COMMENTARIES
-
The Abraham Accord and UAE-Israel Relations: Winners and Losers
Muneer Ahmed · 03 Sep, 2020 · #5718 · Commentary
On 13 August 2020, the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) and Israel signed the watershed Abraham Accord—the peace agreement to formalise bilateral diplomatic
relations. It marks a major turn of events in West Asia. Washington announced
the deal with...
-
More than a Bargaining Chip: Health Diplomacy and India-Taiwan Relations
Ashutosh Nagda · 31 Aug, 2020 · #5717 · Commentary
With
487 confirmed cases and seven deaths as of 24 August, Taiwan has been a global
success in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. This success has invited praise and attention
to the country’s robust healthcare system, and foregrounded health as...
-
East Asia Compass
To Withdraw or Not to Withdraw: South Korea’s Strategic Calculus and the GSOMIA
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 26 Aug, 2020 · #5716 · Commentary · Column
On 24 August, the
General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), an intelligence-sharing
agreement between South Korea and Japan, was automatically extended for another
year.
Article 21(3) of the agreement
states: “This agr...
-
The Strategist
China's Curious Wars
Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar · 25 Aug, 2020 · #5715 · Commentary · Column
Never
to be undertaken thoughtlessly or recklessly wars are to be preceded by
measures that make it easy to win.
—Sun Tzu, Art of War (Griffith, p 39)
The Chinese tradition of warfare differs
from contemporary understanding. Instead of...
-
Strategic Space
Never Again: 75 years After Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Manpreet Sethi · 24 Aug, 2020 · #5714 · Commentary · Column
This
August marks 75 years of the dropping of Little Boy and Fat Man
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These were the first two nuclear bombs built by the
US in the secret Manhattan Project; run at a frenzied pace to beat the
possibility of Germany g...
-
In Context: Sri Lanka’s 2020 Parliamentary Election Results (Part-II)
Dr. Sripathi Narayanan · 17 Aug, 2020 · #5713 · Commentary
The Sri
Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led alliance secured 151 of 225 seats in Sri
Lanka’s August 2020 parliamentary polls. With this victory, former President, Mahinda
Rajapaksa (MR), has returned to power, and was sworn in as the prime min...
-
In Context: Sri Lanka’s 2020 Parliamentary Election Results (Part-I)
Dr. Sripathi Narayanan · 11 Aug, 2020 · #5712 · Commentary
After two COVID-19 induced postponements in 2020,
Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election took place on 5 August. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) was sworn in
as the prime minister on 9 August after his party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramun...
-
India: COVID-19 and Women’s Reproductive and Sexual Health
Akanksha Khullar · 07 Aug, 2020 · #5711 · Commentary
Due to a wide range of factors, Indian women have historically faced multiple barriers to accessing
sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care products and services. The COVID-19
pandemic and consequent disruptions have exacerbated these barriers...
-
East Asia Compass
‘Rotational’ Deployment of US Troops: Implications for Regional Security
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 30 Jul, 2020 · #5710 · Commentary · Column
On 21 July 2020, US Defense Secretary
Mark Esper said that the Pentagon is considering “readjustments” to US’
military presence across the world. They are seeking a “rotational”
deployment of forces for “strategic flexibility,” an...
-
Strategic Space
Kakrapar: Why Nuclear Power for Electricity Generation?
Manpreet Sethi · 27 Jul, 2020 · #5709 · Commentary · Column
On 22 July 2020, Unit 3 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS)—India’s 23rd nuclear reactor—attained criticality. At 700 MWe capacity, it is a scaled-up version of earlier variants of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs).It is c...
