East Asia
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  • About Centre

    The East Asia Centre is dedicated to study and research the domestic and foreign policies of individual countries of the region as well as India’s multifaceted relationships with these countries. With respect to China, the Centre’s research foci are its foreign policy (particularly towards the US, Russia, Central Asia and Asia Pacific), domestic politics, economy, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and India’s relationship with China in all its dimensions. The Centre’s research also focuses on Taiwan, its domestic politics, Sino-Taiwanese relationship and Indo-Taiwanese relationship, Hong Kong and India-Hong Kong relations. Japan and Korea are the other major focus of the Centre, with its research focused on their domestic politics, foreign policy and comprehensive bilateral relationships with India. The geopolitics of the Asia Pacific and the Korean peninsula are also studied in the Centre. The Centre brings out the bimonthly newsletter - East Asia Monitor - on China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

    The Centre brings out bimonthly newsletter - East Asia Monitor - on China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

    Members

    Land to Seas: The Deployment of China's Nuclear Forces

    China's deployment of nuclear forces are diversifying in an effort to achieve effective deterrence against its adversaries. Whereas the robustness of its nuclear posture might mean that it is moving away from its limited arsenal, however, its strategies and patterns of deployment indicate the PLA Rocket Forces are focused on improving its response and coordination for a seamless and rapid counter-strike, updating its strategy of deployment of missile systems to reduce its vulnerabilities in the post-missile defence nuclear environment and integrate its nuclear responses to portray an effective deterrence.

    2023

    Missile Defence and China

    China has considerably improved its missile defence capabilities which is generally thought as a way to counter the US nuclear superiority after the abolition of the ABM Treaty. However, the Chinese responses show a broader understanding that the US nuclear superiority is more than a competition to reduce the efficiency of the Chinese deterrence.

    2023

    Japan's Defence Industrial Policy Reform: Debates and Implications for International Cooperation

    Monograph

    The revised National Security Strategy makes a cogent case of Japan’s evolving character as a decisive security actor. The conversation in Tokyo demonstrates a renewed sense of urgency in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sino-US strategic contest, and post-pandemic mainstreaming of economic security.

    2023

    Xi Jinping’s ‘Chinese Dream’: China’s Renewed Foreign and Security Policy

    • Publisher: Routledge Taylor & Francis
      2022
    The author analyses the influence of Xi’s 'Chinese Dream' on China’s foreign relations and security postures.

    Xi Jinping’s rise has led to a paradigm shift in many aspects of China’s domestic and international politics. A key element of this has been the ideological vision shorthanded as the 'Chinese Dream', combining elements of nationalism, Confucian ideology, and economic expansionism. Singh evaluates the various changes in China’s nominally communist ideology in the post-Mao era, with an emphasis on the implications for China’s economic and security relations with other countries. He particularly focusses on China’s approach to South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, key elements of China’s strategy.

    An insightful guide to understanding the direction of China’s foreign and security policy, and especially its impact on India–China relations.

    • ISBN: 9781032375328 ,
    • Price: £84.00
    2022

    India–China Rivalry: Asymmetric No Longer: An Assessment of China’s Evolving Perceptions of India

    • Publisher: KW Publishers
      2021
    In recent years, there has been growing interest in deciphering the nature and contours of bilateral dynamics between India and China, since the contours bilateral dynamics between the two rising powers have potential implications for the evolving geopolitical order in the region and even beyond. This book is not about understanding the nature of rivalry dynamics between India and China but prominently focuses on China’s mental and emotional image of India, which has remained an underexplored dimension in contemporary scholarship.

    The aim of the book is two-fold. First, this book is an effort to analyse China’s contemporary perceptual image about India primarily through the analysis of Chinese publications on the subject. Second, this book questions the prevalent notion of characterising India-China rivalry as ‘one-sided’ or ‘asymmetric.’

    Unarguably, power asymmetry, with substantial Chinese advantage, has been a persistent characteristic of India-China relations and is likely to remain or even grow further. India, being weaker in this dyad, naturally has a greater threat perception vis-à-vis China. However, this apparent power asymmetry does not provide China with an overwhelming advantage over India.

    The book argues that India has been and continues to be a ‘strategic rival’ in Chinese perception even though it is not categorised by China as its ‘principal rival.’ In the contemporary period, as India expands its defence capabilities, extends its regional outreach and deepens its engagement with major powers, Beijing has begun to factor New Delhi into its strategic calculus even more seriously.

    • ISBN: 978-93-91490-01-0 ,
    • Price: ₹. 980/-
    • E-copy available
    2021

    India’s Stance on the ‘Asian NATO’: Between ‘Status’ and ‘Security’ Dilemmas

    ‘Security’ and ‘status’ complexities are critical impediments for any state’s foreign policy; and India is no different. This article argues that as the China threat looms large, New Delhi will not be in complete repudiation of an ‘Asian NATO’ (or “Indo-Pacific NATO”), despite strategically refraining from being party to a definitive military alliance and an age-old non-alignment principle. However, India’s support will be contingent on the future trajectory of its ties with Beijing.

    January 2022

    Indonesia: A Reluctant Participant in the South China Sea Disputes

    The role of Indonesia in the South China Sea (SCS) disputes has been limited to being part of the ASEAN team since the country is not one of the active claimants. Jakarta has tried to sidestep its maritime row with Beijing by emphasizing the lack of a “territorial dispute’ between the two countries. The article analyzes the role and position of Indonesia in the SCS disputes and argues that despite Indonesia’s reluctance to be an active or direct claimant state, developments in recent years have dragged her into the disputes and she will remain involved until a mutually acceptable solution is achieved in the overarching problem of the SCS.

    March 2021

    The Reception and Implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative in Vietnam

    The article looks back on China’s proposal and promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to Vietnam, as well as Vietnam’s official position and response to this initiative. The implementation of agreements between the two countries is analysed by evaluating two key areas of the BRI in Vietnam, namely facilities connectivity, and trade and investment. China was active in promoting the BRI, whereas Vietnam welcomed the initiative with caution. Cooperation in the two key areas has been promoted.

    March 2021

    The KMT’s Predicament: Cross-Strait Relations and Taiwan’s Domestic Politics

    On October 6, 2020, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan (parliament) passed two important Resolutions, moved by the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT). These sought to ensure ‘US military aid in combating aggression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’ and ‘a resumption of diplomatic relations between the US and Taiwan.’1 The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supported the Resolutions. Such a bipartisan consensus is rare in Taiwan’s deeply divided politics.

    January 2021

    The Elusive Quest for an ‘Asian NATO’

    The turn of the twenty-first century brought with it the miraculous economic rise of China in Asia and beyond; American strategy towards the region, denoted by the ‘pivot to Asia’ and acceptance of a ‘Pacific Century’ for the US,1 became increasingly China-centric. Building partnerships, forging security and commercial pacts with Asian countries and enhancing maritime presence across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) eventually became the fulcrum of America’s Asia strategy, with mainstream strategic perception in the United States on China becoming increasingly negative.

    January 2021

    China–United States Science and Technology Agreement at the Crossroads

    The Biden administration’s decision to temporarily extend the 1979 Science and Technology Agreement (STA) with China by six months in August 2023 came against the backdrop of apprehensions over Chinese technology theft.

    March 08, 2024

    The Dissolution of Factions within Japan’s LDP: An Unfinished Revolution

    Japan’s political parties, most notably the LDP, have dissolved internal factions, but their relevance may not be over.

    March 06, 2024

    India–Japan Strategic Partnership and the Indo-Pacific

    India–Japan strategic partnership has gained momentum due to the alignment of their geo-economic and geo-strategic interests.

    February 21, 2024

    Assessing Japan’s Diplomacy in 2023

    Japan made great strides towards developing an independent foreign policy, even as it hewed closer to the Global North’s positions on the burning issues of 2023.

    December 21, 2023

    Japan and the Philippines: Towards a Stronger Strategic Partnership

    The Philippines became the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member state to sign a defence pact with Japan.

    December 06, 2023

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