[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 23 November 2023

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: International Relations

Source: TH

 Context: The Philippines is turning to Japan and India for development and security cooperation, shifting focus from Chinese-led projects.

Issues between the Philippines and China:

The Philippines and China have ongoing disputes over the South China Sea. Tensions have escalated due to territorial claims and China’s expansive maritime activities, including the presence of Chinese vessels in Philippine waters. The Philippines has raised concerns about the infringement of its sovereign rights and called for adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Philippines successfully won 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea against China.

India-Philippines Relationship:

Japan and India’s engagement in Southeast Asia:

1. Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP):It is aimed at curbing China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan’s concept of FOIP is complementary to India’s concept of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)
2. Partnership with ASEAN: To enhance economic, political, and cultural ties with the member nations.
3. Infrastructure Development: Japan, through initiatives like the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure, has been involved in infrastructure development projects in Southeast Asia, including the construction of ports, roads, and energy facilities.
   1. India has also expressed interest in infrastructure projects in the region.
4. Connectivity Projects: Japan and India’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific includes promoting connectivity. India has been actively involved in enhancing connectivity through projects like the Trilateral Highway that connects India, Myanmar, and Thailand.
5. Economic Assistance: Both countries provide economic assistance and development aid to Southeast Asian nations to support their socio-economic growth. This includes financial support, capacity building, and technology transfer.
6. Security Cooperation: Japan and India have engaged in security dialogues and joint military exercises with Southeast Asian countries to address common security challenges, including maritime security and counter-terrorism.
7. Human Resource Development: India and Japan have collaborated in human resource development programs, including scholarships and training opportunities, to enhance skills and knowledge in various sectors.
8. Regional Forums: Both countries actively participate in regional forums and organizations such as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to address regional challenges and promote dialogue.

India-Japan Relations:

Insta Links

70 YEARS OF INDIA-JAPAN TIES

Mains Links

The India-Japan relationship is facing challenges due to the changing global geopolitical scenario. Analyse the challenges and suggest measures to address them. (250 Words)

Prelims Links

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE 

Context: Tantalum, a rare metal, has recently been discovered in the Sutlej River by an IIT Ropar team

More about News:

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is a ground-breaking mission designed to study the interactions between terrestrial and space weather.

• It aims to investigate one of the key drivers of space weather – Earth’s weather.
• The study is crucial due to the increasing reliance on satellite-based services for navigation and communication, making forecasts and data on space weather vital.

About Atmospheric Waves Experiment:

• The AWE mission will focus on studying Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGW), a type of vertical wave generated by extreme weather events or sudden disturbances causing a vertical displacement of stable air.
• These waves, including AGWs, play a role in space weather, affecting the overall weather, climate, and space conditions.
• It will measure airglow at the mesopause (85 to 87 km above Earth), capturing faint airglow in the infrared bandwidth.
• The mission will use an Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (ATMT) to scan the mesopause, mapping the brightness of light at specific wavelengths

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: LM

 Context: The Houthi rebels hijacked the India-bound cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, claiming it was Israeli.

• However, the Israeli government denied the claim, stating the ship is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese firm.
• The incident marks an escalation in the Houthi threat against global maritime shipping, following their earlier failed missile attacks targeting Israel.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: WION

 Context: China has reportedly established the world’s first ‘near-space command,’ forming the People’s Liberation Army’s fifth force alongside the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force.

• Chinese researchers see near-space as the next battleground and assert that it is a crucial zone that could determine the outcome of future battles.
• The near-space command will utilize modern hypersonic missiles for precise and swift attacks on enemy military assets.
• Equipped with automated drones and spy balloons, it aims for high-altitude surveillance globally.
• The space command is expected to have spy balloons, solar-powered drones, and supporting equipment, raising concerns about potential political and military repercussions.

Operating in the ‘near-space’ area, the command relies on hypersonic weapons that can operate at more than five times the speed of sound and outmanoeuvre air defence systems

Sports

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

 Context: The ICC has implemented a significant change to its gender eligibility regulations, prohibiting any player who has transitioned from male to female and undergone any form of male puberty from participating in women’s international cricket.

Why the prohibition?

ICC’s new policy is to protect the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness, and inclusion. Also, Physiological differences established during puberty can create significant performance advantages. Testosterone boosts athletic performance by increasing muscle mass, strength, and haemoglobin levels.

What does other sports body do?

• World Athletics (WA): Differences in sex development (DSD) athletes must keep their Testosterone below 2.5 nmol/L for 24 months to participate in the female category across events.
• World governing bodies for cycling (UCI) and swimming (FINA) and World Rugby barred trans women from competing in women’s events.
• As per the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it is the responsibility of individual federations to determine eligibility criteria in their sport for transgender people.

Impact of the ruling?

This ruling affects Danielle McGahey, the first transgender player in international cricket, who will no longer be able to compete in women’s international games. The policy will be reviewed within two years.

About ICC

The International Cricket Council (HQ: Dubai) is the global governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England, and South Africa. It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965 and adopted its current name in 1987

Mapping

Source: TH

 In Myanmar, Rakhine state is the worst-hit while in Bangladesh the cyclone destroyed shelters in the world’s largest refugee camp at Cox’s Bazar which houses a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.