By Mr. Cris Fernando Anand Perez, C3S Research Intern Introduction The contemporary international system is undergoing a fundamental reconstruction, where rigid structures of formal institutions of multilateralism are being challenged by the “Bypassing the Bureaucracy” of social relations. For decades, the international system was defined by the legalistic, proceduralized interactions with institutions. However, the system is increasingly finding these formal institutions wit

By Mr. Pruthvi G More, C3S Research Intern Introduction Ever since China declared its goal of becoming a maritime power back in 2012, it has aggressively and proactively advanced towards achieving it through domestic lawfare, a core component of the PLA’s “Three arfares” doctrine coupled with naval modernisation at breakneck speed. Beijing has now moved beyond merely guarding its coastline; given that its colossal economy is almost entirely dependent on seaborne trade, this i

By Shubhi Malhotra and Dr. Adityanjee Image Courtesy: China US Focus Introduction In diplomacy, the calendar is rarely incidental. When Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down in Beijing on the evening of May 19, 2026, for his 25th visit to China, the direction of events surrounding the trip carried a message as deliberate as it can be. His arrival came barely four days after U.S. President Donald Trump had concluded his own two-day summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping

By Abia Fathima, Research Officer, C3S Image Courtesy: The Atlantic Introduction Coined by Political Scientist Graham Allison in the early 2010s and popularised in his 2017 book Destined for War, the “Thucydides Trap” has become a term for a terrifyingly simple historic pattern, a pattern which displaces dynasties as a rising power threatens its existence. The Thucydides Trap has transformed from an academic footnote to one of the most heavily scrutinised idioms in modern geo

Commander YVV Prasad, IN (Retd.) Part I of INDIA- CHINA SERIES INDIA AND CHINA : Lessons from Four Decades of Scientific, Technological and Industrial Transformation - Reflections on Science, Technology, Industry and National Capability for India's Next Leap: Strategic Insights for India's Future Development Image Courtesy: CGTN AIM OF THE PAPER This paper seeks to examine how sustained national vision, long-term planning, institutional continuity, educational investments, i

By Shubhi Malhotra & Dr. Adityanjee Image Courtesy: The Print Introduction The Indian Ocean is no longer merely a highway for commerce. It has become the principal arena of twenty-first-century geopolitical competition in the maritime domain, a theatre where great powers jostle for influence, non-state actors exploit ungoverned maritime spaces, and climate-induced disasters test the resilience of small island nations. Against this backdrop, the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)

By Balaji Chandramohan Image Courtesy: MC In an effort to boost its strategic presence ahead of the centenary of the People Liberation Army, China’s Air force and Army has jointly increased its strategic reach in the Tibet region and in the Lhunze Air base pointing towards India’s Northern borders which may have wider strategic impact as India is contemplating dividing its Air Land forces and integration among its Tri Services to negate threats from both Pakistan and China in

How the 2026 Beijing summit reshapes risks and opportunities for regional middle powers By Rohit KA and Dr. Adityanjee Image Courtesy: Asia Times A summit shaped by Iran, trade, and Taiwan The US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 - 15, 2026, in the first visit by a US president to China in nearly a decade. This was Trump’s first state visit to China in his second term. The US agenda focused on stabilizing a strained relationship amid

BY SUBRAMANYAM SRIDHARAN, DISTINGUISHED MEMBER, C3S Let there be a relaxation of tension across the board, as it existed between 1988 and 2012 despite the presence of the Dalai Lama and his self-exiled Government here. Image Courtsey: Newsonair Modus vivendi requires the two parties to either openly agree to a common minimum program setting aside deeper conflicts for the time being or arrive at an informal understanding to do so. Modus vivendi would also require equitable tr

By Mr M R Sivaraman IAS (Retd), Former Revenue Secretary For six decades, New Delhi has sought peace with Beijing. What it received instead is a doctrine of deception. As a retired civil servant who has seen India’s China policy up close, I write with anguish, not anger. The pattern is unmistakable. The betrayal began in 1962. Panchsheel was still warm on paper when China invaded, occupied Aksai Chin, and scarred our northern frontier. That wound never healed. Beijing still c

By Abia Fathima, Research Officer, C3S Image Courtesy: The Economist Introduction The geopolitical architecture of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has entered a phase of profound structural transformation, marking the most significant shift in regional energy diplomacy since the conclusion of the Second World War. For eighty years, the regional order was defined by the foundational encounter between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud aboard the USS

By Annunthra Rangan Image courtesy: AIIA March 28th marks one month since the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran. In the weeks that followed, Tehran has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of key figures within its leadership. Yet despite the scale of the assault, Iran has shown no signs of capitulating and the manner in which Washington has handled this conflict has raised serious questions about the coherence of its strategy

From the first strike to the burning Strait By Arul Braighta Arulanantham Image Courtesy: The Virginian The Spark: How a War Without a Declaration Began On the night of February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a massive coordinated strike on Iran under the operational name Operation Epic Fury. The targets were not ambiguous. They explicitly targeted Iranian missile infrastructure, nuclear sites, air defenses, and the leadership of the Islamic Republic itself.

By Prof Yoichiro Sato and Dr. Adityanjee Introduction Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led a charm offensive in her recent summit meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, March 19 th , 2026. The summit succeeded in generating mostly positive receptions both in Tokyo and Washington, D.C. Aside from the successful visual and sound presentations, however, there were both additional notable successes, as well as shortcomings. The key topics discussed included the

By Rohit KA and Dr. Adityanjee Image Courtesy: The Economist Introduction In 2018 in its White paper on China’s Arctic policy China formally declared itself as a “Near-Arctic” State. The rhetoric about the near-Arctic state had been floated around by China since 2012-2013 onwards at the time of its initial application for an observer-ship in the Arctic Circle. This concept of China as a “near-Arctic country," raises a fundamental question: does this represent mere verbal gymn

By Balaji Chandramohan As India starts re-organizing its military command matrix it will be interesting to see how this reconstitution will be perceived in the years to come and the sum effect it will have on New Delhi’s evolving Maritime Strategy. 1 Theatre Command and Integration in Indian context from a maritime connotation India’s approach to theatre command was influenced by China's military modernization, under President Xi Jinping, which has been marked by reforms t

By Annunthra Rangan Image Courtesy: Times of India Abstract: The recent conflict involving Iran has reshaped regional geopolitics in West Asia, raising critical questions about war management, deterrence, and the responses of major external actors. This paper examines how Iran has navigated the conflict through a strategy centered on asymmetric deterrence, distributed military command, and economic pressure through energy geopolitics. Particular attention is given to Iran’s a

By Abia Fathima, Research Officer Image Courtesy: ORF The year 2025 has emerged as a definitive turning point for China’s premier Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The year 2025 marks the most substantial level of engagement in the history of the BRI. Since its launch in 2013, the BRI has served as the central conduit for China’s global economic and geopolitical vision. Nevertheless, the level of data that has been registered in 2025 marks a clear shift away from the past trend

By Annunthra Rangan, Senior Research Officer Image Courtesy: Middle East Eye West Asia is once again on the edge. Following a short but intense conflict between Iran and Israel in 2025, and mounting tensions involving the United States, Tehran is reportedly seeking to replenish and upgrade its depleted missile capabilities. As part of this effort, Iran is close to finalizing a major arms agreement with China, potentially one of the largest weapons transfers in their history.

By Dr. Adityanjee and Guncha Shandilya Image Courtesy: DRaS Introduction: China’s contemporary diplomatic posture can be traced back to Deng Xiaoping’s strategic counsel in the 1990s to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): “Hide your strength and bide your time.” Although Deng articulated this philosophy, it was his successor, the 3 rd generation CCP/PLA Leader Jiang Zemin, who formalized this phrase in its widely recognized form. For over two decades, this pragmatic doctrine