ICS Conversation | Hong Kong’s Autonomy after the National Security Law: Challenges and Perspectives

Sebastian Veg, Victoria Tin-bor Hui, Samson Yuen, Ilaria Maria Sala

Special Lecture | Zoom Webinar | 1 October 2020

 

The coming into force of the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong on 30 June 2020 - enacted by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress - marks a decisive phase in the region’s political future. With the passage of NSL, circumventing Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s (HKSAR) own legislature, the constitutional principle of ‘One Country Two Systems’ that provides significant autonomy to the region has also come under question. Since Britain’s handover of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997, the region has witnessed different phases of discontent over a range of issues. The cornerstone of the discontent has been apprehensions and anxieties over direct control by the Mainland. The tide of protests has increased over the last year, especially surrounding the proposed bill that sought to legalize extradition of people to China. The NSL has been widely criticized, as it underlines direct control over the region, and criminalizes dissent and protest actions. With significant punitive ramifications, the law also carries implications beyond Hong Kong and China’s territorial jurisdictions. Focussed on these developments, this panel discussion analyzed how they are reshaping state-society relations in HKSAR. The panelists delved into the political, economic and social implications of these developments for the region’s future. The discussion also attempted to throw light on the possible coping strategies and responsive measures of the democracy movement in Hong Kong.

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V P Dutt Memorial Lecture | India as a Teacher by Negative Example: Chinese Perceptions of India during the British Colonial Period and their Impact on Contemporary India-China Relations)

Amb. Shyam Saran

Special Lecture | Zoom Webinar | 7 October 2020

 

The history of ancient civilizational links between India and China, including the spread of Buddhist religion and philosophy from India to China, are often cited as the enduring basis for India-China friendship. However, contemporary India-China relations have been much more influenced by Chinese encounters with British imperialism, with Indians playing the role of subordinate instruments of British depredations in China, including the dumping of opium on China. India was held up by Chinese intellectuals as a teacher by negative example, its easy subjugation by the British being the result of its stagnant and stratified society, its fragmented and disunited polity and a slavish temperament among its people. China would need to avoid these dangers if it were to regain its full independence and modernisation. These perceptions persist and influence Chinese policy towards India in contemporary times and need careful analysis.  

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Assessment of Abe Era and the Road Ahead

Prof. Srabani Roy Choudhury

Special Lecture | Zoom Webinar | 9 October 2020

 

Shinzo Abe’s resignation came at a time when Japan was reeling under the impact of COVID-19, which brought forth the inefficiency of the public health system and the slide of the economy which was just about tottering its way into positive growth. Abe’s prime ministerial journey has given strong directions to Japan’s economic recovery through Abenomics, his manifesto had looked at constitutional changes, and in the international arena, he had progressively attempted to give Japan an independent direction from the alliance system. Abe’s departure thus requires an assessment of what he had designed to achieve and how well we can score his report card. Since his tenure has deepened India-Japan relations, at this juncture, it necessitates an appraisal of this relationship. Besides reflecting on Abe’s policies, it is also opportune to ponder over what is the task in hand for Prime Minister Sugo.

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Crossing the Border: Indian Students Studying Medicine in China

Rama V. Baru, Madhurima Nundy, Sowmiya Ashok

Wednesday Seminar | Zoom Webinar | 14 October 2020

 

The mobility of Indian students travelling abroad for professional higher education has been on the rise since the early 2000s. The favoured destinations have been the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. However, in recent years China has been one of the top non-English speaking countries where students are going for higher education, mostly for undergraduate medical courses. The talk focused on the pull and push factors of Indian students travelling to China for an undergraduate course in medicine, based on interviews conducted with Indian students, faculty and government representatives in China. It attempted to understand: the students’ experiences and expectations; the structure of medical education in China; specific challenges and barriers that students confront in China and on their return.

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The Growing Sino-American Military Rivalry

Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry

Wednesday Seminar | Zoom Webinar | 21 October 2020

 

The United States and China together now account for over one-half of the world's defense spending. In recent years, Sino-American military competition has intensified in the contested waters of the Western Pacific, with the South China Sea and Taiwan both potentially dangerous flashpoints. The People's Liberation Army is also developing global capabilities to support the PRC's Belt Road Initiative, posing challenges to nations beyond the Asia-Pacific region. Efforts to mitigate the risks posed by these developments are complicated by the diverging geopolitical interests of Washington and Beijing, and both sides' quests for military technological superiority which encourages economic decoupling. Karl Eikenberry, whose military, diplomatic, and academic careers have included numerous postings and projects in China and East, South, and Central Asia, discussed the state of the U.S.-China military rivalry and the factors that will shape its future course.

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ICS-KAS Conversation | PLA Navy’s Expansion in the Indian Ocean Region: Challenges and Opportunities for India

Adm. Sunil Lanba, Lt. Gen S L Narasimhan, Darshana Baruah

Special Lecture | Zoom Webinar | 28 October 2020

 

The People’s Republic of China aspires to build a “modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious” by 2049. Widely considered as a euphemism for a “Global Power”, the Chinese Dream (中国梦) envisages China claiming its rightful role in the global stage after more than a ‘Century of Humiliation’. Commensurate with the national goal, the People’s Liberation Army aspires to be a ‘world class’ military by 2049. Of particular importance is the PLA Navy (PLAN) which has grown from a 'brown water' Navy to the 'largest' Navy in the world in just three decades, defying conventional modelling and predictions. The growth of the PLAN is prominent in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where it has a near-permanent presence with a logistics base at Djibouti, counter-piracy patrols, and a growing footprint that necessitates critical examination. This webinar delved into current and future developments in the PLAN that are of concern to India. The broad themes of discussion are current capabilities of the PLAN in the IOR, likely PLAN force projection and posture by 2035, and perspective planning for countering PLAN operations in the IOR.

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CHINA REPORT
Volume 56 | Issue 3 | August 2020
 
Demographic debates in the decades following the 1960s have shaped much of the discourse on population ageing across the world. This paper by Kavita Sivaramakrishnan traces these discourses and research agendas that led to the understanding of demographic transitions in the developed and developing world. The policies were mostly articulated by demographers from the US and ageing was seen more as a challenge for the West.
Read more >>
ICS ANALYSIS PAPER
 

India as Teacher by Negative Example: Chinese Perceptions of India during the British Colonial Period and their Impact on India-China Relations

Shyam Saran Issue No. 119 | October 2020
 
The history of ancient civilizational links between India and China, including the spread of Buddhist religion and philosophy from India to China, are often cited as the enduring basis for India-China friendship..
Read more >>
ICS ANALYSIS PAPER
 

Deciphering India's dependency on Chinese imports

Santosh Pai  Issue No:120 | October 2020
 
Reducing dependency on imports from China has emerged as a national policy objective for India in 2020. This paper presents a framework that can support decision making in this direction and some techniques to monitor India’s progress in this journey...
Read more >>
ICS ANALYSIS PAPER
 

The Belt and Road Initiative in the Post-Covid-19 world

Aadil Sud Issue No. 121 | October 2020
 
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced countries around the world to rethink their investments and partnerships, faced with restarting their economies and protecting their citizens...
Read more >>
ICS ANALYSIS PAPER
 

Crises in the Subcontinent and Understanding Chinese intentions

Adveetya Kachiar Issue No. 122 | October 2020
 
South Asia is at the brink of a crisis. Relations between India and China, and India and Pakistan are at an all-time low. ..
Read more >>
ICS ANALYSIS PAPER
 

Interpreting the US’ China Military Power Report 2020

KK Venkatraman Issue No. 123 | October 2020
 
On 1 Sep 2020, the US Department of Defence (DoD) issued its ‘Annual Report on Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China’...
Read more >>
ICS WORKING PAPER
 

The Future of Deterrence along the LAC

Samanvya Hooda October 2020
 
2020 has seen the worst Sino-Indian fracas in decades, highlighting the urgency with which India needs to overhaul its strategy for dealing with border incidents as well as its military orientation...
Read more >>
ICS TRANSLATIONS
 

India in 2020 is clumsier than in 1962!

Hemant Adlakha;Issue No. 12 | October 2020
 
What kind of a country dares to take military risk abroad in the face of ongoing pandemic, droughts and floods, and other natural disasters? What kind of a country dares to simultaneously fight on three fronts – separatist forces internally, long-term artillery battles externally, and still actively provoking the world’s largest industrial nation? Do you think I am talking about the fascist Germany or the militarist Japan? No. Although the two were aggressive, they were..
Read more >>
ICS TRANSLATIONS
 

Sino-Us Conflict: What Realism?

Hemant Adlakha Issue No. 13 | October 2020
 
Currently changing Sino-US relations best reflect shift from Wilsonian cooperation to Hobbesian confrontation; from liberal engagement to realist containment. How do these changes best serve China’s international strategic interests?
Read more >>
ICS TRANSLATIONS
 

Jack Ma Spin-off: “New” Finance vs. “Old” Regulations?

Hemant Adlakha;Issue No. 14 | October 2020
 
Xu Jin: Jack Ma has painted afresh on the finance scroll. Are there no systemic financial risks in China? How to regulate the new finance? It matters little to judge the motives if they are right and wrong. What matters most are the source and the background of these motives...
Read more >>
 
 
Infrastructuring Floods in the Brahmputra River Basin
 
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman
Economic and Political Weekly | 26 September 2020
 
China looked at India under British rule as a teacher — of what not to be
 
Amb. Shyam Saran
The Print | 8 October 2020
 
 
Did China join COVAX to counter or promote Vaccine Nationalism?
 
Hemant Adlakha
The Diplomat | 23 October 2020
 
The Languages and Imaginations of Monsoon Rains below the Eastern Himalaya
 
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman
Australian Himalaya Research Network | 29 October 2020
 
 
The challenges of walking the Indo-Pacific talk
 
Happymon Jacob
The Hindu | 29 October 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
China’s Influence in Myanmar and India’s Response

Speaker: Amb. Shyam Saran, Amb. Gautam Mukhopadhya, Avinash Paliwal

Event: Wednesday Seminar | Zoom Webinar

Date: Wednesday, 11 November 2020 | 3:00 P.M IST

 

 

 
 
 

INSTITUTE OF CHINESE STUDIES
 
 
 


 

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