S Jaishankar meets China's Xi Jinping, first after border de-escalation
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Pew Survey: Global views of China, Xi Jinping improve as US image declines
A new survey by the Pew Research Centre reveals a shift in global public opinion, with views of China and its leader Xi Jinping improving in several countries, while favorability toward the United States and President Donald Trump has notably on Tuesday, the survey suggests that global attitudes toward the two geopolitical superpowers are now more evenly matched than in recent years, marking a dramatic reversal from the Biden era, when international views of the US were consistently stronger than those of its latest survey of 24 countries, Pew found that the US was viewed more favourably than China in eight countries, China was viewed more favourably in seven, and the two were viewed about equally in the remainder. In particular, only 35% of respondents in 10 high - income countries — including Canada, France, Germany, and Italy-held a favourable opinion of the US, down from 51% just a year ago. Pew surveyed more than 30,000 people across 25 countries, including the US, which was excluded from the comparison from January 8 to April 26. The margins of error for each country ranged from plus or minus 2.5 to plus or minus the Pew Research Centre did not pinpoint a singular reason for the change, experts point to a combination of evolving geopolitical dynamics and perceptions of leadership. 'As the US potentially looks like a less reliable partner and people have limited confidence, for example, in Trump leading the global economy, China may look different in some people's eyes,' said Laura Silver, associate director of research at also noted that criticisms previously linked to China's global image, such as its human rights record or pandemic response, may be less influential this findings arrive as President Trump faces growing criticism over his administration's foreign policy decisions. A group of Democratic senators this week accused the administration of 'ceding global influence to China' through a series of policy moves, including cutting foreign aid, slapping tariffs on traditional allies, and tightening immigration policies affecting international the Pew findings, 35% of those in 10 high-income countries surveyed, consistently including Canada, France, Germany and Italy have favourable opinions of the US, down from 51% last year. By comparison, 32% of them have positive views of China, up from last year's 23%. And 24% of them say they have confidence in Trump, compared with 53% last year for scored a slight improvement: 22% of those in these rich countries say they have confidence in the Chinese president, up from last year's 17%.However, people in Israel have far more favourable views of the US than of China: 83% of Israelis like the US, compared with 33% who say they have positive views of China. And 69% of them say they have confidence in Trump, while only 9% express confidence in Xi.- Ends
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
War Clouds Near India's Backyard: Civilian Draft Begins As Two Asian Nations Face Off – And No, It's Not Pakistan
New Delhi: An eerie silence hangs heavy over Southeast Asia's dense border forests. The trail that once welcomed casual travellers and cross-border traders has turned still. At one end, Cambodia tightens its boots. On the other, Thailand holds its breath. The decades-old tension between the two neighbours has taken a turn and now, the signs are pointing toward a potential military showdown. Cambodia has made a move few expected in 2025. Prime Minister Hun Manet stood before a military training centre this week and made an announcement that sent waves across the region. He said from next year, all Cambodian civilians between the ages of 18 and 30 will be mandatorily drafted into military training for 18 months. The decision is not new on paper. A law mandating this very draft had been passed back in 2006, but until now, it had only existed as ink. Now, it is real and happening. This turn of events follows a violent incident that occurred on May 28, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an exchange of gunfire near a disputed section of the Thailand-Cambodia border. The aftermath was immediate. The once-open passage between the two countries was sealed shut. And trust, already fragile, began to fracture further. Cambodia did not stop at only closing its borders. It went to the International Court of Justice, hoping to draw global attention to what it claims are repeated violations. Meanwhile, trade has taken a hit. Imports coming in from Thailand have been halted by Phnom Penh. In Bangkok, the tension has started to rattle the political corridors. The Thai government suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a private conversation between her and Cambodia's former strongman, Hun Sen, leaked into the public domain. The contents of the conversation remain murky, but the political fallout has been swift and public. The numbers paint a grim picture. Cambodia's armed forces currently stand at an estimated 200,000 troops, according to CIA World Factbook figures. Thailand's force is bigger, at over 350,000 troops. But sheer numbers do not always tell the whole story. Cambodia's leadership now wants more. Hun Manet has urged the nation to boost its military budget, signalling that the government sees the standoff as more than just a passing crisis. The military buildup also has another shadow, China. Beijing has established a large naval base inside Cambodia, adding to its growing military presence in the region. Chinese weapons have also found their way into Cambodian arsenals. With China standing close, the stakes grow higher. In his speech, Hun Manet framed the present situation as a turning point. A moment for his country's forces to reassess, reorganize and prepare. The mood in Cambodia is shifting. The government is laying foundations for long-term militarisation. The calls for restraint still echo, but action on the ground suggests otherwise. Young men across Cambodia now await call-up orders. Families prepare for months of absence. On the border, the soil grows more tense with every sunrise. No one has spoken of war openly. But no one is ruling it out either.
The Print
2 hours ago
- The Print
By reviving Hasina-era mango diplomacy with India, Yunus govt signals ‘business as usual'
The mango shipments were coordinated by Bangladesh's Ministry of External Affairs and followed an earlier exchange of Eid greetings between the two governments. PM Modi had extended wishes to Muhammad Yunus, his counterpart in Dhaka, who reciprocated the wishes. While consignments of mangoes were also sent to other South Asian countries, and states in India, including key political figures in West Bengal and Tripura, one notable omission stood out: Assam. New Delhi: Earlier this week, Dhaka dispatched 100 kg of its prized Haribhanga mangoes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuing a tradition of 'mango diplomacy' that began under Bangladesh's deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The seasonal exchange came at a time of considerable political and diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Earlier Thursday, Yunus sent 300 kg of the popular mangoes as a gift to Tripura CM Manik Saha. Each year, the Bangladesh government sends seasonal gifts to the Tripura state government and prominent individuals. In a reciprocal gesture of goodwill, Tripura sends Bangladesh its renowned Queen variety pineapples, known for their sweetness and juiciness. On the surface, the gift baskets appeared to signal a thaw in ties, which turned frosty following Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024. But the timing of the gesture gives it deeper, more strategic undertones, particularly the omission of Assam from the list of recipients. In June, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had told the state Assembly that authorities 'pushed back [into Bangladesh] almost 330 people' who they suspected of being foreigners. Also Read: Yunus initiates 'mango diplomacy' in bid to strengthen ties with China. 50-yr water sharing plan soon 'Business as usual' Even as it revives Hasina-era mango diplomacy, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus is recalibrating its regional strategy and moving decisively to deepen ties with China and Pakistan. Beijing, already a major player in Bangladesh, had announced a $1 billion economic package during Hasina's final months in office. The interim government has signaled its intent to build on that investment. In a parallel move, relations with Pakistan have also warmed considerably. In April, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka in what marked the first high-level engagement between the two countries in over 15 years. Since Hasina's departure, both nations have resumed military dialogues, reactivated trade agreements, and relaxed visa requirements. Notably, Bangladesh maintained a neutral stance during the most recent flare-up between India and Pakistan, a move interpreted by many as a signal that Dhaka is seeking to expand its strategic flexibility in the region. Last month, China hosted the first-ever trilateral meeting between Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan in Kunming, in the southwestern province of Yunnan. In a statement released after the meeting, the Chinese foreign ministry said the three nations had 'reaffirmed their commitment to genuine multilateralism and open regionalism,' emphasizing—apparently with India in mind—that the cooperation 'is not directed at any third party'. Analysts say these developments point to a quiet but unmistakable shift in Bangladesh's foreign policy outlook. 'Bangladesh is signaling that it's business as usual,' Mubashar Hasan, Bangladeshi political analyst and researcher at the University of Oslo, told ThePrint. Adding, 'While the country takes pride in its mangoes, the gesture also reflects a broader shift—unlike during Hasina's tenure, Dhaka no longer views India as its primary regional ally. India maintained a realist foreign policy and aligned with Hasina's rhetoric while she was in power. Although India's stance remains largely unchanged, Bangladesh's political outlook has clearly evolved.' By engaging with China and Pakistan while keeping diplomatic courtesies alive with India, Bangladesh appears to be walking a careful tightrope while asserting greater autonomy. As for mango diplomacy, while symbolic, has a history in the subcontinent. In 1986, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi famously gifted mangoes to Philippine President Corazon Aquino. In 2008, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari sent a crate to then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a gesture of goodwill. Bangladesh has also used mangoes as a soft power tool. In 2023, Hasina sent a similar consignment to Indian leaders to encourage progress on the long-stalled Teesta water-sharing agreement. Now, the Yunus administration is actively pursuing the extradition of Hasina, living in exile in India, to face charges stemming from the brutal crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. She has been accused of crimes against humanity and has now been indicted as well. Authorities in Dhaka have also begun freezing the assets of Hasina and her family. Justice Minister Asif Nazrul and Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain confirmed that formal extradition requests have already been sent to New Delhi. India has so far not responded to any of the requests. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Indian mangoes land in America and become 'ticking time bombs'
