The Indian Weekender, 30 April 2021

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Editorial Quad and Quad-plus Cooperation The world is again in the midst of a great power competition, a competition that has the potential to cascade into conflict or worse catastrophe. The territorial disputes are widespread and occur in both the terrestrial and maritime domains. The re-emergence of China as a global power is reshaping associations and alliances with smaller and mid-sized powers feeling squeezed between China and the US. What is increasingly clear though is China aims to dominate the Southeast Asian politics through its asymmetric economic relations with its neighbours. China is effectively using its economic prowess for meeting its political and territorial goals. Since its re-emergence as the dominant economy in the region, China has been laying claims on many territories in the through its domestic legislation and invention of historic claims. The effectiveness of domestic legislation by China in terms of securing its claims in South China Sea and East China Sea is however debatable. Many such claims aren’t recognized by international bodies and courts such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The most prominent Chinese claims in South China Sea were ruled as not legal by the PCA in a case drawn upon by Philippines in July 2016. China is using its domestic legislation to expand its exclusive economic zones by creating municipalities at the edge of South China Sea which gives legal foundation for the exclusive economic zones: again, the effectiveness of the method is debatable as it has not been tested. The parallel here can be drawn to compare the control through domestic legislation between the Chinese claim on South China Sea and Japanese control of Senkaku Islands. Japan has controlled the Senkaku Islands for over a century now and there is a continuity via coast guard and environmental management in that control, mostly and mainly through domestic legislation and international partnership; no such continuity of control with regard to Chinese claim is existent on ground in South China Sea. The invention of historic claims by China as a tool for foreign policy is even more debatable and problematic. To analyze this one must turn back the pages and search in history any signs of claims of sovereignty by China over the island territories in south China Sea; no such claim can be found. Bill Hayton, in his book, “Invention of China” writes in detail about how during the Ching (Qing) Dynasty, China showed no interest in the island formation in the south china sea whether be it the islands neighboring Indonesia, Vietnam or Philippines. There is clear evidence in history how Japan and Japanese business interests used the islands for collecting nitrates. The territorial claims for most nations come after world war II be it Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, etc. as they developed strong national borders under one government after gaining independence. These countries were colonies prior to World war II and thus to trace their sovereign claims to these territories is difficult. The UNCLOS treaty signed by 117 states which sets the 200-mile limit for Exclusive Economic Zones gives these countries a claim over the island formations in South China Sea. UNCLOS however is not ratified by the US which gives it a loose footing to enforce any such binding on China. The ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) can play a significant role in resolving the territorial issues in Southeast Asia, but because it is a loose association of nations and doesn’t have the legal capability to challenge and enforce its decisions on China, it has till now not played any decisive role. In the 2014 ASEAN Summit, a consensus was developed to issue a joint statement with regard to territorial disputes, however Cambodia declined to join the consensus statement after influence from Beijing resulting in no joint statement being adopted. This fracturing of ASEAN unity and division of opinion is mainly achieved through aid and development promises; which again is a smart use of its economic power. With most of the ASEAN states not claimants in SCS disputes, China has a free hand in manipulating the decision-making capability of ASEAN. The ASEAN members hold mixed views about China, some members perceive China as an economic opportunity and think that China is critical for the development of ASEAN member states, while other see China as a state having dominating and hegemonic interests in the region, thus the relationship of China and ASEAN will always be important but challenging. The main problem is of the power asymmetry between China and Southeast Asian states. The countries in the region are constantly seeking strategic autonomy to resolve the South China Sea issues peacefully and effectively. The pattern we are seeing at the individual level is to bring in the extra regional powers to the region to enhance the human capital and other capabilities so that they can push back unilaterally against some of the more assertive behaviour of China. Japan has been most active in establishing strategic partnerships, by providing coast guard vessels, maritime domain awareness and human capital building to strengthen individual members and to enhance the ASEAN’s integration. Japan’s role is even more important when it comes to Chinese maritime militia (fishermen boat strategy), the militia is trying to instigate the escalations and allowing the China to build an image wherein it is seen as playing a defensive counter. The militia is used to build pressure on the states and in case of Philippines china has already occupied some features in south china sea using this militia forces. The militia move in and out of the sovereign boundaries of other nations and every such movement is a planned part to build on Lawfare strategy e.g. in case of Senkaku islands. Thought of the week “Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” —Ella Fitzgerald Indian Weekender : Volume 13 Issue 07 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Media Sales Manager.: Leena Pal: 021 952 216 | leena@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Distribution: 021 952218 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland. Printed at Horton Media, Auckland 30 April – 7 May 2021 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu On-and-off rain and drizzle 22° 15° On-and-off rain and drizzle 19° 13° Clouds and sun 19° 14° Clouds and sun 20° 14° Clouds and showers This week in New Zealand’s history 20° 14° 30 April 1865 Former Governor FitzRoy commits suicide Copyright 2020. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. A few morning showers 21° 15° A few morning showers 26° 17° Robert FitzRoy, the second governor of New Zealand, took his own life at his home in Surrey. Opinion on his governorship has always been divided. While the writer Steve Braunias has described FitzRoy as ‘our first great wretch’, historian Ian Wards argued that his achievements were ‘considerable’ and blamed the Colonial Office for his shortcomings as governor. 1 May 1893 'King Dick' Seddon becomes premier Richard John Seddon became premier following the death of John Ballance. Immortalised as ‘King Dick’, Seddon was to dominate the New Zealand political landscape for the next 13 years. He remains this country’s longest-serving prime minister. 1 May 1955 RNZAF's first combat strike since Second World War Five Vampire fighter aircraft of No. 14 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force took off from Tengah airfield, Singapore, to conduct a strike mission against guerrillas in the Malayan jungle. 2 May 1964 New Zealand's last electric tram trip Tram no. 252, displaying the message ‘end of the line’ and driven by Wellington Mayor Frank Kitts, travelled from Thorndon to Newtown zoo. Large crowds lined the streets to witness the end of electric trams in New Zealand. 3 May 1820 First European plough used in New Zealand The missionary John Butler turned the first furrow at Kerikeri, writing in his journal: ‘I trust that this day will be remembered with gratitude, and its anniversary kept by ages yet unborn.’ 3 May 1897 New Zealand's first woman doctor registered Margaret Cruickshank, the first female doctor registered in New Zealand, practised in Waimate, South Canterbury, until her death from influenza in 1918.
The Indian Weekender Friday, April 30, 2021 FIJI 13 Covid-19: Dangerous Covid-19 variant originating from India is in Fiji The highly dangerous and more contagious Indian variant of the coronavirus has been confirmed to be the variant infecting Fijians in recent days. Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Doctor James Fong confirmed this last night. He said: “We have received confirmation from the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit (MDU) at the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne that recent cases of COVID-19 are of the B1617 variant that was first detected in India. “As I mentioned yesterday, our contact tracing investigations meant that we already strongly suspected that this was the variant in question – as case 73, the soldier working in border quarantine only had contact with recent border quarantine cases who had travelled from India,” Dr Fong said. “This has informed our containment measures, and we have already adapted them accordingly, but I want the public to have a clear grasp of the stakes here — because the discipline and diligence of ordinary Fijians will make or break our containment of this viral variant.” This newly-confirmed COVID variant is one of several dangerous new variants that have taken root in places like Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, and in India –– which is suffering a painful fourth wave the likes of which the world has never seen. About this variant As reported by the BBC: “India is now in the grips of a public health emergency. Social media feeds are full with videos of COVID funerals at crowded cemeteries, wailing relatives of the dead outside hospitals, long queues of ambulances carrying gasping patients, mortuaries overflowing with the dead, and patients, sometimes two to a bed, in corridors and lobbies of hospitals.” Dr Fong said we cannot let that nightmare happen in Fiji. “We still have time to stop it from happening. But a single misstep could bring about the same “COVID tsunami” that our friends in India, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States are enduring,” he said. India in chaos, Fijians need to listen and adhere The World Health Organization says Fijians need to start listening to all advisory and take action immediately to safeguard themselves from the B1617 variant of COVID-19. This call comes as the variant, which has its origins in India, has claimed over 200,000 lives and 3,286 having died in the last 24 hours in India. As this happens, WHO Acting Head of the Pacific, Doctor Akeem Ali, says Fijians need take heed and work to protect themselves. “It’s not a matter that we can take lightly. It tells us that we need to be prepared, it tells us to be attentive to the directions, and instructions and the advice given by the government. "It tells us that we need to ensure that when we start our public health measures, we do them efficiently and effectively and we need the community for this. "When we say stay at home, it means stay at home, when we say wear mask, it does mean wear mask.” The need for beds, ventilators and other equipment to fight the virus has become paramount, and Doctor Ali says they stand ready to assist. “We have worked hard with the Ministry Please know the full range of symptoms of COVID-19 and go to the Health Ministry’s screening clinics near you for a check up Please know the full range of symptoms of COVID-19 and go to the Health Ministry’s screening clinics near you for a check-up. According to the Fijian Health Ministry and the World Health Organization, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough and tiredness. Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, red eyes, diarrhoea, or a skin rash. Stay home and self-isolate even if you have minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Call the ministry’s helpline on 158 for advice. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. fijivillage advises you to please ensure you wear a mask when you go out, practice physical distancing and download the careFiji app to beat the virus. You only need data to download the app. Following that, you just need to keep the Bluetooth on to help the Health Ministry in COVID-19 contact tracing. to prepare for this kind of eventuality. We were hoping obviously that we would not get to this stage. "The Ministry does have ventilators already in hospitals and some in reserves and WHO have a very marginal stock as well that we have kept in reserve for urgent support. "However if the need arises for more than what we currently have, we would at WHO would definitely be ready to step in and support the Fiji government and it has enough equipment, be it ventilators, oxygen concentrators or other items are ready for use in care of patients.” While our health officials are working hard to prevent the virus from crippling Fiji and her people, FBC News continues to notice people not wearing face mask in public places. We remind you that this variant spreads through the air and through tiny droplets that pass from person-to-person within a close distance –– droplets that, if left unmasked and non-distant. “Stopping that tsunami depends on two major factors: You, staying at home, and us, tracing and isolating all known cases. I’ll stand before you every day to update you on the latter. “While the results from Melbourne confirmed a frightening new variant, they also confirmed that we are on the right track in our containment efforts: The genetic sequencing revealed that all of the samples sequenced so far have the same virus variant.” What it means: • Case 73 (the border quarantine soldier), • Case 74 (the hotel worker who attended the Tavakubu funeral), • and the woman from Wainitarawau in Cunningham are all within the same cluster. It also reveals that two of the recently announced border quarantine cases from the same border quarantine facility, soldiers recently returned from duties overseas, also have the same variant. He said this indicates transmission within that border quarantine facility. Covid-19: ‘Astrazeneca will maintain protection from new variant’ The vaccination drive will continue because the vaccination will save lives, says Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong. He was responding to queries on the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccines on the new highly dangerous and more contagious Indian variant of coronavirus that has been confirmed to be affecting Fijians in recent days. Dr Fong said there have been concerns raised but it was important to note that the vaccine prevents people from hospitalisation, severe disease and death. “As far as I can work out, the vaccine has less impact on the variant,’’ he said. “The vaccination drive will continue because the vaccination will save lives and the vaccination will also be part of our response to the current surge and we will be running out a vaccination plan that will be running concurrently with our responses that we have currently on going. “As far as I know we still maintain the protection and to the best of our knowledge we haven’t got some clear cut data that says exactly how much less effective it is.’’ On obtaining passes to access contained areas he said: “Now everyone is trying to ask the question on how they would get a pass. They are forgetting the reason why we are trying to contain the virus. “They are trying to bypass the law and forgetting the medical agenda.”
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