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Sujan R. Chinoy is the Director General of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, since 3 January 2019. A career diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service from 1981-2018, he was India’s Ambassador to Japan and the Republic of the Marshall Islands from 2015-2018, and earlier, the Ambassador to Mexico and High Commissioner to Belize.
A specialist with over 25 years of experience on China, East Asia and the Asia-Pacific, he served in Indian Missions in Hong Kong and Beijing and as Consul General in Shanghai and Sydney. He also served as India’s representative to the First Committee at the United Nations in New York dealing with Disarmament & International Security Affairs and in the Indian Mission in Riyadh. At Headquarters, in the Ministry of External Affairs, he served as Director (China) as well as Head of the Expert Group of Diplomatic & Military Officials tasked with CBMs and boundary-related issues with China. He also served on the Americas Desk dealing with the USA and Canada, and as Officer on Special Duty in charge of press relations in the External Publicity Division. On deputation for four years with the National Security Council Secretariat under the Prime Minister’s Office, he worked on internal and external national security policy and anchored strategic dialogues with key interlocutors around the world.
He is fluent in English, Chinese (Mandarin) and conversant in French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Arabic, Urdu and French-Creole. He also speaks Hindi and Gujarati. His long career includes extensive involvement in economic issues. He has contributed to Indian newspapers and journals, besides lecturing at numerous Govt. Institutions, think-tanks and universities in India and overseas.
He schooled at the Rajkumar College (Rajkot), read English Literature at the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, Gujarat, and gained his Master of Business Administration from Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. He has an advanced Diploma in Chinese (Mandarin) from the New Asia Yale-in-China Chinese Language Centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He was an Exchange Student at the Otemon Gakuin University in Osaka in 1978
India cannot afford to take sides in US-Iran tensions. But New Delhi must activate its regional diplomacy
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on India’s stand on US-Iran tensions, titled ‘India cannot afford to take sides in US-Iran tensions. But New Delhi must activate its regional diplomacy’ has been published in ‘The Indian Express’ on January 14, 2020.
India cannot afford to take sides. Energy supplies and the safety and security of its vast diaspora in the Gulf are of utmost importance. India has a substantial Shia population too, with sympathy for Iran, writes Amb. Chinoy.
Spotting an opportunity in changing fundamentals
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s Op-Ed on US-China rivalry, titled ‘Spotting an opportunity in changing fundamentals’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on January 06, 2020.
The Op-ed analyses whether the growing rivalry between the United States and China could spell a strategic moment for India.
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CDS appointment step towards seamless coordination in higher defence management
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s Op-Ed piece on Gen. Bipin Rawat's appointment as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), titled ‘CDS appointment step towards seamless coordination in higher defence management’ has been published in The Indian Express on December 31, 2019.
In General Bipin Rawat, the government has chosen a seasoned COAS who, as the senior-most of the three chiefs, spearheaded far-reaching reforms in the organisational structure and war-fighting capabilities of the Army, writes Amb. Chinoy.
Navigating the Indo-Pacific
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on the Indo-Pacific, titled ‘Navigating the Indo-Pacific’ has been published in ‘The Indian Express’ on December 17, 2019.
India must negotiate growing Chinese presence in the region. Its relationship with Japan, the Quad, will also remain central to Act East policy, writes Amb. Chinoy.
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An Asian engine driven by India and China
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on India and China’s role in Asia’s growth, titled ‘An Asian engine driven by India and China’ has been published by ‘The Hindu’ on December 09, 2019.
The region’s rise is linked to peace and stability; cooperation rests on a compact between the two countries, writes Amb. Chinoy.
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China remains wary of the Quad and its future contours
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on the future of Quad, titled ‘China remains wary of the Quad and its future contours’ has been published in ‘The Indian Express’ on November 07, 2019.
Beijing remains worried about the advantages the quadrilateral dialogue process might offer to India in the Indo-Pacific, writes Amb. Chinoy.
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Cooperative Security in South Asia: A Mirage?
South Asia has a common history and celebrates its great cultural and linguistic overlap. However, the South Asian experience in building cooperative security architecture has been mixed. India on its part remains committed to strengthening cooperative security in the region.
In Mamallapuram, seeking the true north in ties
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on the second informal summit between India and China in Mamallapuram, titled ‘In Mamallapuram, seeking the true north in ties’ has been published by ‘The Hindu’ on October 11, 2019.
The India-China informal summit is another opportunity for both leaders to reset relations in an era of geostrategic flux, writes Amb. Chinoy.
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Israel, Pakistan ties a bridge too far?
Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on the possibility of Israel-Pakistan diplomatic ties, titled ‘Israel, Pakistan ties a bridge too far?’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on September 17, 2019.
Islamabad would dilute its Islamic credentials if it were to establish diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv, writes Amb. Chinoy.
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Israel is an 'important country and a good friend of India'
Israel Hayom, newspaper with the largest circulation in Israel, published Director General, IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s interview on India-Israel relations, titled ‘Israel is an important country and a good friend of India’, on September 15, 2019.
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