Korean ramen, Thai food and Japanese sushi

Edible Geopolitics: How Asian Cuisine is Leveraging Soft Power to Wield Cultural Influence

At a time when global consumers are increasingly drawn to wellness-oriented and sustainable diets, South Asian culinary traditions, particularly those rooted in India’s Ayurveda, offer significant potential. However, without institutional backing, this remains diffused cultural capital rather than strategic influence.

The Rise of the E-Dragon: China’s Dominance in an Electrified World and Lessons for India

The China tale offers important lessons. China’s rise in the renewable sector is not just fuelled by demand for clean energy, but by a broader strategy, linking energy policy with manufacturing, technology development and global trade. India now seems to have begun taking steps in this direction. Policy measures such as the production-linked incentives scheme for solar manufacturing and efforts to expand domestic battery production are intended to strengthen the country’s clean energy ecosystem.

China Tightens a Strategic Arc Around India's Northeast - With Expanding Leverage in Myanmar and Bangladesh

China’s expanding influence in Myanmar and Bangladesh does not operate in isolation. It is reinforced by Beijing’s long-standing strategic partnership with Pakistan, frequently described by both sides as an “all-weather” alliance. In recent years, Islamabad has sought to revive and expand diplomatic engagement with both Dhaka and Naypyidaw, reflecting a broader effort to re-establish its presence along the eastern arc of the Bay of Bengal. While Pakistan lacks China’s financial scale or infrastructure capacity, its diplomatic signalling complements Beijing’s presence

Galwan’s Lesson For India: When Restraint Fails, Deterrence Must Be Restored

Officially, India maintained that no territory was lost. Strategically, however, many analysts described the situation as a shift in the status quo—an altered operational environment in which access, patrolling patterns and tactical depth were recalibrated.

More on Indo Pacific - China Watch

First Pakistani film to be released in China after 40 years

Hamza Ali Abbasi-starrer Parwaaz Hai Junoon will debut in China on November 13, shortly before the 70-year anniversary of the day when Pakistan and its key ally established diplomatic relations

Can US extricate Sri Lanka from China's clutches?

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's scheduled stopover at Colombo on October 28, after his meeting with the Indian foreign minister and defence ministers in New Delhi is expected to provide Sri Lanka an opportunity to work towards breaking free of China's domination over its economy

Indo-Pacific QUAD partners fan out to counter China

After being invited by India to participate in the Malabar military exercises, Australia has gone on an overdrive to exchange notes with fellow partners including Japan to counter China's heft in the Indo-Pacific

As Indian and Chinese armies faceoff for winter, India has a strategic advantage

The Chinese have been livid at India’s long-overdue strategic infrastructure development, as also with its speed and timing, writes Col Anil Bhat (retd) for South Asia Monitor

'Sri Lanka to gain from Chinese trade, investment'

Sri Lanka stands to gain from greater Chinese trade and investment, a Sri Lankan diplomat has said

US-India 2+2 meeting to discuss China 'threats'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the 2+2 ministerial meeting of the top foreign affairs and defence leaders of the two countries in New Delhi next week will discuss the threats from China

India releases Chinese soldier who strayed at LAC

India, in a goodwill gensure, ensured the release of a Chinese soldier who had strayed inside Indian territory across the disputed zone of the Line of Actual Control

India, Taiwan likely to negotiate trade deal, a move that will irk China

After approving incentives for Taiwanese firms, the government is now likely to have formal talks on a trade deal with the Tsai Ing-wen administration

China to invest in Pakistan’s Digital City

Chinese hi-tech companies including Oppo and Haier are interested in investing in Pakistan’s first-ever Digital City, according to K-P IT Board spokesperson Danish

New law to give immunity to CPEC Authority in Pakistan

The Pakistani government has decided to introduce a new law to replace defunct China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Ordinance, local media reported

Australia invited to join Malabar naval exercise with India, US and Japan

In a message to China on getting a wider footprint in the Indo-Pacific region, India invited Australia to take part in an annual naval drill -- Malabar Exercise -- in the Indian Ocean region along with the US and Japan to which Australia has agreed

Nepal-China agreements are stuck

After the 2015 Indian blockade, the Nepal government tried to diversify trade and access to the sea through China

Chinese soldier detained by India, to be released soon

India detained a Chinese soldier in the Demchok sector in the disputed border in Eastern Ladakh. As per established protocols, he will be returned to Chinese officials at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities

India stars in Taiwan's 'new southbound policy'

Taiwan has launched its "new southbound policy", which is looking at setting up large scale production bases in India, in tune with a surge in the New Delhi-Taipei engagement

Quad can play a key role in curbing China's belligerence

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for the QUAD countries to contain China in the Indo-Pacific but there remain several caveats