Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 18, 2020

An Indian army convoy makes its way towards the border with China. Photo: AFP

Kunal Purohit, SCMP: China-India border dispute: what are New Delhi’s options to respond?

* Officially, escalation has been ruled out after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a border skirmish with Chinese troops. But calls for a response are growing
* India could target Huawei’s 5G deal, or boost ties with the US. And while all-out war is unlikely, its troops may take matters into their own hands

While New Delhi and Beijing officially agreed against escalating the deadly conflict that erupted on their disputed border this week, unofficially in policy circles and the media there has been much speculation over India’s options in bilateral ties.

And among the Indian public, calls for a response are ringing louder as details – unverified by official sources – emerge over the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers killed in hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops on Monday night.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 18, 2020

Blood Spilled on the India-China Border -- Sudha Ramachandran, The Diplomat

Why Is China Downplaying the Border Clash? -- James Palmer, Foreign Policy

A border dispute with China may push India closer to some of Beijing's top rivals -- James Griffiths, CNN

Hawaii talks between top US and China diplomats offer some hope at last -- SCMP editorial

North Korea blows up a strategic building to try to blackmail the U.S. and South Korea -- David Maxwell and Mathew Ha, NBC

Is a Brexit deal within reach? -- James Forsyth, Spectator

Inside the plot to topple Europe’s last dictator -- Sean Williams, Wired

Moscow’s Next Front: Russia’s Expanding Military Footprint in Libya -- CSIS

In Serbia, Elections Are Normally a Charade. This Year Could Be Different -- Aleks Eror, WPR

Putin's rating is collapsing as anger grows in Russia -- Roman Dobrokhotov, Al Jazeera

Can Nord Stream 2 pipeline still be completed despite US sanctions? -- Sabine Kinkartz, DW

New Threats to Ukraine. -- Stephen Blank, RCD

Can we keep our 'grey zone' edge over our enemies? -- Seth Cropsey, The Hill

U.N. vote deals Trudeau embarrassing defeat on world stage -- Ryan Heath and Lauren Gardner, Politico

Will mutations soon make the coronavirus less harmful? -- Alexander Freund, DW