UPSC Prelims Research: International Relations 2022

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Answer: (c) 2 and 3

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement:

• It is one of several located in Northern Uganda and covers an area mass of 250 square kilometers.
• It is the biggest refugee camp in the world and houses over 270,000 refugees.
• The Bidi Bidi refugee settlement is home to a mostly South Sudanese population.
• Many of the inhabitants of Bidi Bidi fled because of the threat of murder or imprisonment from rebels or government soldiers.

Dadaab Refugee complex

• It was initially established as a temporary haven for some 90,000 refugees fleeing the 1991 clan fighting.
• It is now a sprawling, bustling complex of five camps, boasting makeshift cinemas and soccer leagues the third largest city in Kenya, after Nairobi and Mombasa.
• It was established 30 years ago to accommodate Somalis fleeing their country’s civil war.

Q. Consider the following countries:

1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Croatia
4. Romania
5. Uzbekistan

Which of the above are members of the Organization of Turkic States?

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 3, 4 and 5

Answer: (c) 2 and 5

Notes:

• The Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) is an intergovernmental organization comprising countries with Turkic-speaking populations.
• Its formation can be traced back to the Turkish summit convened by the then-Turkian President in 1992. This initial gathering paved the way for the establishment of the Council of Turkic States in 2009, with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan joining Turkey as founding members.
• Hailed as the “first voluntary alliance of the Turkic states in history,” the forum was further elevated to the more formal structure of the Organisation of Turkic States during the Istanbul summit in 2021.
• Its four founding member states are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.
• During the 7th Summit held in Baku in October 2019, Uzbekistan joined as a full member. Hungary received observer status at the Organization during its 6th Summit in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic in September 2018. And in lately in the 8th Summit held in November 2021, Turkmenistan joined as an Observer Member to the Organization.

Q. With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:

1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982 is an international agreement that establishes the legal framework for marine and maritime activities.
• It is also known as the Law of the Sea. It divides marine areas into five main zones namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.
• Every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined following this Convention.
• It is the only international convention which stipulates a framework for state jurisdiction in maritime spaces. It provides a different legal status to different maritime zones.
• The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
• It provides the backbone for offshore governance by coastal states and those navigating the oceans.
• It not only zones coastal states’ offshore areas but also provides specific guidance for states’ rights and responsibilities in the five concentric zones.
• While UNCLOS has been signed and ratified by nearly all the coastal countries in the South China Sea, its interpretation is still hotly disputed.
• There is a maritime dispute in the East China Sea as well.
• The innocent passage has been codified in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) was adopted in 1982, it is also known as the Law of the Sea Treaty. Its purpose is to establish a comprehensive set of rules governing the oceans and to replace previous U.N. Conventions on the Law of the Sea, 1958 (UNCLOS I) which was adopted in 1958 and another in 1960 (UNCLOS II) since these two conventions were believed to be inadequate. 
• Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.

Know More: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.

(b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.

(c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.

(d) Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

Answer: (b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.

Senkaku Islands:

• The Senkaku/Diaoyu islands were formally claimed by Japan in 1895 and have been privately owned by a series of Japanese citizens for most of the past 120 years.
• China began to reassert claims over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the 1970s, citing historic rights to the area.
• Tensions between China and Japan over the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu islands continue to increase as both countries improve their military capabilities, particularly their radar and missile systems, in the region.

Japan’s Position:

• Administrative Clarity: The name change aims to eliminate administrative confusion arising from the similarity between the island’s name and a locality in downtown Ishigaki.
• Responding to Chinese Presence: The name change is also a response to China’s growing presence in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands. It is seen as a measure to safeguard Japan’s territorial integrity.
• US Support: Japan has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, which mandates US defense of Japan in case of an attack on its territory.

China’s Position:

• Territorial Sovereignty: China views Japan’s decision as a blatant provocation to its territorial sovereignty. It considers the move illegal and illegitimate.
• Adherence to Four-Principle Consensus: China urges Japan to uphold the spirit of the four-principle consensus, refrain from stirring tensions over the Diaoyu Islands, and take concrete steps to maintain stability in the East China Sea.
• Four-Point Principle: The four-point principle on improving China-Japan ties was adopted in 2014 to foster a mutually beneficial relationship based on shared strategic interests.

Q. Consider the following pairs:

	Country		Important reason for being in the news recently
1.	Chad	—	Setting up of permanent military base by China
2.	Guinea	—	Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3.	Lebanon	—	Severe and prolonged economic depression
4.	Tunisia	—	Suspension of Parliament by President

How many pairs given above are correctly, matched?

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs

Answer: (c) Only three pairs

Notes:

Chad

• Chad is a landlocked country in north-central Africa. 
• Chad is a largely semi-desert country, is rich in gold and uranium, and stands to benefit from its recently-acquired status as an oil-exporting state.
• China has no permanent military base in Chad.

Guinea

• Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
• The president of Guinea was detained after a successful military coup in the West African nation.
• The coup was reportedly led by special task forces led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinean Special Forces.

 Lebanon

• Lebanon is a country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
• It consists of a narrow strip of territory and is one of the world’s smaller sovereign states. The capital is Beirut.
• Lebanon is an import-dependent country. The badly damaged port facility is Lebanon’s largest maritime gateway and it will make essential items expensive and threaten food security in the country. 
• Lebanon has already been struggling with a huge economic meltdown, with the rapid devaluation of the local currency and a volatile exchange rate on the black market fueling inflation, shuttering businesses, unemployment, and poverty.
• It had also defaulted on a Eurobond repayment in March 2020.

    Tunisia

• Tunisia is a country in North Africa.
• Tunisia’s accessible Mediterranean Sea coastline and strategic location have attracted conquerors and visitors through the ages, and its ready access to the Sahara has brought its people into contact with inhabitants of the African interior.
• Tunisia’s President Kais Saied on Monday extended his months-long suspension of parliament until new elections in December 2022, while calling for a July referendum on constitutional reforms.

Q. Consider the following pairs:

	Country		Region often mentioned in the news
1.	Anatolia	—	Turkey
2.	Amhara	—	Ethiopia
3.	Cabo Delgado	—	Spain
4.	Catalonia	—	Italy

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs

Answer: (b) Only two pairs

Notes:

Anatolia

• Anatolia is a large peninsula in Western Asia and covers a major part of Turkey.
• Anatolia can be defined in geographic terms as the area bounded to the north by the Black Sea, to the east and south by the Southeastern Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, and to the west by the Aegean Sea and Sea of Marmara.
• culturally the area also includes the islands of the eastern Aegean Sea.
• In most prehistoric periods the regions to the south and west of Anatolia were under the influence of, respectively, Syria and the Balkans.

 Amhara

• The Amhara Region officially the Amhara National Regional State is a regional state in northern Ethiopia and the homeland of the Amhara people.
• The Amhara are one of the two largest ethnolinguistic groups in Ethiopia.
• They constitute more than one-fourth of the country’s population.
• The Amharic language is an Afro-Asiatic language belonging to the Southwest Semitic group.

 Cabo Delgado

• Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique.
• It has an area of 82,625 square kilometers and a population of 2,320,261.
• As well as bordering Mtwara Region in the neighboring country of Tanzania, it borders the provinces of Nampula and Niassa.

   Catalonia

• The Catalonia region, in northeastern Spain.
•  is known for the lively beach resorts of Costa Brava as well as the Pyrenees Mountains.
• Languages spoken here are the Catalan language and Spanish Language.

Also read: Historical Region and Disputed Regions (in News)

Q. With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements:

1. It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
2. It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
3. It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 3 only
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 2

Answer: (a) 3 only

United Nations Credentials Committee:

• A United Nations Credentials Committee is appointed at the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly. It consists of nine members, who are appointed by the General Assembly on the proposal of the President.
• The Credentials Committee functions under the auspices of the UN General Assembly.
• A Credentials Committee is appointed at the beginning of each regular session of the General Assembly. Usually, the committee meets in November, brings the report to the General Assembly in December for adoption.
• The Committee is mandated to examine the credentials of representatives of Member States and to report to the General Assembly thereon (Rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly).
• Functions of the Credentials Committee
  • Examine the credentials of representatives of Member States.
  • Report to the General Assembly on the credentials of representatives.
  • Consider any challenges to the credentials of representatives.
  • Decide on the validity of credentials.
  • Make recommendations to the General Assembly on the seating of representatives.
• Powers of the Credentials Committee
  • Request additional information from representatives.
  • Summon witnesses.
  • Conduct investigations.
  • Make recommendations to the General Assembly.

Q. With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:

1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

United Nations General Assembly

• The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
• All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
• Each year, in September, the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session, and general debate, which many heads of state attend and address.
• Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members, and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
• The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status.
• Decisions on other questions are by simple majority.
• General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly.
• The President of the General Assembly is elected each year by the assembly to serve a one-year term of office.
• Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.

Also read:

• United Nations Principal Organs
• United Nations
• United Nation Security Council

Q. Consider the following:

1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
2. Missile Technology Control Regime
3. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

India is a member of which of the above?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank:

• It is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia.
• It aims to connect people, services and markets that over time will impact the lives of billions and build a better future by investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors.
• It is established by the AIIB Articles of Agreement (entered into force in December 2015) which is a multilateral treaty.
• It is headquartered in Beijing (China) and began its operations in January 2016.
• On 24 October 2014, twenty-one countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the AIIB in Beijing, China: Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

• It is a group of 35 nations that control the export of missile technology, including drones and UAVs.
• Setup in 1987 by the G7 countries
• Aims to limit the proliferation of missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical or nuclear attacks.
• It is an informal and voluntary partnership between 35 countries which urge each other to restrict their missile export and technologies capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload a minimum of 300 kilometres.
• The decisions are taken by the consensus of all the members.
• India has become the 35th member of MTCR in June 2016.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

• It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.
• It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
• It was created in 2001.
• The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
• It is a statutory document which outlines the organisation’s goals and principles, as well as its structure and core activities.
• The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
• The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan).

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the recent years.
2. Vietnam is led by a multi-party political system.
3. Vietnam’s economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports.
4. For a long time Vietnam’s low labour costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers.
5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 2 and 4
(b) 3 and 5
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 2

Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4

Vietnam:

• It is a country occupying the eastern portion of mainland Southeast Asia.
• Vietnam’s greatest economic resource is its literate and energetic population.
• Its long coastline provides excellent harbours, access to marine resources, and many attractive beaches and areas of scenic beauty that are well suited to the development of tourism.
• Since the late 1990s, the country’s economy has been on a vigorous upswing.
• Tourism has expanded, manufacturing and export earnings have increased, and the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) has grown rapidly.
• GDP growth statistics report states that Vietnam is the fastest growing world economy with a growth rate of 7.31% in 2019.
• It is a single-party socialist republic state.
• It has surpassed the growth rate of other Asian economies including India and China, which stand at 4.5% and 6% CAGR respectively.
• Unfortunately, their e-service sector isn’t that productive. Hence, Statement 5 is not correct.
• Vietnam’s economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and its focus on exports.
• Vietnam has low labour costs and stable exchange rates which attract global investments.