M.S. Prathibha

The Communist Party of China (CPC), under the leadership of Xi Jinping, has been strengthening its ideological framework to increase its capacity for governance. This is crucial to the party system, as it increasingly believes it needs to respond to changes in the global order. Through ideological correction, in the form of Xi Jinping Thought, the party leadership believes it can better navigate a world in transition and emerge victorious. In other words, as the leadership theorises about the global order, elite politics under Xi Jinping is transforming. Xi is strengthening governance within both the party and state to respond to the global security order. This impacts elite politics as it navigates the changes within the Chinese political system.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• 2026 |
• Monograph

The monograph aims to bring Chinese perspectives and debates to the analyses of military reform. It explores and analyses the way China has shaped its military power, to counter challenges to the great rejuvenation, and the drivers and motivations behind the implementation of military reforms. China’s association with military power and its relation to world-class military in the New Era are driven by its worldview and security perceptions. Therefore, the monograph elucidates the political framework for military reforms as it would help identify under what circumstances that military power would be utilised. Finally, it looks at the challenges that China is facing when building its military power and the implications for India.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• 2026 |
• Monograph

While China’s growing strategic cooperation with Russia is increasingly evident, historical and geopolitical issues still pose challenges to more coordinated collaboration.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• December 19, 2025 |
• Issue Brief

Beijing’s robust economic ties do not lead it to pressure Pyongyang to denuclearise, as it prioritises the stability of the bilateral relationship.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• October 01, 2025 |
• Issue Brief

The Two Sessions (两会) 2025 reflected the key political ideas driving China’s pursuit of economic reforms.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• July 10, 2025 |
• Issue Brief

The September 2024 DF-31AG test showed to some extent the success of the efforts aimed at the streamlining of the priorities of the Rocket Forces.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• June 18, 2025 |
• Issue Brief

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.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• 2023 |
• Monograph

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.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• 2023 |
• Monograph

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr MS Prathibha's article ‘Managing China's Expectations of India’ has been published in Outlook on 5 May 2023.

The Chinese expect India to place the border issue in what they call an ‘appropriate position’ and wants normalised management. For India, however, normalcy could be restored when the military forces disengage from the remaining friction areas at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), says Dr Prathibha.

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The PLA Western Theatre Command has focused on joint operations capabilities to counter the perceived lack of air superiority and information dominance in the theatre, which it believes is required for strike operations.

• M.S. Prathibha |
• November 02, 2022 |
• Issue Brief