Tag: China

Delhi AIIMS Server Attack

Delhi AIIMS Server Attack ‘Originated From China’

By LokMarg

By Ashoke Raj

The attack on the computer server of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi was carried out by Chinese hackers, a senior government source said on Wednesday adding that data in the five servers have been successfully retrieved now.

“AIIMS Delhi server attack was by the Chinese, FIR details that the attack had originated from China. Of 100 servers (40 physical and 60 virtual), five physical servers were successfully infiltrated by the hackers. The damage would have been far worse but is now contained. Data in the five servers have been successfully retrieved now,” said the source from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

AIIMS Delhi first reported a failure in its servers on November 23. Two of the analysts deployed to look after the servers’ securities have also been suspended for the alleged breach of cyber security.

AIIMS authorities in a statement issued stated that the e-Hospital data has been restored. “The hospital data has been restored on the servers. The network is being sanitized before the services can be restored. The process is taking some time due to the volume of data and a large number of servers/computers for the hospital services. Measures are being taken for cyber security,” they had said.

“All hospital services, including outpatient, in-patient, laboratories, etc continue to run on manual mode,” the statement had said.

Earlier this month, a special cell of Delhi Police launched an investigation into the attack on the computer system at AIIMS Delhi.

According to official sources, a team of the Central Forensic Lab (CFSL) has been pressed into service to check the infected server of the AIIMS Delhi to identify the source of the malware attack. (ANI)

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US Supports Indian

LAC Clash: US Supports Indian Efforts To Deescalate Tension

By LokMarg

The United States Department of Defence said that it continues to closely watch developments along the Line of Actual Control at the India-China border and noted that China “continues to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in an on-Camera Press Briefing on December 13 (local time) said that China is growingly asserting itself and being proactive in areas directed toward US allies and partners in Indo-Pacific.

Asked about the December 9 face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh, the spokesperson said, “The DoD continues to closely watch developments along the line of actual control at the India-China border.

“We have seen the PRC continue to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC. But I would defer you to India in terms of their views. It does reflect though, and it’s important to point out, the growing trend by the PRC to assert itself and to be provocative in areas directed towards US allies and our partners in the Indo-Pacific,” the Pentagon spokesperson said.

“…We will continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the security of our partners. And we fully support India’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate this situation, Ryder said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Tuesday that Chinese troops had attempted to transgress the LAC at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh in a bid to “unilaterally change the status quo” but were given a firm and resolute response forcing the Chinese side to retreat. In his statement in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Singh said the face-off led to a physical scuffle that led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides but “there were no fatalities or serious casualties” to Indian soldiers.

“The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” Singh told Parliament.

On Tuesday (local time), the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the US is closely monitoring the situation and that Washington is ” glad to hear that both sides appear to have quickly disengaged from the clashes.”

” We are closely monitoring the situation. We encourage India and China to utilize existing bilateral channels to discuss disputed boundaries. Again, we are — we’re glad to see that there has been some disengagement on the clashes at this time,” the White House Press Secretary said.

The US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price also in his press briefing on December 13 (local time) stated that the Price stated that the US is glad to hear both sides have quickly disengaged after the clashes in Tawang.

“…we’re continuing to monitor very closely and to engage with our Indian partners,” Price said.

Responding to a question on the strategy of the US in case the situation escalates, the spokesperson said, “India is indeed an important strategic partner of the United States bilaterally, in the Quad, and other multilateral fora as well. So we’re always, with that in mind, in close contact with our Indian partners, both from our mission in India as well as from the State Department here in Washington.”

“… we do strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by incursions, military or civilian, across the border at the established Line of Actual Control,” he said adding that, “We encourage India and China to utilize existing bilateral channels to discuss disputed boundaries.” (ANI)

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Chinese Aggression Arunachal LAC

These 3 Army Units Thwarted Chinese Aggression At Arunachal LAC

By LokMarg

In the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Yangtse in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh, PLA troops clashed with three units of the Indian Army belonging to different infantry regiments who thwarted their attempt to change status quo on the Line of Actual Control.

Sources on the ground told ANI that the troops belonging to three different battalions including Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, Jat regiment, and Sikh Light Infantry were present at the location of the clash last week when the Chinese tried to unilaterally change the status quo in the area.

The Chinese were armed with clubs, sticks, and other equipment for the clash. The Indian troops were also prepared for the clash as they had known the intentions of the adversary, they said.

One of the units of the Indian Army was on its way out of there and was being relieved by a new unit. However, the Chinese chose to clash on a day when both units were present in the area.

The Chinese Army troops try to enter these areas every year and try to patrol out their claim line which India does not allow.

The Chinese military has been behaving aggressively over issues in Yangtse in the vicinity of the Holy dip and Parikrama area on the Line of Actual Control where the Chinese side has been opposing Indian positions.

During the clash, sources said, the Chinese Army had come along with drones apparently to shoot the entire clash in which they were expecting to outnumber Indian soldiers.

The Chinese had come with over 300 troops who were pelting stones in an attempt to attack the Indian position but were beaten back badly and forced to retreat to their side of the LAC.

The area has seen clashes between the sides in the recent past also as the Chinese have been attempting their policy of encroaching on the land belonging to all their neighbours.

Home Minister Amit Shah has made it clear that the Indian forces would not allow anyone to capture an inch of land anywhere in the country.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated in Parliament that Indian Army troops bravely stopped the Chinese Army from transgressing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Yangtse area of Arunachal’s Tawang sector on December 9.

“I want to assure the House, that no Indian soldier was killed or severely injured. I also assure the House that our Army is capable of defending the territorial integrity of the country. Our Army is ready to tackle any transgression. I firmly believe the House will support the bravery and courage of our armed forces,” he said. (ANI)

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Arunachal CM Pema On Faceoff

It’s Not 1962 Anymore: Arunachal CM Pema On Faceoff

By LokMarg

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday, reacting to the Tawang face-off, said that India’s soldiers would give a befitting reply to anyone who “tries to transgress” the Line of Actual Control.

Khandu said that the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector where the face-off took place between the Indian and Chinese troops took place on December 9, comes under his constituency and he meets the Jawans and villagers of the area every year.

In a stern warning, the Chief Minister recalled the 1962 war in which India was attacked by the Chinese Army and said that anyone who attempts to transgress, Indian soldiers will give a “befitting reply”. In 1962, China had invaded India in Ladakh, and across the McMahon Line in the then North-East Frontier Agency.

“Yangtse is under my assembly constituency & every year I meet the Jawans & villagers of the area. It’s not 1962 anymore. If anyone tries to transgress, our brave soldiers will give a befitting reply,” Khandu tweeted quoting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s tweet in which he was briefing the Rajya Sabha earlier today on the Tawang situation.

Hailing the soldiers, Khandu said, “Our brave Indian Army is not answering brick with stone, our brave Indian army is answering brick with iron.”

Earlier today. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops tried to transgress the Line of Actual Control in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo but they went back to their locations due to timely intervention of Indian military commanders.

Giving a statement in the Rajya Sabha, the Defence Minister assured the Upper House that “our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it”.

Singh also displayed confidence that “this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in the brave effort.”

Explaining the incident, the Minister said: “I would like to brief this august House about an incident on our border in the Tawang Sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, 2022.”

“On December 9, 2022, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of Tawang Sector and unilaterally change the status quo. The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner. The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts,” said Singh.

He further said “the scuffle led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides”, and clarified that “there are no fatalities or serious casualties on our side”.

“Due to the timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers went back to their locations,” Singh said.

As a follow-up of the incident, the Minister further said, the local commander in the area held a “flag meeting with his counterpart on December 11, 2022, to discuss the issue in accordance with established mechanisms”.

“The Chinese side was asked to refrain from such actions and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. The issue has also been taken up with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” Singh said.

The Minister also assured the House that “our forces are committed to protecting our territorial integrity and will continue to thwart any attempt made on it”.

“I am confident that this entire House will stand united in supporting our soldiers in their brave effort,” the Minister added.

The clash near Yangtse along the LAC in the sensitive sector took place last Friday amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

“On December 9, PLA troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by own (Indian) troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to few personnel from both sides,” the Indian Army has said in a statement.

“Both sides immediately disengaged from the area. As a follow up of the incident, own (Indian) commander in the area held a flag meeting with his counterpart to discuss the issue in accordance with structured mechanisms to restore peace and tranquillity,” it said. (ANI)

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China Defence Budget Conceals More Than It Reveals: Report

China Describes Border Situation As ‘Generally Stable’

By LokMarg

The situation at the India-China border was “generally stable,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday, after both the troops clashed at the border, according to Reuters.

This statement came after the Indian Army, in a statement, said that the People’s Liberation Army troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by Indian troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that no Indian troops were killed or seriously injured while stopping the Chinese PLA troops from encroaching on the country’s territory during the December 9 face-off at Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector.

Singh said, “In this face-off, a few soldiers on both sides suffered injuries. I’d like to tell this House that none of our soldiers died or suffered any serious injury. Due to the timely intervention of Indian military commanders, PLA soldiers have retreated to their own locations.”

“This matter has also been taken up with China through diplomatic channels. I want to assure the House that our forces are committed to guarding our borders and ready to thwart any attempt that will be made to challenge it,” Rajnath Singh said.

“I am confident this House will respect the capability, valour and commitment of our armed forces, Singh said.

During the speech, Singh further said that the Indian Army bravely stopped the Chinese PLA troops from encroaching on Indian territory, and forced them to withdraw to their posts.

“On December 9, 2022, PLA troops tried to transgress the LAC in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector and unilaterally change the status quo. The Chinese attempt was contested by our troops in a firm and resolute manner. The ensuing face-off led to a physical scuffle in which the Indian Army bravely prevented the PLA from transgressing into our territory and compelled them to return to their posts,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Opposition members earlier today created a ruckus in Parliament over the clash between troops of India and China. Soon after Rajnath Singh’s statement, Opposition leaders staged a walkout from Lok Sabha. (ANI)

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LS Speaker about Opposition parties

Lok Sabha Faces Disruption Over India-China Clashes In Arunachal

By LokMarg

Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid a ruckus by the Opposition during Question Hour over the clash between troops of India and China along the Line of Actual Control at the Tawang border in Arunachal Pradesh.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said in the Lower House that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Members of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha gave notices under Rule 267 and Rule 176 of the Rules of Procedure for the suspension of business to conduct a discussion on the December 9 clashes between the forces of India and China at the Tawang border.

The MPs including Ranjeet Ranjan, Randeep Singh Surjewala, L. Hanumanthaiah, Jebi Mather, Jajani Patil, Nasir Hussain, Manish Tewari, Manoj Kumar Jha and Priyanka Chaturvedi are among those who have sought a discussion on the issue soon after both the houses assemble for the day.

The MPs have demanded to suspend Zero Hour and relevant rules relating to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to have a discussion on the issue which needs immediate measures to combat such aggressions and protect India’s interests along the international border.

The clash near Yangtse along the LAC in the sensitive sector took place last Friday amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

“On December 9, PLA troops contacted the LAC in Tawang Sector which was contested by own (Indian) troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off led to minor injuries to few personnel from both sides,” the Indian Army said in a statement.

“Both sides immediately disengaged from the area. As a follow up of the incident, own (Indian) commander in the area held a flag meeting with his counterpart to discuss the issue in accordance with structured mechanisms to restore peace and tranquillity,” it said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and service chiefs. (ANI)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping

China Turns Blind Eye To Covid Management Criticism

By LokMarg

Chinese government turned a blind eye to the criticism of its Covid management, Voices Against Autocracy has stated, adding that despite all the world criticism, China stuck to its impractical and unreasonable zero-covid policy and ignored the innocent civilians suffering.

According to Voices Against Autocracy, like an ostrich, China is also ignoring the facts and thinks it is the cleverest mode.
China’s draconian lockdown measures had invited widespread criticism from around the world. UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the protest against the Chinese government is evidence that people are unhappy with their authorities.

“The Chinese government and the international community should take note of the rare protests in China over the weekend,” Cleverly said on November 29, 2022, adding, “It’s clear that the Chinese people themselves are deeply unhappy with what is going on, about the restrictions imposed upon them by the Chinese government. These are the voices of the Chinese people taking on the government. It would be right if the Chinese government listens to what those people are saying.”

On the same day, White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said in a news conference, “Our message to peaceful protests around the world is the same and consistent. People should be allowed the right to assemble and to protest against policies or laws or dictates peacefully. We are watching this closely and we would see where things go. We continue to stand up and support the right of peaceful protest.”

On the US President’s message to Chinese citizens peacefully opposing Covid lockdowns, Kirby said people should have the freedom to assemble and peacefully oppose any policies, laws, or orders they disagree with.

The White House supports the right of peaceful protest, Kirby added as he reiterated US’ support to people in China amid the ongoing protests, according to Voices Against Autocracy.

He said President Joe Biden was staying informed on what was happening inside China. “Nothing has changed about the President’s firm belief in the power of democracy and democratic institutions and how important that is. This is a moment to reassert what we believe in when it comes to free assembly and peaceful protest. We have done that and we will continue to do that.”

In China, recently, the world witnessed a spike in protest since the Urumqi incident took place.

On November 24, a fire tore through a residential building in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s capital Urumqi. After the incident, citizens circulated the videos on the internet space, with residents screaming and demanding authorities to open exits. The residents said they were closed under strict Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place for more than 100 days and have caused widespread hardship.

Meanwhile, Rubio and Smith, who are ranking Republican members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, have said: “These protests are not about a public health crisis, but a human rights crisis. The United States must be unwavering in our support for the Chinese people as they bravely call for freedom.”

In a separate statement, Senator Ted Cruz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said the Communist Party of China, since the beginning of the pandemic, has been desperate to cover up the origin, nature, and consequences of Covid-19.

“They lied and continue to lie to the world, and as a result, millions of lives were lost and immense suffering was caused. Now their coercive campaign of denial has converged with the systematic human rights atrocities, including their ongoing genocide of the Uighur and other minorities in Xinjiang,” Voices Against Autocracy quoted Cruz as saying.

“The people of China are not to blame for the Chinese Communist Party’s actions. In fact, many of them were already protesting the CCP’s handling of the pandemic, and now those protests have escalated into open criticism of the regime. They are bravely standing up for their rights,” Voices Against Autocracy further quoted him as saying. (ANI)

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South China Sea

Chinese Hackers Stole Millions Of Covid Relief Money In US

By LokMarg

China-based hackers stole at least USD 20 million in US Covid relief benefits, including unemployment insurance funds and Small Business Administration loans, NBC news reported citing the country’s Secret Service.

Hackers linked to the Chinese government are from a Chengdu-based group known as APT41. The report said other federal investigations of pandemic fraud also seem to point back to foreign state-affiliated hackers.
“It would be crazy to think this group didn’t target all 50 states,” Roy Dotson, national pandemic fraud recovery coordinator for the Secret Service, told NBC.

The US Secret Service declined to confirm the scope of other investigations.

They said there are over 1,000 ongoing investigations involving transnational and domestic criminal actors defrauding public benefits programs, and APT41 is “a notable player,” according to NBC news.

In recent months, the US has witnessed a rise in espionage cases emanating from China.

Last month, in three separate cases, the US government charged 13 individuals, including members of China’s security and intelligence apparatus and their agents, for alleged efforts to unlawfully exert influence in the United States for the benefit of their government.

“As these cases demonstrate, the government of China sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial system that protects those rights. They did not succeed,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, as quoted in the Justice Department press statement.

“The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the Rule of Law upon which our democracy is based. We will continue to fiercely protect the rights guaranteed to everyone in our country. And we will defend the integrity of our institutions,” Garland added.

Seven Chinese nationals were charged – two of whom were arrested on October 20 in New York – with participating in a scheme to cause the forced repatriation of a PRC national residing in the United States.

The defendants are accused of conducting surveillance of and engaging in a campaign to harass and coerce a U.S. resident to return to Beijing as part of an international extralegal repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.” (ANI)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping

China’s Xi To Visit Saudi Arabia This Week

By LokMarg

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to reach Saudi Arabia on Thursday amid the tension between the US and the two countries.

According to CNN citing sources, Xi’s trip to Arabia’s capital Riyadh will include a China-Arab summit in which 14 Arab heads of state are expected to attend.
During the two-day visit, a China-GCC conference is also expected to take place.

Rumours of a Chinese presidential visit to the US largest Middle East ally have been circulating for months. Still, they are yet to be confirmed by the governments of Saudi Arabia and China.

Last week, the Saudi government sent out registration forms for reporters to cover the summit, without confirming the exact dates. The Saudi government declined to respond to CNN’s request for information about Xi’s visit and the planned summits.

The US and Saudi Arabia are still embroiled in a heated spat over oil production, which in October culminated in strong rhetoric and traded accusations when the Saudi-led oil cartel OPEC+ slashed output by two million barrels per day in an effort to “stabilize” prices. The decision was taken despite heavy US campaigning against it, according to CNN.

In July, US President Joe Biden paid a visit to Saudi Arabia where he raised the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Biden said that he believed the Saudi leader was responsible for the US-based journalist’s death.

“I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time and what I think of it now,” Biden said in a speech after hours of meetings with the Saudi Crown Prince in Jeddah.

US relations with China have also been strained not only with Saudi Arabia. China and Saudi Arabia have also taken different stances to the West regarding the Ukraine war. Both have refrained from endorsing sanctions on Russia, and Riyadh has repeatedly maintained that Moscow is a key energy-producing partner that must be consulted on OPEC+ decisions, reported CNN.

Following last month’s massive oil cut, some US officials have accused Saudi Arabia of siding with Russia and aiding President Vladimir Putin with his war on Ukraine.

Saudi officials have denied either weaponizing oil or siding with Russia. (ANI)

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US China Pak

US Places China, Pak On List Of Religious Freedom Violators

By LokMarg

The Biden administration has placed China, Pakistan, and 10 others on a list of countries that “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom” during 2022.

“Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“I am also placing Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom,” he added.

The United States has also designated nine groups including the Taliban, and the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner Group, as “Entities of Particular Concern.”

“I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as Entities of Particular Concern,” he said.

Noting that governments and non-state actors harass and kill individuals on account of their beliefs, Blinken said the United States will not stand by in the face of these abuses.

“In some instances, they stifle individuals’ freedom of religion or belief to exploit opportunities for political gain. These actions sow division, undermine economic security, and threaten political stability and peace,” he said.

The US Secretary of State said the announcement of these designations is in keeping with US values and interests to protect national security and to advance human rights around the globe.

He said that the United States will continue to carefully monitor the status of freedom of religion or belief in every country around the world and advocate for those facing religious persecution or discrimination.

“We will also regularly engage countries about our concerns regarding limitations on freedom of religion or belief, regardless of whether those countries have been designated,” he added. (ANI)

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