Jaganath Panda replies: India officially endorses the ‘one-China’ policy. That means; India officially recognizes the legitimacy of the PRC as the legitimate entity of both ‘mainland China and Taiwan’. Hence, the diplomatic and strategic space for India is limited as far as Taiwan is concerned. Besides, India's relations with China are more important strategically than Taiwan. It is not a wise move for any modern, rational state like India to use this kind of proxy. This is for two reasons: (a) India would not like to damage its relationship with China by unnecessarily pursuing a ‘pro-active’ policy towards Taiwan; (b) no major country in the world would like to use this tactic, given the importance China holds in world politics. As far as Taiwan is concerned, India has good economic, social and cultural linkages; but political/strategic relations will always remain a restricted one.

Smita Purushottam replies: There is near unanimity that the world is evolving towards a multipolar order and there are many theories regarding the candidates, or the “Poles”. As early as 1997, Henry Kissinger had predicted the decline of the unipolar order and the rise of Russia, Japan, China and even India. More recently Parag Khanna (“Second World”) felt that there would be three power blocs – the US, China and the EU. Chinese experts in the year 2000 debated the role of the US, China, Russia, Japan and India in a future order. The Goldman Sachs BRIC report predicted that the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) would be bigger than the G6’s in 2050.

Several questions arise. Are the criteria for being defined a “Major Power/Pole” purely economic, or economic, technological and military? How could “Black Swan” events - unanticipated developments such as major wars, climate change related disasters, and technological breakthroughs [clean energy such as fusion energy, artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology - which could increase life spans engendering massive societal changes (George Bernard Shaw’s “Back to Methuselah” provides an inkling of what is in store!)] - transform future scenarios? Will they upset all calculations regarding futuristic power configurations (remembering that these breakthroughs are more likely to occur in advanced economies anyway)?

The economic factor is the most reliable clue for predicting power quotients, and has been so throughout history (see Paul Kennedy’s “Rise & Fall…”). Nations which have quietly built up economic strength outlast their rivals through War and other calamities. The other historically revolutionary force is Technology. The major “Poles” in the future will thus most probably be growing and innovative powers such as China, US, India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Brazil and South Africa.

Arvind Gupta replies: The Indian Constitution encompasses the noble ideas of democracy, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity etc. The Constitution has made India a sovereign democratic republic. Every citizen has certain fundamental rights. The rights of minorities are also protected under the Constitution. All policies of the government, domestic or foreign, derive their legitimacy from the Constitution. Article 51, which forms part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, deals with international interests and foreign policy. It requires the state to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honourable relations between nations, have respect for international law, fulfill treaty obligations and encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration. This Article forms the basis of India's foreign policy which promotes peace and cooperation.