China’s Vice-President visit to Malaysia (Photo: Twitter)

Why Malaysia is strategically important to China in its IOR calculations

Melaka is also seen as a possible counterbalancing base against potential power presence in the Nicobar Island chain in the Andaman Sea and as a fallback in complementing China's existing forward bases and port capacities in Gwadar in Pakistan and in linking up with the other routes in accessing the Indian Ocean.

China's offensive intent intact despite 20 rounds of military talks

The Indian government has no answer to the question that if we have not lost any territory, then why the 20 rounds of military-to-military talks? 

China's grey-zone warfare needs to be countered by India

The organisation of the Forum a few kilometres away from the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) not only signalled Beijing’s disregard for the LAC but also its attempt to buttress its claims over Arunachal as part of Tibet (Xizang) by selecting the venue of the international meeting in Nyingchi

Despite strained political ties, India must continue to do business with China

The conflict of interest between India and China on the political front is likely to continue for a long time to come, with China’s territorial greed being what it is.  However, business dealings between both countries must continue since such business is of mutual interest to both India and China.

More on Indo Pacific - China Watch

Is China worried over closer Dhaka-New Delhi ties? Unlikely

Professor Thussu says, ”Although New Delhi remains a traditional friend of Dhaka, the growing presence of China in Bangladesh and elsewhere in South Asia, makes it difficult for Hasina to prioritize India over China: the scale and depth of Chinese investment, aid etc. can’t be matched by India.” 

Is China's tightening grip over Malaysia and region a threat to Western security order?

In this regard, both ASEAN and Malaysia seem to have lost their appeal to the West for a deeper security foothold, with Washington realising that the current situation of the region's pandering to Beijing makes it difficult for the US to establish rooted military alliances and placement of strategic anti-missile capacities, among others

The curious case of Indian silence over damning UN human rights report on China

Not surprisingly, India has not come out with any condemnation of China for its atrocities in Xinjiang, a classic example of India in recent times trying to steer clear of global contestations

A strategic shift? Lessons for India from the Dragon's Taiwan fury

It will be for the first time that the Pentagon is getting involved in a high-altitude exercise with Indian troops, a fact that will not go unnoticed in Beijing. Is staging these combat drills so close to the disputed region indicative of a strategic shift on the part of New Delhi? 

A long tactical mind game has begun for control of Indo Pacific

A new, long and potentially ugly physical and mind games have begun, where conventional and tactical firepower alone would not guarantee long term success and acceptance

Post Taiwan crisis, China gets edgy over Tibet and Himalayan security

With no diplomatic ties with Bhutan, prevailing border tensions with India and a changing geo-strategic sphere in Nepal, China's Himalayan neighbourhood security is critically tied to safeguarding Tibet

The Chinese ‘spy’ ship that raised Indian eyebrows; and this may not be the last

Ever since Sri Lanka leased Hambantota port to China, both India and the US have flagged their concerns that this may eventually lead to it becoming a hub for the PLA Navy in the Indian Ocean

India remains a strategic bulwark in checking China’s rising power

Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh remain crucial in the eyes of New Delhi and Washington in denying further incursions by Beijing, underscored by the scramble for reassertion of American influence and ties with both nations

A must-read book for scholars and others to understand India-China dynamics

One particular observation that gets highlighted, although not explicitly stated as such by the author, is the huge clout and influence wielded by some key diplomats and political advisers who seem to have literally hijacked the formulation of policy and response to this, complex relationship during the Nehru years

China's strategic missteps can have dangerous consequences for Indo Pacifc region

Beijing should be wise enough in realizing the dangerous impact of its using pugnacious responses to Pelosi’s visit that can risk greater backfiring from its strategic adversaries in the future

With eye on China, India's armed forces incorporate AI systems in three services

In view of China’s build-up all along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) till Arunachal Pradesh, it is just as well that India is pursuing efforts to equip its armed forces with AI-backed systems

Pelosi’s Taiwan trip: upholding values of democracy over autocracy

A new spectrum of tactical competition has begun in the Indo Pacific, and it requires more than threats and deterrence to determine the path and pattern of the conflict; it needs wisdom and strategic foresight by all the players in playing both the short and long game with both conventional and new tools of war and diplomacy

Sharpening China Watch: Indian Army seeks to up language and knowledge expertise on China

The Indian Army’s notification in July 2022 inviting applications from persons fluent in Mandarin to properly communicate with the Chinese military along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is a beginning in fulfilling a decades-long important requirement

Can the US help Taipei escape Beijing’s claws?

Regardless of future leadership transitions in Washington, the pivot to the Indo-Pacific will be here to stay in safeguarding America’s status quo and primacy, writes Collins Chong Yew Keat for South Asia Monitor

‘Opaque’ loans from China caused the crisis in Sri Lanka, says USAID chief

Interestingly, despite gaining significant influence and footprint in Sri Lanka, China’s failure to assist the crisis-hit country has left analysts baffled about Beijing’s thought process. The restructuring of loans, which Colombo sought repeatedly, was ignored by China