Book Release: Srikanth Kondapalli ,Emi Mifune (ed) (2010), “China and its Neighbours”, Pentagon Press:New Delhi

The School of International Studies organized a book release function on February 12, 2010 and a brief discussion about the main themes of the book “China and its Neighbours” edited by Prof Srikanth Kondapalli and Prof Emi Mifune followed. Participating in the function were Minister for Political Affairs, Embassy of Japan at New Delhi, HE Naoki Ito, Prof Takenori Horimoto, Prof Lalima Varma, Prof CSR Murthy, Dr Alka Acharya, Dr Varaprasad Sekhar, Dr Jitedra Uttam, Dr Yeshi Choeden, Dr Vyjayanti Raghavan, Dr TG Suresh, Dr. Manish Dabhade, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Pandey, Dr Jagannath Panda, Mr S. Rajasimman and research scholars from Centre for East Asian Studies and the School.

In his opening remarks Mr Ito mentioned that this book is a novel effort in bringing together Indian and Japanese scholars in writing about different foreign policy themes of China and its neighbours. The Minister for Political Affairs further congratulated the team for having seen through the project which began with the first draft discussion among the scholars in November, 2008 at India International Center, New Delhi.

Chairing the session was Prof. Y.K.Tyagi, (Dean of School of International Relations) who in his opening remarks congratulated the efforts made by the editors and suggested that students at the Center for East Asian Studies must contribute a critical review of this book to the School’s journal International Studies. He further added that students doing so will be encouraged with remuneration for doing so.

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli provided an overview of the project details and explained the importance of China and its relation with its neighbours in the context of the China's rise and the multifarious changes that occurred in the neighbourhood. Not only that China had been posting high economic growth figures in the last two decades, but it is also engaged in a mutually beneficial relationship with several neighbours. Stability is one of the foremost concerns for China.

Prof Horimoto in his intervention had mentioned about the Japanese Ministry of Education research grants to look into more closely the South Asian dynamics and its relations with major powers, including China. At the academic level, this is an area worth exploring further. Dr Vyjayanti Raghavan, Associate Professor in Korean language at the School of Languages, JNU, had provided for the main themes in the Korean Peninsula’s interactions with China, viz., diplomatic normalization, enhancing trade and investments, nuclear stability, etc. Dr. Jaganath Panda, Researcher at Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis who has contributed an article on the theme of China and its relations with South Asia mentioned that while it is easy to articulate what South Asia thinks about China and its rise, accounting for what China thinks about South Asia is not easy. S. Rajasimman, Research Scholar at Center for East Asian Studies mentioned that the central theme of his contribution on China-ASEAN relations was that the variable of “non-intervention” is a crucial determinant in the relation between the two.

Rapporteur: S. Rajasimman

Photograph: Rajiv Ranjan

{In picture: Prof. Takenori Horimoto, Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli (editor), Prof Y.K.Tyagi (Dean, SIS) and HE Naoki Ito (Minister for Political Affairs, Embassy of Japan at New Delhi) (Left to Right)}

Dr. Geeta Kochhar, An Assistant Professor in Chinese Language at SLL&CS, on "Spring Festival and Valentine-A Dilemma"

This year Chinese Spring festival coincides with Valentines day. Is this a good omen or a big dilemma for the ordinary Chinese, I wonder. Young Chinese guys and girls are so glued to their loved ones that socializing with friends and family is unpopular. Rather, what a waste of time. Many of the TV serials and programmes talk about the loneliness of the elders, because the younger lot has no time for them. Now for the generation X,Y, Z has new reasons to stay away from the family this spring festival--Its Valentine Day. So where are the family norms moving? What kind of new social culture is evolving in China? Its so much of a complexity to decipher.

Sh. Shashank & Sh. A.P. Gandhi on "India- Korea Relations"

A panel discussion on “India- South Korea Relations” was organized by Centre for East Asian Studies on January 27, 2010 at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. The meeting discussed and reviewed the developments in India-Korea relations on the occasion of the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's visit to India during January 24-27. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli; Chairman, Centre for East Asian Studies. The speakers were Ambassador Shashank; former Foreign Secretary of India and former Indian Ambassador to South Korea, Mr. A.P Gandhi; Founder and CEO Hyundai Motors India and Dr. Jitendra Uttam; Assistant Professor, Centre for East Asian Studies.

Professor Kodapalli in his introductory address has laid down the significance of Korean President’s visit and the importance of India-Korea relation in the current international political milieu. Dr. Jitendra Uttam gave a presentation on the historical background of India-Korea relation and has focused on the current economic relations between India and South Korea. Dr. Uttam has argued that India-South Korea relation is entering in to new era with the induction of India-Korea Free Trade agreement and has observed that the Indian government’s invitation of South Korean President as the Chief Guest on the occasion of Republic Day as the symbolic depiction of this future partnership. Ambassador Shashank has shared his expertise on improvising India-Korea relations as the Indian ambassador to Korea in the mid 1990s and has focused on current strategic importance of India-Korea relations in the context of the rising Chinese influence in Asia. He appraised the potential for India and South Korea to cooperate in areas of mutual interest such as nuclear technology, space technology, maritime security, defense and anti-terrorism. Mr. Gandhi has shared his rich experience of working with Hyundai India by focusing on the challenges faced and strategies adopted by the Korean companies to flourish in the Indian market. Mr. Gandhi has dealt in length on the management and social responsibility practices of Korean companies in India and has observed that the Korean companies in India are instrumental actors in India-Korea relation.

Panelists and the participants discussed various facets of India- Korea relation including economic, political, cultural and strategic, both at bilateral and multilateral level. The meeting observed the significant role of academic research and academic institutions in the India-Korea relation and has called for further advancement of academic engagement towards understanding Korea.

Rapporteur:

Jojin V John

Research Scholar

Centre for East Asian Studies