The Palk Strait Link

The Palk Strait Link: Sri Lanka’s Unresolved Question With India

Neutrality and balance — Colombo’s habitual vocabulary — have yielded little economic benefit. Ultimately, Sri Lanka slid into bankruptcy. Given this background, the land link is not merely a strategic starting point but a necessity. India’s strategic position on Sri Lanka is perennial; whether the bridge is built or not, India’s concerns remain fundamental. As an immediate neighbour and rising global power, India will not allow rivals to use Sri Lanka as a base.  

Disruptive Diplomacy: Why India and China Must Lead Humanity Beyond Fossil-Fuel Chokepoints

If India and China choose collaboration by setting aside strategic suspicion in the climate domain, they could fundamentally reshape the trajectory of the 21st century, as they have already demonstrated individually through their pursuit of clean energy over the past decade. More importantly, such a coalition could revive the COP28 fossil-fuel phase-down pledge, which stalled at COP29 in Baku and appears to be drifting further at COP30 in Belém.

Bridging Oceans, Building Regions: India–New Zealand FTA and Potential of South Asian Integration

Increased industrial activity in India could generate demand for raw materials, intermediate goods, and services from countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s textile industry could strengthen its links with Indian manufacturing networks, while Sri Lanka may gain from expanded opportunities in tourism, logistics, and services.

A New Era in India–ADB Relations: Will Play a Defining Role in Shaping Asia's Economic Future

ADB’s role has evolved beyond financing into shaping India’s structural transformation into a high-growth, technology-driven, and climate-conscious economy. Compared to other multilateral institutions, it offers a more agile, implementation-focused, and regionally attuned approach. As India moves toward becoming one of the world’s largest economies, this partnership will play a defining role in shaping not only India’s growth trajectory but also the broader economic future of Asia.

More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development

Bangladesh signs deal with China to buy Sinopharm Covid 19 vaccine

Bangladesh has signed a deal with China to buy the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Saturday

India asks China to renew visas of students, professionals inoculated with China-made vaccines

India has asked China to issue visas to students and professionals who have taken Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines, which is one of the travel conditions imposed by Beijing to enter the country amid the pandemic

Chinese national wanted by ATS caught while crossing into India from Bangladesh

A Chinese national has been detained by the border security force, close to the India-Bangladesh border, on Thursday over suspicious activities, officials said

China’s about-turn throws Bangladesh railway projects into jeopardy

Two major railway expansion projects in Bangladesh being implemented with Chinese assistance have become uncertain following disputes over feasibility study and contract prices

Pakistan Army chief discusses Afghanistan, CPEC with Chinese envoy

Nong Rong, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, and Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javad Bajwa held a meeting where they discussed Afghanistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor among other issues

Pakistan hopes to secure Chinese fund next fiscal for crucial railway project

Pakistan Planning Minister Asad Umar has exuded hope of securing finances for the Mainline-I project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) next fiscal, saying an irritant in finalizing a deal was the Chinese banks’ reluctance to lend new loans

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor now in phase two

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is now officially in its second phase of development, despite speculations that work on the USD 62 billion connectivity project had slowed down

Sri Lankan president invites investors to pump in money in China-backed Colombo Port City

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has invited investors across the world to tap the potential of Chinese-funded Colombo Port City and join a “transformational journey” by investing in the island nation

China's aggressive Indo-Pacific policy: Quad needs to thwart Beijing's designs

If the Quad can thwart China’s attempt to take over Taiwan, it will prove its relevance to the world and send a strong warning against the imperialist agenda of the ‘lovable’ Chinese Communist Party, write  Pradeep S. Mehta and Krithika Subramanian for South Asia Monitor

Pakistan PM Imran Khan applauds Chinese President Xi's leadership on climate change

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for the message the latter delivered on World Environment Day, which was hosted by Pakistan this year

Ban Chinese video-sharing apps like Likee and Tik Tok: Bangladesh security force chief

Bangladesh’s elite security battalion chief has recommended a ban on video-sharing apps like Chinese  TikTok and Likee as they are being used to “conduct criminal activities”, Dhaka Tribune reported

Indian-American attorney says China must release data on origins of coronavirus

An effective response to tackling the coronavirus is impossible without knowing “exact information” on what makes this virus “tick” and hence it is imperative to investigate the origins of the virus, said Indian American attorney, businessman, author, and philanthropist  Dr. Ravi Batra

China upset over disclosure of its vaccine price in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said China is a little upset that the procurement price of Sinopharm vaccine was made public in Bangladesh, The Daily Star reported

Pakistan to give minimum two-year visas to Chinese workers in only 48 hours

Chinese citizens working on various projects in Pakistan will now get new visas for a minimum duration of two years with the permits being handed over within only 48 hours from the time of application, a senior minister said in Islamabad

Colombo archbishop slams Sri Lankan government over China-funded Port City project

Launching a verbal assault on the Sri Lankan government apparently over the China-funded Colombo Port City project, Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, said the island nation was being dragged down a path of destruction by those who came to power claiming to protect the country