East Asia

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 five monthly newsletters: East Asia Military Monitor, Japan Digest, China Science and Technology, Korea Newsletter, and China Military Digest.

The Proposed PLA Naval Base in Seychelles and India’s Options

India must actively engage the island nations in the Western Indian Ocean and enhance the scope and deployment of the Indian Navy and its air aim in these waters.

Mandip Singh
December 15, 2011
IDSA Comments

Integrated Joint Operations by the PLA: An Assessment

In recent years the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been undergoing a series of transformations at various levels in keeping with its changed military doctrine which emphasises upon fighting `local wars under conditions of informationalisation`.

Mandip Singh
December 11, 2011
IDSA Comments

The Sino-Indian Defence Dialogue: Addressing the Persisting Security Dilemma

The India-China defence dialogue assumes significance in the context of the military build-up across the border and the persistence of the security dilemma between the two countries.

R N Das
December 07, 2011
IDSA Comments

What are friends for? The supply of restricted items to Chashma via China

Coming close on the heels of the Chinese decision to build two nuclear power plants at Karachi as well as the continued assistance to the construction of nuclear reactors at Chashma, Xun Wang’s case raises the worrying spectre of spotty Chinese implementation of and compliance with international export control regulations.

Arun Vishwanathan
November 29, 2011
IDSA Comments

South Korea relives the Yeonpyeong attack by North Korea

The people of Yeonpyeong Island remember with trepidation the devastating attack of November 2010. Since the Cheonan incident in March 2010 and chastened by the attack last year, South Korea has beefed up its military arsenal and strengthened its defence preparedness.

Rajaram Panda
November 29, 2011
IDSA Comments

China’s Diplomatic Folly

The East Asian Summit was a rude awakening, for not one country spoke up on behalf of China on the issue of disputes in the South China Sea.

R. S. Kalha
November 23, 2011
IDSA Comments

India-Japan-US Trilateral Dialogue: A Promising Initiative

There certainly exists some logic behind India, Japan and the US working together, and that too in a region that lacks solid security architecture.

Six-Party Talks: Geneva meeting shrugs-off “strategic patience” but parsimoniously

Not engaging North Korea is no more seen as an option even as it continue to build its nuclear capabilities.

Preeti Nalwa
November 13, 2011
IDSA Comments

Kim’s Russia Visit: Evaluating Diplomatic Currency

It is apparent that both Russia and North Korea are seeking diplomatic currency. But so long as North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme remains an unresolved issue, Russia’s plan for a trans-Korean gas pipeline, however mutually beneficial that may be, is likely to remain unachievable.

Rajaram Panda
November 09, 2011
Issue Brief

A Consideration of Sino-Indian Conflict

There is considerable interest in a possible conflict with China. However, little discussion exists in the open domain on conflict possibilities. This Brief attempts to fill this gap by dilating upon conflict scenarios along the spectrum of conflict. It brings out the need for limitation to conflict and the necessity for a grand strategic approach towards China as against a military driven one.