Asia - Samvada World

The Unfinished Agenda: Significance and Challenges in Sealing the India-UK Free Trade Deal

28Nov

By Sourabh Shetty1 Comment

The Unfinished Agenda: Significance and Challenges in Sealing the India-UK Free Trade Deal

The India-UK Free Trade deal, valued at £24.3 billion annually, is a great opportunity to strengthen the existing strong relationship, benefiting businesses in both countries. India stands to gain access to UK technologies, advanced research facilities, London's financial institutions, and affluent consumers. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement marks a significant shift in India's trade strategy, prioritizing closer ties with Western and African nations to decrease dependency on China.For the UK, this agreement serves as a chance to recover from losses linked to Brexit and strengthen economic connections with a major partner. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently wrapped up a five-day visit to the UK from November 11-15, It coincided with Diwali celebrations, adding a festi...

From Pacifism to Realism: The Rearmament of Japan

17Nov

By Saumyasingh KshatriyaNo Comments

Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

From Pacifism to Realism: The Rearmament of Japan

In geopolitics, significant shifts sometimes get blurred behind more pressing events happening at the time. However, a fully armoured samurai warrior mounted on a charging steed was emblazoned on the cover of Japan's defence white paper in 2021, and it was one such shift. This white paper symbolized a change on a very fundamental level in Japan's national security philosophy. For the first time, the report links Taiwan directly to the security of Japan. However, all this took time to happen. Since 2014, Shinzo Abe's government has been trying to reinterpret Article 9 - The no war clause of the Japanese constitution. A shock to the system spurs the rapid change in the Japanese military mindset. It was Commodore Mathew Perry's ships in July of 1853 and the Russo-Ukrainian war in Feb...

Is the US Trying To Engineer Regime Change In Bangladesh to bring a radical Islamist party to power?

7Nov

By Balaji SubramanianNo Comments

Asia, Featured, World

Is the US Trying To Engineer Regime Change In Bangladesh to bring a radical Islamist party to power?

It seems the US is leaning towards the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which gets a lot of support from the Islamists who want Sharia law implemented in one of the most secular Muslim-majority countries. With Bangladesh’s upcoming general election scheduled for January 2024, various Islamist groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP, are vigorously striving to regain power with the backing of Western governments, particularly the Biden administration. Many are calling the regime change in Bangladesh a checking mechanism for India which the US sees as a possible opponent in two decades as its economy grows fast. (This article was first published in The Commune Mag. Republished with permission) There are clear signs that the United States of America is interfering in the affai...

Countering Threats: India’s Multifaceted Geopolitical Approach

7Nov

By Aayush PalNo Comments

Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Countering Threats: India’s Multifaceted Geopolitical Approach

India faces dual challenges from its northwestern and northeastern fronts, both aimed at undermining its security and territorial integrity along with adversaries within its borders, driven by insurgency and support from China and Pakistan.India should bolster the strike capabilities of the ITBP and offer broader international visibility to the Dalai Lama, emphasizing the cause of Tibet. India should extend its support to the oppressed Hindu minority in Sindh and grant recognition to the Balochistan Muslim population as these marginalized communities in Pakistan need assistance and recognition.India should proactively engage in initiatives like the I2U2 Alliance and also actively pursue the ‘Indian-Middle East Corridor’ (IMEC) to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ha...

China’s Expansionist Manoeuvres in the South China Sea: Implications for Neighboring Countries

4Nov

By Aayush PalNo Comments

Asia, Featured, World

China’s Expansionist Manoeuvres in the South China Sea: Implications for Neighboring Countries

Manila has repeatedly accused Beijing of obstructing its shipping vessels in and around the Scarborough Shoal, a triangular reef encompassing a resource-rich lagoon that China seized from the Philippines in 2012.The aggressive actions by the Chinese Coast Guard on a smaller Filipino Navy are indicative of a pattern of intimidation and coercion by Beijing in the South China Sea. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a more assertive stance in highlighting China's actions of swarming and intimidating Philippine fishing and coast guard vessels. China has disputes with other nations like Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei in the South China Sea over maritime boundaries, forced incursions and interference in oil and gas operations by the Chinese Coast Guard and navy. In recent times, ther...

Israel Terror Attack and the Lessons for Bharat

31Oct

By Shreyas GouthamNo Comments

Asia, Featured, Middle East, National, World

Israel Terror Attack and the Lessons for Bharat

Today a terrorist may rejoice in killing Jews in a holy war, tomorrow it could be any other community that might find itself in a situation similar to the one the Kashmiri Pandits were in the 1990s.The foot soldier of Islam can easily be directed in any way his master wants, one who will serve his own interests and this becomes extremely dangerous when the abettors are sovereign nations.Bharat's confused self-image along with the twisted understanding and the crude imitation of the concept of European secularism has led to many unspeakable injustices carried out in the country, which is not the case with Israel which proudly identifies itself as a Jewish state. "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."- Eleanor Roosevelt As the co...

South Korea’s Covet of Indo-Pacific: Shaping a New Seoul-New Delhi Strategic Calculus?

27Oct

By Dr. Dattesh D. ParulekarNo Comments

Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

South Korea’s Covet of Indo-Pacific: Shaping a New Seoul-New Delhi Strategic Calculus?

South Korea-India economic equations hark back to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, however, despite the priority underscoring rhetorical flourish across four successive administrations, has struggled to institutionalise higher-order scope and trajectory in relations. South Korea must also harness the deep advantages that accrue from a markedly youthful Indian demography and its reservoir of intellectual capital by delimiting migration and tenured mobility possibilities. The ROK’s Indo-Pacific orientation proffers a template and platform to amplify its profile, role and visibility. It’s nothing short of a truism to aver that, the global centre of gravity has transitioned away from the Euro-Atlantic vector to the Indo-Pacific expanse, observed in metrics of demograph...

Comparing #Manmohannomics and #NAMONomics: Shaping Bharat’s Economic Landscape

27Oct

By Aayush Pal & Umesh AgarwalNo Comments

Asia, National

Comparing #Manmohannomics and #NAMONomics: Shaping Bharat’s Economic Landscape

Manmohan Singh's reforms had a significant impact on Indian society, promoting economic growth, consumer choice, and higher living standards. However, his tenure as Prime Minister was marred by significant challenges with allegations of institutionalized corruption and policy paralysis in various sectors. On the other hand, #NamoNomics has been a comprehensive economic model that has brought about dramatic changes in India’s economic environment since 2014. The forward-thinking approach of #NamoNomics addresses long-standing difficulties, eliminates inefficiencies, and promotes long-term growth. Significant economic policy decisions that opened a new chapter in the development of Bharat were made in the years 1991 and 2014. The era that began in 2014 is now widely known as #NAMONo...

Maldives | Strategic Importance for India and the Increasing Chinese Influence

26Oct

By Ashish Keserwani1 Comment

Asia, Featured, World

Maldives | Strategic Importance for India and the Increasing Chinese Influence

Many important Sea Lines of communications (SLOCs) pass through the Indian Ocean which makes the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) very important. Therefore, great powers, including India and China, are working to increase their presence in the region. Due to the strategic location of Maldives in the Indian Ocean, India and China are both vying to increase their influence in Male. Recent Developments In the Maldives, a clear division can be seen among the main political parties related to India and China. Therefore, which country, either India or China, will enjoy greater leverage over Male can be judged by which political party is in power. The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), considered as pro-China, and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), considered as pro-India, were the two ...

Navigating Diplomacy in the Indian Ocean: The Shifting Stance of Maldivian Foreign Policy

26Oct

By Aayush PalNo Comments

Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Navigating Diplomacy in the Indian Ocean: The Shifting Stance of Maldivian Foreign Policy

A pronounced shift towards China introduces the risk of falling into a debt trap and potentially straining the Maldives' enduring amicable relations with India and numerous Western countries.The recent election and the victory of Mohamed Muizzu, who advocates for stronger ties with China, are emblematic of the Maldives' evolving foreign relations.While historical bonds with India are strong, the appeal of China's investments and non-interference approach presents a challenging choice for Maldives. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih faced a significant defeat in a recent Maldivian presidential elections. This election became more than just a choice for the nation's next leader; it evolved into a referendum on the ongoing tussle between India and China over influence in the Maldives. ...