East Asia

About Centre

The East Asia Centre is dedicated to studying the domestic and foreign policies of the region as well as India’s multifaceted relationships with the major countries of this region. With respect to China, the Centre’s research foci are its foreign policy, domestic politics, economy, military affairs, and India’s relations with China in all its dimensions. It monitors developments in China’s autonomous and special administrative regions. The Centre also focuses on Taiwan with reference to cross-Strait relations, ties with the US, India-Taiwan relations and domestic politics. The Centre researches Japanese and Korean affairs. Its major research focus is on their domestic politics, foreign policy and comprehensive bilateral relationships with India. It follows the developments in the Korean peninsula and inter-Korean relations. The geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific is studied at the Centre too.

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

The Dragon has landed for the American Eagle

Sino-US rivalry has been simmering for the past many years, as China has replaced Russia in the American scheme of things as its most potent adversary.

Rajeev Sharma
October 13, 2010
IDSA Comments

Power Transition in North Korea creates more uncertainty for future

The power transition in North Korea is bound to produce more political intrigue in the coming months, with the junior Kim concentrating more on military modernization and nuclear programme to strengthen his position.

Rajaram Panda
October 13, 2010
IDSA Comments

China, Japan spat in East China Sea

If the China-Japan maritime dispute in the East China Sea is not tackled and left to linger, it would have a serious impact on regional security.

Shamshad A. Khan
September 22, 2010
IDSA Comments

As Dragon flexes muscle, the Rising Sun goes defensive

China’s rise has become a matter of concern throughout Asia and led to changes in the strategic postures of its neighbours. Japan has begun to rethink its own defence strategy and security policy in response to China’s military modernization.

Pranamita Baruah , Rajaram Panda , Shamshad A. Khan
September 09, 2010
Issue Brief

China Africa Relations: New Terms of Engagement

South African President Jacob Zuma has affirmed the mutually beneficial economic relationship between China and Africa, including with his country, notwithstanding the negative sides to this relationship. It is clear that China’s role in Africa is changing the terms of engagement with the region. That is perhaps the biggest challenge for India and the rest of the world in their future Africa strategy.

Gunjan Singh
September 09, 2010
IDSA Comments

Fruits of Antony’s visit to South Korea: Defence Ties Strengthen further

Converging interests between India and South Korea is leading them to position themselves to work closely in the emerging Asian security architecture.

Rajaram Panda
September 07, 2010
IDSA Comments

China’s High Risk India Gamble

Indian decision makers played down the problems in the India-China relationship for the past decade in the expectation that deepening engagement would influence attitudes at the top level in China and thereby enable hardened positions to soften.

Sujit Dutta
September 03, 2010
IDSA Comments

China’s Denial of Visa to the Indian General: Not So Incomprehensible

The various diplomatic rows and even the border problem are symptoms of the larger problems that exist between India and China – the competition for status, influence and power.

Pentagon Report on China: Assessment or Exaggeration?

Even though the report is fairly cautious in what it says and does not highlight anything new, the reactions on the Chinese side have not been that positive.

Gunjan Singh
August 26, 2010
IDSA Comments

Indonesia and the challenge of Papuan separatism

Many Papuans prefer to internationalise their plight and seek a third party to settle the issue as they do not trust the Jakarta elites and Indonesians in general.