In this episode, Omkar Bhole from ORCA speaks to Mr. Manoj Kewalramani on the recent visits of China’s defense and foreign ministers to India as a part of SCO delegation. He explains the expectations from these visits and whether or not these expectations were met. The discussion also details the coverage of these visits by Chinese media and scholarly community which also offers insights into China’s perception of India, especially within the regional multilateral forums. Mr. Manoj elaborates on the overall significance of the SCO in the context of India-China bilateral relations and argues that India’s foreign policy faces the challenge to balance its interests vis-à-vis China’s anti-Western rhetoric manifested through regional institutions. He also talks about Xi Jinping’s potential visit to India later this year and its impact on bilateral relations, especially on border issues.
EP 9: Manoj Kewalramani on Recent Visits by Chinese Defense and Foreign Ministers to India
Import Dependency as a Major Hurdle for China’s Food Security
Import Dependency as a Major Hurdle for China’s Food Security
During Xi era, China’s per capita output of grains increased only marginally which resulted in growing dependency on imports during the same period which according to Xi, is a national security concern. This dependency has created several vulnerabilities for China which can be exploited in times of crisis.
From Propaganda to Subversion: The Role of Chinese Cinema in Exposing Political Suppression and Social Realities from 1950 to 1990
Chinese cinema has played a significant role in exposing China’s political and social situation between 1950 and 1990. This period was characterised mainly by the suppression of dissent by the CPC. During the early years of the PRC, cinema was used as an instrument of propaganda to promote the ideals of the Party and glorify its leaders. Over time, filmmakers began to deploy cinema to expose the harsh realities of life under the Communist regime, particularly for ordinary people.
Continued Importance of May Fourth Movement for Xi Jinping’s China
Continued Importance of May Fourth Movement for Xi Jinping’s China
The May Fourth Movement was one of the most monumental intellectual revolutions and socio-political reform movements in China’s history. In recent years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has given special focus to the relevance of the May Fourth Movement, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has regularly invoked its sentiments when addressing his hopes for China’s future —and more specifically, that of its youth — in the world.
China wins the mediation medal
China wins the mediation medal
By – Rahul Karan Reddy;
Recent developments in the Middle East have cast China as a reliable intermediary and proponent of multilateral dialogue, signalling a departure from Beijing’s typical reluctance to participate meaningfully in conflict negotiations.
China’s Nuclear Buildup Has Nothing to Do with Security
China’s Nuclear Buildup Has Nothing to Do with Security
By – Kian Donovan;
For a rapidly militarizing state like China, such investment in nuclear potential seems like predictable and sensible security decision, and it has been justified by Chinese officials as a “vital deterrent” against the United States. There is, however, one problem with this practice: it has almost no security benefit.
Changing State-Party Relations in China – An Overview of New Institutional Reforms
Changing State-Party Relations in China – An Overview of New Institutional Reforms
China unveiled its institutional reforms plan at the recent National People’s Congress (NPC) annual session, popularly known as ‘Two Sessions’ (两会). These reforms in China’s governance structure, implemented every five years, aim to streamline bureaucratic structure as well as to improve overall administrative efficiency. Thus, trends of these reforms help to understand China’s priorities and potential challenges for the next five years.
India and the China Challenge in Leading the Global South
India and the China Challenge in Leading the Global South
By – Ratish Mehta;
In the continued discourse of conducting itself as the leader of the South, India is not only claiming its position as a reformist nation but is also asserting itself as an alternative to the prevailing dominance of China in the same domain. New Delhi’s unique position in the global order due to its growing engagements with the Global North also presents it with the opportunity to put forth the concerns of the Global South in a manner that brings substantial changes in the existing order. However, in its endeavour of championing the agendas of the developing world, India’s approach is bound to face some challenging contradictions.
Part 2 – Design of Digital Yuan – A Balance between State Control and Consumer Needs
Part 2 – Design of Digital Yuan – A Balance between State Control and Consumer Needs
By — Omkar Bhole;
As China will be the first major country to launch the CBDC, the design of Digital Yuan implemented by China can be a guide for many countries that are still behind China in terms of CBDC development. Hence, it is important to analyse the rationale behind China’s designing of Digital Yuan in a specific manner which will not only affect China’s domestic economic structure but also influence global economy as China aims to promote internationalisation of its currency through its digital currency in the future.
Understanding the Changing Social Fabric of China: ‘Last Train Home’
Last Train Home (归途列车) documents the arduous journey of migrant workers in China struggling to reunite with their children for the New Year holidays (过年). Directed by Lixin Fan and set in the mid-2000s in Guangdong and Sichuan, the documentary captures the emotional and physical turbulence of the largest human migration in the world. It follows the journey of Zhang parents, Changhua and Suqin, who fight to secure seats on a train to their village in Sichuan where their son and daughter, Yang and Qin, live with their grandmother.
EP 8: Dr Manpreet Sethi on China’s Nuclear Weapons Arsenal and Implications for India
In this episode, Rahul Karan Reddy from ORCA speaks to Dr. Manpreet Sethi on her recently published article titled, ‘China’s Nuclear Build-up: Implications for India’. Dr. Sethi explains the context for the latest developments surrounding China’s nuclear weapons program, detailing the factors that explain China’s decision to enhance the survivability of its nuclear arsenal. Dr. Sethi discusses how the latest developments influence the nuclear posture of other East Asian states like Japan and South Korea, who face an increasingly belligerent North Korea and share apprehensions about China’s military posture. For India, Dr. Sethi argues that the focus ought to be on enhancing conventional capabilities rather than engaging in an action-reaction spiral with China. Click here to read Dr. Sethi’s article mentioned in the podcast.
China’s Nuclear Build-up: Implications for India
China’s Nuclear Build-up: Implications for India
By — Dr Manpreet Sethi;
China’s nuclear build-up is much in news. The November 2022 annual report on Military and Security Developments related to the People’s Republic of China, released by the US Defence Department has raised its own estimates from last year on the likely increase in China’s nuclear warheads.