The Arctic Shortcut: China’s Northern Sea Route and the Rewiring of Global Maritime Trade

The Arctic Shortcut: China’s Northern Sea Route and the Rewiring of Global Maritime Trade

As Arctic ice retreats, geography itself is being rewritten. The Northern Sea Route illustrates how environmental change, technological innovation, commercial strategy, and geopolitics are converging to reshape international trade.

South Asia's Balance of Payments Challenge: The Changing Dynamics of External Balances in South Asia

South Asia remains one of the least integrated regions in the world despite geographical proximity and complementary economic structures. Greater regional trade, improved transport connectivity, cross-border electricity markets, digital payment systems and investment partnerships could substantially reduce external vulnerabilities. 

India's Employment Debate: A Future With Plenty of Work, But Fewer Jobs

Between 2004 and 2023, India produced roughly five million graduates every year, but graduate employment increased by only around 2.8 million annually. Even fewer obtained salaried employment. Millions are either unemployed or working below their qualifications or in the waiting room for the elusive government job. 

How Sri Lanka Missed the Opportunity to Become a 200-billion dollar economy

Policy instability during the 2015-2024 likely pushed back Sri Lanka’s path towards becoming South Asia’s first High-Income Country. The 2022 financial crisis would never have happened as stable growth during the first half of 2015–2024 would have built enough buffer to weather impact of the Covid pandemic 

More on Economy, Trade and Development

US-India 2+2 meeting to discuss China 'threats'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the 2+2 ministerial meeting of the top foreign affairs and defence leaders of the two countries in New Delhi next week will discuss the threats from China

India releases Chinese soldier who strayed at LAC

India, in a goodwill gensure, ensured the release of a Chinese soldier who had strayed inside Indian territory across the disputed zone of the Line of Actual Control

India, Taiwan likely to negotiate trade deal, a move that will irk China

After approving incentives for Taiwanese firms, the government is now likely to have formal talks on a trade deal with the Tsai Ing-wen administration

China to invest in Pakistan’s Digital City

Chinese hi-tech companies including Oppo and Haier are interested in investing in Pakistan’s first-ever Digital City, according to K-P IT Board spokesperson Danish

New law to give immunity to CPEC Authority in Pakistan

The Pakistani government has decided to introduce a new law to replace defunct China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Ordinance, local media reported

Australia invited to join Malabar naval exercise with India, US and Japan

In a message to China on getting a wider footprint in the Indo-Pacific region, India invited Australia to take part in an annual naval drill -- Malabar Exercise -- in the Indian Ocean region along with the US and Japan to which Australia has agreed

Nepal-China agreements are stuck

After the 2015 Indian blockade, the Nepal government tried to diversify trade and access to the sea through China

Chinese soldier detained by India, to be released soon

India detained a Chinese soldier in the Demchok sector in the disputed border in Eastern Ladakh. As per established protocols, he will be returned to Chinese officials at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities

India stars in Taiwan's 'new southbound policy'

Taiwan has launched its "new southbound policy", which is looking at setting up large scale production bases in India, in tune with a surge in the New Delhi-Taipei engagement

Quad can play a key role in curbing China's belligerence

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for the QUAD countries to contain China in the Indo-Pacific but there remain several caveats

India, China militaries to hold eighth round of talks over border dispute

Indian and Chinese military commanders will meet for the eighth time next week to deliberate on resolving the border dispute in eastern Ladakh, after all earlier rounds of talks ended up in deadlock with no sign of de-escalation at the Line of Actual Control even as the winter is setting in

Tibetan leader invited to US State Department for first time

In a strong message to Beijing, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Lobsang Sangay has been invited formally to the US State Department, officials said on Friday

Maldives, China discuss boosting economic cooperation

Maldives and China engaged in discussions on Thursday, to explore economic cooperation in a post COVID-19 environment

Sri Lanka cannot alienate other creditors and solve debt problems with only China: Opposition MP

Sri Lanka’s cannot alienate other creditors and solve its debt problem by banking on China alone, with sovereign bond investors now taking about what would happen in the event of a credit event, Harsha de Silva, an opposition legislator said

US appoints special officer for Tibet

A day after President Xi Jinping called on Chinese troops to prepare for war, the United States appointed a senior official as its special coordinator for Tibetan issues