Sikkim Earthquake: Perils of Poor Preparedness An earthquake of the magnitude 6.9 on the Richter scale occurred in Sikkim and the neighbouring states of West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar on September 18, 2011. The tremors were felt in five other Indian states, besides affecting neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China. Although few lives were lost (111 in all) despite the high magnitude of the quake, primarily because its epicentre was in the remote and thinly-populated area of Mangan, significant lessons were learnt in its aftermath. Nina Khanna , Jayender Verma , B.K. Khanna | January 2012 | Journal of Defence Studies
Japan’s Disaster Response Management: Lessons for the World Introduction Rajaram Panda | January 2012 | Journal of Defence Studies
The Chinese Disaster Management Mechanism Geographic position, climatic features, and geological structures cause natural disasters in almost cyclical order in China. Man-made disasters such as the SARS epidemic add a new dimension to the over all woe of a nation which is home to 18.5 per cent of the world population. The paper explores the extent of the face lift achieved by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from once being known as the “Land of Famines” and the “Land of Death”, and, in particular, the positive contribution of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in the whole gamut of disasters. Sheo Nandan Pandey | January 2012 | Journal of Defence Studies
2008 Sichuan Earthquake and Role of the Chinese Defence Forces in Disaster Relief The People’s Republic of China has been afflicted by natural calamities right from its inception in 1949, including severe river flooding, excess snowfall, cyclones, tsunamis and earthquakes. The consequential human suffering is further aggravated by the heavy population density. The mammoth 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province and the resultant loss of life and property exposed the ill-preparedness of the Chinese government machinery like never before. Nevertheless, the Chinese State Council rose admirably to the occasion. Kamlesh K. Agnihotri | January 2012 | Journal of Defence Studies
Contours of a Possible Indian Riposte to Chinese Aggressiveness After assessing the weaknesses and gaps in Chinese capabilities and highlighting the positions of advantage that India enjoys, this essay proposes a strategy for a strong riposte against any Chinese adventurism. Lalit Kumar | January 17, 2012 | Policy Brief
China ups the ante in Arunachal Pradesh China’s refusal of visa to an IAF officer from Arunachal Pradesh, while aimed at scoring a political point, creates obstacles towards the very confidence-building that China hopes to see in the eastern sector. Namrata Goswami | January 17, 2012 | IDSA Comments
Visit of Pakistan Army Chief to China India will need to factor the growing PLA presence in and around Pakistan and be prepared to engage an increasingly confident Pakistan propped by Chinese support and driven by Chinese interests in the region. Mandip Singh | January 17, 2012 | IDSA Comments
US Strategic Defence Review—The Dilemma for Asian States While we in India should welcome a change in the strategic profile of the US, we should at the same time examine the matter closely, lest we unnecessarily get embroiled yet again with the Chinese. R. S. Kalha | January 16, 2012 | IDSA Comments
India-China Special Representatives Talks: Focus on Trust Building Although not much is expected from this round of border talks, some incremental forward movement cannot be ruled out in terms of creating additional institutional mechanisms to deal with frequent border transgressions from the Chinese side. R N Das | January 16, 2012 | IDSA Comments
The US Pivots to the East: Implications for India While India’s policy elite have surely not been ‘oblivious’ of the tectonic changes occurring in the region, they have been rather ‘impervious’ to the rapidly emerging equations. Abhijit Singh | January 16, 2012 | IDSA Comments
