Problematic Chinese exercises near Taiwan, civil war breaks out in Sudan, malaise among Moscow elites

Bulletin (third week of April)

---

Versione italiana

---

• A comprehensive UK-India trade agreement is still elusive

A British parliamentary delegation discussed trade, research and development cooperation with its Indian counterpart on 10 April.

This comes as the two countries concluded the latest round of talks on a free trade agreement last month.

At the same time, however, an article in the Times of London denounces how the Indian government is refusing to continue trade negotiations with the UK because of the British government's failure to condemn a group calling for the separation of the state of Punjab from India.

---

• Beijing flexes its muscles near Taiwan

After an extensive Chinese navy and air force exercise near Taiwan, a few days after current President Tsai Ing-Wen's visit to various states in North, Central, and South America, with more than 12 Chinese warships and at least 90 fighter jets continuously active for several days, the date of a sudden Russian exercise is approaching, which coincides with an equally sudden exercise by China in the Yellow sea (near the korean peninsula). The date is the 18th of April.

Many see this as a golden opportunity for a possible invasion attempt by Chinese forces with the facilitation of the Russian navy.

The aircraft carrier Shandong near Taiwan. ©JSDF Photo

We are not convinced.