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

China-Pakistani La: FTA-II a significant milestone

Esar Ali, the owner of a garment badges factory in Federal B Industrial Area, shifted his business to a cattle farm when imports became tougher due to strict government policies to push down imports and step up exports

Test of endurance and logistics as Indian soldiers guard peaks at 17,000 ft

For over a month soldiers are perched on peaks rising to 17000 ft as a turn-around of all troops is yet to happen because of the terrain and logistics

Memorial in Ladakh commemorates soldiers killed in clash with China

A memorial has been set up near the international border, remembering the 20 Indian soldiers who were killed in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh on June 15 during a clash with Chinese troops

Chinese vaccine Trial in Bangladesh: Sinovac now wants co-financing

The much-talked-about mass trial of a Chinese coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh has become uncertain after drugmaker Sinovac Biotech Ltd asked the government to co-finance the initiative

CPEC has neither boosted growth nor jobs in Pakistan

The global coronavirus pandemic has dealt a severe blow to Pakistans economy, pushing it to a near-collapse despite the ongoing multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Three China-funded rail projects in Bangladesh to be reviewed

The Bangladesh Prime Minister's Office has formed a committee to review negotiated contract costs of three railways projects and whether the projects should go ahead as they have been planned

Indian Army celebrates Cho La Day to commemorate 1967 action against PLA

The Indian Army on Thursday celebrated Cho La Day to commemorate the bravery of Indian troops who gave a bloody nose to the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops during clashes at the Cho La pass in 1967

Bangladesh, China ties to be fortified through new areas of cooperation

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed their confidence that the existing relationship between Bangladesh and China will be further strengthened and deepened in the days ahead

'In the face of Chinese bullying, US commitment to India's security reflected in advanced arms sales'

When India, an "emerging global power", is a victim of China's bullying behaviour and is facing substantial security challenges, Washington's sale of advanced weapons system show its commitment to India's security, said a senior US State Department official

India, China agree to hold early meeting for disengagement along LAC

India and China on Wednesday agreed to hold a meeting soon between the senior commanders of their armies for an early disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the two countries are locked in a face-off since June this year

Nepal, China security pact in offing?

Nepal and China will soon ink a bilateral military exchange mechanism on the lines of the India-Nepal security exchange framework, agencies have warned New Delhi

Sri Lanka seeks Chinese help to reshape tourism

Sri Lankan Consul General in Shanghai Manorie Mallikaratchy, making a presentation on Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, called for a paradigm shift on how the tourism and travel sector is perceived in the new normal era and invited the Chinese tour and travel industry to explore boundless possibilities between China and Sri Lanka in reshaping the travel and tourism trade

India must press home its strategic advantage on snowy heights

Given China’s military intentions and aim, taking advantage of the pandemic, for which it is blamed, it is vital for India to take proactive and powerful measures to ensure its security and integrity, writes Col Anil Bhat (retd) for South Asia Monitor 

Uneasy 'no war no peace' status on India-China border: Indian Air Force chief

The current situation along India's eastern Ladakh border with China is in an "uneasy no war no peace status" and Indian forces were prepared for any eventuality, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal R.K.S Bhadauria said

India has never accepted 1959 definition of LAC with China

Warning Beijing against advancing its untenable unilateral interpretation, India on Tuesday said that it has never accepted the 1959 definition of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China