We have not yet heard the last of the impact of the AUKUS announcement. The next step will depend on France's internal compulsions, particularly electoral pressures that President Emmanuel Macron will face. One of many countries or even the USA could step in with deal to make up for lost face What are the options? … Continue reading AUKUS: What really are France’s options?
China
The strategic importance of lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands 300 – 450 km off the south west coast. It comes right on the busy sea lanes from the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman to Singapore/ Thailand Malaysia and Australia.To understand the geographic importance of the island group please see map 1 below and the … Continue reading The strategic importance of lakshadweep
A story of five ports, India and China
Recent news about China now being only 290 Km from Kanyakumari created a lot of heat and discussion. This post tries to place the news in context. Bulk of international trade moves on the sea, along fixed routes and is made up of container ships and tankers. As can be seen from visual below, they … Continue reading A story of five ports, India and China
World cement consumption stats for 2010
International Cement Review's latest cement report states that world cement consumption grew at 9.9% for 2010 to 3294 million tonnes. This compares to 5.9 % and -2.4 % for the previous two years. China accounts for almost half of the global figures, consuming 1851 Mt. India is a distant second with 212 Mt with the … Continue reading World cement consumption stats for 2010
the metaphysics of existence 