India and China enter 2026 navigating a fragile equilibrium—defined less by resolution than by recalibration. Diplomatic overtures since the 2025 SCO summit have tempered tensions, but deep structural mistrust endures. Economic interdependence persists under heightened scrutiny, as both countries pursue selective engagement amid rising securitization. Along the border, disengagement agreements coexist with entrenched militarization and forward deployments. In multilateral arenas, competing visions for Global South leadership continue to shape strategic posturing. With no full reset in sight, the coming year will test whether this tactical détente can evolve into a managed rivalry—or revert to reactive competition across multiple faultlines.

The detention of Pema Wangjom Thongdok in Shanghai over an “invalid” passport drew strong condemnation from India, which labelled the act a violation of international aviation norms and reaffirmed Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of the country. China, however, denied detaining her and described the checks as routine while reiterating its own claim over the state. The incident reflects Beijing’s use of administrative procedures to subtly reinforce its territorial narrative. It also underscores the persistent fault lines in India–China relations, where such episodes reveal unresolved tensions beneath diplomatic engagements. Overall, the event highlights the fragility and vulnerability of the relationship despite both countries’ rhetoric about normalizing bilateral ties.

The Hainan Free Trade Port represents China's boldest reform experiment since 1978, aiming to bring in a new stage of economic liberalization and globalization. Backed by strong central support, Hainan is uniquely positioned as a competitive rival to Hong Kong and Singapore in order to deepen China's integration with the global economy. As a long-term testing ground for institutional reform, it's success will hinge on sustained capital attraction and effective risk management, becoming a key strategic tool and indicating China's burgeoning interest in economic globalization.

To many external observers, the Chinese notion of democracy is contradictory to the country’s one-party political system and its limited space for dissent. Nonetheless, the Chinese party-state has consistently portrayed itself as a system that embodies democratic values, albeit in a form tailored to its own political and cultural context.

This is the third of a six-part series analyzing the Taiwanese TV series ‘Zero Day Attack’ for the Organization for Research on China and Asia’s (ORCA) ‘Reviewing Chinese Culture’ segment.

दक्षिण-पूर्व एशिया धरती के सबसे ज्यादा क्लाइमेट के लिहाज़ से कमज़ोर इलाकों में से एक है। यह उन क्षेत्रों में से एक है जहाँ द्वीपों की भरमार हैं। इसका सीधा से मतलब है बहुत लंबी तटरेखाएँ। यही कारण है कि इसे सबसे अधिक खतरनाक ट्रॉपिकल तूफ़ानों, समुद्र के बढ़ते लेवल का सामना करना पड़ता है जिससे समुद्र तटों और शहरों को खतरा होता है, और बड़े पैमाने पर बाढ़ और गंभीर सूखे का सामना करना पड़ता है।

The Special Issue “India’s Soft Push for Power in South Asia: Shaping A Favourable Tomorrow” was ideated keeping in mind the increasing need for Indian policymakers to mitigate challenges emerging against New Delhi’s South Asian policy. Through each chapter, contributed by emerging Indian scholars specializing in India’s neighborhood policy, the publications envisions new and existing strategies to effectively leverage India’s soft power appeal in South Asia. 

Religious exchanges, especially pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, have long symbolized the fluid cultural ties and contested sovereignties between India, Tibet, and China. The recent reopening of the Kailash yātrā reflects cautious Sino-Indian rapprochement post-Galwan. However, such religious engagement implicitly challenges Beijing’s authority in Tibet. Pilgrimage remains a subtle yet potent site of geopolitical tension and cultural assertion.