Recent Events and Publications: October 2019

Belt and Road Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Are they Compatible?

Prof. Akio Takahara

Special Lecture |4 Oct

This presentation focused on how should we define the Belt and Road Initiative? Takahara argues that the Chinese have a genius for formulating constellational concepts that are attractive but intangible, and BRI is one of those. What we should focus on are the tangible stars, namely, the projects, which can be shared with another constellation called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision. If President Xi Jinping of China expresses his willingness to cooperate with the latter, he and Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan can demonstrate to the world that peace and cooperation remain as the “main melody” of international relations in the 21st century, at least in this part of the world.

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NDCs leading towards Cleaner Energy: Scope for India-Japan Cooperation

Parul Bakshi

Wednesday Seminar |9 Oct

This talk focused on as the world’s population rises and the strife towards economic development strengthens, the basic requirement across the globe is that of energy. However, whether the source of energy is renewable or not, has become vital as the planet faces expanding challenges emanating from climate change. Therefore, by using Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as submitted by India to UNFCCC, the success and shortcomings of India’s path towards renewable energy has been analysed.

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Is there a recent revival of Chinese nationalism?

Dr Gunjan Singh

Wednesday Seminar |16 Oct

This presentation focused on how in the last few decades, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has had to depend on nationalism to gain mass support for foreign as well as domestic policies. In a post-ideological environment, nationalism is being cultivated for gaining domestic support. There is a major push by the party to demolish domestic criticism with the help of nationalism. This is especially true after Xi Jinping became the President and abolished the two presidential terms in 2018. But as experience shows, nationalism has always been a double-edged sword.

Semicolonialism, China and International law

Dr. Prabhakar Singh

Wednesday Seminar |23 Oct

This talk compared the attitudes to international law in China and India based a) their mutual engagement via the 1954 Panchsheel Treaty's bilateralism and the politics of colonial maps; and b) Sino–Indian approaches to the sources of international law.

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Land, People and Faith in Wang Meng’s Zhe bian fengjing

Dr. Debasish Chaudhuri

Wednesday Seminar | 30 Oct

This talk attempted to examine the relevance of Zhe bian fengjing (Landscape), one of his early novels at the time when the Muslim minorities of Xinjiang are experiencing ruthless coercion, surveillance and repressive re-education campaign under President Xi Jinping.

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CHINA REPORT

Volume 55 | Issue 3 | August 2019

The China Report is a refereed journal in the field of social sciences and international relations. It encourages free expression and discussion of different ideas and approaches which assist in better understanding China and its neighbours. It welcomes and offers a platform for original research from a multi-disciplinary perspective, in new and emerging areas, by scholars and research students. It seeks to promote analysis and vigorous debate on all aspects of Sino-Indian relations, India–China comparative studies and multilateral and bilateral initiatives and collaborations across Asia.

BOOK

Commercialisation of Medical Care in China: Changing Landscapes

Rama V Baru and Madhurima Nundy|September 2019

This book explores the changing landscapes of the commercialisation of medical care in China. It is the first work of its kind, and discusses how the rise of market socialism, coupled with decollectivisation of agriculture and autonomisation of hospitals in rural and urban China, have fragmented the health service system.

ICS ANALYSIS PAPER

Technology and Governance:Comparing China’s Social Credit and India’s Aadhaar

Ekta Singh |Issue No. 81 | October 2019

China has been experimenting with a "social credit‟ system which would be rolled out fully by 2020. Identified as an important component for perfecting a "socialist market economy‟ and ushering in "social governance‟, the idea is to establish a "sincerity culture‟ by rating trustworthiness of individuals and companies.