Commentaries

Xi has consolidated enough power in his own hands that if he incorrectly believes he can win or that he has no choice but to fight, he may initiate hostilities even if he considers such a conflict to be high-risk. As a result, Taiwan, the United States, and Japan may consider speeding up joint preparations to ensure that deterrence holds and that their defence capabilities are sufficient to defeat any PRC military coercion effort.

The manner in which a structurally weaker player like the Taliban, post its resurgence, negotiated its way to power is an indication of the complex politico-security environment in Afghanistan. With safe havens and assistance provided by a neighbouring country like Pakistan, it became increasingly difficult to fight and defeat the Taliban insurgency.

Taiwan’s prolonged political and economic distance from the Mainland China has created sufficient space and time for emergence of separate identity with the territory and people of Taiwan. The tension will continue between China and Taiwan as Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, while China views it as a breakaway province.

The U.S.-led coalition alliance structure in the Indo-Pacific region needs a serious deliberation in order to effectively counter any unwanted moves by China in the free and open geostrategic space called the Indo-Pacific. The reset of the transatlantic alliance is a necessary step in these efforts. Yet, the element of consensus and unilateral agreement on the pointed agenda of protecting the shared values and interests needs to be deliberated sincerely before it is called a success and celebration starts.

A durable climate policy requires support of multiple stakeholders – politicians on the left and right, business leaders, pressure groups and civil society. And it is a no brainer that their perspectives differ, there is lack of consensus, stark polarizations, and competing interests at play—all making any sort of viable climate action challenging!

The Quad provides an opportunity to demonstrate a new pattern for space diplomacy and if it continues to wield individual expertise and high technologies, as it has done in the Indo-Pacific, the possibility of a peaceful and stable outer space could be well within its reach.

As China and the US continue to compete in the Indo-Pacific region, many aspects including economic development of small states is likely to be shaped by the trajectory of this competition. It remains to be seen how small states in the Indo-Pacific are able to safeguard their development while distancing themselves from the heat of the geopolitics of this region,

The failure of China to honour the ‘one country, two systems’ in China in letter and spirit has dented the faith and confidence of both the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan in the efficacy of the novelty of, ‘one country, two systems’. It is, however, not too late for China to repair and rectify the damage done to one country, two systems in Hong Kong.

All speculations had to bite dust when the military coup took effect on February 1, 2021. Many nations blamed the incident including India, appealing to restore back the democracy in Myanmar. The Tatmadaw are likely to continue its power run in Myanmar, as the country enters a new era of uncertainty.

The great game is on in Afghanistan. Post the US withdrawal, to what extent China’s influence will register in Afghanistan is a major question. Amidst all these chaos and concerns, the civil population has been at the receiving end. One has to wait and watch the extent to which the world powers deal with the Taliban regime and what will be its repercussions