INDIA'S SOFT PUSH FOR POWER IN SOUTH ASIA

Shaping a Favourable Tomorrow

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. 

 
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India-China Trade Dashboard

The dashboard is part of ORCA’s India-China Trade Project.

The dashboard is part of ORCA’s India-China Trade Project. Synopsis: The India-China Trade dashboard- Annual is a comprehensive visualisation of yearly merchandise trade between the two economies. It captures India’s imports and exports to China between 2011-12 to 2021-22 based on the Harmonised System (HS Codes).

 
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NAVIGATING BRI AND BEYOND

Limitations of PM Oli’s Northward Turn to Beijing

As the leader of Nepal’s Communist (Unified Marxist-Leninist) Party, PM Oli's decision to choose Beijing for his first state visit should not come as a surprise, especially given his pro-China actions in past tenures. Although both China and Nepal hailed this visit for “injecting a new impetus into the development of bilateral relations”, doubts remain regarding the Nepal's success in diversifying away from India and implementation of BRI projects in Nepal. However, India-Nepal ties are based on its own foundational pillars and need not always run counter to developments in China-Nepal relations. Moreover, BRI implementation in Nepal is challenged by several factors such as gaps in planning and implementation, delays, consequent cost overruns and more.

 
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THE MISSING GAPS OF SINO-PACIFIC ISLANDS RELATIONS

Pacific Geopolitical Maneuverings

In the past few years, bullish visions of China’s regional aspirations have dissipated as its own domestic economic realities have become clear. There has been a significant fall in China’s development spending in the Pacific since 2016. Observers have noted that this is linked to a decrease in Chinese loans across the region, although this has also been a global phenomenon. Expectations around the BRI in the Pacific have also been tempered as various projects have stalled with commentators observing that “half-finished Chinese skyscrapers stand in disrepair” in various Pacific Island countries.

 
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THEATER COMMANDS OF CHINA

Structure and Strategic Implications

China's military modernization, under President Xi Jinping, has been marked by reforms that include the restructuring of the PLA into five theater commands: Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, and Central. These reforms aim to improve joint operations and enhance the PLA's capabilities for modern warfare, focusing on fast decision-making, integrated command systems, and coordination across all branches of the military. The theater commands are strategically aligned with China's security priorities, including regional conflicts, border stability, and global power projection.

 
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