India has expedited work on its ambitious road infrastructure project -- Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project -- that opens a gateway to Southeast Asian countries in an attempt to counter the growing influence of China in the region
Is A India–China War Possible? A Fragile Peace Will More Likely Hold
While low-level clashes may continue, the possibility of a large-scale conflict, as projected by recent U.S. intelligence reports, remains far-fetched. Both countries are acutely aware that they stand to lose far more than they can gain. Despite uneasy relations, several factors actively discourage conflict
China's Reactions To Terror Incidents: State And Social Media Echo Clear Bias For Pakistan
The two incidents in India and Pakistan over the course of a week have shown that the coverage of terrorism by the Chinese media ecosystem largely reinforces the state’s foreign policy narratives and preferences for alignment in South Asia. Pakistan emerges as a clear preference for the public, which is reinforced by commentators and opinion makers on non-state news media platforms.
China’s CPEC Extension To Afghanistan Has Security Implications For Region
CPEC 2.0 is expected to serve as a major leverage tool for China to access Afghanistan’s untapped natural resources and enhance connectivity to Pakistan and Central Asia. However, for Afghanistan, the initiative may be more of a challenge than an opportunity. Countries such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives have already faced severe economic consequences from poorly structured Chinese-funded projects.
China's New Great Game: How Beijing is Redrawing South Asian Geopolitics
China's rise has, in the consensus view of most international relations scholars, fundamentally changed South Asia. The old, India-centric region is gone. Pakistan has tied its future to Beijing, seeing China as its ultimate guarantor. Bangladesh has played a smart game, using Chinese money for national development while maintaining its "friendship-to-all" foreign policy. The Teesta project shows Dhaka's new confidence in following its own national interest. For India, the challenge is immense, as it must now compete for influence in its own backyard.
More on Indo Pacific - China Watch
India's China policy needs change; build alliances, leverage democracy, suggests think tank
India's stance on China has to irreversibly change in the light of the recent developments, both bilateral and global
Sri Lanka signs $1.5 billion currency swap deal with China
In what seems a temporary respite for Sri Lanka’s dwindling forex reserve, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has signed a $1.5 billion currency swap agreement with China, reported Colombopage
Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka to get priority vaccination
Authorities in Sri Lanka will administer the Chinese-made Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines first to Chinese nationals living in the country
US, India to expand defence and security cooperation - with China in mind
As part of expanding global security cooperation between the world's oldest and largest democracies, India will intensify military cooperation with the US Central Command in Florida and with the US Commands in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Delhi to discuss ‘pressing’ Indo-Pacific 'challenges'
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived here on Friday for discussions on cooperating to face “most pressing challenges” in the Indo-Pacific, an euphemism for China’a maritime muscle-flexing in the region
UK PM Johnson to visit India, discuss China threat
Calling the Indo-Pacific "increasingly the geopolitical centre of the world", United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India in April to ostensibly create a democratic counterweight to China
China says Quad reflects 'ideological bias'
China has accused the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a four-nation grouping comprising Australia, India, United States and Japan, of "ideological bias and cold war mentality" and described it as a clique based on an ideology that is "detrimental to the border"
China steps up cyber-attacks after Ladakh disengagement
Indian government organisations such as Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) have reported that Chinese hackers have attempted to infiltrate the country's cyberspace after troops from the two neighbours disengaged from Pangong Lake in eastern Ladak
Sri Lankan flag on doormat: Colombo raises objection with Beijing
A controversy erupted in Sri Lanka on Friday when people in Sri Lanka noticed that Amazon, an online platform, was selling doormats with imprinted Sri Lankan flag on them, reported Colombopage
IMF closely monitoring Lanka’s $1.5 billion currency swap with China
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that they are “closely monitoring” the Sri Lanka’s recent currency swap deal of $1.5 billion with China, reported Colombopage
Islamist groups ask Bangladesh government to sever ties with China over 'Uighur Muslims brutality' issue
Islamic political parties have called upon the Bangladesh government to sever all diplomatic ties with China, owing to alleged persecution of Uighur Muslims in the country
US defence secretary to visit India to discuss security partnership, China threat
On the heels of the Quad summit, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit India next week to confer with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the US focuses on China as an emerging threat, according to a Pentagon official
China harvesting 20% of world's data, including from India
As the virtual private network (VPN) usage grows in countries like India and South Asia to have a more secure and private Internet browsing experience, a new report has warned that Chinese government have access to massive sets of data like private emails, messenger conversations and personal records, as most of the VPNs being used are Chinese-owned, a new report has warned
Quad to harness India's vaccine capability, secure free and open Indo Pacific
Leaders at the first Quad summit committed Friday to harness India's vaccine manufacturing prowess in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a “landmark” partnership to deliver a billion doses to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond as the four-nation group eyes a broader cooperation agenda centred around their common democratic ethos
