Prashant Kumar Singh replies: The idea of the ‘Asian Century’ argues that the 21st century international order is going to be defined by Asia’s pre-eminence, the way the US pre-eminence defined the international order in the 20th century and Europe in the 19th century. It is also seen as Asian countries’ mutual rediscovery in terms of reconnection and reintegration. It seeks to repair artificial divisions in the Asian social, economic and cultural space that colonial interventions created.

Prashant Kumar Singh replies: The essence of the neorealist perspective in international relations is that the structure of the international system is anarchic and that the states are "unitary rational actors existing in a ‘self-help’ system". A “self-help” system means that “each state must fend for itself”.

Rup Narayan Das replies: One can only hazard a guess as to what Prime Minister meant when he referred to India-China relations as ‘multi-layered’. It may have two broad connotations. At the bilateral level, the edifice of complex India-China relations is built around political convergence. Needless to mention that now the relationship between the two countries has been elevated to a ‘strategic level’. The leadership of the two countries at the highest political level are meeting both at bilateral and multilateral level.

Prashant Kumar Singh replies: The question posed appears to be based on three assumptions, agreeing to which is a little difficult. First, China is encircling India through ‘string of pearls’ and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Secondly, that the proposed ‘Democratic Quad’ is a response to this encirclement. Thirdly, India is hesitant to form the ‘Quad’ and that it is India’s hesitance alone that is holding up its formation.