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Purges in China’s PLA and Xi’s tightening grip
THE ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE sessions of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) — known as the “two sessions” concluded on March 12. The annual government report presented by Premier Li Qiang signalled a broader continuity in economic policy while highlighting problems such as local debt…
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What US wars mean for China’s military ambition
AS THE US engages in its second major military action in a matter of a few weeks, moving from the alleged abduction of the President of Venezuela in January to aerial and maritime strikes against Iran, it is worth asking what the implications are for China’s military ambitions and preparations…
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In Iran, China’s strategic advantage meets strategic vulnerability
THE US-ISRAEL attacks against Iran and the perceived likelihood of this now turning into a prolonged conflict both confer advantages to China as well as raise concerns for it..
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India in Africa: From Deliverables to Purpose
CAN INDIA’S AFRICA policy do better? The question will obviously be answered in the affirmative whether by Indians or by Africans if nothing else, because India is a rising and ambitious power in global politics. Capacity issues are frequently cited but those are applicable to Indian foreign policy in general and are being addressed, however…
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China’s anti-corruption machine tightens its grip
GEN Zhang Youxia, first-ranked Vice-Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission and its senior-most general, has been placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law”, along with another member, Gen Liu Zhenli. This leaves the commission…
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Russia, China and the Uneasy Terms of Authoritarian Coexistence
WESTERN PRESSURE HAS pushed Moscow deeper into China’s orbit, even as Beijing shapes the terms of an increasingly asymmetrical partnership. The alignment remains functional, useful, and resilient despite its tensions. India has long trusted in the sentimental and strategic weight of its Russian ties. But in this evolving landscape, how secure can that trust remain?..
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IS REGIONAL COOPERATION POSSIBLE WITHOUT BILATERAL COOPERATION?
THIS PAPER ARGUES that while regional cooperation is often viewed as a positive good, it is not sustainable in the long term without strong ties between its constituents. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization exemplifies this reality, given the significant and long-standing tensions between two of its members, India and China…
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China’s Global Initiatives: Preparing for the Collapse of International Institutions
CHINA ANNOUNCED A new global initiative during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, called the Global Governance Initiative. It adds to the three ongoing, previously announced global initiatives on development, security and “civilisation.” The initiatives speak to an increasing Chinese confidence that its ideas will find global reception amidst the chaos generated by American…
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Trump-Xi meeting: Washington-Beijing rivalry is more than a tale of rise and decline — it’s a mirror of two nations wrestling to determine the next global order
ALTOGETHER TOO MUCH discussion on the US-China relationship today focuses on a contrast between the two countries. On the one hand, there is hand-wringing and head-slapping about America’s increasing global weaknesses and unpopularity, its seemingly inevitable decline engendered by the zero-sum…