Simran Walia

Ms Simran Walia is a Research Analyst at the Southeast Asia and Oceania Centre at Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), New Delhi. She is pursuing PhD in Japanese Studies under the Centre for East Asian Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Her research areas and interests include Indo-Pacific dynamics, Japan’s Politics and Foreign Policy.

Before Joining MP-IDSA, Simran worked as an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi and has also worked at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. She has completed her M.Phil in Japanese Studies from JNU. She has published papers and articles on Indo-Pacific dynamics and Japan’s foreign policy and security issues on various platforms such as The Diplomat, Asia Times, The National Interest, and Global Policy Journal among others. Ms.Simran has also presented her work at National as well as International Conferences.

Publication

Simran Walia’s Article ‘How Will China’s New Export Controls Impact Japan?’ Published in The Diplomat

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Simran Walia’s article ‘How Will China’s New Export Controls Impact Japan?’ has been published in ‘The Diplomat’ on 10 January 2026. China has prohibited dual-use goods, including some rare earth elements, from being exported to Japan, writes Ms Walia. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Simran Walia’s Paper ‘Evolution of Japan’s official development assistance amidst great power competition in the Indo-Pacific: 1992 onwards’ Published in Journal of Indian Ocean Region

Research Analyst, Ms Simran Walia’s paper ‘Evolution of Japan’s official development assistance amidst great power competition in the Indo-Pacific: 1992 onwards’ has been published in the Journal of Indian Ocean Region on 17 November 2025. Japan's foreign and security policies are becoming increasingly aligned due to the growing great power rivalry sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's rise to prominence. This paper examines how these developments have impacted the Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy, which the Japanese government considers an essential diplomatic tool. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Simran Walia’s Article ‘Under Takaichi, Tokyo becomes a partner of conviction for Washington’ Published in The Strategist

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Simran Walia’s article ‘Under Takaichi, Tokyo becomes a partner of conviction for Washington’ has been published in ‘The Strategist’ on 05 November 2025. Japan has shed much of its postwar restraint and is now embracing a role corresponding with its economic and technological weight… Japan’s readiness to step up on defence, technology and supply-chain resilience signals that the era of US primacy supported by mostly passive partners is ending, writes Ms Walia. Read more 

Simran Walia’s Article ‘Exercise Cope Thunder 2025: Boosting Philippines-US Defense Cooperation’ Published in The Diplomat

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Simran Walia’s article ‘Exercise Cope Thunder 2025: Boosting Philippines-US Defense Cooperation’ has been published in ‘The Diplomat’ on 18 July 2025.

Given the Philippines’ ongoing strategic significance, the Philippines-U.S. alliance is expected to continue to play a significant role in the Indo-Pacific region, says Ms Walia.

Read Complete Article [+]

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

Simran Walia’s Article ‘Halfway through Malaysia’s watch, ASEAN expands its ambition’ Published in The Interpreter

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Simran Walia’s article ‘Halfway through Malaysia’s watch, ASEAN expands its ambition’ has been published in ‘The Interpreter’ on 24 June 2025. Growing the regional bloc with Timor-Leste’s membership has been more than a decade in the making, says Ms Walia. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.