EXTERNAL: RAHUL KARAN REDDY AT ISDP'S WEBINAR ON CHINA’S HIMALAYAN HUSTLE – PART III: HOW CHINA IS UPENDING THE HIMALAYAN STATUS QUO

On August 19, 2024, the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) hosted a webinar titled "China’s Himalayan Hustle – Part III: How China Is Upending the Himalayan Status Quo." Organized by the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), this session featured a panel of esteemed experts, including Mr. Rahul Karan Reddy from ORCA, who illuminated China’s manipulative strategies aimed at gaining greater influence in the Himalayan region. The discussion highlighted China's "charm offensive," which often manifests as coercive engagement with its smaller neighboring countries—Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan—while simultaneously exerting military and psychological pressure on its primary regional rival, India.

The panel delved into how China seeks to transform the "relationship dynamics" among its Himalayan neighbors and the broader implications for South Asia. Key questions were addressed, including whether the growing economic-military convergence between China and Pakistan poses a double-edged threat to India and the region, and whether China is exploiting Pakistan's vulnerabilities. The panelists also considered what Nepal and Bhutan should be mindful of when navigating the challenges posed by China, as well as how the European Union and the United States should respond to Pakistan's increasingly China-friendly engagements. Additionally, the webinar explored how the EU could engage in developmental partnerships with India and its Himalayan neighbors, such as Nepal and Bhutan.

The esteemed panel featured Dr. Frank O’Donnell, Prof. Vincent Wei-cheng Wang, Mr. Rahul Karan Reddy, Dr. Astha Chadha, and Dr. Srini Sitaraman.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Jagannath Panda, who expertly guided the conversation and ensured that critical issues were thoroughly examined. The webinar concluded with an engaging Q&A session that encouraged participants to reflect on the complex dynamics at play in the Himalayan region and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to address these challenges.