I ORIGINAL ARTICLES
- Traditional Worldviews, Strategic Culture and Revolutionary Mentality: The Case of People’s Republic of China
Nuno Morgado and Éva Dóra Druhalóczki
Abstract
- China’s Global Governance as a Tool for Accelerating International Sustainable Development and Pandemic Security
Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Walker Darke, and Jan-Niclas F. Schubert
Abstract
- Unsettled South Asian Borders: Nepal’s Effort to Reconcile Its Colonial and Non-colonial Borders
Bipin Ghimire
Abstract
- Binding the Deities: Tibetan Buddhism, Reincarnation and the Chinese Communist Party
Jigme Yeshe Lama
Abstract
- Trilateral Dynamics of India–China–Nepal: Assessing Geo-strategic Relations in South Asia
Muralidhar Barik and Chinglen Laishram
Abstract
An Introductory Note for the Articles
- This article by Nuno Morgado and Éva Dóra Druhalóczki explores China’s ambitions to become a global hegemon in the 21st century. The research traces the origins of these ambitions in China’s strategic culture and system of ideas and representations. Forming a geopolitical study in this way, this article zooms in the concepts of ‘middle’, ‘Middle Kingdom’ and Tianxia. ‘Middle’ symbolises China’s centrality and moral authority; ‘Middle Kingdom’ embodies the idea of a state where political power is concentrated; and Tianxia represents China’s historical visions of the global order. The research results show that China’s traditional worldviews suggest ambitions for a leading status in the international chessboard, which is confirmed by China’s aspects of revolutionary mentality and development of the military power. While the extent to which China will ascend to a leading role remains uncertain, understanding China’s identity—via its strategic culture—is crucial for grasping both China’s ambitious policy and its impact on the world.
- This study by Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Walker Darke, and Jan-Niclas F. Schubert explores China’s robust response to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 pandemic, employing health diplomacy and soft power strategies to boost international relations and global health outcomes. China’s contributions to international organisations, investments in biotechnology and provision of medical aid underline its pivotal role in health diplomacy. The country’s approach, encompassing the Health Silk Road and vaccine diplomacy, is viewed through the lens of soft power theory and health diplomacy theory. It is revealed that China’s initiatives, while offering valuable global health benefits, also strategically enhance its global influence and international relations. This article offers policy recommendations and underscores the importance of international cooperation, equitable access to health interventions, and the embrace of digital health technologies.
- While it is commonly accepted that the borders in South Asia are post-colonial borders established by colonial powers, the literature often skips the discussion of the non-colonial borders of the region. Many sources do not even acknowledge the existence of non-colonial borders at all, making such borders some sort of terra incognita. This has created an academic gap which limits the understanding of the borders of the region and sometimes leads towards hasty generalisation on the nature of South Asian borders. Nepal has two types of borders—a colonial border shared with India in the south and a non-colonial border shared with China that lies in the central Himalayan massif. This has resulted in the adoption of two different border policies that do not always align with each other. To delve into the intricacies of this situation, this article by Bipin Ghimire focuses on two main inquiries. First, the article studies Nepal’s border policies and approaches by examining the historical context of border delimitation with India and China, as well as the characteristics of these borders. Second, the article examines the extent to which Nepal is successful in reconciling its colonial and non-colonial border policies as well as the challenges it faces in this endeavour. It concludes the discussion by exploring the potential contribution of non-colonial borders to South Asia’s border narratives.
- This article by Jigme Yeshe Lama investigates the interaction(s) between the communist state of China and Tibetan Buddhism. It will focus on the issue of reincarnation of tulkus or rinpoches, who are hierarchs in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. This tradition is turning into a major site of contestation between the Tibetans and the party state. When the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) marched into Tibet, they encountered a unique socio-political system, defined by many as a theocracy. As a belief system, Buddhism has a hegemonic hold over the Tibetans. Moreover, Tibetan Buddhism’s influence is present in the Himalayan belt, a space contested by postcolonial India and China. However, the focus will be on the different modes of interaction between the Tibetan Buddhist elites and the CCP. While the majority of this contact between them is described as a conflict, the article will highlight moments of cooperation and co-option. The process will be understood through the idea of ‘binding the deities’, which was an important mode of the ‘Buddhicisation’ of Tibet and the Himalayas.
- The strategic importance of South Asia stems from its natural resources and advantageous location. However, in recent years, China and India’s rivalry in the subcontinent has altered the geo-strategic landscape in the region. Though much had been explored in the trilateral dynamics of India–China–Nepal, comparative analyses to empirically assess the relative strength of the relationships have been overlooked. Hence, the current paper by Muralidhar Barik and Chinglen Laishram examined the dynamics of these three countries by evaluating their ability to uphold their ties. It looked at India’s neighbourhood first policy with a particular focus on Nepal, and it further examined how China uses the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a springboard to utilise it as a geopolitical manoeuvre to offset India’s hegemony in the area. On the empirical front, the paper examined the pattern of investment from China’s BRI in Nepal and contrasted it with China’s overall investment trends in Nepal. The paper argues that although BRI investment in Nepal is increasing, there is a significant decline in the overall investment from China. In contrast, India’s investment in Nepal had an upward trajectory that surpassed China’s investment volume. The paper discussed potential ways to achieve trilateral relations among these three countries by promoting sustained cooperation.
II BOOK REVIEWS
- Janet Y. Chen, The Sounds of Mandarin: Learning to Speak a National Language in China and Taiwan, 1913–1960, New York: Columbia University Press, 2023.
Aditya Kumar Pandey
Abstract
- Gi-Wook Shin and Ho-Ki Kim (Eds.), South Korea’s Democracy in Crisis: The Threats of Illiberalism, Populism and Polarization, Stanford: Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, 2022.
Vyjayanti Raghavan
Abstract
- Dylan M H Loh, China’s Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2024.
Devendra Kumar
Abstract
