Xi Jinping with Saudi Monarch and Gulf leaders (Photo: Twitter)

China’s rise in the Middle East : A fallout of US 'pivot' to Indo Pacific?

Many rising powers including India, which the US is counting on along with Japan, Australia, South Korea to deal with China in the Indo-Pacific, have robust and strong  commercial ties with China which they can not easily jeopardize only because the US feels threatened by the rise of China. Even the European Union is economically entrenched with China and the EU would not upset China beyond a certain threshold.

Driving the future: India-China collaboration on EVs can be model for green mobility

One such opportunity lies in the realm of electric vehicles (EVs). Both India and China are on the cusp of transformative shifts in transportation, and the adoption of EVs could play a pivotal role in sustainable development and poverty alleviation in India. As India considers domestic EV manufacturing in collaboration with Chinese companies such as BYD, Leapmotor, and NIO, the potential for job creation, trade, and technology transfer is enormous. Chinese expertise in EV technology could help India meet its ambitious environmental goals while bolstering economic growth.

A positive shift in India-China relations can be a global changer

In such a scenario, closer engagement with Beijing, does not mean that New Delhi needs to abandon its call for open sea lanes and unhindered movement through the South China Seas, or its support to QUAD, or participate in the naval exercises in the Pacific, or disown His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or break trade and other contacts with Taiwan, to name a few. Each is critical to crafting India's foreign and security policy towards China, the ASEAN, and the Indo-Pacific. 

More on Indo Pacific - China Watch

Chinese says it will take back 'some' Indian students, when 23,000 students awaiting return to their medical colleges

But there was no clarity on what China meant by allowing the return of "some" Indian students, when over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine in Chinese colleges, are stuck in India after they returned home as the coronavirus broke out in China in December 2019

Nehru 'made a blunder' in recognising China's claim over Tibet, but India's policy has changed since 2014: Tibetan government-in-exile president in US

India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru "made a blunder" when he recognised China's claim over Tibet but he did what he thought was best for his country, said Penpa Tsering, the president of the Tibetan government in exile, in Washington

India makes official clearance mandatory for tie-ups with China’s Confucius Institutes

“Any collaboration with any NGO/Foundation is subject to Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). Hence, all Universities/Institutions having collaboration with Confucius Institutes/Hanban/CLEC or planning to collaborate to set up Confucius Institutes (CIs) or any other joint venture in any other name will be required to seek prior clearance under FCRA,” reads the communication

Xi’s endgame and strategic power manoeuvres: Prospects of regional instability loom

In preserving its strategy of breaking the containment policy, Moscow, Tehran, Islamabad, Taipei and Pyongyang remain at the forefront. All five will be used as a bargaining tool with Washington and the containing squad in exerting greater influence and say on the pull-push tussle in the Indo-Pacific domain, writes Collins Chong Yew Keat for South Asia Monitor

China expresses ‘extremely grave concern’ over Karachi bombing, demands security for its nationals amid deteriorating security situation in Pakistan

The attack, which came hours before Sharif departed for his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia, raised concerns both for Pakistan and China amid an increasingly deteriorating security environment in the wake of a spree of deadly attacks by the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), Baloch groups, and the ISIS

Why China pushes yuan as reference currency for rupee-ruble rate?

As China is the biggest trading partner of India as well as Russia, its yuan has significant economic and trade potential to mediate the rupee-ruble rate, writes S. Majumder for South Asia Monitor

India says China must be treated equally, with transparency, once talks begin with creditors to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt

The country will need bridge financing of around $3 billion till the IMF finalizes its aid package. Talks are already underway with India and China for raising the money. Significantly, Bangladesh is expected to postpone the repayment of around the $450 million currency swap facility that it had extended to Sri Lanka

Pakistan government to abolish controversial CPEC body; concerns over rising debts

Significantly, almost 37 percent of the power projects built under the CPEC remain non-functional as the payments to Chinese contractors remain stalled, the new cabinet noted in the first meeting held this week on the CPEC

Chinese hackers' attempts to target India's power system near Ladakh blocked, says Indian minister

The report claimed that one of the load dispatch centres was at the crosshairs of a hacking group called RedEcho which allegedly shares ‘overlaps’ with a hacking group that the United States has tied to the Chinese government. 

Indo-Pacific: Strategic theatre of growing political, economic interest

Placing Quad in the Indo-Pacific seems critical to tackle the Chinese aggressive stance in the region

No scope for third party in China-India border issues, says Beijing after 15th round of military talks

"China-India border issue is a matter between China and India," China Military Online quoted Wu as saying

Amid rising Chinese presence, India, France begin mega naval wargame in the Arabian Sea

The maritime cooperation between India and France has witnessed a major expansion in the last few years

Wang Yi’s Nepal visit: Conflicting messaging over key issues

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up his-three day Nepal visit—his first under the Deuba government—with both countries issuing separate accounts of their meetings marked by notable diversions

China to host meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors, hopes for ‘inclusive’ government

The upcoming meeting in Beijing will be the third such meeting of foreign ministers of regional countries where members are expected to discuss a coherent regional response to address the issue of Afghanistan

India-China normalisation of ties still distant: Beijing, Delhi differ on approach

Indian sources were quoted as saying that Wang invited Doval to visit China for talks of Special Representatives (SRs) on the broader resolution of the India-China boundary, but the latter said that he could visit only “after immediate issues are resolved successfully”