The South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia by Bill Hayton The South China Sea disputes have received considerable attention from international relations scholars, world leaders and policymakers in the recent decades. China’s aspirations in the region are challenged by the relatively smaller East Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The territorial disputes, mixed with the concept of sovereignty and national pride, have led to the development of geopolitical rivalry in the region. Sampa Kundu January 2016 Journal of Defence Studies
China’s Emergence as a Cyber Power Cyberspace is increasingly becoming an area of contestation among nation states. Similar to the physical domains of land, sea, air and space, superiority in the cyber domain enables a nation state to exert its cyber power. In recent years, China has invested colossal amounts in building the requisite infrastructure and capabilities of its armed forces as well as governance practices to advance towards ‘informationalisation’. This article seeks to discern the motives, threats, objectives, strategy and intent that drive China to amass cyber power. Munish Sharma January 2016 Journal of Defence Studies
Tanzania’s President John Magufuli – The Hero of the Hour India needs to take advantage of its historically close and friendly ties with Tanzania and step up its ties with that country, perhaps by scheduling a visit of Prime Minister Modi at the earliest. Debnath Shaw January 22, 2016 Issue Brief
The North Korean Nuclear Test: Quest for Deterrence The January 6 ‘thermonuclear’ test is the fourth in the series of nuclear tests in North Korea’s consistent quest to attain credible deterrence against the United States. Skand Tayal January 22, 2016 IDSA Comments
Trends and Prospects for Cooperation with the Middle East It is too early for India to get involved in any regional security arrangement as it would have to answer two basic questions; security for whom? And against whom? Most regimes feel threatened internally and any involvement would entail India taking sides between rival factions. P. R. Kumaraswamy January 21, 2016 IDSA Comments
New Defence Procurement Procedure: A Stimulating Preview The Defence Acquisition Council has decided to introduce a new category of Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured equipment. This will be the most preferred category, ahead of ‘Buy (Indian)’, which presently occupies the pride of place. Amit Cowshish January 20, 2016 IDSA Comments
The Eighth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention Within the intensive scientific era of the 21 century, 5 years – representing the intervals between the BWC Review Conferences – constitute a period with a vast potential, in terms… Continue reading The Eighth Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention Dany Shoham January-March 2016 CBW Magazine
Re-engaging with Pakistan Resuming talks with Pakistan sooner rather than later is important. These should now be part of a sustained effort of diplomatic outreach towards Pakistan rather than an on-and-off affair. Sumita Kumar January 19, 2016 IDSA Comments
Iran sans Sanctions The lifting of sanctions against Iran relating to its nuclear activities marks an important turning point for Iran, the region, the United States, and the rest of the world. K. P. Fabian January 18, 2016 IDSA Comments
Will Diamer Bhasha Dam get a share in the CPEC Pie? While China’s initial reluctance was attributed to the sheer scale of the project, costing tens of billions of dollars, in the changed CPEC-helmed geo-economic-strategic context, its re-calculations cannot be ruled out. Priyanka Singh January 18, 2016 IDSA Comments
