Category: Political Parties

• Political Crisis in Sri Lanka: Little Risk for China

  The current shake-up in the Sri Lankan system is unlikely to ruffle the Chinese too much. Across the board, no matter what their personal views on China, Sri Lanka’s politicians have learnt to do business with Beijing.

• Economic Complications in the Naya China-Pakistan Relationship

  A smart, forward-looking Indian leadership should not pass up the opportunity to increase economic linkages with Pakistan, and provide the latter an alternative to China.

• Beware of China Bearing Gifts

  When complaints are raised against BRI, Beijing is quick to publicly offer to renegotiate terms. India, meanwhile, is known in South Asia more for its big brotherly attitude and the lack of synergy and capacity to implement its promises.

• Modi-Xi ‘Informal Summit’: Domestic Priorities Uppermost

  US President Richard Nixon’s path-breaking visit to China in February 1972 could arguably be called the mother of all ‘resets’ of a major bilateral relationship. In his own words, it was ‘the week that… changed the world’ and there can be little disagreement on this score. The ‘informal summit’ scheduled later this week between Indian…

• Xi for Life: Implications for India and South Asia

  What does the removal of term limits for the Xi Jinping presidency in China mean for the developing world and, in particular, for South Asia? Inspiration One possible effect could be a demonstration effect. China’s decades-long rapid economic growth has long been a source of envy and inspiration for many countries in the developing world.…

• Wang Huning: Xi Jinping’s Ideological Alter Ego

  In practical terms, Wang Huning is to Xi Jinping what Amit Shah is to Narendra Modi. That comparison should help situate for Indian audiences Wang Huning’s importance in the Chinese political firmament somewhat. If Shah’s job is to help Modi do the electoral math and draw up strategies to win elections, it is Wang’s job…

• Term Limits Off for Xi: Some Reflections for India

  When China’s National People’s Congress – the rough equivalent of India’s Lok Sabha, but toothless – meets in the coming week it has to deal with a proposal by the ruling Communist Party of China to amend the state constitution to remove term limits for the President of the state. Coming from where it does,…

• The ‘Emperor’ Has Feet of Clay

  The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has suggested removing term limits for the President and Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China. The immediate implication is that President Xi Jinping could conceivably continue for a third term or more in office. However, the more important one is that this sets a precedent…

• Book Review: Xi Jinping’s China

  of Jayadev Ranade’s  Xi Jinping’s China (New Delhi: Knowledge World Publishers). pp. xi+394. Rs. 1,400. ISBN: 978-93-86288-90-5 This work is a collection of pieces written by the author in various online platforms and as part of other edited volumes. The reader does not have the benefit of an introduction that ties in all the chapters together…