On October 16, 2026, ORCA Director Ms. Eerishika Pankaj and Director ORCA Consultancy and Senior Research Associate Mr. Rahul Karan Reddy represented the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA) at the Third Stockholm Himalaya Forum, organised by the Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) in Stockholm, Sweden.
The Forum, led by Dr. Jagannath Panda, Head of SCSA-IPA at ISDP, convened scholars, strategic analysts, and policy experts from across the world to examine China’s expanding influence across the Himalayas, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean. Under the theme “The Silk Noose: From Himalayan Frontiers to Maritime Encirclement,” discussions explored how China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), infrastructure corridors, and maritime networks connect its continental and maritime ambitions. Participants examined the implications for regional security, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy, while highlighting the importance of infrastructure transparency, responsible transboundary water governance, and stronger international cooperation to strengthen regional resilience.
As the Forum concluded, participants called for greater international attention to the strategic and ecological consequences of China’s expanding footprint across the Himalayas and the Indo-Pacific. They stressed that transparency in infrastructure development, responsible transboundary water governance, and stronger regional cooperation must remain central to protecting the sovereignty of smaller states and maintaining regional stability.
The Third Stockholm Himalaya Forum 2026 underscored the need to assess China’s continental and maritime ambitions within a broader regional security framework. The discussions highlighted the importance of greater transparency, stronger regional partnerships, and coordinated international engagement in addressing the strategic, economic, and ecological implications of China’s expanding influence across the Himalayas and the Indo-Pacific.