China & India

The naval visit last week again focused attention on the role of India and China in the Southeast Asian state, even though New Delhi’s weakness lies more in non-security realms.

A recent interaction highlighted this aspect of relations between the two countries.

Despite India’s recent seeking of friendlier ties with Beijing, the future prospects for relations remain uncertain.

Though the interaction between the two leaders is notable, there is reason for skepticism and managing expectations.

Whatever the headlines over Pakistan’s nuclear build-up, India should stick to its no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is in India for a high-profile visit. But the real clues to regional relations came last month.

Neoconservatives have urged Barack Obama to boost US defence ties with India to counter China. But the last thing the US needs is a polarized Asia, writes Robert Dreyfuss.

The Diplomat speaks with Lawrence Prabhakar, Professor of Political Science at India’s Madras Christian College, about Manmohan Singh’s recent trip to Washington, Indo-US ties and China’s growing maritime presence in the Indian Ocean.

Watchers of Asia’s two big rising powers are getting it wrong, says The Diplomat’s Madhav Nalapat. In focusing on economics and a border dispute, they are overlooking the biggest irritant to ties: a soft-spoken monk who was granted asylum in India 50 years ago.

The defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May brought an end to Sri Lanka’s civil war. But the conflict also shed light on a bitter geopolitical struggle taking place against the backdrop of the declining influence of the West and the emerging influence of India and China. Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe explores the implications of Sri Lanka’s evolving foreign policy.