Category: Politics

Taiwanese businesses are shifting their supply chains from China to India as Taipei and New Delhi improve commercial ties amid escalating global trade concerns. According to James Huang, chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Taiwan’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in India totalled $665 million between 2018 and 2023. This contrasts with $277 million in FDI from 2006 to 2017.

“It is evident that more Taiwanese companies are moving supply chains out of China and are establishing them in India,” Huang told reporters. Despite the lack of formal links with Taiwan, India has developed a tight business relationship, seeking investment from the largest chip-producing country to increase manufacturing.

Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. collaborated with India’s Tata Group to construct the first semiconductor fabrication facility in Gujarat, taking advantage of a $10 billion incentive programme.

Huang emphasised Taiwan’s programmes to train Indian students and talent in semiconductor technology, laying the groundwork for future collaboration. Taiwan’s supply chain shift has centred on the mobile phone assembly and footwear industries. The two-way commerce between India and Taiwan totalled $10.1 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2024.

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, met with counterparts from the United Kingdom, the European Union, and New Zealand during the G7 trade ministers’ meeting in Italy, according to an official statement released Wednesday.

Goyal welcomed UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and addressed the progress of India-UK FTA negotiations. He also met with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, to discuss ways to strengthen India-EU trade and continue FTA negotiations.

In conversations with Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Goyal committed to increasing bilateral trade, investments, and clean technology cooperation. Goyal also praised Tajani for hosting a successful G7 Trade Ministers Meeting.

Goyal met with New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investment relations.

Goyal also met with Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Robert Habeck, to explore ways to strengthen Indo-German trade and economic ties, with an emphasis on future Inter-Governmental Consultations and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses in Delhi.

These engagements are intended to significantly advance India’s trade relations with key international partners.

On Monday, KP Sharma Oli took the oath as prime minister of Nepal for the fourth time, spearheading a coalition government that would work to stabilise the country’s politics. On Sunday, President Ram Chandra Paudel formed a coalition with the Nepali Congress (NC), the biggest party in Parliament, and other smaller parties; he also appointed the head of Nepal’s biggest communist party.

The 72-year-old Oli assumed his position following Friday’s vote of no confidence that forced Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” from office. Since the Nepali Congress was still settling its internal conflicts, President Paudel postponed the oath-taking ceremony at Shital Niwas, where Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, was sworn in.

Along with 19 other ministers, the President also gave oaths to Deputy Prime Ministers Prakash Man Singh and Bishnu Paudel.

The Nepali Congress has ten ministers in the new cabinet, the CPN-UML has eight, the Janata Samajwadi Party has two, and the Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party has one. Foreign diplomats and outgoing Prime Minister Prachanda were present for the ceremony.

Oli, previously Prime Minister from 2015–2016 and 2018–2021, must secure a vote of confidence from Parliament within 30 days. This vote is anticipated to be easy.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stated her desire for India to carry out a $1 billion river development project, aimed at easing New Delhi’s security concerns. Although China is prepared, she expressed her preference for India to lead the project during a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday.

To improve water management along the Teesta River, China and India collaborated on a restoration and comprehensive management project. During her June visit to New Delhi, Hasina focused on the 414-kilometre Teesta River, which flows from India into Bangladesh. The Indian state of West Bengal raised objections, which caused the water-sharing agreement that was struck in 2011 to stall.

Security concerns over Chinese engineers near India’s borders prompted New Delhi to react with an offer as India postponed settling the matter. China had already put out its own solution. China conducted a feasibility study and has made an offer.

Hasina mentioned that India has also extended an offer and plans to do a feasibility assessment. She went on to say that India is her first priority because of its control over the waters of the Teesta.

In a significant cabinet reorganisation that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on July 14, Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum of Dubai was named Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister.

According to Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan is a leader who loves his people and will considerably contribute to defining the country’s future.

Along with Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been appointed to the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Sarah Al-Amiri, Ahmed Belhoul, Abdul Rahman Al-Awar, Alia Al-Mazroui, and others have been appointed to important positions, such as ministers of education, sports, higher education, and science and technology.

The appointment of Al-Mazroui has garnered a lot of attention because of her remarkable background. Her previous leadership experience includes positions such as Director General of the Human Resources Authority of Abu Dhabi, and she is currently serving as vice chairman at Insurance House. She is a successful entrepreneur who was named one of the world’s “100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen.” Her ventures include Foodsters Inc. and the Just Falafel restaurant chain.

Following a series of mistakes made during a NATO conference, European leaders defended President Joe Biden, even though the European media had used these mistakes to paint Biden as unqualified to run against Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.

Biden misspelt the names of Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris and incorrectly called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “President Putin” at the summit.

Macron of France and Scholz of Germany both maintained a diplomatic stance in the face of these gaffes, saying that everybody is susceptible to unfortunate slips of the tongue. In their conversations, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked on Biden’s mental agility, while Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, highlighted that Biden was present at every summit session.

Nevertheless, the press in Europe was not as tolerant. Biden was considered unfit for re-election, according to the Daily Telegraph and Times of London in Britain and Il Giornale in Italy. Russia took advantage of Biden’s gaffes by portraying the president as old and grey on state television. While acknowledging the mistakes, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticised Biden for making disrespectful remarks about Putin.

Some Democrats have asked Biden to withdraw his re-election campaign, but he is adamant about running anyway, insisting he can defeat Trump in November.

On Wednesday, United States President Joe Biden backed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan to build stronger ties with European leaders during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House. The presidents discussed Gaza and Ukraine’s crises, US-UK ties, and England’s recent win in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

According to a UK government statement, “The President welcomed the prime minister’s recent comments on establishing closer relationships with our European counterparts, as well as the UK’s commitment to AUKUS.” They agreed that confronting global issues requires cooperation and solidarity.

While attending the NATO summit in Washington, Starmer also had meetings with European leaders, including Olaf Scholz of Germany. To improve commercial and security cooperation and ease tensions that emerged after the Brexit referendum in 2016, his goal is to reset Britain’s relations with the European Union. However, Starmer has said that coming back into the customs union or single market is not happening.

In addition to talking about their shared desire for a ceasefire in Gaza to permit hostage releases, provide relief, and move towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, both presidents vowed steadfast support for Ukraine in its battle with Russia.

The UK Parliament welcomed this week an influx of Generation Z lawmakers, a cohort comprising individuals born between approximately 1995 and 2012. Nine of the ten new Gen Z MPs represent the Labour Party, including the first lawmakers born in the 2000s. This marks a significant generational shift, reflecting the changing demographics and priorities of the electorate.

On Tuesday, July 9, the British parliament met for the first time since British Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured a sizable majority in the previous week’s election. Following the traditional order of business, PM Starmer, members of his newly formed cabinet, and the shadow cabinet were sworn in as the so-called ‘Father of the House,’ with the longest-serving legislator, Sir Edward Leigh, taking the standing.  Sir Edward Leigh leads the House of Commons, offering stability and a connection to parliamentary customs.

Labour has a strong mandate to carry out their plans, marking a significant turning point in British politics.

It is anticipated that these new members of parliament will offer new insights and viewpoints to Parliament, tackling topics that are important to younger people, like social equality, digital transformation, and climate change.

On July 10, the military-appointed Upper House was replaced by 200 new senators approved by Thailand’s Election Commission (EC). Introducing a new legislative body, this action may make governance for the ruling Pheu Thai Party more difficult. 

The new Senate will continue to review laws and select important members of powerful institutions like the European Community and Constitutional Court, but it will not vote on the prime minister’s approval.

Sawaeng Boonmee, secretary-general of the EC, blamed complaints that required investigation for the wait times in revealing the Senate election results. He verified the support of the two hundred senators, exposing an Upper House that saw advances for Bhumjaithai, the largest coalition partner, but fewer Pheu Thai affiliates. According to some, Bhumjaithai could be a proxy for the conservative-royalist establishment.

There has been a political rift in Thailand between populist parties like Pheu Thai and conservative military-backed factions, which has resulted in public riots and military coups in 2006 and 2014. The new Senate missed the chance to appoint a more Pheu Thai-friendly composition, according to independent political expert Mathis Lohatepanont. 

The lineup of the new Senate is a reflection of the political unrest and uncertainty that continue to surround Thai politics.

On a two-day visit to Austria, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Vienna from Moscow. This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Austria in more than 40 years, since Indira Gandhi’s visit in 1983. PM Modi will discuss geopolitical issues and look for ways to strengthen bilateral ties during his visit. He is scheduled to meet with Chancellor Karl Nehammer and President Alexander Van der Bellen.

Nehammer, the prime minister, will also speak to Austrian and Indian business executives. To establish a stronger alliance, PM Modi stressed the importance of sharing the ideals of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law before his visit. Nehammer, the chancellor of Austria, said he was looking forward to PM Modi’s visit and that it marked a major turning point in the 75-year history of diplomatic ties between India and Austria.

“This visit is a special honour as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over 40 years,” Chancellor Nehammer said. In response, the PM said he was looking forward to the talks on fortifying bilateral relations and looking into new opportunities for collaboration.