19 Jun 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. China’s ‘developmental’ security approach

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries

Mains: Recent instances of Chinese crackdown on U.S.-based and domestic firms and the Chinese policy of balancing development and security concerns.

Context:

Recent instances of Chinese crackdown on U.S.-based firms as well as domestic firms dealing with overseas clients.

Background

• In May 2023, the Cyberspace Administration of China held that Micron, which is a U.S.-based chip company, failed to get a security clearance and also announced that its products posed a threat to national security after being investigated by the Cybersecurity Review Office.
  • Post this announcement by the Cyberspace Administration, business operators who are involved in critical information infrastructure were asked not to procure products made by Micron. 
• Earlier during the second week of May 2023, the Chinese authorities had also raided the offices of Capvision, which is a Shanghai-based consultancy company that links Chinese experts in the fields of sectors such as finance, defence, military, high tech, trade, energy, medicine, etc. with the overseas clients. 
  • Chinese security authorities had accused the company of using economic means to steal state secrets and facilitating the transfer of such confidential and sensitive information to overseas clients. 
  • Capvision was found guilty of violating various legislations relating to national security.
• In April 2023, the offices of Bain and Co., which is an American consultancy firm, were raided, its employees working in China were interrogated and various computers and phones from its offices were seized.
• Even in March 2023, Chinese authorities raided the offices of Mintz and detained some of its employees which led to the shutdown of two of its offices in Beijing. 
• Furthermore, Chinese officials have been blocking various mergers and acquisition applications involving foreign firms, which has led to increased operational costs for foreign businesses.

Rationale behind Chinese crackdown

• The U.S. in October 2022, increased its export controls which made it much more difficult for China to obtain and manufacture advanced computing chips and supercomputers. 
• The recent actions by the Chinese authorities seem to be motivated by vengeance against the U.S. efforts to restrict Chinese tech advancements.
• By undertaking crackdown measures on American firms and by limiting their access to the vast domestic market, China aims to capitalise on the divergence that exists between the U.S. administration and the American business community over the former’s China policy. 
• The Chinese crackdown on consultancy and due diligence firms is expected to have ripple effects across all overseas businesses operating in China as businesses depend on consultancy firms to navigate the regulatory framework which is often challenging, especially in a country like China where there is uncertainty in the regulatory framework.
• However, various other experts also believe that there exists a domestic component to these actions.

National security at the forefront in Chinese politics

• Chinese authorities have justified each of the recent crackdown actions with the help of national security concerns. 
• Experts point out that the threat to security has now become a ubiquitous concern in all aspects of governance in China as the Chinese administration under the leadership of President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasised that “the idea of development cannot be isolated from that of security” and the need to balance development with security has been highlighted in multiple instances. 
• This attempt by China to securitise its development has resulted in according greater significance to various non-traditional security issues.
  • Among such non-traditional security issues, issues such as cybersecurity and data/information security have become the key cause for concern in China. 
  • This has become evident through the recent attempts to strengthen cybersecurity and counter-espionage laws.
• China recently amended its Counter-Espionage Law with an aim to widen the scope of espionage by treating all “documents, data, materials, and items relating to national security and interests,” at par with state secrets. 
  • These latest amendments also expand the definition of espionage to include cyberattacks against state organs or critical information infrastructure. 
  • The changes have also empowered authorities to seize data, electronic equipment, information on personal property, and even ban border crossing. 
• The latest instances of crackdown also reflect the approach of “developmental security”. 
• There is this belief among the Chinese administration that the foreign businesses operating in China are indulging in espionage activities and there exists a suspicion that due diligence as well as consultancy firms are using their networks to extract sensitive data under the garb of free exchange of information.

Path ahead

• China is now experiencing a catch-22 situation as developmental and security issues are applying diametrically opposing forces. 
  • The current dilemma is because development requires reforms, opening up economies and establishing a business-friendly environment, whereas the need to balance development with security requires enforcing restrictive measures.
• Further, the victims of the latest crackdown actions not only blame the U.S.-China competition but also China’s evolving national security discourse.
  • The Chinese efforts to balance its development with national security are expected to further impact foreign business sentiments in the long run.
• Experts have however noticed an outright contradiction in China’s discourse when it comes to its relationship with India. 
  • While China has continuously insisted on the need to balance development with security, however, China has asked India to keep the border issue (security) away and not let it affect the overall diplomatic ties (economics and development) with China.

Nut graf: The recent incidents of a series of crackdowns by the Chinese authorities against American consultancies and domestic companies dealing with overseas clients indicate the fact that the concerns of national security have permeated each and every aspect of governance and developmental strategy in China.

E. Editorials

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. Responsibility and the complexities of climate leadership

Syllabus: International Environment Agencies & Agreements

Mains: Potential challenges of Climate finance on Vulnerable countries

Context: Issues with President-Designate of COP28

Introduction: 

• In recent weeks, there has been an escalating campaign aimed at removing Minister Sultan Al Jaber, the President-Designate of COP28, from his position. 
• Al Jaber is the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is the host nation for the event. 
• This campaign has gained momentum, with a letter from parliamentarians in the United States and Europe demanding his removal due to his role as the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. 
• However, representatives of countries at the forefront of climate change, such as Bangladesh and the Maldives, and as leaders of the Climate Vulnerable Forum see an opportunity to engage the fossil fuels industry to make some significant and quantifiable commitments with Al-Jaber as COP President-Designate. 
  • Climate Vulnerable Forum  is a collective of 58 countries most vulnerable to climate impacts and home to 1.5 billion of the world’s poorest people.
  • They have experienced economic losses amounting to $500 billion due to climate-related factors in the past two decades.

Need for unity towards a clean energy future:

• Fossil fuel-dependent economies are critical towards a clean energy future, and they have a more difficult task defining their energy transition strategy. 
• It is crucial to avoid creating divisions and instead continue engaging with other parties at COP28 and beyond, discussing the most effective path for their economies and the planet.
• Sultan Al-Jaber has been at the helm of Masdar, a renewable energy company that has made significant investments in solar and wind projects. 
  • The Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, recently inaugurated, generates a substantial 6 gigawatts of clean power. 
  • Masdar and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have entered into an agreement to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, showcasing their leadership in shaping our clean energy future.
• Sultan Al-Jaber has proposed that sovereign wealth funds and multilateral development banks (MDBs) could help mitigate risks associated with restructured debts and provide insurance for re-issued climate bonds. 
• Financing plays a vital role in COP28. It recognizes that economic growth for the poorest nations is indispensable and should not be hindered to accommodate continued pollution by wealthier countries.

Road Ahead: 

• UAE could potentially guide vulnerable countries towards securing investments supported by sovereign wealth funds and multilateral development banks, as they can provide the significant impetus necessary for climate prosperity.
  • These countries are burdened by unsustainable debts, exacerbated by climate damages primarily caused by emissions originating elsewhere. 
  • Rather than individually facing financial crises, a collective approach that acknowledges the debt issue and the hindrance it poses to clean energy investments and climate adaptation is feasible.
• UAE could also establish a clean energy target beginning in 2025, transform the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company into the Abu Dhabi Clean Energy and Grid Company by 2030, and support global financial reform, including reforms within the International Monetary Fund.
• Economies reliant on fossil fuels can showcase their commitment to a shared future by making subscriptions  to the Loss and Damage fund established in Sharm El-Sheikh well in advance of the COP to support funding for climate damages in the most vulnerable countries.

Nut Graf: The recent campaign to remove Minister Sultan Al Jaber as COP28 President-Designate has sparked debate. However, representatives from climate-vulnerable nations see an opportunity in UAE’s presidency  for fossil fuel-dependent economies to make substantial commitments to clean energy. 

Category: GEOGRAPHY

1. Biparjoy- part of a new trend in Indian cyclones

Syllabus: Important Geophysical Phenomena-Cyclone

Mains: Significant changes in the cyclonic disturbances in North Indian Ocean and factors influencing it.

Context: Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat.

Key Details: 

• Recent decades have witnessed significant changes in the cyclonic disturbances over the North Indian Ocean, encompassing the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the land in between.
• The number of cyclonic disturbances in the North Indian Ocean has notably decreased over the past 40 years.
• The decline in cyclonic disturbances can be mainly attributed to a rapid decrease in those originating from the Bay of Bengal, the primary source of past cyclones affecting Southeast and West Asia. 
• Conversely, the number of disturbances from the Arabian Sea has been steadily increasing, although still relatively low. 
  • Notably, while the frequency of disturbances has decreased, their intensity has risen in recent decades.
• 10-year rolling average of cyclonic disturbances from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal shows the average number of disturbances originating from the Bay of Bengal has sharply declined since the 1970s, while those originating from the Arabian Sea have significantly increased. 
  • From 1891 to 1962, the Arabian Sea recorded an average of less than two disturbances per year. However, since then, the average has risen, with over three cyclones recorded in the 2020s.
• The periods of 1999-2003 and 1994-1998 also recorded significant shares of severe cyclonic storms at 34% and 52%, respectively, indicating a renewed upward trend in storm intensity in the North Indian Ocean.
• Data shows that around 34% of disturbances originating from the Arabian Sea develop into severe cyclonic storms, compared to 19% from the Bay of Bengal. 
• Global warming has resulted in the Arabian Sea warming up, leading to more frequent and stronger cyclones.
• The unique oceanographic characteristics of the Arabian Sea make cyclone forecasting more challenging for the Indian Meteorological Department, requiring adjustments to existing models.

Read more on Forecasting cyclones in Arabian Sea

Nut Graf: Recent decades have seen significant changes in cyclonic disturbances over the North Indian Ocean. While the overall number of disturbances has declined, those originating from the Arabian Sea have increased. The unique oceanographic characteristics of the Arabian Sea pose challenges for cyclone forecasting.

Q1. ____________ is a type of protein in the mitochondria which plays an important 
role in cellular respiration. (Level – Difficult)

Q2. The 'Miyawaki Method', often seen in the news, is a technique (Level – Easy)

Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Indian Renewable Energy 
Development Agency (IREDA): (Level – Moderate)

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Gandhi Peace Prize: 
(Level – Difficult)

Q5. The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the 
land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally 
traced to which of the following provisions? (Level – Moderate) [PYQ-2011]

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Discuss the trends observed in the cyclonic disturbances across the northern Indian Ocean and analyze the reasons behind the same. (10 marks,150 words) [GS-1; Geography]
2. What is the concept of ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibility’? Discuss the challenges faced by the developing world in adapting to climate change. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-3; Environment]

Read the previous CNA here.