensions.

China also believes that a multilateral arrangement would allow it to continue to steer clear of being sucked into conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, particularly the Saudi-Iranian rivalry. A multilateral arrangement,&nbsp;in which the US remained the key military player, would further fit the pattern of China’s gradual projection of its growing military power beyond its borders.

With the exception of the facility in Djibouti, China’s projection becomes less hardcore the further one gets from the borders of the People’s Republic. More fundamentally, China’s approach is grounded in the belief that economics rather than geopolitics is the key to solving disputes, which so far has allowed it to remain detached from the Middle East’s multiple conflicts. It remains to be seen how sustainable this approach is in the long term.

Such an approach is unlikely to shield China forever from the Middle East’s penchant for ensuring it is at the heart of the major external parties’ concerns. And as Jiang Xudong, a Middle East scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, puts it: ‘Economic investment will not solve all other problems when there are religious and ethnic conflicts at play’. 
 
&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The question is not if, but when the long-standing American defence umbrella in the Gulf, the world’s most militarised and volatile region, will be replaced by a multilateral security arrangement that would have to include China, as well as, Russia.

The question is not if, but when the long-standing American defence umbrella in the Gulf, the world’s most militarised and volatile region, will be replaced by a multilateral security arrangement that would have to include China, as well as, Russia. The United States’ perceived diminishing commitment to the Gulf and the broader Middle East and mounting doubts about the deterrence value of its defence umbrella leave the Gulf stuck between a rock and a hard place. The American umbrella is shrinking, but neither China nor Russia, despite their obvious interests, are capable or willing simply to shoulder the responsibility, political risk and cost of replacing it. On balance, China’s interests seem self-evident. It needs to secure its mushrooming political and economic interests in the Gulf, which includes ensuring the flow of oil and gas and protecting its infrastructure investment and the expanding Chinese diaspora in the region. Nonetheless, China has, so far, refrained from putting its might where its money is, free-riding instead (in the words of US officials) on America’s regional military presence. China’s approach is grounded in the belief that economics rather than geopolitics is the key to solving disputes Indeed, for the longest time, China has been able to outsource the protection of its interests to the United States at virtually no cost. For the US, guaranteeing security in the Gulf has been anchored in an American policy which accepted that maintaining security far beyond the borders of the United States was in America’s national interest, including the protection of Chinese assets. All China needed to do, therefore, was to make minimal gestures such as contributing to the multi-national effort in the Gulf and adjacent waters to counter Somali pirates. In the meantime, China could pursue a long-term strategy to bolster its capabilities. This included infrastructure projects related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with dual-purpose potential (such as the strategic ports of Gwadar in Pakistan and Duqm in Oman as well as commercial investment in Dubai’s Jebel Ali), the creation of China’s first overseas military facility in Djibouti, and significant expenditure on upgrading the Chinese armed forces. All that potentially changed with the rise of US President Donald J Trump, who advocated an America First policy that attributed little value to past US commitments or to maintaining existing alliances. Hence Trump embarked on a trade war with China – viewed as a strategic competitor – and appeared to fuel rather than resolve regional stability by uncritically aligning American policy with that of Saudi Arabia and Israel and targeted Iran as the source of all evil. This change has yet to translate into specific Chinese policy statements or actions. Nonetheless, the anticipated shift from a unipolar to multilateral security architecture in the Gulf has cast a new light on the first-ever joint naval exercise involving Chinese, Russian and Iranian naval forces, as well as China’s seemingly lukewarm support for a Russian proposal for a multilateral security approach in the Gulf. China was careful to signal that neither the joint exercise nor its closer military ties with a host of other Middle Eastern nations meant it was aspiring to a greater role in regional security any time soon. If anything, both the exercise and China’s notional support for Russia’s proposed restructuring of regional security suggest that China envisions a continued US lead in Gulf security, despite the mounting rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. The Russian proposal in many ways fits China’s bill. Its calls for a multilateral structure involving Russia, China, the United States, Europe and India that would evolve out of a regional security conference along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). While backing Russia’s proposal in general terms, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stopped short of specifically endorsing it. Geng welcomed ‘all proposals and diplomatic efforts conducive to de-escalating the situation in the Gulf region’. China’s reluctance to endorse the Russian proposal more wholeheartedly is rooted in differing approaches towards multilateralism in general and alliances in particular. China shies away from alliances, with their emphasis on geo-economics rather than geopolitics, while Russia still operates in terms of alliances. Despite favouring a continued American lead, China sees a broadening of security arrangements that would embed rather than replace the US defence umbrella in the Gulf as a way to reduce regional tensions. China also believes that a multilateral arrangement would allow it to continue to steer clear of being sucked into conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, particularly the Saudi-Iranian rivalry. A multilateral arrangement, in which the US remained the key military player, would further fit the pattern of China’s gradual projection of its growing military power beyond its borders. With the exception of the facility in Djibouti, China’s projection becomes less hardcore the further one gets from the borders of the People’s Republic. More fundamentally, China’s approach is grounded in the belief that economics rather than geopolitics is the key to solving disputes, which so far has allowed it to remain detached from the Middle East’s multiple conflicts. It remains to be seen how sustainable this approach is in the long term. Such an approach is unlikely to shield China forever from the Middle East’s penchant for ensuring it is at the heart of the major external parties’ concerns. And as Jiang Xudong, a Middle East scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, puts it: ‘Economic investment will not solve all other problems when there are religious and ethnic conflicts at play’. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

China manoeuvres to protect its interests in Gulf while keeping its hands clean