Interpreting China’s Third Plenum Xi Jinping’s new reformist approach of 2013 is a close reflection of Deng Xiaoping’s prescription of 1978. The Chinese political leadership is tightening its political grip and loosening economic control. China has a tradition of leadership being an economic rightist and a political leftist at the same time. The thesis of Xi Jinping is based upon the conception that one should not use post-reform history to negate the pre-reform years. It also says that one should not ‘exaggerate’ Mao Zedong’s mistakes but should acknowledge his contributions. Keshab Chandra Ratha , Sushanta Kumar Mahapatra July 2015 Strategic Analysis
Challenges to the Revision of the Nepal–India 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty The contemporary strategic and political environment has gone through tremendous changes in comparison to the context in which the 1950 treaty was signed. The Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s August 2014 visit to Nepal, the first by an Indian prime minister in 17 years, has rekindled the hope of improving Nepal–India relations, including revision of the 1950 treaty. Against this backdrop, this article argues that without understanding India’s strategic, security-related and political concerns, revision of the 1950 treaty is highly unlikely. Rohit Karki , Lekhnath Paudel July 2015 Strategic Analysis
Nuclear Security in Asia: Problems and Challenges The importance of nuclear security in Asia needs to be focused upon in view of the emerging challenges of nuclear proliferation, growing nuclear arsenals, expanding civilian nuclear energy programmes, weak export controls, zones of domestic instability and terrorism in several regions within the continent. This article focuses on the factors that pose potential risks to nuclear security in Asia. It emphasises the prevailing factors endangering the security of nuclear and radiological materials in Asia. Reshmi Kazi July 2015 Strategic Analysis
South China Sea: India’s Maritime Gateway to the Pacific This article looks at India’s interests and strategy in the South China Sea (SCS). First, it highlights India’s maritime interests and discusses the relevance of the SCS to these interests. It then examines some key ingredients of India’s evolving policy initiatives in the region. The article argues that with a considerable expansion of India’s engagement with the South China Sea littoral states, India appears to be genuinely emerging as an indispensable element in the strategic discourse of this region. Rajeev Ranjan Chaturvedy July 2015 Strategic Analysis
National Security: Concept, Measurement and Management The concept of national security has often been taken to merely connote the preservation of sovereignty, territorial integrity and internal stability with the focus on the coercive power of the state. In today’s complex and interdependent world faced with many non traditional threats like pandemics, climate change, etc it must, however, be seen in a more holistic manner. Satish Chandra , Rahul K. Bhonsle July 2015 Strategic Analysis
Recent ‘Chemical Incidents’ in France and Taiwan While the attack on the chemical warehouse in France and the accident in the Taiwanese park are not cases of chemical terrorism in a classical sense, they can be analysed against the backdrop of a ‘chemical incident’. Ajey Lele June 30, 2015 IDSA Comments
A Tale of Two Disputes: China’s Irrationality and India’s Stakes In China’s foreign policy setting, the logic of ‘sovereignty’ and ‘history’ are employed or applied selectively as is evident from its reservation on India’s oil exploration in the South China Sea and its own plans to implement the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir despite India’s reservations. Rumel Dahiya , Jagannath P. Panda June 29, 2015 Policy Brief
Is it a Greek Tragedy or a European One? Do the successors of Monnet have the moral strength to move in the right direction rather than act like petty minded accountants who want to balance the books at any cost? K. P. Fabian June 29, 2015 IDSA Comments
Why are Southeast Asians lured to fight for the Islamic State? If the experience of the Afghan–trained mujahids is anything to go by, the threat posed by returnees from Syria and Iraq has the potential to be far more lethal especially since the numbers involved are much higher. Bilveer Singh June 29, 2015 IDSA Comments
The Modi factor in Central Asia Modi’s activism is welcomed in Central Asian countries, though they know that India has already missed the bus and it has a lot of catching up to do. P. Stobdan June 24, 2015 Issue Brief
