Courtesy: Chen Zhengbao, Liu Xin
Han Zheng is soon to run the world’s second largest economy. While he has the wherewithal for the task, he has limited autonomy granted him by President Xi Jinping
Courtesy: AP (Courtesy of The Asian Age)
Logistical support for this mission, movement of heavy equipment, fuel and other supplies, needs connectivity via Pakistan.
Courtesy: Indian Navy
A noticeable feature of 2017 was China’s aggressiveness, which it deployed openly to advance its interests in the eastern rim, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and South Asia. This could well be the impetus for the consolidation of a broad front of China-wary nations in 2018
Courtesy: Independent
The camaraderie that Trump and Xi projected in November 2017 generated unease. At year end, Trump’s National Security Strategy did away with the multipolar niceties, but the challenges remain: for the U.S., it’s promoting rule of law while opting out of multilateral bodies. For China, it’s taking stock of how its image corresponds to reality
Courtesy: Pakistan Times
As Pakistan prepares for general elections, its Army is working to bring terrorist and radical religious groups into the political mainstream. Its leisurely response to recent anti-blasphemy protests by the Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool group and release of terrorist mastermind Hafiz Saeed are a part of this strategy
Courtesy: Avas.mv
Maldives, India’s smallest neighbour, is rapidly coming under China’s ambit of influence: two of nine cooperation agreements that the two countries signed recently are a cause of much concern. The India-Maldives bilateral needs some careful nurturing
Courtesy: Debating Security Plus
From 26-28 September, Brussels-based think tank, Friends of Europe organised an online brainstorming on global security issues called Debating Security Plus 2017. As part of this, Gateway House moderated the discussion on hybrid and asymmetric warfare. Below is the summary of that discussion, from the final report of the Debating Security Plus.
Courtesy: flickr
Bombay city has always had a soft corner for everything Chinese. It was a taste created by the early Parsi merchants, who profited significantly from the cotton and opium trade with China in the second half of the 19th century. There is no confirmed date on when the Chinese first came to Bombay, bringing with them some unmatched skills, besides their cuisine. But today, it’s a reinvigorated economic engagement: Chinese goods flood Mumbai’s markets. Chinese companies and a bank are setting up base, while Indian conglomerates, in turn, are acquiring a growing presence in China
Courtesy: MEA India/Flickr
The successful conclusion of Ivanka Trump's visit to India is yet another example of the expansive influence exerted by the President Trump's “special advisors”. India’s decision to receive the First Daughter is not only reflective of the country's adaptive diplomatic rulebook, but of a changing state of play in Washington
Courtesy: Flickr
No easy solutions to this refugee problem are emerging despite the considerable international attention it has drawn. India has taken a pragmatic stand despite anxiety about deepening China-Myanmar ties