teaching China - science, tech & international relations @ShivNadarUniv. next - politics in sci-fi. landlubber @nmfindia. previously @ics_delhi & @IPCSNewDelhi
Oct 27, 2021 • 11 tweets • 2 min read
From a China context, there was much to parse in the remarks made by Adm. Karambir Singh, India's Chief of Naval Staff. He underlined India’s commitment to the concept of the Indo-Pacific noting that neither its coinage nor its boundaries mattered as much as the idea itself. 1/n
In an obvious reference to China, Adm. Singh suggested that "some states" were applying land-centric concepts and that there was a danger of global commons turning into contested seas as basic precepts were challenged. 2/n
Jun 15, 2021 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
As usual, Chinese commentary is a clever mix of carefully slanted facts and ignoring inconvenient ones.
Zhou Bo says India cold shouldered Chinese aid but the Indian envoy was complaining about Chinese price gouging - that's Chinese profiteering not aid scmp.com/comment/opinio…
Zhou's question "If China has to compete in an America-initiated great power competition, why would it suddenly divert its attention and strength away from that to take on India?" seems to indicate that China has no interest at all in the LAC. That's far from true -
Jun 13, 2021 • 16 tweets • 5 min read
This was an important discussion - short but covered a lot of ground.
I make 5 points: 1. Why has there been no exercise so far in accountability on the Indian side following the Chinese incursions in eastern Ladakh last year?
In a 2018 piece (on removal of term limits for the Chinese presidency), I actually also look at some reasons why lack of accountability is generally the case in India - business-standard.com/article/intern…
Apr 15, 2021 • 23 tweets • 6 min read
This is an interesting piece on an important channel of communications bt India and China, viz, Track-2 dialogues. While Ananta Aspen is just one among Indian think-tanks that could have organised an Indian delegation, the China Reform Forum (中国改革开放论坛) is significant 1/n
because it is a think-tank within the Central Party School. All mid-level CCP officials have to pass through the School if they have to make it to the next rung(s) in their career. Xi Jinping was a former head of the School and now it's his close ally Chen Xi. 2/n
Jan 23, 2021 • 23 tweets • 5 min read
This is supremely clever propaganda. A former PLA senior colonel, Zhou Bo, writes for the once balanced SCMP (what a fall!) about the "inevitable decline of the US" and wonders if it will be peaceful. scmp.com/comment/opinio…
"inevitabile decline",
a) the "inevitability" itself is removed from the central focus, that from any challenge or question.
and
b) the old question of whether China's rise (again considered inevitable) will be itself be peaceful is completely ignored.
Interestingly, however,
Dec 17, 2020 • 26 tweets • 5 min read
I have been quoted in this article on the presence of CCP members in various Chinese establishments in India. It has drawn reactions both from the Indian MEA as well as the Chinese Embassy in India. I'll come to those in a bit but first let me explain a few things in >er detail
than there was space for in the article. If my quote seems anodyne that's because as the Chinese would ask "什麼事兒這麼大驚小怪的?" or "what's the fuss all about?" This is no surprise to China professionals. Remember when news came out that Jack Ma of Alibaba was a CCP member?
Jun 22, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
In this new piece, I talk about the reasons behind China's belligerence in Ladakh. thequint.com/voices/opinion…
I begin with a larger explanation of China's worldview that drives current Chinese foreign and security policies 1/n
I call China's policies tone-deaf especially insofar as they relate to perceived sovereignty issues. There is also a particular emphasis at all times to not convey the impression that they give in to pressure. 2/n
Jun 17, 2020 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
The first Indian casualties since 1975 on the disputed India-China boundary changes many things for Indian policymakers as well as for scholars and observers of China. No longer can we rely on good sense, the weather or dumb luck to eventually help resolve border standoffs 1/n
It calls for greater attention to China in India from all walks of life in order to support good analysis and appropriate policies. As responsible as governments in power are for missteps and failures of policies, so also are opposition politicians and and the general public 2/n
May 24, 2020 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
Imp points by Lt.Gen. DS Hooda (retd) frmr head of Indian Army's Northern Command bit.ly/3cYSAY1
a) if Gen. Hooda says, "large number of soldiers and transgressed in multiple areas in eastern Ladakh", perhaps we should set aside the controversy about exact numbers 1/n
5,000 or 500 - it possibly matters little - these are significant enough to cause concern. In fact, he repeats the assertion later in outlining why the present instance is different from previous transgressions even Chumar and Doklam. 2/n
May 23, 2020 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
This is an important piece by @ajaishukla. bit.ly/2LUbymM
Some thoughts on the scale and nature of Chinese actions and implications for India.
A. No matter how much infra China builds close to the LAC, India infra buildup is always opposed. 1/n
This is standard Chinese practice. Ladakh has witnessed infra-related issues for years now. These are well-documented and have been brought to attention by politicians too, incl. Farooq Abdullah and @OmarAbdullah 2/n
Mar 26, 2019 • 22 tweets • 8 min read
India & China have one of the most important relationships in the world. On @NSCwithHJ, i talk about the rsp at length This thread expands on some of the themes highlighted in the conversation. And i flag a few more 1/n
What's the deal with China not allowing the UN Security Council to sanction Masood Azhar? Simple - China's views Pakistan as a strategic asset and India as a strategic challenger - a terrorist for India is not a terrorist for China. indiandchina.com/2015/01/07/cou… 2/n
