What to Read in The Hindu Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: ​​​​Consent is all

Context

There must be absolute intolerance toward sexual violence and an unwavering commitment to stand with survivors.

Introduction

The fight against sexual violence is a test of a nation’s conscience and compassion. France’s new law redefining rape as any non-consensual sexual act marks a major step in protecting sexual autonomy. Yet, true justice demands not just laws but a cultural transformation — one that replaces silence and stigma with support, empathy, and accountability.

Zero Tolerance for Sexual Violence

• Societies must adopt an uncompromising stance against sexual violence and ensure unwavering support for survivors.
• The pursuit of justice requires not only legal reform but also cultural and institutional transformation rooted in empathy and accountability.

France’s Landmark Legal Reform

• France has enacted a historic law defining rape as any non-consensual sexual act, reaffirming that “force is the crime.”
• This reform followed years of activism and the extraordinary courage of Gisèle Pelicot, whose case exposed the need to anchor consent in law.
• The conviction of 51 men in her case became a watershed momentsymbolising the recognition of sexual autonomy as a legal right.

Barriers to Justice for Survivors

• Survivors face immense challenges in seeking justice—stigma, victim-blaming, and social ostracismcontinue to silence many.
• Women from marginalised backgroundsstruggle even more to access legal remedies.
• India’s conviction rate for rape remains only 27–28% (2018-2022)despite legal provisions like Section 129 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which recognises criminal force.

Building Sexual Autonomy in Law and Society

• Establishing sexual autonomy as a judicial cornerstoneis a vital first step but not the final goal.
• Preventing sexual violence demands:
  • Community sensitisationon gender roles and consent.
  • Dismantling patriarchal normsthrough education and awareness.
  • Training police and legal institutionsin survivor-centred approaches.
  • Providing psychological and legal aidto survivors to rebuild lives

The Road Ahead

• Governments must adopt complete intolerance for sexual violence—not only in law but in practice.
• Empathy-driven investigation and trial processesare essential to restore faith in justice.
• Failing to uphold this momentum would betray the courage of women like Pelicot and stall the larger movement for women’s dignity and autonomy.

Conclusion

A society’s moral strength lies in its zero tolerance for sexual violence and its unwavering support for survivors. True justice demands more than legal reforms — it requires empathy, awareness, and accountability at every level. Upholding sexual autonomy as a non-negotiable right ensures that survivors are not silenced, but empowered to reclaim dignity and equality.

 

Editorial 2: Chinese check

Context

China has consolidated its position as the global centre of production.

Introduction

The U.S.–China tariff truce in Busan signals temporary relief but hides a deeper power inversion between the world’s two largest economies. What began as China’s cautious neoliberal reform experiment has evolved into industrial supremacy. Through manufacturing strength, labour efficiency, and global supply-chain control, China now rivals — and often surpasses — the U.S. in long-term economic strategy.

The Uneasy U.S.–China Trade Truce

• The recent tariff détentebetween the U.S. and China, announced after the Trump–Xi meeting in Busan, offers temporary relief but reveals deep structural shifts in global power.
• What began in the 1980s as China’s IMF–World Bank–guided liberalisationhas evolved into industrial supremacy built on manufacturing scale, labour advantage, and supply-chain integration.
• China, once dependent on Western technology and markets, now stands as an indispensable node in global production.

Structural Inversion of Power

• The S., once the epicentre of global trade and innovation, now struggles with short-term political cycles against China’s long-term economic planning.
• This inversion marks a historic role reversal— China, the former learner, has become the industrial leader, while America grapples with strategic impatience.

Terms of the Recent Truce

• S. concessions:
  • Partial tariff rollbacks.
  • Pause on adding firms to the “no-trade list.”
  • Reduction of leviesrelated to the fentanyl dispute.
• China’s commitments:
  • Resumption of S. farm imports, especially soybeans.
  • Easing export restrictionson critical minerals.

Economic Outcomes and Trade Diversion

• The S. trade deficitwith China narrowed by about 30%, but analysts note this was due to trade diversion, not re-industrialisation.
• Mexico, Vietnam, and ASEAN nationsabsorbed parts of China’s supply chain — a case of near-shoring and friend-shoring.
• China adjustedby diversifying export markets and absorbing shocks through domestic policy flexibility.

Uneven Human and Political Impact

• In the S., Chinese retaliatory tariffs hurt farm-belt regions, key Trump constituencies; federal subsidiesonly provided temporary relief.
• In China, economic pain was limited to export hubs like Guangdong and Suzhou, where workers faced layoffs but social stability was maintainedvia stimulus and the dual-circulation strategy.

The Global Economic Shift

• The trade war has cemented a new global reality:
  • The S.remains the largest consumer market.
  • Chinahas entrenched itself as the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, with leverage over intermediate goods, high-end tech, and critical minerals.
• This shift marks a decisive transformationin the world’s economic hierarchy — from American production dominance to Chinese industrial centrality.

Conclusion

The trade war has revealed a rebalanced global order — the U.S. as the dominant consumer market and China as the factory of the world. America’s short-term tariff politics cannot offset China’s decades-long industrial planning. The challenge ahead lies in achieving strategic coexistence, where competition does not erode the stability of the global trade system both economies anchor. nm