Dear Friend,

The Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) continued to take up relevant issues and topics through digital platforms to generate an informed analysis of China and East Asia. In addition to four publications, we organized as many as five webinars during the month, including a book discussion of Ambassador Shyam Saran’s latest publication titled How China Sees India and the World.

We also conducted a three-day Research Methodology Workshop in association with the Department of International Relations and Governance Studies, Shiv Nadar University (SNU). The participants of the workshop were young researchers and academicians interested in China and its neighborhood, including on India-China relations and India-China comparisons. The objective of the three-day workshop was to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of research methodology, field research, data use, and writing skills, in the context of writing about China and East Asia.

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

ICS organized four panel discussions and one book discussion this month.

            The first panel discussion was organized based on the topic China’s Environmental Governance: Opportunities and Challenges on 1^st June. The panelists included: Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, Associate Professor, College of Liberal Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China and Adjunct Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi; Prof. Weilin Pan, Associate Professor, Institute of China Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences; Shiran Victoria Shen, W. Glenn Campbell and Rita Ricardo-Campbell National Fellow,  Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Shagufta Yasmin, Ph.D. Candidate at the Centre of East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU. The discussion covered issues like China’s 2060 carbon neutrality goals, China’s recycling ecosystem from 1949 to 1978, incentive policies and evolution of China’ environmental governance. The discussion was chaired by Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Emeritus Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies, its founding member and former Chairperson, and a Distinguished Professor at the Council for Social Development, New Delhi. (YouTube)

            On 8 June, the second panel discussion was held on the topic Economic and Political Crises in Sri Lanka: Role of India and China. The Panelists included: Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director of the Asia Program and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center; Chulanee Attanayake, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore; Deep Pal, visiting scholar in the Asia program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Non-Resident Fellow, National Bureau of Asian Research. The discussion was chaired by Amb. Ashok K. Kantha, Director, Institute of Chinese Studies. The Chair explained the causes and nature of political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, possible steps to be taken by India as well as China’s influence in Sri Lanka at different levels. (YouTube)

            Ambassador Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary of India, Member of the Governing Council/Board of the Institute of Chinese Studies, spoke about his newly published book How China Sees India and the World, in a book discussion session held on 15 June. The discussant was Prof. Alka Acharya, Professor at the Centre for East Asian Studies (Chinese Studies), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and former Director and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies. The discussion was focused on China’s perception of India and the world since historical period till the contemporary period, status of China studies in India and diverse academic debates on China in India and in the world. The discussion was chaired by Amb. Ashok K. Kantha, Director, Institute of Chinese Studies. (YouTube)

            The third panel discussion was held on 22 June based on the topic ’Intelligentization’ in the People’s Liberation Army. The Speaker of the discussion was KK Venkatraman, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi. Megha Pardhi, Research Analyst (China Studies) at The Takshashila Institution, was the Discussant for this discussion. The discussion covered issues such as China’s policy on Artificial Intelligence, big data and its use in military modernization, China’s intelligent warfare strategies and its overall technological progress. The discussion was chaired by Lt. General SL Narasimhan, PVSM, AVSM*, VSM, Member of the National Security Advisory Board, India. (YouTube)

            The fourth panel discussion was organized on 29 June on the topic China’s Foreign Policy Responses: During the Pandemic and Beyond. The Speakers for this session were: Dr. Rityusha Mani Tiwary, Professor, Department of Political Science, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi and is a Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi and Wenjing Gao, Doctoral candidate, Department of Political Science at the Carleton University, Ottawa. The Discussant was Manoj Kewalramani, Chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Research Programme and a China studies fellow at the Takshashila Institution. The discussion covered issues like China’s ‘Dynamic Zero’ Covid policy and its impact on China’s domestic and foreign policy, India-China border relations during the pandemic and ideological influences on China’s foreign policy. The discussion was chaired by Amb. Kishan Rana, Emeritus Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi and Professor Emeritus, DiploFoundation. (YouTube)

PUBLICATIONS

We had a total of three Publications this month, one Analysis, one research blog and one translation.

ICS Occasional Papers

1. Khushboo Sen Dhuruv, M. Phil/Ph.D, JNU  on South China Sea: A Triangle of Dispute Between China, Southeast Asia and India

ICS Analysis

1. Arushi Singh, Research Intern, ICS on Creating Data by Negotiating: China’s Data Barons and Government Control

ICS Research Blogs

1. Hemant Adlakha, Vice-Chairperson, ICS on Russia-Ukraine Crisis: China looking for ‘Opportunity’ amid Ukraine War

ICS Translations

1. Hemant Adlakha, Vice-Chairperson, ICS on 富士康从郑州派人赴印度传授经验，值得中国担忧吗？Foxconn, an iPhone Foundry in Zhengzhou, China is sending its staff to India to train Indians, should Beijing start worrying?

FACULTY UPDATE

Amb. Ashok Kantha, Director, ICS sat down for an interview with The Print on recent developments in India-China border areas and India-China relations on 2 June 2022.

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor, Chinese Studies JNU and Honorary Fellow, ICS, appeared on Strat News Global to discuss Xi vs Li: CCP power Struggle on 20^th June.

Amb. Shyam Saran, former foreign Secretary, Member, ICS Governing Council was appointed as the President of India International Centre on 23^rd June. Amb. Saran discussed on the Wire on How China sees India on 1^st June.

Amb. Saran spoke on “Variety of opinions and dissent is India’s strength at Indian Express idea exchange on 7^th June.

Prof Srabani Roy Choudhury, Associate Professor Japan Studies (economy & management ), CEAS, JNU, Adjunct Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies, JNU spoke in an event organized by the Indo-Japan business council on 70^th Anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations.

Zorawar Daulet Singh, adjunct fellow, ICS participated in a discussion on China; Dragon in the room for News9Live on 24^th June.

IN THE MEDIA

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor, Chinese Studies JNU and Honorary Fellow, ICS, Delhi wrote four articles in June. He wrote on A ‘Soft Position’ by the UN China’s Uighur camps for Impact and Policy Research Institute on 1^st June.

He wrote on Indo-Pacific Economic Framework- Advantages for India for Impact and Policy Research Institute on 5^th June.

He wrote on Trouble in middle Kingdom: Xi-Li tussle comes to the fore for Deccan Herald on 5^th June.

He wrote on China’s chequered Games: Are Xi Jinping’s days of Glory over or will he prevail for the Quint on 21^st June.

Prof Mahendra P Lama wrote on New Political Party in Darjeeling on cards for Telegraph India on 28 June.

Amb. Shyam Saran, former foreign Secretary, Member, ICS Governing Council wrote on China’s India complex for Open The Magazine on 3^rd June.

Prof. Prabir De, Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, Adjunct Fellow, ICS was quoted in the Economic Times on India-ASEAN: Moving towards comprehensive strategic partnership on 21^st June.

Prof. Sudipto Mundle, Emeritus Professor and Member of the Board of Governors of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy wrote on The Indian outlook for inflation and growth: 2022-23 and beyond for mint on 17^th June.

The ICS Website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts are among several ways you can get the latest on our publications and activities. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter to follow our events and publications as well as browse our YouTube and SoundCloud channels.

We look forward to your participation in our events and activities in the coming days and hope for your continued support. Please consider contributing to ICS. Click here to contribute.

Please take care and stay safe and healthy.

Best regards,

Ashok K. Kantha

Director

Institute of Chinese Studies

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