COMMENTARIES
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Carnegie Nuclear Policy Conference 2013: China’s Strategic Nuclear Posture
Vijay Shankar · 07 May, 2013 · #3919 · Commentary
What would appear to have passed muster is China’s incremental transformation of the idea of a nuclear weapon; from one whose power lay in its non-use and which had enjoyed thus far, an admittedly, puerile yet tolerable and stable relation...
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India, Pakistan and the Nuclear Race: Strengthening the Risk Reduction Measures
Salma Malik · 06 May, 2013 · #3918 · Commentary
It is inherent in the nature of India and Pakistan that all problems and issues become intertwined and the simplest can affect the most complicated and vice versa. The latest, and now widely trending, issue in this spat is the death at the hands...
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India, Sri Lanka and the Kachchatheevu Crisis: A Fact Sheet and Possible Solutions
Prof. V. Suryanarayan · 06 May, 2013 · #3917 · Commentary
In a unanimous resolution on May 3, 2013, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly demanded that the Government of India should take immediate steps to take back control of Kachchatheevu, a small, barren island in the Palk Bay, which was ceded to Sri...
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Intrusion in Ladakh: Why China had better stand down?
Rana Divyank Chaudhary · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3916 · Commentary
Beijing's recent manoeuvres on its land borders with India reveal a deeper malaise in the heart of Chinese decision-making. The more China imposes the ‘hide your strength-bide your time' maxim on itself, the more anxious it grows t...
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North Korea and East Asia: An Evolving Art of War
Rana Divyank Chaudhary · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3915 · Commentary
The prize question of the season in Northeast Asia– when will Kim Jong-un pull the trigger? South Korea seems to be keeping its cool for an unnaturally long time; China does not appear compelled to choose sides; the US has not backed down ...
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Social Media: A Bridge or a Broken Plank in Southeast Asia?
Narayani Basu · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3914 · Commentary
Using social media to build or express opinion is certainly the beginning of something new in most Southeast Asian countries. Some leaders have been quick to recognise the capacity of social networking to spread information and shape publi...
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The EU in Myanmar: ‘Sanction’ing Self-Interests, Yet a Positive Move?
Nayantara Shaunik · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3913 · Commentary
The European Union (EU) unanimously lifted trade, economic, and individual sanctions imposed on Myanmar at a meeting in Luxembourg on 22 April 2013. The arms embargo, however, will remain in place to be reviewed next year.
Following the anno...
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Malaysia: A Race to the Finish Line
Aparupa Bhattacherjee · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3912 · Commentary
The atmosphere in Malaysia is febrile as the whole nation awaits the outcome of the 2013 elections. The preparation of the elections, to be held on 5 May, is quite evident on the streets of Malaysia. The ruling Barisan National is cautious...
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Afghanistan: When India and China Touch Base
J Jeganaathan · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3911 · Commentary
India and China recently held a bilateral meeting on Afghanistan, for the first time in Beijing, to chart out a joint plan to secure their multi-billion dollar investments in the war ravaged country whose future remains uncertain post US withdra...
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Nepal: Decoding the Constituent Assembly Election-II
Sohan Prasad Sha · 30 Apr, 2013 · #3910 · Commentary
Ever since the Constituent Assembly (CA)-I was dissolved in May 2012 without drafting the constitution, holding fresh elections for the CA-II has been Nepal’s political discourse. The tussle amongst political parties has led to a lapse of ...