International Relations and Diplomacy
Visiting Delegations Report - February 2024

The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) was visited by several delegations during the month of February. These included representatives of nine countries, Europe, and a delegation from the SWIFT. Diverse range of issues were discussed, includ....

Chinese President Xi Jinping Bolsters Position at National People’s Congress

The plenary sessions of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, and the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s version of a parliament, both important events in China’s political cal....

Japan’s New Partnership and Change in Defence Posture

In the latest move, Japan on March 26 decided to to ease its strict defence exports’ rules. This has allowed it to build the next-generation fighter jet in collaboration with Britain and Italy to be exported under certain conditions. The defence mi....

Why a Code of Conduct on South China Sea Remains Elusive?

Introduction
Recent developments in South China Sea have necessitated fast-tracking the finalisation of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) for all competing parties in the disputed waters. There are doubts, however, if such a documen....

How Real is the Possibility of India-China and India-Pakistan Conflict in 2024

The “Annual Threat Assessment Report” released by the US Directorate of National Intelligence on 11th March is being widely discussed these days as it has warned that the escalation of tension between India and China in one theatre and India and ....

Making Sense of a so-Called Frozen War

This brief piece picks up the thread from the latest the Russo-Ukraine war and attempts to reflect on what may lie ahead.

Visiting the Russo-Ukraine Battlefield
Following points briefly reflect the current scene:-
US and China Jostle for Influence in Southeast Asia

Introduction
China’s conduct of diplomacy backed by its economic strength and military power has emerged as the topic of analysis by experts who try to understand what could be China’s long-term goals. Its relations with the US are un....

China is Raising Tensions in the Taiwan Strait

Tension across the Taiwan Strait has increased since Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the Presidential elections for the third consecutive time in January 2024. The victory of the DPP's Lai Ching-te clearly signalled t....

Kashmir-Xinjiang Linkages in Modern and Contemporary Times

Due to its geographical contiguity and cultural affinity with Xinjiang and linkage with the Silk Route by means of much frequented Srinagar-Leh-Yarkand-Kashgar route, Kashmir played an important role in India’s relations with Central Asia since ear....

Continuing Tragedy in Gaza

President Biden’s statement last week that there would be a Hamas-Israel deal by Monday, 4th March had raised hopes for a breakthrough in the talks being hosted in Cairo for hostage release and a pause in fighting. Israel had not sent its delegatio....

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