Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Interaction with Dr. Ing-Wen Tsai, Former Chairperson, DPP, Taiwan

On 20th September 2012, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted an interaction with Dr. Ing-Wen Tsai, former Chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan and Presidential Candidate from the DPP in January 2012. Dr. Tsai was accompanied by Mr. Antonio Chiang, columnist and former Deputy Director, National Security Council, Taiwan. H.E. Wenchyi Ong, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India was also present on the occasion.

October 05, 2012 Event Report

Seminar on Strategic Posture: Sino-Indian Border

The VIF held a Seminar on “Strategic Posture: Sino-Indian Border” on 3rd September 2012. Eminent speakers with practical experience on the subject made presentations on specific themes. While China’s Strategic Posture in Tibet, Infrastructure Development in Tibet, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, PLA Air Forces Posture in Tibet were the themes discussed in Session I; Session II dealt with PLA’s Posture in Tibet, Situation in Ladakh/Aksai Chin and the Situation along the MacMohan Line.

September 11, 2012 Event Report

Interaction with Mr. Jon B. Alterman, Director Middle East Programme at CSIS

Mr. Jon B. Alterman, who holds the Zbigniew Brezezinski Chair for global security and geostrategy and is Director of the Middle East Programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), visited the Foundation on September 05, 2012 for an informal interaction with a select group of security analysts and foreign policy specialists who are currently on the panel of VIF. The interaction primarily focused on the ‘Implications of US Rebalancing Strategy in Asia, in general, and West Asia, in particular’.

September 10, 2012 Event Report

Seminar on Perspectives from China on Af-Pak Situation and Counter Terrorism

A one day conference on Af-Pak Situation and Counter Terrorism was organised by the VIF on 29th August. Scholars and experts from China gave out their perspectives on the evolving situation in Af-Pak region and their approach to counter-terrorism. Professor Li Jian, Vice President of China West Normal University, Sichuan spoke on ‘SCO and Af- Pak Security Environment’ while Dr. Zhang Jiadong, Assisstant Director of Center for American Studies, Fudan University spoke on China’s approach to counter-terrorism. In the second session Dr.

September 04, 2012 Event Report

The Role of Diaspora in India’s Foreign Policy, National Security and Economic Development: Talk by Amb J C Sharma, S.M. IFS (Retd)

The Vimarsha series of monthly talks was held on Jul 31, 2012, with Ambassador J.C. Sharma, S.M. IFS (retd), former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs & former Member Secretary, High Level Committee on the India Diaspora, set up by the Government of India, delivering an insightful talk on the ‘Role of the Indian Diaspora in India’s Foreign Policy, National Security and Economic Development’.

August 04, 2012 Event Report

India - China Relations: Problems and Prospects

Amb Kanwal Sibal

Rise of China: Challenge or Opportunity? China’s extraordinarily rapid rise in the hierarchy of global power is raising concerns about its future policies. Opinion is divided whether China will increasingly assert its power in disruptive ways or will act more responsibly as its own stakes in the international system grow. Arguments can be made for both views, though emerging signs suggest that China’s self-assertion is becoming an unpleasant reality, whereas the expectation that it will work for and within a global consensus remains more a matter of hope.

July 30, 2012 Paper

An Interaction with the Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr. Peter N Varghese on ‘Australia-India Strategic Partnership in an Asian Century”

The Australian High Commissioner HE Mr. Peter N Varghese visited Vivekananda International Foundation on 27 June 2012 for an interaction on “Australia-India Strategic Partnership in an Asian Century”. The VIF faculty was represented by Mr. Ajit Doval, Amb. PP Shukla, Lt. Gen. Ravi Sawhney and specially invited select strategic analysts and experts. Highlighting the history of Australia India relationship the High Commissioner said that the interests of Australia and India are now converging, providing an opportunity to build a strategic partnership.

July 04, 2012 Event Report

An Interaction on ‘Indo-US Relations: Global Partnership”

On Jun 28, 2012, a group of eminent security experts held an intense and wide ranging interaction with Mr. Jason Issacson, Director of Government and International affairs at the American Jewish Committee in Washington.

June 29, 2012 Event Report

VIF-IDSA International Conference on “Emerging Geo-political Trends in Asia: Prospects and Challenges for India-Russia Relations”

A joint seminar on India – Russia relations was organized by the VIF and IDSA on May 14, 2012. Amb. Prabhat Shukla, Jt. Director, VIF, (Former Ambassador to Russia) in his Key Note address emphasized that India and Russia should resort to candid dialogue to sort out any concerns arising out Russia’s relations with China and Pakistan and India’s relations with the US. Highlighting the two countries’ relations with neighbour Afghanistan, he said that no two other nations’ interests converge more upon Afghanistan than that of India and Russia.

May 24, 2012 Event Report

Round Table Discussion on “Implications of the likely Leadership Change(s) in the PRC and PLA Strategy on the South China Sea Issue”

A Taiwanese delegation visited Vivekananda International Foundation on 18 May 2012 to hold a Round Table Discussion on “Implications of the likely Leadership Change(s) in the PRC and PLA Strategy on the South China Sea Issue”. The delegation comprised of Dr. Cheng-kun Ma, Professor and Director of PLA Studies Division, National Defense University (NDU), ROC (Taiwan), Major James Peng, Instructor of National Defense University, Taiwan and Col. Hui-shin Chen, Director, Defence Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (India).

May 22, 2012 Event Report