Gunners Shot

There is a need to take a break from Ukraine. The popular perception is that China will benefit the most from the Ukraine war. I doubt. A slowing economy, targeted decoupling, fast changing demographics, resource and energy deficiency, internal politics, and the resurgence of the Wuhan Virus in China are weighing it down irrespective of the outcomes of the Ukraine War. These issues appear in their internal news quite regularly. In fact, in my opinion, China has peaked out and its decline has commenced. Why do I say this? The strength or weakness of a nation lies in its population. China’s population is its weakest link. Many might laugh at me. However one has to see it from a Chinese point of view to understand this issue.   When the world is grappling with the Ukraine War and its widespread impact, there is a different battle going on in China. The demons of its demographic bomb are out in the public. Falling birth rates, lower marriages, higher divorces, gender imbalance, ageing and

In Sep 2020, I gave a presentation to the Colours of Glory Foundation. The topic was INDIAN ARTILLERY : YESTERDAY TODAY AND TOMORROW . This presentation was made when the face off with China was at its peak in Eastern Ladakh. I am re-posting it since it answers a few fundamental questions which have come up during the ongoing Ukrainian crisis and posits a few more which need answers . The Video is an edited version of the full event.    The full event can be viewed on this link.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAB26xAAgw0&t=11s  . The presentation is not slick since it was in the early days of Webinars when we were all on the learning curve. Apart from that you will get an idea of the journey of Indian Artillery.    First . There is hardly anyone who does not understand that India must be Atmanirbhar in Defense. However, there is national and international skepticism whether it can be achieved.    A few days back I had written an article in which I outlined the story of the Atmani

Aadi and I had a discussion on the Ukrainian war to uncover the fog of propaganda which has enveloped this war as also the common perceptions and expectations of professionals and normal people in India and abroad.   Join the  Gunners Shot  conversation at any one of the following platforms   1.      Gunners Shot  website @    https://www.gunnershoot.com 2.      Gunners Shot  blog     @    https://www.gunnersshot.com 3.      Gunners Shot Community on Twitter @  https://twitter.com/i/communities/1506795408000884738 4.      Gunner Shot Telegram Link @    https://t.me/+VAozVeSP81vJCwlg 5.      Gunner Shot Signal Link @  https://signal.group/#CjQKIJ1kIMh61IatbfRvhlLcOxgisy7kzCaLlI8nU4PWEYXeEhDkvIKGevk_evLFEexOd7Dr 6.     OR  Follow me on Twitter @palepurshankar

In November 2020 , the initial wave of the Wuhan Virus had abated. The global leadership was under debate. The world was recovering from its ill effects. At that time, I had written an article titled  THE GLOBAL ORDER IS BROKEN! LONG LIVE THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER!  . In that article, I had written,    among other things that “  First and foremost, nations, societies and people will endeavour to recover from the Chinese virus and get on with their lives. When they begin afresh, they will pick up pieces from a vastly different position. Till the virus lasts, a degree of physical and psychological isolation will endure. This will force self-reliance, protection and societies getting adjusted to new norms of life with a new sense of nationalism. Global interdependence and border less societies are no more in fashion.    Everyone will endeavour to establish an amount of strategic autonomy on issues which they consider critical to their national interests ”. I had also written about the failure

Took part in a panel discussion on DD  Gave my point of view as to about the current status of the war as it enters the second month.    

Aadi and I had an interesting discussion with Mr Tsering Passang, a Tibetan in exile. Our discussion indicated that the flame of independance is still alive.    

It was a matter of honour to speak once again at CKS on their program "Thus Spake Generals" on Lessons For India From Ukraine. This is a a slide based presentation. It is also quite current.     

 Mr Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of PRC is coming to India in the midst of the current global crisis in Ukraine. He is testing waters to see if India is amenable to being weaned away from QUAD and the West to join Russia and China for a RIC trilateral. This visit is specially significant in the light of President Biden's comment on India being 'Shaky'. China obviously sees an opportunity. Aadi and I discussed various aspects of China and where it stands today in Part I   of our dialogue. In this part the discussion is about the nuances of Sino Indian equations and what it will take for us to veer towards China and the general path ahead for India. Click Here for Part I  

I was part of a panel discussion on DD India on the military dimensions of the Russia Ukraine war. It was an informed panel. The scope included the current situation and where it is heading as also the Nuclear dimensions which have crept into this war. The discussion was interesting to say the least. Normally I do not get on to a TV channel. However I made an exception for DD since it is a staid and serious government channel which does not disintegrate into a slanging and shouting match. Every one is given adequate time to put an informed view across.  

  When analysing this war people have generally forgotten that Russia is a civilisation power. Apart from USA, it is only Russia which is energy, resource, food and technology surplus with a fully rounded and experienced military. People also forget that by territory it is the largest country. More than any other country, it knows Ukraine best. Writing off a self-sufficient Russia which has initiated this conflict after extensive preparation is premature. From another perspective, the larger war is between US/NATO/EU and Russia. Ukraine is just a proxy which is getting squeezed in the middle. From any perspective , Russia has the USA/NATO/EU combination in a bind. All they have been able to do is sit on the side lines and twiddle their thumbs. After the recent visit of President Biden to Europe , New York Times reports that   “Europeans have said they are not willing to bear the consequences of new limits on the Russian energy that they depend on. And Mr. Biden has said he is not willi