China
Balloon Surveillance and the Near Space Region

With the US shooting down a fourth unidentified object over US airspace on 11 Feb 2023, it has been an unprecedented week or so for NORAD and the homeland defence. Among the four objects that have been brought down is the well publicised Chinese ball....

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: January 2023

Vivekananda International Foundation commenced 2023 with renewed vigour in which seven expert groups met and two of which had interactions with ambassadors from Singapore and Italy. The areas of interest were China, Iran, US, Pakistan, Indo-Pacific, ....

Neighborhood News Digest – 17 February 2023

Afghanistan
US weapons left in Afghanistan are becoming a new threat to Pakistan and India | OPINION – India Today
Approximately, $7 billion of military equipment the US transferred to Afghan Defense Forces over 16 years was le....

Neighborhood News Digest – 16 February 2023

Afghanistan
Afghanistan remains primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia: UN report – The Hindu
Afghanistan remains the primary source of terrorist threat for Central and South Asia, with groups such as ISI....

Review of Sri Lanka Crisis and the Way Forward

Since its independence in 1948, Sri Lanka faced its worst economic crisis in the year 2022. Initially, in 2022, the country was facing Omicron, a variant of Covid19, followed by deep political and economic distress throughout the year. Economic distr....

China’s Systemic Mistreatment of its Religious Minorities

The Middle Kingdom and Its War against Religion: A Historical Perspective
When speaking to military students at Nankai University in 2013, Chinese professor Ai Yuejin said the following: “Do you know what the foundation for our nati....

Africa Now - Weekly Newsletter (Week 7, 2023)

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent - news that matters.

COMMENTARY

The Promise and Peril of Africa in 2023
As the year 2022 ended,....

Neighborhood News Digest – 10 February 2023

Afghanistan
Putin Says Afghan Humanitarian Condition Has 'Deteriorated' – Tolo News
Russian President Vladmir Putin pointed out that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated, with "four million" Afghans needin....

Neighborhood News Digest – 07 February 2023

Afghanistan
Saudi diplomats leave Afghanistan, relocate to Pakistani capital -sources – The Print
Saudi diplomats have left Afghanistan for “training” and will return, the Taliban administration said on Monday, though three....

China in the Cyber Domain

China is developing cyber capacities in pursuit of its economic, political and strategic objectives. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China differs considerably from its Western counterparts in its approach to cyber and network operations. It ....

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