Sujan R. Chinoy is the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar 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
As Putin plays Russian roulette in Ukraine, Indian diplomacy treads a fine line
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA Amb Sujan R. Chinoy’s article ‘As Putin plays Russian roulette in Ukraine, Indian diplomacy treads a fine line’, has been published in ‘The First Post’ on 02 March 2022.
There is little doubt that India should, and will, continue to maintain its voting pattern, and abstain again when the matter is put to a vote in the UNGA in the next few days, says Amb Chinoy.
For India, Abstention was the Right Move
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA Amb Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on why India was right in abstaining on the vote in the United Nations Security Council on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has been published in Hindustan Times on 28 February 2022.
By abstaining from voting against Russia at UNSC, India has acted in its own national interest, as it relies on Russia to boost security on its volatile northern borders. Says Amb Chinoy.
Is the time right for India to get a third aircraft carrier?
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb Sujan R. Chinoy’s article ‘Is the time right for India to get a third aircraft carrier?’ has been published in ‘The Indian Express’ on 24 February 2022.
There is a broad consensus on the need for it, but given the post-pandemic budgetary constraints, the idea may have to be put on the back burner, writes Amb Chinoy.
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India predates Constitution. It’s cultural nationalism that makes us Indians
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb Sujan R. Chinoy’s article ‘India predates Constitution. It’s cultural nationalism that makes us Indians’ was published in ‘The Print’ on 04 February 2022.
Reducing India to a civic nation, bound only by revered Constitution, disregards our rich heritage, says Amb. Chinoy.
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Journey of Indian Armed Forces
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article on the journey of the Indian Armed Forces has appeared in the special issue of Yojana on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, published by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.
India And Mexico: A Case For A Robust Strategic Partnership
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy's chapter "India And Mexico: A Case For A Robust Strategic Partnership" was published in the edited volume 'India's Foreign Policy in the Post-Covid World-Through The Eyes Of Indian Diplomats'. As Middle Powers, there is much potential for India and Mexico to come closer, says Amb. Chinoy.
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Xi is Supreme — for Now. But will CPC Eventually Judge Him Harshly?
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s piece ‘Xi is supreme — for now. But will CPC eventually judge him harshly?’ has been published in Hindustan Times on November 25, 2021.
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How NSA-level talks bring India back in the Afghanistan game
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s assessment of the Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan hosted by India's National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval on December 10, ‘How NSA-level talks bring India back in the Afghanistan game’, has been published in the First Post.
A proactive approach has enabled India to actively contribute to the task of building a regional consensus on the future of Afghanistan, says Amb. Chinoy.
Vedanta: The Spiritual Canon Guiding India’s Strategic Thought
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article ‘Vedanta: The Spiritual Canon Guiding India’s Strategic Thought’ has been published by News 18, on November 11, 2021.
The Vedantic approach that underlines Narendra Modi’s foreign policy and external engagement can make nations more independent, yet less transactional in their approach, writes Amb. Chinoy.
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AUKUS could rock China’s boat in the Indo-Pacific
Director General, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy’s article ‘AUKUS could rock China’s boat in the Indo-Pacific’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on November 08, 2021.
The article focusses on the strategic drivers and implications, especially for maritime security in the Pacific Ocean.
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