When the Tatopani-Khasa border point reopened on May 29, 2019, after remaining closed for four years following the 2015 earthquakes, there were hopes that bilateral trade with China would bounce back
Myanmar Election: Lack of Consolidated Initiative Leads to Return of Military Rule
The external support by China and Russia lent support to the Tatmadaw, especially during the elections, and while ASEAN and western powers have refused to accept the legitimacy of the election, many of the immediate neighbours like India, Bangladesh, and Thailand prefer what they see as stability under the military, given their cross-border concerns.
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
More on Indo Pacific - China Watch
China’s CanSino Covid vaccine efficacy in Pakistan almost 75%: PM's aide
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Monday said that CanSino Biologics Inc’s coronavirus shot has an efficacy rate of 65.7% at preventing symptomatic cases based on multi-country analysis, making it the latest vaccine candidate to show protection against COVID-19
China donates COVID-19 vaccine for Pakistan's armed forces
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had donated vaccines, making Pakistan's military the first foreign military to receive vaccine assistance from Beijing
China pressurised Nepal to accept its Covid vaccine: Leaked documents
Leaked documents of correspondence between Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu show that Beijing had put pressure on the Himalayan country to accept its Covid vaccine without its efficiency and efficacy being established
China builds 'Digital Silk Road' to bypass India for Pakistani internet traffic
As part of the broader Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is set to lay the final stretch of a cross-border fiber optic cable in Pakistan that will create the Digital Silk Road, serving the geostrategic interests of both countries, Nikkei Asia reported
Sri Lanka's engine drivers boycotting Chinese made train carriages
China has rejected claims that Chinese-made railway carriages pose a threat to passengers in Sri Lanka
China sees India and US as rivals, will try to browbeat both
China will try to assert itself more across the world as it now feels confident that it has the economic, political and military capabilities to ensure that its views are heard on the global stage
China 500K COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal
China has announced that it will provide half a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal
Sri Lanka showing signs of falling deep into Chinese trap
A U-turn on the Colombo port's East Container Terminal and then an attempt to create negativity around the India-supplied COVID-19 vaccine signals that there could be more powerful forces than just mere trade unions and some local groups which are nudging Sri Lanka to adopt an aggressive stand against India right now
Nepali traders acuse China of imposing ‘undeclared blockade’
Nepali traders have accused China of conducting an 'undeclared trade blockade' as their merchandise-laden container trucks have not been allowed to cross the border into Nepal for the past 16 months
New leap of Chinese economy beneficial for China-Pakistan cooperation
At the beginning of 2021, there comes encouraging news from China. According to the preliminary calculation of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China’s GDP in 2020 reached 101.6 trillion yuan (around 14.7 trillion USD), increased by 2.3% from 2019. For the first time, China's GDP exceeded the 100-trillion-yuan threshold?achieving a historic leap
Was the military coup in Myanmar to forestall China?
The Myanmar army may not be comfortable with the manner in which the NLD has given in to China for the China-Myanmar-Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is an invitation for the People’s Liberation Army to establish in Myanmar, like Pakistan, including Chinese marines posted at Kyaukphyu port like in Gwadar of Pakistan, writes Lt Gen Prakash Katoch (retd) for South Asia Monitor
Chinese hand behind scuttling of ECT port deal?
A day after the Sri Lanka government decided to operate the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo Port locally after tremendous pressure from trade unions, India seems to see a Chinese hand in orchestrating and funding the protests against the ECT deal by the trade unions in Sri Lanka
Pakistan government bulldozes CPEC Authority bill through National Assembly
Helped by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, the government on Monday hurriedly passed three bills, including the one seeking establishment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, amid ruckus by the opposition members
Chinese vaccine yet to get approval in Nepal
China has decided to provide a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal but it is still unclear how long it will take for the consignment to arrive, as the product is yet to get emergency use approval in the country
