East Asia

About Centre

The East Asia Centre is dedicated to study and research the domestic and foreign policies of individual countries of the region as well as India’s multifaceted relationships with these countries. With respect to China, the Centre’s research foci are its foreign policy (particularly towards the US, Russia, Central Asia and Asia Pacific), domestic politics, economy, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and India’s relationship with China in all its dimensions. The Centre’s research also focuses on Taiwan, its domestic politics, Sino-Taiwanese relationship and Indo-Taiwanese relationship, Hong Kong and India-Hong Kong relations. Japan and Korea are the other major focus of the Centre, with its research focused on their domestic politics, foreign policy and comprehensive bilateral relationships with India. The geopolitics of the Asia Pacific and the Korean peninsula are also studied in the Centre.

The centre brings out five monthly newsletters: East Asia Military Monitor, Japan Digest, China Science and Technology, Korea Newsletter, and China Military Digest.

LDP “Take(s) Back Japan”: The creation of a national military is on Abe’s agenda

Although Shinzo Abe is aggressively pushing for revising the Constitution, the LDP’s ally, New Komeito, remains opposed to the idea arguing that it will change the nature and duties of Japan’s defence force.

Shamshad A. Khan
December 26, 2012
Issue Brief

Chinese Aerial Patrols Over Senkaku Islands

China’s escalation of the Senkaku ownership dispute by commencing air patrols over the islands by OSA aircraft has the potential to trigger a war between China and Japan.

Vivek Kapur
December 24, 2012
Issue Brief

Sino-Indian Relations: Are Trade Issues Likely To Cause Even More Problems?

The Indian political class should seriously ponder without engaging in fruitless ideological debates – for we may be leaving ourselves with no choice – whether to acquiesce to a China-dominated commercial and economic landscape in Asia.

R. S. Kalha
December 24, 2012
IDSA Comments

The Challenges Before Shinzo Abe

Rebuilding Japan’s foreign policy will be another challenge for the Abe Administration, especially in view of the rising tension between Japan and its neighbouring states - China and South Korea – over territorial disputes.

Pranamita Baruah
December 20, 2012
IDSA Comments

The Return of Shinzo Abe as Japan’s new PM: What does it mean for India?

With China increasingly wary of the developments taking place on its Pacific seaboard, it would perhaps be in a much better frame of mind to listen to Indian concerns.

R. S. Kalha
December 19, 2012
IDSA Comments

Trespassers will be Prosecuted: China’s latest Billboard in the South China Sea

The issuance of these ordinances will not only add to the growing tensions in the disputed areas, specifically the South China Sea, but also add to the growing suspicions about Chinese intent.

The Second India-China SED

The SED is an important forum that can render valuable service to the cause of greater economic cooperation and work like an effective confidence building measure.

Towards an Asia-Pacific Alliance

Coincidentally or not, China’s maritime disputes with its neighbours in the littoral have been gaining global attention ever since Obama’s announcement in January 2012 of his country’s “pivot” strategy in the Asia-Pacific.

Sarosh Bana
November 26, 2012
IDSA Comments

What did China Gain at the End of the Fighting in November 1962?

By first crossing the McMahon Line and then retreating north beyond the McMahon Line on the conclusion of hostilities, the Chinese only served to further reinforce the validity of the McMahon Line as the international frontier.

R. S. Kalha
November 21, 2012
IDSA Comments

India-Japan Join Hands to Challenge China’s Rare Earth Monopoly

The most interesting aspect of India and Japan coming together is that they are also proposing to engage with other states where REEs are available for excavation.