Chinese Navy's training ship Qi Jiguang and amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan docked at Bangladesh's Chittagong this weekend, a move that should raise security concerns for India.

The docking on Saturday (Oct 13) as part of a three-day goodwill visit was the first since the dramatic events of August that saw the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh prime minister after months-long student-led protests and the installation of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.&nbsp;

Watch: Bangladesh crisis: India expresses concern over Bangladesh crisis

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The port call, characterised by Chinese envoy to Bangladesh Yao Wen as a symbol of strengthening of Bangladesh-China ties, aims to enhance cooperation with the Bangladesh Navy.

Delhi circles are viewing this as another instance of China exerting its influence in the region.&nbsp;Some security analysts are setting off alarm bells about the increasing Chinese influence in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is a threat to India's influence, with Frédéric Grare of the Australian National University noting that the China-Bangladesh dynamics could unsettle India.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-ambassador-to-bangladesh-praises-students-who-protested-against-previous-hasina-govt-766810">Also read: Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh praises students who protested against previous Hasina govt</a> 
 
While the port visit of Chinese ships is a mark of continuity and not a qualitative change in relationship, Delhi should and is probably worried about the overall dynamic and uncomfortable with the present uncertainty, The South China Morning Post quoted him as saying.

The Bangladesh port call comes close on the heels of similar military gengagesments by China in South Asia, including&nbsp;the establishment of a submarine base in Bangladesh in May and presence of Chinese ships in Sri Lanaka.&nbsp;

“These facilities can also host Chinese research vessels, whose increasing presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly around the Maldives and Sri Lanka, is a growing concern for New Delhi,” Viraj Solanki from the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the paper.

A Chinese naval ship recently docked in Sri Lanka, amid consternation in India about the so-called 'research vessels' visiting ports in the island nation,&nbsp;which India suspects are maritime surveillance operations.

India and the current regime in Bangladesh have not started off well, particularly as New Delhi was seen to be supporting Hasina, who had sought refuge in the neighbouring country after the political upheaval of August.

The support China shows to Yunus regime&nbsp;should make India shift its approach towards Bangladesh, according to analysts.

Bangladesh is strategically significant in regional geopolitics, a fact underscored by the Chinese naval diplomacy.

In May, the two nations held the first joint military training exercise, The Golden Friendship, focused on anti-terrorism and UN peacekeeping operations. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said it included hostage rescue&nbsp; and counter-terror drills.

With China in mind, India is also enhancing its defence cooperation with neighbours.

Earlier in October, India and the Maldives agreed to enhance maritime security cooperation after a visit by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maldives-president-in-india-new-delhi-male-sign-key-projects-including-launch-of-rupay-card-in-maldives-765134">Also read: Indian, Maldivian govts sign MoUs including currency swap deal worth $400 million</a>

With Sri Lanka, India established maritime rescue coordination centres in June in Hambantota and Colombo. India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius are part of the Colombo Security Conclave on maritime cooperation.

For its part, China had entered into several pacts with Bangladesh before the August uprising. Pooja Bhatt at the Jindal School of International Affairs in India noted that Beijing is keen to continue these engagements and revive its military ties with Bangladesh under its new government.

Lailufar Yasmin at the University of Dhaka said the arrival of Chinese vessels should prompt Delhi to reassess its relationship with the new Bangladeshi government. “It should also carefully consider the overwhelming support that the new regime of Bangladesh received worldwide, including in China and carefully recalibrate its relationship with Bangladesh 2.0.”&nbsp;

"India should start recognising the rationale behind the Bangladesh revolution instead of pointing fingers at external actors,” SCMP quoted her as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese Navy's training ship Qi Jiguang and amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan docked at Bangladesh's Chittagong this weekend, a move that should raise security concerns for India.

Chinese Navy's training ship Qi Jiguang and amphibious dock landing ship Jinggangshan docked at Bangladesh's Chittagong this weekend, a move that should raise security concerns for India. The docking on Saturday (Oct 13) as part of a three-day goodwill visit was the first since the dramatic events of August that saw the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh prime minister after months-long student-led protests and the installation of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus. Watch: Bangladesh crisis: India expresses concern over Bangladesh crisis × The port call, characterised by Chinese envoy to Bangladesh Yao Wen as a symbol of strengthening of Bangladesh-China ties, aims to enhance cooperation with the Bangladesh Navy. Delhi circles are viewing this as another instance of China exerting its influence in the region. Some security analysts are setting off alarm bells about the increasing Chinese influence in the region. This is a threat to India's influence, with Frédéric Grare of the Australian National University noting that the China-Bangladesh dynamics could unsettle India. Also read: Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh praises students who protested against previous Hasina govt While the port visit of Chinese ships is a mark of continuity and not a qualitative change in relationship, Delhi should and is probably worried about the overall dynamic and uncomfortable with the present uncertainty, The South China Morning Post quoted him as saying. The Bangladesh port call comes close on the heels of similar military gengagesments by China in South Asia, including the establishment of a submarine base in Bangladesh in May and presence of Chinese ships in Sri Lanaka. “These facilities can also host Chinese research vessels, whose increasing presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly around the Maldives and Sri Lanka, is a growing concern for New Delhi,” Viraj Solanki from the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the paper. A Chinese naval ship recently docked in Sri Lanka, amid consternation in India about the so-called 'research vessels' visiting ports in the island nation, which India suspects are maritime surveillance operations. India and the current regime in Bangladesh have not started off well, particularly as New Delhi was seen to be supporting Hasina, who had sought refuge in the neighbouring country after the political upheaval of August. The support China shows to Yunus regime should make India shift its approach towards Bangladesh, according to analysts. Bangladesh is strategically significant in regional geopolitics, a fact underscored by the Chinese naval diplomacy. In May, the two nations held the first joint military training exercise, The Golden Friendship, focused on anti-terrorism and UN peacekeeping operations. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said it included hostage rescue and counter-terror drills. With China in mind, India is also enhancing its defence cooperation with neighbours. Earlier in October, India and the Maldives agreed to enhance maritime security cooperation after a visit by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. Also read: Indian, Maldivian govts sign MoUs including currency swap deal worth $400 million With Sri Lanka, India established maritime rescue coordination centres in June in Hambantota and Colombo. India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius are part of the Colombo Security Conclave on maritime cooperation. For its part, China had entered into several pacts with Bangladesh before the August uprising. Pooja Bhatt at the Jindal School of International Affairs in India noted that Beijing is keen to continue these engagements and revive its military ties with Bangladesh under its new government. Lailufar Yasmin at the University of Dhaka said the arrival of Chinese vessels should prompt Delhi to reassess its relationship with the new Bangladeshi government. “It should also carefully consider the overwhelming support that the new regime of Bangladesh received worldwide, including in China and carefully recalibrate its relationship with Bangladesh 2.0.” "India should start recognising the rationale behind the Bangladesh revolution instead of pointing fingers at external actors,” SCMP quoted her as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese Navy ships docked in Bangladesh this weekend. Why should it be of concern to India?

Underlining that air pollution does not respect borders be it cities, states or countries, experts from various South Asian countries have called for regional cooperation with the data creating models to improve the air qualities.&nbsp;

A webinar 'Air Qualities in South Asia: Opportunities and Challenge'&nbsp;took place on Thursday during which top experts from the US, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan talked about air quality in South Asia and discussed a roadmap towards cleaner air in South Asia.

Speaking during the webinar, Michael Greenstone, Director of Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) said that air pollution causes people to lead shorter and sicker lives, adding that average Indian would live 5.2 years longer if air qualities are brought with compliance to the standard set by World Health Organisation.&nbsp;

Calling particulate air pollution as the single greatest threat, Greenstone said: "Air pollution causes people to lead shorter and sicker lives. 5.5 billion People currently live in areas that exceed the WHO safe guidelines for small-particulate pollution. Across the entire planet, an average person loses 1.9 years of life expectancy to particulate air pollution that is more than what people lose from smoking."

Greenstone said: "In India which is the second most polluted country in the world, an average person would live 5.2 years longer if air qualities are brought with the WHO standard" Similarly, average life expectancy in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal could go up by 6 years, 2.8 years and 4.6 years respectively if the WHO guidelines were met, he said. Making the opening remarks during the webinar, Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs, US Embassy, David Kennedy, said that improving air qualities requires cooperation from within the countries and across regions "Air pollution does not respect borders be it cities, states or countries. Improving air qualities requires collaboration from within the countries and across regions. It requires consistent long term focus, actions and attention by all section of societies--policymakers, health professionals, frontline activists’ media students and every member of the public," he said. Kennedy said that the US government has partnered with India on strengthening health systems.&nbsp;

"The United States and India have a very close relationship, anchored at the mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust engagement in our citizens. The engagement between India and the US focuses on better monitoring of data on air pollution," he said.&nbsp;

Other speakers who spoke during the webinar are Ranil Dhammapala, Air Quality Fellow, U.S. Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Christopher Commins, Economic Officer, Economic, Environment, science &amp; technology section, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi; Abid Omar, Founder, Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, Karachi. The webinar was organised by Lung Care Foundation.Dhammapala said that there is a strong indication that Artificial Intelligence is going to revolutionise air quality monitoring."Strong indication of data generated using AI is going to revolutionise air quality monitoring and help people make an informed decision," said Ranil Dhammapala. Meanwhile, Commins said that effects of lockdown due to COVID19 pandemic have given "us hope that change can occur and has reinforced technology as a means for it to happen".

Abid Omar stressed that there is a need for regional collaborations with the data creating models and have directly comparable transboundary data.

"We need regional collaborations with the data creating models and have directly comparable transboundary data. We can then go forward towards making richer model about the flow of particulate matter pollution," Omar said.

Underlining that air pollution does not respect borders be it cities, states or countries, experts from various South Asian countries have called for regional cooperation with the data creating models to improve the air qualities.

Underlining that air pollution does not respect borders be it cities, states or countries, experts from various South Asian countries have called for regional cooperation with the data creating models to improve the air qualities. A webinar 'Air Qualities in South Asia: Opportunities and Challenge' took place on Thursday during which top experts from the US, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan talked about air quality in South Asia and discussed a roadmap towards cleaner air in South Asia. Speaking during the webinar, Michael Greenstone, Director of Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) said that air pollution causes people to lead shorter and sicker lives, adding that average Indian would live 5.2 years longer if air qualities are brought with compliance to the standard set by World Health Organisation. Calling particulate air pollution as the single greatest threat, Greenstone said: "Air pollution causes people to lead shorter and sicker lives. 5.5 billion People currently live in areas that exceed the WHO safe guidelines for small-particulate pollution. Across the entire planet, an average person loses 1.9 years of life expectancy to particulate air pollution that is more than what people lose from smoking." Greenstone said: "In India which is the second most polluted country in the world, an average person would live 5.2 years longer if air qualities are brought with the WHO standard" Similarly, average life expectancy in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal could go up by 6 years, 2.8 years and 4.6 years respectively if the WHO guidelines were met, he said. Making the opening remarks during the webinar, Minister Counsellor for Public Affairs, US Embassy, David Kennedy, said that improving air qualities requires cooperation from within the countries and across regions "Air pollution does not respect borders be it cities, states or countries. Improving air qualities requires collaboration from within the countries and across regions. It requires consistent long term focus, actions and attention by all section of societies--policymakers, health professionals, frontline activists’ media students and every member of the public," he said. Kennedy said that the US government has partnered with India on strengthening health systems. "The United States and India have a very close relationship, anchored at the mutual trust, shared interests, goodwill and robust engagement in our citizens. The engagement between India and the US focuses on better monitoring of data on air pollution," he said. Other speakers who spoke during the webinar are Ranil Dhammapala, Air Quality Fellow, U.S. Embassy, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Christopher Commins, Economic Officer, Economic, Environment, science & technology section, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi; Abid Omar, Founder, Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, Karachi. The webinar was organised by Lung Care Foundation.Dhammapala said that there is a strong indication that Artificial Intelligence is going to revolutionise air quality monitoring."Strong indication of data generated using AI is going to revolutionise air quality monitoring and help people make an informed decision," said Ranil Dhammapala. Meanwhile, Commins said that effects of lockdown due to COVID19 pandemic have given "us hope that change can occur and has reinforced technology as a means for it to happen". Abid Omar stressed that there is a need for regional collaborations with the data creating models and have directly comparable transboundary data. "We need regional collaborations with the data creating models and have directly comparable transboundary data. We can then go forward towards making richer model about the flow of particulate matter pollution," Omar said.

Air pollution does not respect borders, regional cooperation required: Experts

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