Political instability and uncertainty in Nepal

Written by Gaurab Shumsher Thapa

Although the NC has denounced Oil’s move for snap elections as unconstitutional, it has also stated that is will not shy away from elections if the Supreme Court decides to dissolve the lower house. Sensing increasing instability, several royalist parties and groups have accused the government of corruption and protested on the streets for the reinstatement of the Hindu state and constitutional monarchy (to reinvent and stabilise Nepal’s image and identity).

South Asia9DLFebruary 18, 2021China, India, Nepal, democracy, KP Sharma Oli, South Asia, United States, Nepal Communist Party, NCP, Dahal, Oli, Madhav Kumar, UML, Tibet, Belt and Road

Chinese financing in South Asia: The story of Sri Lanka

Written by Bhagya Senaratne

Sri Lanka’s domestic priorities highlight that it is not keen on embroiling itself in regional power rivalries, but is engaging with its neighbours, including China, to harness opportunities to achieve national goals and support its domestic population.

South Asia9DLJanuary 26, 2021China, India, Sri Lanka, Belt and Road

Global Britain and India: A new agenda for cooperation

Written by Robert Clark and Jyotsna Mehra

A bold and ambitious foreign policy steeped in new trade deals is integrating Global Britain further into the Indo-Pacific, and with it, a new age of geostrategic relations with India is underway. Many in New Delhi are counting on this growing convergence of their strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific to triumph over the shadows that their colonial history continue to cast on their bilateral relations.

China’s territorial ambitions in Bhutan – why it matters to India

Written by John Pollock

With New Delhi distracted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a wave of protests against its domestic policies, Beijing is seeking to incrementally change the status quo in Bhutan and the Himalayas.

South Asia9DLDecember 11, 2020India, South Asia, China, Myanmar, Bhutan

A sobering future for Myanmar and the NLD

Written by Evan Brandaw

The lack of an heir apparent and the middling popularity of the rest of the NLD raises the question of whether the party can even exist without Aung San Suu Kyi at the helm. Let alone govern with continued majorities.

Bangladesh's BRI conundrum: Between China and India

Written by Atif Jalal Ahmad

Billions in Chinese investment have come as the Indo-Bangla relationship has soured over the passage of India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Thousands in Bangladesh protested the controversial law, perceived as anti-Muslim and harshly punitive toward Bengalis.

South Asia9DLNovember 19, 2020China, Bangladesh, Belt and Road, BRI, India, Myanmar, BCIM, Japa

Myanmar's election: The long game is better than no game at all

Written by Tej Parikh

Developing a twin-track process of economic support and civil society engagement is a substantial challenge as trust in the international community within Myanmar is low. It remains hard for outside players, especially Western actors, to exert influence in the country’s peace process, legislation, and ministries.

Myanmar’s NLD wins election but loses fight against disinformation

Written by Hunter Marston

The NLD failed to set clear policies to deal with misinformation or the deliberate spreading of misleading information. Worse, it has targeted journalists and critics of the government for speaking out, while it did nothing to challenge military-linked opponents who spread misinformation.

Myanmar election: How the West misread Aung San Suu Kyi

Written by Michał Lubina

The more fiercely the West condemns Suu Kyi, the better her domestic political prospects. In 2017, Western media criticism sheltered her from uncomfortable questions about her passive role in the Rohingya crisis.

Chinese backing for Arakan Army: Do Sino-Myanmar relations face turbulence?

Written by Jelvin Jose

Beijing's support for disparate rebel groups is part of a tacit strategy to reduce dependence on Myanmar’s military leadership. The Tatmadaw is unable to control the whole of Myanmar’s territory. Given this security context, indifference to or outright material support for the Arakan Army is crucial for Beijing.

South Asia9DLOctober 21, 2020South Asia, Myanmar, China, democracy, Bangladesh, Rohingya, Rakine, Arakan Army

India and France: From strategic partners to a strategic alliance

Written by John Pollock

After conducting the largest ever Varuna exercise off Goa in May 2019, the Chief of France’s navy Admiral Christophe Prazcuk announced that the French and Indian navies would undertake joint maritime security patrols in the Indian Ocean. The first such patrol took place in March 2020 utilising P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft.

Most Popular, South Asia9DLOctober 14, 2020India, South Asia, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, France, Russia

The Rajapaksas are back at the helm in Sri Lanka: What does it mean for India?

Written by Ritika V Kapoor

Although Sri Lanka has stated it will adopt an ‘India-first approach’ under Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, observers will be watching what the election portends for Sino-Sri Lankan relations, particularly as they had burgeoned during Mahinda’s presidential terms from 2005 to 2015.

South Asia9DLOctober 7, 2020democracy, Election, China, Sri Lanka, India, South Asia

Why Myanmar's election matters

Written by Sreeradha Data

Aung San Suu Kyi’s choice to align with Myanmar’s armed forces, the Tatmadaw, served to display little sympathy for the plight of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas that were forced to flee their homes amid a widespread campaign of ethnic cleansing in Rakhine State.

South Asia9DLOctober 1, 2020Myanmar, democracy, Election, Aung San Suu Kyi, Rohingya, China

As its election approaches, ‘democratic’ Myanmar faces a multi-dimensional crisis

Written by Angshuman Choudhury

COVID-19 cases in Myanmar have grown rapidly since the end of August. Although postponing the election has so far been ruled out, the government is scrambling to contain the virus. What’s more, the dramatic spurt began in arguably the most strife-torn region in the country today, Rakhine State.

South Asia, Editor's Picks9DLSeptember 23, 2020South Asia, Myanmar, democracy

India’s defence import embargo: oriented for strategic gains, not self-sufficiency

Written by Shishir Rao

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently announced a five-year import embargo on 101 defence items beginning in December 2020. The embargo aims to boost the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives promoted by the Modi government.

South Asia9DLSeptember 2, 2020India, Israel, Middle East, South Asia, West Asia

UAE-Israel peace deal: Will India have to choose sides in the Middle East?

Written by Niranjan Marjani

In the past few years, in particular, under Modi’s premiership, India has developed increasingly close ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which has gone beyond the narrow realm of religious connections. India has also been successful in upgrading its relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE to the strategic level.

South Asia9DLAugust 28, 2020India, Israel, Middle East, South Asia, West Asia

China's increasing forays into the Bay of Bengal

Written by Manish Jung Pulami

Beijing's presence in the Bay of Bengal’s waters has provoked a level of strategic competition among regional and extra-regional actors not seen since the Cold War when Soviet and American Indian Ocean squadrons competed for influence in South Asia.

South Asia9DLAugust 25, 2020India, South Asia, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh

Tensions on the border are straining Nepal-India relations

Written by Dinesh Bhattarai

The current dispute concerns the territory on the eastern side of the Mahakali river, a strategic area at the trijunction between Nepal, India, and China. This area has been under India’s control since the 1962 Sino-Indian border war.

South Asia9DLAugust 19, 2020India, South Asia, Nepal, Modi