Jagannath P. Panda

November 2020
Volume: 44
Issue: 6
Review Essay

• Published: November 2020
• Strategic Analysis

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's opinion piece ‘Moon's 'New Deal' Visions and India-South Korea ties’ has been published in ‘The Korea Times’, on October 29, 2020.

According to Dr. Panda, pursuing economic cooperation is an effort both India and the ROK must explore and expedite under the current fiscal conditions. Amid COVID-19's global upheaval, South Korea has firmly established its middle-power status even as it seeks a way out of China and the U.S.'s great power rivalry. Concurrently, in a post-Galwan period, India is increasingly pursuing partnerships (economic and security) in the region and attempting to maximize the situation by establishing itself as an attractive alternative economic destination. Under such conditions, India and the ROK can (and must) consolidate their business-government symbiotic ties and further enhance the building blocks of their bilateral development.

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• Published: 29 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's Opinion piece 'How the US and India became brothers in arms' has been published in Asia Times, on October 28, 2020. 

The piece argues that while China is a major factor behind growing synergy and convergence between the two nations, it is important that US-India ties grow on an expansive level moving forward. 

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• Published: 28 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's article ‘Indonesia in Tokyo's Changing Regional Outlook’ has been published in Japan Forward on October 27, 2020.

The article argues that Tokyo’s changing priorities amid a new, severe security environment have rendered Indonesia a central place in Japan’s geopolitical calculus, as evidenced by its selection in Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s first trip abroad. Notably, Indonesia was also part of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s maiden foreign tour during his second term. Suga’s visit thus marked a continuation, if not renewal, of Abe’s focus on Jakarta.

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• Published: 27 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's article ‘Xi's Lost Chance in Asia’ has been published in ‘The Japan Times’ on October 16, 2020.

The piece argues that if Beijing truly wants to embrace multilateralism, sovereign equality and mutually respectful partnerships to create a bright, shared future for mankind, it must situate its rise within the existing international order, by taking first Asia into confidence more than any other region of the globe.

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• Published: 16 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Dr. Jagannath Panda's article ‘Why the US is ill-suited to mediate India-China border dispute’ has been published in Responsible Statecraft, an online portal of Quincy Institute for Responsible Starcraft, Washington DC, USA, on October 15, 2020.

The piece argues that the U.S. mediation in the India-China boundary dispute would have largely detrimental consequences for both India and China. Beyond reasons that stem from claims of resolving sovereign disputes bilaterally, the unlikelihood of easy compromises from either of the three leaders- Modi, Xi and Trump, the changing geopolitical order, and growing domestic economic and political concerns in all three countries render any third-party mediation between the two Asian giants highly unlikely — let alone by the United States.

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• Published: 15 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's article ‘Suganomics and India-Japan Economic Ties: A Seven-Point Plan’ has been published in ‘The Japan Times’ on October 06, 2020.

The article argues that even though India-Japan ties have been instituted within structured, progressive mechanisms, relying on these mechanisms will not be enough. Personal investment is key with the Abe-Modi legacy is a vivid example. Suga must carefully take forward the multi-faceted ties between India and Japan in order to build international and domestic support.

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• Published: 6 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's piece ‘India-ROK: The Search for a Post-Pandemic Comprehensive Partnership’ has been published in 38 North at the Stimson Centre, Washington DC on October 05, 2020. The piece is a two-part series of the author, covering India-DPRK and India-RoK ties.

The author argues that amidst changing political dynamics in Asia, India and South Korea are looking to carve out a greater role for themselves in establishing peace and security in the region. As South Korea expands its horizons beyond the Korean Peninsula and explores additional avenues for greater involvement within the Indo-Pacific region, India has the potential to emerge as a critical democratic partner.

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• Published: 5 October, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's commentary ‘India's Ties to North Korea: Can New Delhi Overcome Challenges to Its Maturing Engagement?’ has been published by 38 North in Stimson Centre, on September 30, 2020. 

The piece argues that with the post-COVID geopolitical order undergoing major changes and global economic conditions deteriorating, North Korea will want to focus on strengthening its already weak economy, especially if the country is hit hard by COVID-19. Furthermore, at some point, dialogue between North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Japan and other stakeholders on the Korean Peninsula will reopen; at that juncture, India would be poised to play a constructive role in promoting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

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• Published: 30 September, 2020

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Jagannath Panda's co-authored article with Ms. Akriti Vasudeva, ‘U.S.-China Competition and Washington’s Case for ‘Quad Plus’’ has been published in ‘The National Interest’ on September 28, 2020. 

The article argues that the protection and maintenance of the existing U.S.-led global order has become Washington’s foremost strategic endeavor as a revisionist China seeks to challenge this status quo, to emerge as an equally dominating world power—perhaps one that could be more powerful. This contest has pushed the United States to actively develop coalitions with countries that have a shared interest in preserving the current liberal international order. The most widely discussed of these groupings is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, comprised of the United States, India, Australia, and Japan. But in recent months, Washington has begun exploring a new framework for Indo-Pacific cooperation, dubbed the “Quad Plus.”  

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• Published: 28 September, 2020