India-Malaysia

Why in news?

• Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India visited Malaysia.

India and Malaysia Relations:

• Diplomatic Relations: India and Malaysia established diplomatic relations shortly after Malaysia gained independence from British rule in 1957.
• Both countries are members of various international organizations, such as the United Nations, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and the Non-Aligned Movement.
• Trade and Economic Relations: Malaysia is the 13th largest trading partner for India while India stands amongst the 10 largest trading partners globally.
• Furthermore, Malaysia has emerged as the third largest trading partner for India from the ASEAN region and India is the largest trading partner for Malaysia among the countries of the Southeast Asian region.
• Malaysia stands as Both countries have engaged in various economic agreements such as the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
• Both countries have agreed to conduct trade settlements in Indian rupees, reflecting an intention to bolster trade relations.
• Defense and Security: The defense ties have steadily expanded, marked by the signing of a defense cooperation memorandum in 1993, regular defense cooperation meetings, joint military exercises, and Malaysia’s interest in acquiring 18 new Indian light fighter jets, indicating potential growth in arms trade between the two nations.
• Strategic Partnership: India and Malaysia have aimed to strengthen their strategic partnership through various initiatives, including high-level visits, joint commissions, and dialogues.
• Both countries have expressed interests in enhancing cooperation in areas such as defense, counter-terrorism, maritime security, and cultural exchanges.
• Tourism and diaspora: Over the last two decades, tourism has been a cornerstone in fostering relations between India and Malaysia.
• Various agreements, including the India-Malaysia visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders, a tourism-focused memorandum of understanding in 2010, a bilateral agreement on employment and workers’ welfare in 2009, and a revised air services agreement in 2017, have significantly contributed to the growth of tourism between the nations.
• Cultural Ties: Indian influence in Malaysia can be seen in various aspects of Malaysian culture, including language, religion (Hinduism and Buddhism), architecture, cuisine, and festivals.

Challenges:

• Trade Disputes and Imbalances: Trade disputes and imbalances have been a significant challenge in India-Malaysia relations.
• Issues related to tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and trade restrictions have occasionally strained economic ties between the two countries.
• Geopolitical Considerations: Both countries have diverse foreign policy priorities and engagements with other nations, which can lead to differences in strategic perspectives.

Conclusion:

India and Malaysia completed 65 years of modern diplomatic relations in 2022. The relations between India and Malaysia have grown from a Strategic Partnership to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership in the last 10 years, with new cooperation in cultural diplomacy, digital economy, and agricultural commodities forthcoming.

Nuclear Energy as Climate Solution

Why in news?

• Recently, it was seen as a series of efforts to pitch nuclear energy as an important solution to global problems like climate change and energy security.

Nuclear Energy & Climate Change:

• Low-Carbon Energy Source: Nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, and it remains the second largest source of low carbon electricity globally and has historically avoided around 70 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• According to IAEA, the entire life cycle of nuclear power plants is considered – accounting for activities like reactor construction, uranium mining and enrichment, waste disposal and storage, and other processes – greenhouse gas emissions are only in the range of 5 to 6 grams per kilowatt hour.
• It is more than 100 times lower than coal-fired electricity, and about half the average of solar and wind generation.

Other Benefits:

• Reliable and Scalable: Nuclear energy can be deployed on a large scale and is a reliable source of power, providing clean, consistent, and affordable electricity.
• Substitute for Fossil Fuels: Nuclear energy can directly replace fossil fuel plants, avoiding the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation.
• Supports Economic Development: The use of nuclear energy can support global economic development by supplying the large quantities of electricity needed.
• Contributes to Energy Security: Nuclear power can contribute to energy security by providing a stable source of energy.
• Potential for Heat Applications: Nuclear power plants have the potential to utilise more nuclear capacity for heat applications for future decarbonization efforts.
• Supports Decarbonization: Nuclear power can play a key role in the transition to a clean energy future and in achieving carbon neutrality.

Global Efforts:

• Paris Agreement (2015): It is to keep the rise in global temperatures to well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, and with the aim to limit the rise to 1.5°C.
• To limit the impacts of climate change, the world must rapidly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Role of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): It has launched an ‘Atoms4Climate’ initiative to talk about this and has begun an engagement with the climate community, especially at the COPs or the annual year-ending climate conferences.
• At COP28 in Dubai, about 20 countries pledged to work towards tripling global nuclear energy installed capacity by 2050.

Challenges of Nuclear Energy and Climate Solutions:

• Safety Concerns: Incidents like the Fukushima accident in 2011 have raised safety concerns about nuclear power.
• The ongoing crisis at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the first nuclear facility to have been caught in a dangerous armed conflict, has also been a source of grave concern.
• Waste Disposal: The long-term storage and disposal of radioactive waste is a complex issue that needs to be addressed.
• In 2021, Japan announced plans to release over one million tonnes of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea over the next 30 years.
• High Initial Costs: The initial costs of setting up a nuclear power plant are high.
• It includes costs for safety measures, which can make nuclear energy seem less economically viable compared to other energy sources.
• Public Perception: There is often public opposition to nuclear power due to fears of radiation and nuclear accidents. It can lead to challenges in constructing new plants.
• Regulatory Hurdles: Nuclear energy is heavily regulated, which can slow down the development and deployment of new reactors.
• Non-Proliferation Concerns: There are concerns about the potential misuse of nuclear technology and materials for military purposes.

Conclusion:

• Nuclear energy is a clean and environment-friendly source of electricity, which is available 24X7, and can provide the country long-term energy security in a sustainable manner.
• The growth of the Indian nuclear power program is imperative to meet the twin goals of energy security and sustainable development.