Sriparna Pathak, a Scholar at the Centre, comments on Beijing singal to setting up Foreign Military bases, including one in Pakistan

The Cold War ended in 1991 with the disintegration of the Soviet Union. However, it has been often argued that the Cold War dynamics live on - in the fact that there still are two Koreas, and that American troops are still positioned in Japan. China, which till now has no military bases outside its territory has often been vocal in criticizing the American moves for operating such bases.

However, a recent article published on the Chinese government site signalled setting up foreign military bases, including one in Pakistan. “Setting up overseas military bases is not an idea we have to shun; on the contrary, it is our right…it is baseless to say that we will not set up any military bases in future because we have never sent troops abroad,” said the report .

This article has caused some restlessness within India. According to certain news reports this is a move to keep India under pressure. The realist streak in the handling of international relations is clearly visible in this Chinese move. According to the Chinese report, "...we should be able to conduct the retaliatory attack within the country or at the neighbouring area of our potential enemies. We should also be able to put pressure on the potential enemies' overseas interests. With further development, China will be in great demand of the military protection,"

However, the fact remains that a Chinese military base has not yet been set up in Pakistan, and assuming that such a base has already been set up would be tantamount to discounting Pakistan’s sovereign right to take decisions keeping its own national interests in mind. The article mentions that if the base troops can maintain regional stability, it will probably be welcomed by all countries in the region. This may be seen as an indication of Chinese motives to keep a watch on the Uyghur separatists. However, Xinjiang borders the North West Frontier of Pakistan- this means embroiling players such as Afghanistan and the U. S. in this issue. In any case the article clearly mentions probability in getting acceptance from the major players in the region. The mere publication of the report has caused great stir within India, gaining acceptance is still far away. Realist considerations in attaining acceptance does not seem to be the best way out, and a more liberal approach to what has been traditionally thought of as hard politics needs to be undertaken by China.

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on compatibility between Chinese Communist Party and Google

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre & Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, checks the compatibility between Chinese Communist Party and Google.

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Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, on Japan granting right to franchise to permanent foreign residents

Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, currently Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi has written about Japan granting right to franchise to permanent foreign residents.

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Rajaram Panda, a CEAS alumnus, on Sino-US Relations over Arms Sales to Taiwan

Rajaram Panda, a CEAS alumnus, currently Senior Fellow at the IDSA has written an essay about Sino-US Relations over Arms Sales to Taiwan.

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Joe Thomas Karackattu, PhD student at the Center visited SIIS

Joe Thomas Karackattu, PhD student at the Center for East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, visited SIIS and talked with Director Zhao Gancheng and Deputy Director Shao Yuqun...

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China unveils grand plan to develop Tibet

China has made plans to achieve leapfrog development and lasting stability in Tibet Autonomous Region in a bid to ensure China's development as a whole, according to a high-level meeting held this week....

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Prof Srikanth Kondapalli in his essay in The Economic Times" Hot & sour taste of growing relations between India and China"

Last week, the chief of Tibet military command Lieutenant General Shu Yutai visited India. A few days before, China’s vice-chief of general staff, Major General Ge Zhenfeng, came to India. A Chinese National Defence University delegation was also in Delhi recently.......

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IS CHINA GROWING TOO FAST: The Economist

BEIJING recently suffered its lowest temperature in 59 years, but the economy is sweltering. Figures published on Thursday January 21st showed that real GDP grew by 10.7% year on year in the fourth quarter....

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“Friendship via the Media”

The media has been often referred to as the watch dog of the nation. The importance of the media cannot be negated in a world wherein information is considered to be of utmost importance. For the realist school of thought, the media and information technology are of priority as long as they act as tools of the state- the utmost importance still being given to the state as the most important actor in the international system.

However, as the recent decision regarding Beijing and Delhi’s work on diplomacy via media proves, the media can work to the benefit of the states independently, and not merely as a tool in the hands of the states.

The primary rationale behind this decision taken recently is that good diplomatic relations can begin with friendly media. The classification of the media as an element of soft power can be labelled futile when a look is taken at the events in the latter half of 2009, when relations between China and India came under strain due to unsolicited and surcharged statements published in the media of the respective countries.

The decision to work on diplomacy via the media between India and China was triggered by the Chinese expressing to New Delhi that the Chinese media had been instructed against stirring up negativism in their relationship. A delegation comprising of eight member- editors from China will be in India in the month of January, on an invitation from the Ministry of External Affairs. The visit was due in November 2008, but had been postponed after the diplomatic spat over the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh.

The team members include four from Beijing, two from Shanghai, and the chief of the opinion desk at People’s Daily. ¹ According to the Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, China and India should make efforts to lead the media and public opinion to a positive direction, which would enable in the creation of favourable environment for the enhancement of bilateral ties.

Besides this, Indian Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna is scheduled to visit China in April 2010, and President Pratibha Patil’s visit to China is scheduled in May 2010. Also, a China festival in India and an India festival in China are being planned. All these are for the purpose of bolstering friendly relations between the two countries.

Thus as clearly visible, new avenues for friendship using the media as a tool are being explored by these two states. In such circumstances, realsit claims of boundaries and frontiers being the primary concerns for states are clearly falsified.

1 Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Friday, January 08, 2009, “Beijing, Delhi work on Diplomacy Via Media.”

One Step One Mind

A Chinese Play (directed by Yang Ching-Ling) portraying Hsuen Tsang(Tangsen) travel to India and understanding the true meaning of Buddhism played on the eve of New Year 2010 and New Decade at Aiwan-E- Ghalib Auditorium, New Delhi.

The play chooses "death" as the issue on the cultural exchange.In Chinese culture, people avoid mentioning death. Confucius says "Without understanding life, how can you understand death?" This is the typical attitude of Chinese.

And for Chinese, how to face the reality is the truly urgent for matter. But Indian culture, "death" is an important concept because they value the extrication of soul. And the death is the only way to get extrication.

Tangsen passes through the desert and experiences death in per

son and realizes the true meaning of "sunyata" in the Buddha's teaching. "Sunyata" doesn't mean 'nothing' or 'empty'. But it is newborn, joyful and completely at ease after abandoning all the obstruction in mind. Therefore, depicting the image of Indian god, Shiva. Destruction is reconstruction.

"Combined with mercy and wisdom,

Together with ambition and wisdom,

The still water, the deep ocean,

One notion one mind

One dust one sand

One flower one moon

One wind one gentleness

The notion passes away.

The mind calms down

With deep wisdom and merciful mind,

All difficulties become gold.

All the human kinds are linked together

Mercy, Wisdom, Ambition and Action ".

Hunag Li-Hui brilliantly portrayed the character of Hsuen Tsang in the musical play whereas role of Shiva played by Lee Ming Cheng was amazing while doing 'Tandava'.

Master Hsuen Tsang is the greatest Buddhist monk who makes the best cultural exchange in Chinese History. Some people call him a 'philosopher', 'traveler', 'interpreter'. But he called "Tangsen" in the famous novel, "Journey to the West". "Tangsen"means a monk in Tang dynasty. It seems to be more proper for Hsuen Tsang because this title means that he makes a cultural exchange between India and China. In fact, the very name "Tangsen" is given by Indians. Thus, title shows the respect and the brilliance between these two countries.

The Buddhism has culturally connected countries of Asia, particularly Southeast and East Asian countries. Although, India is birthplace of Buddhism, there are many untold stories to be heard related with Buddhism in different countries. Although, Indian people are aware of Hsuen Tsang visit and stay at the Nalanda University, the great Buddhist centre of learning of the time, story of visiting most sacred sites of India connected with the life of the Lord Buddha is relatively unknown.And the play decipher the one such untold story of Hsuen Tsang.

More than 90 percent of the Taiwanese people practice Chinese traditional religion , which integrates elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It signifies the cultural affinity between India and Taiwan.