Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit Bhutan from March 21-22 to meet with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay. The visit comes amid Bhutan’s border talks with China. It is being held in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two sides and the Indian Government’s emphasis on its Neighbourhood First Policy.
Pakistan will reportedly give a renewed push to deport Afghan migrants by next month. As border tensions with Afghanistan escalate, Pakistani officials informed that the second phase of the deportation of “illegal” Afghan immigrants will commence after Eid. The government of Punjab has asked the migrants to voluntarily repatriate to Afghanistan by the deadline of 15 April. Pakistan started the deportation process in November 2023, with the aim of expelling around 1.7 million undocumented Afghan migrants.
Indian Ambassador to the UN Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday emphasised the need to address the lack of diversity in the UN Security Council, stating that the Council's structure remains outdated. She slammed the UNSC for denying a voice to the countries of the Global South and said that there was a need for reform of the council in temporary as well as permanent membership categories. The comments came a day after India questioned China for supporting a reform model with no provision to alter permanent membership.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong's legislature unanimously passed a new national security law, introducing strict penalties, including life imprisonment for treason and insurrection, and up to 20 years for stealing state secrets.The law, which has raised concerns from the US, UK, and EU about potential restrictions on freedoms in Hong Kong, was swiftly passed through the city’s legislative body.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that China has constructed “enormous” military installations on three islands near Taiwan’s primary outpost in the South China Sea. However, Taipei expressed no desire to exacerbate tensions in the vital waterway. While both Taiwan and China assert sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, the former governs only one small islet in the disputed Spratly Islands, known as Itu Aba or Taiping.
Russian President Vladimir Putin could visit China for his first overseas visit following his recent reelection. During a meeting with parliamentary factions on Tuesday, Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party, urged Putin to visit China. “I hope that your first visit will be to the East, and not to the West. Comrade (Chinese President) Xi Jinping is waiting for you to visit, he loves our country very much,” TASS cited Zyuganov as saying.