Scholars of East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Happy New Year 2012!!!!!!

2012-01-01T10:19:00.000+05:30

Dr. Acharya analyses the Origins and Implications of the Sino–Indian Agreements of 2003 and 2005

2011-12-31T11:33:00.000+05:30

Dr. Alka Acharya, AssociateProfessor in Chinese Studies, in her article in China Report analyses the Origins and Implications of theSino–Indian Agreements of 2003 and 2005. She argues that the Agreementsof 2003 and 2005 were afundamental departure from the earlier approaches adopted bythe two countries and a conscious attempt at charting a new way outof a tangled historical legacy riddled with contradictions andcomplexities. It seeks to examine the origins of underlay this vital ‘coursecorrection’ by both sides andits hopefully far-reaching implications.....

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Prof Kondapalli on Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ma Xiaotian Visit to India

2011-12-19T10:36:00.000+05:30

Dr. Kondapalli, Professor in Chinese Studies in his write up to rediff.com analyses the significance of Gen Ma's visit to India. He says 'this visit comes in the wake of the postponement of another high level meeting - that of the 15th Special Representative meeting a week ago with China citing the Dalai Lama's sharing the platform of International Buddhist Convention at New Delhi around the same time of the meeting. Going ahead with such a high level meeting indicated that both sides are intent on "breaking ice".

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Notice

2011-10-14T21:27:00.001+05:30

CENTRE FOR EAST ASIAN STUDIES

Notice

The centre is organising a Students’ Colloquium on 3^rd of November 2011. The theme of the colloquium is “State and Development in East Asia”. Those who are interested to present a paper should submit the abstract of the paper (in about two hundred words) in hard copy to the seminar coordinator latest by 30^th of September.

Date: 19 September 2011

Dr. Ritu Agarwal

( Seminar Coordinator)

Prof. Kondapalli on POLITICAL DEMOCRACY FOR TIBETANS: CHINA’S RISING DILEMMA

2011-10-05T09:37:00.004+05:30

Dr. Kondapalli, Professor in Chinese Studies, discusses Political democracy for Tibet in an article for IPCS, New Delhi. He points out that although the Dalai Lama had indicated his decision to devolve the “formal authority to an elected (Tibetan) leader” on several occasions earlier, however his statement on 10 March 2011 caught the Chinese leadership unawares. This statement came 10 days before the Tibetan émigré community went to polls to elect a new Prime Minister and other members to the Tibetan Parliament in-exile. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswomen termed the offer as a “trick to deceive the international community”, this move by the Tibetan spiritual leader is likely to impact China in the near- and long-term for a number of reasons....

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Right Sino-Indian move in right direction

2011-06-21T20:15:00.000+05:30

from ChinaDaily

India and China have resumed their military dialogue with the visit of a high-level Indian defense delegation to Beijing. This is a confidence-building step, and may be followed by the fourth bilateral defense dialogue later this year.

Although the resumption of military exchanges has gained little coverage in the Chinese media, it has drawn much attention in India and other countries.

Many anxious observers are following the development closely, because the fourth defense dialogue will take place at an extremely critical juncture. Despite the three defense dialogues held earlier, and notwithstanding the multiple meetings between the leaders of the two countries, the 2011 defense dialogue will be held under the shadow of recent history

My article published in today's ChinaDaily. To read the full article, click here

The ChinaDaily version is heavily edited one and does not contain what is considered as 'sensitive'. Read the full verion on my blog here

Chinese Youth: Rise of a New Culture

2011-06-15T18:42:00.005+05:30

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2011-06/14/content_12692011.htm

Looking at the drastic changes that China has undergone since the 1980s, what comes to light is not only a shift in the core leadership and party policies, but definitely a change in ideologies and thinking by the masses.

From what Westerners described a "Revolutionary China" to a "Socialist Market Economy," China has gone a long way to achieve what it now calls a modernized society. A crucial aspect of this reformed society is the rise of a new youth culture.

The main issue is what kind of new culture the present-day youth in China are evolving; has materialism taken over the minds of the younger generation or are the ideological concepts still alive?; in which theoretical frame do the modern youth of China fit?; and finally, what will be the future of this new generation?

In 1978, when China shifted its focus to "Four Modernizations," there was a drastic change in the thinking and lifestyle of the youth. Though the stress was on learning from the erstwhile hero Lei Feng, the "new model Chinese youth" walked on a new path where career making was the main focus. The old youth culture that was based on pure comradeship and sacrifice of the personal life for the communal good are no longer talked about subjects. The new youth started "looking toward money" (向钱看 xiangqiankan) and materialism surged, with profit-making luring the younger generation.

By the 1990s, consumer culture spread everywhere and the fever to grab money became hot. There was a craze for learning English and many opted to clear TOEFL to go to the USA. With the turn of the century, there was also a turn in the focus of living and thinking.

Explicit sexual liaison has become common on streets and fashion has broken all walls. Be it a school-age kid or a young adult, moral values have started to deteriorate, with a love for openness. Openness of what kind is unclear, but today discotheques are running all night. Drinking is rampant and smoking is the norm.

You suggest to a young Chinese girl to please chain her dog and comes the reply, "我的狗不咬人，我负责" (My dog does not bite humans. If it does, I'll take responsibility). You wonder whether this generation of youth knows anything about taking responsibility and their pride describes you all. You feel unmatched and unable to cope as they cry, "你 out 拉" (meaning "you are outdated"). They make you understand that they have evolved a new culture of their own. Hot springs (温泉) are really hot and micro-mini dresses/jean shorts with high heels are bold statements.

While walking from the gate of Shanghai East China Normal University the other day, a young woman was kicking all the flower pots lining the walk and breaking each one of them in anguish. The anger was over a fight with a boyfriend. The dismay over personal issues of present-day youth can break up to hit the walls of any barriers, whether moral or social.

However, among the new urban youth there seems to be a distinct line between those who were born in cities and those who are now settled in cities or are the new generation of rural migrants born in cities. Either way, those who are the new city dwellers are bolder and want to make big changes. Money for them is very important, not just for living but for demanding a change. They want to bring on the change - change to their status, change to the style of living, and change to the style of dressing.

Busy from early morning to late night jobs, women here outnumber men in bringing the change. While those who are city residents without doubt are closing themselves within strange walls. Their love for foreign things is higher and a wish list ends in foreign lands.

A new group of Chinese youth is evolving that stresses reformed Confucius thinking. Religious ideas are controlling the minds of many, with Christianity becoming popular and the youth finding new solace from this "ultra materialistic" hodge-podge society to form a more peaceful living. Yet this group of Chinese youth is smaller in number. What defines this new youth culture is unclear, but even those born in the '80s fail to understand the direction of those born after the '90s.

A new generation Z is in the making, superseding those of X and Y, while redefining youth confidence and notions of nationalism. A future China relies on this maturing youth that lives on its own terms and redefines modernity in its own way.

Dr. Geeta Kochhar is a Visiting Fellow at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. She is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Chinese & South-East Asian Studies, School of Language, Literature & Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.

Prof. Kondapalli reviews Martin Jacques's "When China Rules The World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World"

2011-02-20T18:32:00.005+05:30

Dr. Kondapalli, Professor in Chinese Studies, reviews Martin Jacques, When China Rules The World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World in The Financial Express. He says, the book is tour de force into not just the rise of China, but also on the global trends today, specifically after the US misadventures in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. Jacques takes us through the rise of the West from the industrialisation revolution of 18th century and modernity to the current rise of China (and India). The broad sweep of his arguments, grounded well on statistics, diplomatic events and political trends, although not new, provides for a few cogent views, namely, China’s inevitable rise is of strategic dimensions and is to “transform the world more fundamentally than any other new global power in the last two centuries.”

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Dr. Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor in Chinese Language, SLL & CS, gives a pictorial account of China's Visible Underclass

2011-02-19T07:20:00.023+05:30

Dr. Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor in Chinese Language, SLL & CS, shares some pictures of China's visible poor striving to make a living. .

Prof. Kondapalli reviews A. G. Noorani's "India-China Boundary Problem, 1846-1947: History and Diplomacy"

2011-01-16T22:37:00.006+05:30

Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor in Chinese Studies, reviews A. G. Noorani's "India-China Boundary Problem, 1846-1947: History and Diplomacy" for The Financial Express. He says the book is a timely intervention, given the rise in nationalism and aggressive behaviour of China, the Chinese infrastructure projects in northern areas of Kashmir (in hydro-electric, road, and railway construction activities) and tensions between India and China on Arunachal Pradesh (termed since about 2005 in China as ‘southern Tibet’).

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Happy New Year 2011

2011-01-01T13:01:00.003+05:30

Wishing You All A Very Happy New Year 2011 !!!

Position at IPCS, New Delhi.

2010-12-27T16:39:00.004+05:30

A limited number of positions are available for Interns, RAs and ROs in following areas:

:Nuclear Security Programme

:south Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan)

:Insurgencies, Armed Conflicts and Terrorism

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Prof. Kondapalli on "Bilateral Give And Take" in Sino-India Relations

2010-12-20T12:59:00.005+05:30

Dr. Kondapalli, Professor in Chinese Studies at the Centre, on "Bilateral Give And Take" in Sino-India Relations in The Times of India asserts that the joint communique, unlike previous such bilateral announcements, was surprisingly silent on the much-anticipated Chinese reversal of stapled visas to Kashmir residents in India. In fact, there is also no mention either of Tibet or Taiwan as parts of China for the first time. The two sides, however, reiterated that "sensitivity for each other's concerns and aspirations" should be respected. This is an indication that, during hard diplomatic bargaining, South Block had been insisting effectively on the reciprocity principle possibly for the first time.

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Rajiv Ranjan on "Water Wars? Damming the Brahmaputra and Its Implications" in Opinion Asia

2010-12-20T12:45:00.003+05:30

Rajiv Ranjan, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on "Water Wars? Damming the Brahmaputra and Its Implications" in Opinion Asia has argued that water may taken on an overtly political dimension, even escalating to a limited military confrontation threatening the peace and stability of the region. It becomes critical therefore that China, India and Bangladesh work towards joint river management for the sustainable development of the Brahmaputra basin if political tension and a military showdown is to be avoided.

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Shashi Bhushan Bharti, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, with his debut book "The China Factor In ROK- U.S. Relations: Trilateral approach"

2010-12-17T13:50:00.009+05:30

Shashi Bhushan Bharti, a PhD Candidate in Korean Division at the Centre, in his debut book "The China Factor In ROK- U.S. Relations: Trilateral approach".

"South Korean Peninsula has been the flash point of conflicts between the two power blocks right since the beginning of Cold War. Korea got divided like many other countries namely Vietnam, Germany etc. because of the onset of cold-war between the two superpowers two power blocks. Since then the world politics has been partially determine by the events/happenings in the Korean peninsula or to put it more appropriately in the North-East Asia as like China, Japan, Taiwan (Formosa) and even South-East Asia, through ought Cold War period Korea like Japan remained as flash point for two super powers two power blocks. In post cold war the relevance of South Korea as a strategic partner has not decline precisely because China still remained as a communist state despite having embraced market-led economic system. South Korea's geo-strategic importance becomes all the more relevant because of other half of Korea ie, North Korea still remains communist and has gone nuclear recently. Relations between the United State and Korea have expanded at great extent after the Korean War (1950-1953)"- Book's Blurb

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Gunjan Singh and Avinash Godbole on "Peninsular Shells and the Chinese Dilemma(?)"

2010-12-08T20:21:00.002+05:30

Yeonpyeong in the Yellow Sea

North Korea is one of those places where all deterrence theories fall flat on their face. The recent instance of North Korean (DPRK) shelling on the South Korean territory of Yeonpyeong is a case in point.

Why does the DPRK behave the way it does? And how it may be related to the recent Chinese pronouncements on "Core Interests?"

Read the complete article here on OpinionAsia. Comments and questions are welcome.

Prof. Kondapalli reviews Frank Dikötter's "Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962"

2010-12-05T21:30:00.004+05:30

Prof. Kondapalli reviews Frank Dikötter's "Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962" in Hindustan Times. He points out that this book is a useful correction to our understanding of this period, which was devastated by famine and hunger that devoured an estimated 30-40 million Chinese. With the aid of several archival sources and interviews, Dikötter deconstructs the period and, in the process, throws light on the political aspirations and intrigues, plans and changes on the bucolic people as well as in urban areas of China. At its centre lies the theme of policies that led to the worst famine that China witnessed in the late 1950s.

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PhD and Post Doctoral Scholarship

2010-12-02T09:24:00.002+05:30

For PhD and Post Doctoral Scholarship..

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Prof. Kondapalli receives IDSA's K Subrahmanyam Award 2010

2010-11-14T10:01:00.008+05:30

Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor at the Centre, received the IDSA's K. Subrahmanyam Award 2010 for his outstanding work on China especially on its armed forces.

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Avinash Godbole, on the 5th plenum of the 17th Party Congress of the CPC

2010-10-28T09:23:00.003+05:30

The 5th Plenary Session of the 17th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was recently held in Beijing. This plenum is particularly important because it comes at the cusp of an important political transformation as well as the beginning of a new phase in the Chinese economy.

What is the importance of this Plenum? Avinash Godbole writes his perspectives on the Plenum here on OpinionAsia.

The author is a PhD Candidate at the Centre and Research Assistant at IDSA, New Delhi.

Cotton production in China, and the Creation of a New Manufacturing Base

2010-10-08T16:51:00.000+05:30

Since 2005, China has emerged as the world’s major producer of garment and textiles. In 2005, the quotas governing global trade in textiles and garment were removed. After this, China’s imports of cotton practically tripled. China is the world’s largest producer of cotton. It is also the largest importer and consumer of cotton. Cotton is a renewable and decomposable resource, and is the major fibre used by the textile industry. In the period between 1986 to 2005, the total volume and consumption of cotton production increased.
Nevertheless, after the start of the global financial crisis in 2007, the world cotton industry has also been experiencing turmoil as have been the other components of the world economy. In 2009- 10, the world cotton industry is expected to experience further negative aspects of the recession that has emerged as a result of the financial crisis. Pricing and production in the cotton industry in particular are expected to go face the negative effects. Nevertheless, international cotton trade is expected to recover, and mill use is expected to rise according to forecasts made by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). World cotton trade is forecast seven per cent higher at 6.8 million tons, driven by an increase in imports by major consuming countries, which includes China.
The worrisome aspects are that world cotton area is expected to continue to decline to 30.4 million hectares in 2009- 10, which is the lowest area since 2002- 03. Also, the global cotton production is for 2009- 10 is estimated at 102.7 million bales four per cent lesser from a year ago. This displays the continuing trend of declining production which began in 2007- 08. The reduction in production has also been the case in China, in which the 2009- 10 production has been estimated at 31.5 million bales, 5.2 million bales lesser than that in the previous year. The Chinese government restricted the available supply of cotton within China in 2009 in order to support prices to producers. In addition to the effects of the government’s supply management programme, Chinese mills have had the difficulty of procurement of crops in 2009 because of the problematic harvest weather in some areas, and shortages of transportation from the Xinjiang region. Also, producers have been withholding cotton from the market in an attempt to maximise returns as prices rise.
As the global economy continues to recover, world cotton consumption is forecast to increase to 114.5 million bales. In China, consumption is expected to rise 4 per cent to 46.8 million bales in 2009- 10, as reported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Cotton demand in China has increased largely, but faced with high cotton prices; mills have increased their imports of cotton yarn and substituted polyester where possible.
The rising costs of cotton production are a major concern for all producers around the world. Due to falling stocks, resilient import demands and heightened speculative interest, cotton prices have surged more than 40 per cent since mid July 2010. Nervousness about global shortages of cotton, textile mills around the world have propelled the process of fibres to their highest in more than a decade.
In China, the increases in the prices of raw materials are not the only concern for the textile industry. The harsh weather conditions also tamper with production in China. The Xinjiang Yangtze River cotton planting has been delayed by over a year which has lead to inadequate back up cotton production.
The major cotton producing regions in China are those of the Yellow River valley, the Yangtze River valley and the northwest regions of China. The Yellow River region includes the northern provinces of Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, and the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin. The Yangtze valley cotton area includes Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsi and Zhejiang provinces. The northwest region includes primarily the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region along with the northwest Gansu province. Xinjiang’s remote location makes transportation important. Around 70 per cent of Xinjiang’s cotton crop is shipped to eastern provinces or to foreign destinations. Urumqi is linked to the Chinese rail network by a dual track system to Lanzhou in Gansu province. In the west and in the south (of Urumqi) transportation is mainly by highways and single track railroads. In order to ship their produce from their farms to the local gins, farmers use mules and light trucks. Thus transportation linkages between farmers and shipyards is a requirement in this region.
Keeping these in mind, it has been planned that the province of Guangdong will help the northwestern Xijniang region in establishing a major cotton manufacturing base. The base, located in Jiashi county of Xinjiang, with an estimated area of 200 hectares would be the largest in the region with abundant cotton resources after it is completed by 2011. The estimated cost of construction is 650 million Yuan (US$ 97 million), and will be funded by the Guangxin Foreign Trade Group Co. Ltd. And Guangzhou Suihua Clothing and Textiles Co. ltd. in Guangdong, as well as the county government of Jiashi.
According to expectations, the base would create 3500 new jobs in Jiashi, and would result in annual revenues of 1.5 billion Yuan. The development of the Xinjiang region has been a priority for the Chinese government.
China’s developmental model is based on the functioning of an export led economy. After the emergence of the recession after the onset of the global financial crisis, demands for Chinese exports from its most important trading partners such as the US, UK and Japan declined. In this backdrop, the Chinese government emphasised on increasing domestic consumption. Currently, the level of domestic consumption is 21 per cent. In order to maintain its manufacturing led growth, domestic consumption has to be increased to 65 per cent. However, the case of cotton presents a peculiar picture- the demand for cotton is high, but due to various factors; production not being high enough as a reason has led to China importing cotton from outside. Setting up of a cotton manufacturing base may be beneficial for China, as production of cotton may be stepped up. Also, transportation of cotton by farmers directly to the new manufacturing base in Xinjiang will entail a move away from the necessity of farmers having to transport their produce by mules and light trucks to shipping ports. The production of cotton is one of the world’s major agricultural commodities. It also provides economic support in whole or in part to about one sixth of the human populations worldwide. Setting up a manufacturing base in Xinjiang thus will be beneficial not just to the Chinese economy, but to the local farmers as well.
However, there are several questions that pertain regarding ecological degradation, when the issue of cotton production in China arises. In many places wherein the production of cotton is undertaken in China, irrigation diverts more water than is sustainably available. Also, farmers in China use greater levels of fertilisers and pesticides than farmers in sub- Saharran Africa. Also, the printing of textiles and dying have had adverse impacts on China’s water courses. Only 10 per cent of dye wastes are recycled, and about a third of the rest flows directly to the environment. In Xinjiang, such wastes are a major contributor to industrial and municipal pollution.
There have been several laudable environment policies in China. But the implementation of these policies depends on the local agencies. What has emerged as a result of the non implementation or limited implementation of these policies is a discord between the wants of the national government and those of the local governments.
As the global demand for cotton increases, China’s arable lands are under pressure from demands including those of food production and urban expansion. The idea of the manufacturing base in Xinjiang is creditworthy for the creation of jobs it will bring along with it, and because of the support it will provide to China’s cotton production. What is required is a specification of policies at the very outset of the creation of the base, on the use of pesticides, and the technologies that will be used in the production of cotton, so that environmental hazards do not emerge in the future from the new base.

Prof. Kondapalli on 'Kashmir imbroglio'- The China Connection

2010-09-29T19:46:00.004+05:30

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli discusses China's Changing Policy on Kashmir at rediff.com. He points out that the so-called neutrality of Beijing on this issue is waning with four new changes in policy of China -- issuing stapled visas to Kashmir residents of India; massive infrastructure projects (estimated at above $20 billion) and invitation to the Hurriyat leaders to visit China and deliberately intervening in the current unrest in the valley. Beijing appears to be reconsidering the strategic value of Kashmir, for it is located strategically between the hinterlands of the Indian sub-continent, Chinese minority lands and Central Asian steppes.....

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Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the centre, on Pentagon Report on China

2010-08-29T19:37:00.005+05:30

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the centre and Research Assistant at IDSA, New Delhi explores the merits of Pentagon Report on China. She criticized the report and says that report reveals nothing new and nothing that was not already known. It appears to be a compilation of developments which were in discussion in open forums for the last one year. As far as China’s military budget is concerned it has always been a matter of speculation for people who are trying to analyze Chinese military developments. Secondly, cyber attacks have already generated huge attention and anxiety among defence establishments around the world........

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Sriparna Pathak, a Research Scholar at the Centre, on Sino- African Trade: Facts and Opinions

2010-08-26T13:51:00.004+05:30

At the beginning of the new millennium, in the year 2000, China’s overall trade with Africa stood at US $ 10.6 billion. By 2005, within merely five years, the statistics for the same were US $ 40 billion, and have been on an increasing curve eve since. In 2009, trade between the African continent on the one hand and China on the other, was estimated at US $ 91 billion, despite the negative effects of the global recession. While the figure is slightly lower than the US $ 106 billion registered in 2008, there is optimism, particularly from the Chinese side that trade will continue to grow with increasing cooperation between the two. Toys, electrical goods, clothing and shoes are among the wide range of Chinese goods that can be found in the various African states.

The economic relations between Africa and China are also focused on promoting investment trade and labour contract between the two sides. By the end of 2008, labour contracted projects accounted for US $ 39.44 billion, which is ten times that of what it was in 2000. According to Zhang Yongpen, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the contribution rate of Sino- African trade to Africa’s trade development is by 20 per cent.

Besides this the Africa- China development fund brings about US $ 2 billion from Chinese enterprises, and in 2008 itself, 20 projects worth US $ 400 million had already been invested. Chinese direct investment has also been flourishing over the years. From being merely US $ 50 million in 2001, an increase of 50 per cent was witnessed, and the investment was about US $ 1 billion by the end of 2008.

A report on the growth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, by non African developing countries, was unveiled by the UNCTAD Secretary General, Supachai Panitchpakdi at the ongoing Shanghai Expo in China. The report, clearly showed that the strongest contributor to the increase was China. The Economic Development in Africa Report 2010, which focuses specifically on the theme of South- South Cooperation: Africa and the New Forms of Development Partnership found that the trade between China and Africa had risen nearly ten fold between 2000 and 2008.

From ideologically driven considerations during the Cold War, the relations between China and Africa today, seem to combine pragmatism, economic and political means to bolster mutual benefit for both the sides. Trade and diplomacy between the two sides are definitely driven by China’s economic capabilities that have rapidly grown since the undertaking of reforms and opening up to the outside world in 1978. Nevertheless, China’s subsequent demand for new raw materials and the need to identify new markets for its cheap consumer products cannot be completely ignored.

For many African countries, the Beijing Consensus is an attractive alternative to development, along with being an alternative to the political and economic reforms espoused by the Washington Consensus of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and particularly the developed countries of the West.

Beijing’s financial and technical aid with no strings attached, to several African countries have been beneficial in formulating more friendly ties between the states of Africa on the one hand and China on the other.

Besides, trade and investment, China has also committed itself to the development of human resources in Africa, under the auspices of China- Africa Cooperation Forum by establishing a fund that is jointly administered and used by various Chinese ministries, in order to train African personnel.

However, China has been often addressed as the resource hungry super power. Its growing trade and investments in Africa has led to an increase in the suspicion of its intentions. With China’s presence rising on the African continent, concerns are being voiced that Beijing is preying on the resources of Africa, to feed the Chinese economy, contributing little significant improvement to African livelihoods. China’s oil and fuel imports from Africa have thus come under a scanner, particularly from the Western states.

In 2007, Africa supplied 24.8 per cent of China’s imported mineral fuels, compared to 9.1 per cent in 1997. Angola was China’s largest overall mineral fuel supplier and its largest African supplier. The other major African suppliers of mineral fuel to China were Sudan, the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Libya.

What needs to b highlighted here is that even though oil is a major source of Chinese interest in Africa, it is not the only one. China actively seeks resources of every kind. Copper, Bauxite, Uranium, Aluminium, Manganese and Iron Ore are a few to name. Oil exploration or minerals exploration or the exploration of mineral fuels is not China’s only interests in trading with African states. Chinese textiles and clothing companies have been investing heavily in the African continent over the years. Nevertheless, only issues highlighting China’s oil quest in Africa seem to concern capitals in the West.

As facts read, China’s oil explorations in African countries have been beneficial to some African states, as it has allowed them to exploit untapped resources or to gain leverage to negotiate better deals with existing customers. China’s new energy demands need not be necessarily seen from the challenging the American hegemony or conflicting with interests of stats in the West in the long term.

The concern that Chinese interest in African states is exploitative and takes cognizance of only Chinese interests is largely untrue. Ethiopia for example, has reaped the benefits of a preferential trade policy with the Chinese government. Its trade volume was merely US $ 150 million in 2003, which grew to US $ 250 million in two years in 2005.

Similarly, the ongoing visit of South African President Jacob Zuma to China, aims at strengthening trade agreements with South Africa’s largest trading partner- i.e. China. According to Martyn Davies, the chief executive of business consultants Frontier Advisory, South Africa is trying to strengthen ties with other emerging economies, and there is a need to collaborate with other emerging economies and not collide with them.
The wisdom in the above statement made by Mr. Davies should be applied to the rising concerns over Chinese neo colonialism of Africa. Trade and investment between the African continent and China need to be seen through the prism of cooperation and mutual benefit and not through that of conflict, as it can end opportunities of integration of developmental needs of the two at the very outset.

Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on Industrial and Environmental Disasters inside China

2010-08-21T10:47:00.007+05:30

Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, in his article for IDSA, New Delhi, asserts that industrial and environment disaster in China is a threat to human security, He illustrates that a combination of some natural causes and some macro economic policies has caused much of the recent floods and droughts. It is a glaring fact that the world’s factory is not able to manage the costs of its status as the second largest economy in the world...............

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Rajiv Ranjan, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on Damming the Brahmaputra River

2010-08-12T15:21:00.005+05:30

Rajiv Ranjan, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, warns that any attempt of damming Brahmaputra by China, will threaten the peace and security in South Asia in his article for IPCS, New Delhi . He suggests that to protect the interests and sovereignty of India, it becomes essential for India to engage in dialogue with China on the issue. Even China, if it intends to normalize her relations with India and seeks peace and security in the regions, has to give proper considerations to the lower riparian. Unilateral advancement on the part of China leads to political confrontation in the region. A confrontation will further hinder the relationship.......

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Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, explore the new dimensions in China-Pakistan Relations

2010-08-12T13:36:00.006+05:30

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, explore the new dimension in China-Pakistan Relations in her article for IPCS, New Delhi. She says this move by Beijing becomes interesting when viewed in the context of its domestic development. This step gives Kashgar the status of a special economic zone. This will provide encouragement in the establishment of business and industries in the city. By connecting it to Pakistan, Beijing is also ensuring an easy and direct access to an untapped market.........
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Bhavana Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on 'TURKISTAN ISLAMIC PARTY'

2010-08-05T19:22:00.006+05:30

Bhavana Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, explores the future of Turkistan Islamic Party. She asserts that the movement exhibits irrevocable signs of dilapidation.The rhetoric of its leaders seems anachronistic in embracing an anti-communist strategy in the present day circumstances........

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Prof. Kondapalli on 'N-plants to Pak'

2010-08-01T16:09:00.006+05:30

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli, in his recent article to rediff, discusses China's move to construct N-Plants in Pakistan. He asserts that China on helping Pakistan, even at the cost of its image as a rising and 'responsible' power, had brought to the fore several issues including China's track record on nuclear proliferation and global and regional responses..............

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Dr. Alka Acharya on "Revisiting the China-India Border Dispute" at University of Westminster

2010-06-13T08:51:00.007+05:30

Dr. Alka Acharya from CEAS attended an International Conference on "Revisiting the China-India Border Dispute " at University of Westminster from 2-3 June 2010. The conference was organized by the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR), University of Westminster, London.

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Rukmani Gupta, A PhD Candidate at the Centre, examines the ‘CHEONAN’ INVESTIGATION

2010-05-30T11:31:00.003+05:30

Rukmani Gupta, A PhD Candidate at the Centre, ON

THE ‘CHEONAN’ INVESTIGATION: RESULTS AND AFTERMATH.....

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Shamshad A. Khan, an alumnus of the centre, on Is Japan ready to shun the Peace Constitution?

2010-05-25T14:16:00.004+05:30

Shamshad A. Khan, an alumnus of the centre, examines the importance of the Japanese constitution in changing socio, political and economic scenarios.

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SRIPARNA PATHAK, Research Scholar at the Centre, on Japan- American relations: (Absence of) Evolution in the 21st Century

2010-05-07T13:46:00.002+05:30

SRIPARNA PATHAK locates the evolving Japan- American relations in the 21st Century.

When Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the President of the United States of America, his assumption of office was accompanied by the slogan, “Change is Here”. However, reflecting upon Japan- America relations, one hardly sees any change. The specific issue in question being that of the removal of American troops (U.S. Marine Corps Base at Futenma, on Okinawa).

When Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama went to attend last month’s nuclear summit in Washington, Mr. Hatoyama’s officials lobbied hard for a one on one meeting between Yukio and Obama. The request was rudely refused and the Japanese Prime Minister had to settle for a meeting of merely ten minutes with Obama, over dinner. The treatment meted out to the Japanese Prime Minister was definitely humiliating as has been pointed out by the Japanese media. The humiliation extended to Barack Obama bluntly informing Mr. Hatoyama that he was running out of time to settle the dispute over relocation of a U.S. Marine Corps base at Futenma on Okinawa, and asked him directly whether he was trustworthy.

When Mr. Hatoyama’s Democratic Party won the elections in Japan in August 2009, Mr. Hatoyama had largely put forth ideas about Japan’s independent voice in the world, and about loosening American dominance. Nevertheless, these have been responded to by the United States with warnings about the consequences for Japan and the Asia Pacific region.

After the Second World War, Japanese foreign policy has largely been pacifist in nature, and the presence of the Seventh Fleet in Japan has been a perpetual reality since then. This can be seen as a signal that the legacy of the Cold War lives on even till date, not just in the fact that there are two Koreas, but also in the fact that the United States of America sees it essential that a fleet be positioned in Japan to safeguard it, and/or to ensure that a belligerent Japan preceding the Second World War does not become a reality once again.

Nevertheless the international system has undergone several changes since the decade of the 1950s. Strategic moves and tactics that are realist in nature can no longer ensure international security. Conceptions of international security as such, particularly in the 21st century are completely different from what used to be in the 1950s. As such current discourses on international security are directed by the notions and the need for growth, sustainable development, enhancement of trade and economic cooperation, and not by ideas on military acquisitions or preparations for war. Thus, the realist paradigm through which U.S. policies on Okinawa seem to be operating needs a serious rethink.

Besides this, the tactics of bullying and playing the ‘big brother’ need to be done away with. The U.S. might be the strongest in terms of military power, but that does not change the fact that the current international system is multipolar in nature with states such as Japan, China and India playing important roles.

The Asian culture largely respects the ‘other’ and deems it essential to treat ‘guests’ with reverence. This however does not mean that snubbing and bluntness can be imposed on the leaders or heads of states with cultures that are seen as more hospitable.

Analysing tenets of Robert Putnam’s Game Theory in international relations, diplomats or those engaged in bilateral negotiations or discussions always aim at getting the better position in the bargain. However international relations, particularly in the 21st century, is not a zero sum game and both the parties attempt to ensure that the outcome is at least a win-win outcome for both the parties. Even this theory proves inadequate to analyse the meeting between Obama and Yukio, because the American side clearly seeks to bully and overpower, denying the Japanese side even the scope to place its side on the negotiating table. Thus, American foreign policy vis- a- vis Japan cannot be even called realist in nature. It is simply tactics of bullying, snubbing, dominating and threatening that are in clear play, and as such need a serious rethink.

Dr. Alka Acharya Participated in the discussion on External Affairs Minister visit to China.

2010-04-09T12:20:00.005+05:30

Dr. Alka Acharya discusses the significance of External Minister S.M. Krishna Visit to China, in the discussion on AIR Radio.

Click Here to Listen....

In Hindi

In English

Abanti Bhattacharya, an CEAS alumnus, on China prepares for post-Dalai Lama Tibet

2010-03-30T01:20:00.003+05:30

Abanti Bhattacharya, an CEAS alumnus and Associate Professor at the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi examines the options before India as China prepares for post-Dalai Lama Tibet..

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The Economist, in its latest issue, warns that for the time being, China has a bark that is worse than its bite

2010-03-26T11:55:00.005+05:30

The Economist, in latest issue has analysed the current posture of Chinese Foreign policy....

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Prof. V.P. Dutt, an CEAS alumnus, on "India, China and the United States: The Triangle that isn't"

2010-03-20T19:50:00.006+05:30

Prof. V.P. Dutt, first PhD in Chinese Studies from the Centre and Former V-C, University of Delhi, delivered an excellent lecture on "India, China and the United States: The Triangle that isn't" at IDSA, New Delhi.

Photo: Courtesy IDSA

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Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, on secret nuke pact between Japan and US

2010-03-18T17:37:00.007+05:30

Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, currently Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi , decipher the secret nuke pact between Japan and US..

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M.Phil dissertation draft presentation

2010-03-18T17:31:00.001+05:30

Centre for East Asian Studies

School of International Studies

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

16^th April, 21010

M.Phil dissertation draft presentation will be held as given in the schedule below:

Date	Name	Name	Name
1^st April, 2010	Swasti Rao	Ambuj Thakur
8^th April, 2010	Kimneijou Rosy Lotjem	B. Khamang Ngaihte	Sangeeta Yadav
15^th April, 2010	Arif Ali Khan	Tran Duc Minh
22^nd April, 2010	Ila Joshi	Puspita Rout
29^th April, 2010	Sriparna Pathak	Puyam Rakesh Singh	Kunal Kishor Bharti

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan Struggle

2010-03-16T13:24:00.005+05:30

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre & Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, on 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan Struggle...

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Dr. Alka Acharya Reviews Khetsun’s book, "Memories of Life in Lhasa Under Chinese Rule"

2010-03-15T18:34:00.004+05:30

Dr Alka Acharya, an Associate Professor at the centre, has nicely reviewed Tubten Khetsun’s book, "Memories of Life in Lhasa Under Chinese Rule" in The Financial Express .......

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Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli reviews K. Natwar Singh's Book, "My China Diary 1956-88"

2010-03-15T18:25:00.002+05:30

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli has reviewed K. Natwar Singh's Book, "My China Diary 1956-88" in Biblio : A Review of Books..

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Rajiv Ranjan reviews Garry L. Chamberlain's "Troubled Waters: Religion, Ethics and the Global Water Crisis "

2010-03-15T18:05:00.005+05:30

Rajiv Ranjan, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, reviews Garry L. Chamberlain's "Troubled Waters: Religion, Ethics and the Global Water Crisis " in Millennium: Journal of International studies..

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Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on "Contradictory Tendencies in the India-China Relationship"

2010-03-10T14:42:00.005+05:30

Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre & Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, examines the tendencies in the India-China Relationship.

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2010-03-05T21:32:00.003+05:30

Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli with Ambassador (Retd) Vinod Khanna on the book release of China and its Neighbours (2010) co-edited by Srikanth Kondapalli and Emi Mifune at the Institute for Chinese Studies on 24 February 2010. China and the Making of Bombay (2010) by Madhavi Thampi and Shalini Saksena, was also released on the same occasion.

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

2010-02-15T22:47:00.016+05:30

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"

2010-02-14T10:22:00.005+05:30

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"

2010-02-02T14:57:00.012+05:30

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

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

2010-01-31T23:41:00.012+05:30

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

2010-01-30T08:39:00.004+05:30

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

2010-01-25T22:26:00.006+05:30

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

2010-01-25T22:17:00.003+05:30

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

2010-01-24T00:11:00.003+05:30

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

2010-01-23T20:57:00.001+05:30

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"

2010-01-23T20:06:00.010+05:30

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

2010-01-22T12:48:00.004+05:30

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”

2010-01-14T15:22:00.003+05:30

The media is regarded as the watch dog of the nation

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

2010-01-01T10:21:00.012+05:30

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.

नूतनवर्षाभिनंदन

2009-12-31T17:19:00.002+05:30

Wish You all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2010.

Here is a poem by Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena

Wen Jiabao Holds Talks with Nepali Prime Minister Nepal

2009-12-31T14:53:00.002+05:30

On December 29, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the Great Hall of the People. Both sides agreed to establish a comprehensive and cooperative partnership of friendship for generations.

Premier Wen said since China and Nepal forged diplomatic ties 54 years ago, both sides have maintained a high level of political trust, supported each other on issues concerning the other side's core interests and continuously advanced friendly exchanges and cooperation in all areas by following the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The two countries have become good neighbors, friends and partners. Under the new circumstances, it is in the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples to consolidate traditional friendship and deepen comprehensive cooperation, said Wen. Wen urged the two countries to further enhance cooperation at various levels and promote people-to-people exchanges, youth exchanges in particular, in a bid to make the lasting friendship deeply rooted among the two peoples.

Wen said that the two countries should keep closer economic and trade cooperative relations through the joint committee on economic and trade cooperation and other mechanisms. China will take measures to promote export of the Nepali products to China and encourage Chinese firms to participate in Nepal's infrastructure construction, said Wen, highlighting potential cooperation fields in such areas as mountain agriculture and animal husbandry, animal and plant quarantine and personnel training.

Wen said China respects the social system and development path chosen by the Nepali people, firmly supports the efforts Nepal has made for safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will continue to provide assistance for Nepal's social and economic development.

The Nepali prime minister said the Nepal-China relations are based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The relationship, with its outstanding features of friendship, sincerity and mutual understanding and support of each other's aspirations, is a role model for state-to-state relations. To establish a comprehensive and cooperative partnership of friendship for generations will lift bilateral ties to a new level. The Nepali side appreciated China's long-term disinterested assistance for Nepal's economic and social development. Nepal also spoke highly of China's understanding and support to his country during its peace process and economic and social transition and praised China's development achievements and its constructive role in coping with the global financial crisis and pushing forward the world economic recovery. Nepal said his country would advance cooperation with China in a comprehensive manner and boost bilateral ties. Nepal reiterated that his country adheres to the one-China policy and believes Taiwan and Tibet are inalienable parts of the Chinese territory, adding Nepal would never allow any force to use Nepal's territory to conduct anti-China activities.

Following the talks, Wen and Nepal attended a signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents concerning economy, trade and youth exchange.

Prior to the talks, Wen Jiabao held a welcome ceremony for Nepal's visit at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party Li Zhuobin, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Qiu Guohong attended the welcome ceremony.

Courtesy: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng

Visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to India

2009-12-31T14:25:00.001+05:30

Remarks by H.E. Dr. Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan, at the Luncheon Hosted by H.E. Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India

Action Plan to advance Security Cooperation based on the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India

Joint Statement by Prime Minister Dr. Yukio Hatoyama and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh - New Stage of Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership

My connections

2009-12-29T14:25:00.002+05:30

Check on the site http://putonghuagarden.webs.com/ and become a member of http://groups.google.co.in/group/putonghuagarden

Leave msgs for my blogs at http://jixiaojie.blogspot.com/

http://geeta.bokee.com

Debate among Chinese intellectual over emissions cut target

2009-11-29T21:17:00.000+05:30

Beijing has unilaterally and voluntarily announced to cut 'carbon intensity' to per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005. Carbon intensity is average emission rate of a given pollutant from a given source relative to the intensity of a specific activity. Thus, in cut in relation with GDP signifies cut in carbon emission emitted in producing energy required to achieve per unit of GDP. No doubt it has placed China at higher and respectable position in global politics. Although, environmentalist welcomed the decision and expects similar responses from other major powers, economist and academician debate the decision.

Wu Changhua, the Greater China director of the Britain-headquartered non-governmental organization Climate Group, deemed it as "a significant and meaningful step," Though, he accepts that "The cost (in achieving the emissions cut target) will be huge."

The ENGOs (Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations) shaw target declared by China as "greater contribution" to the world in addressing climate change, Chen Ying, a senior research fellow of the Research Center for Sustainable Development under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), told Xinhua.

However, Qi Jianguo (an economist also with the CASS) see the the target as "great pressure" on China's development. He further highlights that in 2020, China's gross domestic product will at least double that of now, so will emissions of greenhouse gases. But the target means the emissions in 2020 have to be roughly equivalent to the present level. Thus, it will presents a great challenge before China.

Wu said China had already closed down many small energy-consuming thermal power plants, without complaining to the international community or seeking international financial support.

Therefore, it's quite, Wu further says, difficult to cut more emissions so long as the most inefficient plants have been stopped and technological upgrading for existing plants would cost a lot.

(Interview from Xinhua)

China's media to go global

2009-11-29T21:12:00.001+05:30

China is seeking to improve its global image by helping the country's main media organizations cover the world to raise understanding of China among the international community.

Wang Chen, minister in charge of the State Council's Information Office, made a speech at the symposium.[China.org.cn]

Wang Chen, minister in charge of the State Council's Information Office, said at a national symposium on international communication, which opened Thursday, that Chinese media should cooperate and compete globally with a "wider scope."

He called on media organizations to set up influential, information-rich and globe-spanning national media and to promote the application of new media in the Internet era.

International communication capability was an important tool of building the image of the country and a reflection of China's soft power, he said.

It would be impossible to show an authentic China to the world without strong international communication capabilities, he said.

China's major national media such as the Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television have already started to extend their networks abroad.

Xinhua is poised to build a global TV broadcast network and to increase its overseas bureaus from more than 120 to 200 by the end of 2020.

The symposium, with the theme, "Building China's Modern Communication System," is an authoritative theoretical workshop sponsored by the State Council Information Office and China International Publishing Group.

Courtesy: Xinhua, 27 Nov 2009

Wen: China's emissions cut promise serious

2009-11-29T20:56:00.000+05:30

China's promise on its carbon dioxide emissions cut target was "a serious and solemn one," said Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing Friday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd, R) meets with representatives from India, South Africa, Brazil and the G77 group of developing nations, who are in Beijing for consultations with China on climate change issues on Nov. 27, 2009. [Xinhua]

Wen made the remarks in a meeting with representatives from India, South Africa, Brazil and the G77 group of developing nations, who were here for consultations with China on climate change issues.

The State Council, or the Chinese cabinet, announced Thursday that China was going to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005.

Wen told the foreign representatives that the Chinese government set down the task plan "based on our own national conditions and long-term interests," and "in the spirit of being responsible for the welfare of all the people in the world."

China's target was made after full scientific research and conformed to reality, the premier noted.

"We need to devote great efforts to reach the target," he said.

Wen called for global cooperation in addressing climate change issues, saying that the developing nations enjoyed common interests in this sector.

China valued the mechanism of consultation with India, Brazil and South Africa, and would increase coordination with the G77 group, he said.

"We will work with all parties concerned to help bring about reasonable and realizable outcome of the upcoming UN climate change conference in Copenhagen," said Wen, who is scheduled to attend the conference next month.

The foreign representatives applauded China's efforts and achievements in tackling climate change issues.

They agreed that developing nations should work together to safeguard common interests and make contribution to coping with this challenge and achieve sustainable development.

Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, Brazilian Presidential Advisor Marcel Fortuna Biato, and South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica were here for the ministerial consultations on climate change on Nov. 28.

The Chinese representative to the consultations will be Xie Zhenhua, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Sudan's Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, a representative of the G77, had concluded his consultations with Xie earlier Friday.

How Chinese News Paper perceives India

2009-11-03T20:09:00.000+05:30

The recent controversy over boundary between India and China again highlighted Chinese propaganda. Both big powers are expected to behave rationally but it is not New Delhi morally bind to behave always the same. There is an Indian saying that 'to clap one need both hand '. This saying is very much applicable in the case of Indo-China relations. Thus, to enhance the current relationship between the two countries, it is essential to have mutual understanding and China must behave rationally. Otherwise, these short term propaganda will hamper the long term interests of both countries.

Below is an editorial which was published in Peoples Daily. This excerpts very vividly portrays the Chinese perception of India.

Nobody can deny that today's India is a power. In recent years, Indians have become more narrow-minded and intolerable of outside criticism as nationalism sentiment rises, with some of them even turning to hegemony. It can be proved by India's recent provocation on border issues with China.

Given the country's history, hegemony is a hundred-percent result of British colonialism. Dating back to the era of British India, the country covered a vast territory including present-day India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh as well as Nepal. India took it for granted that it could continue to rule the large area when Britain ended its colonialism in South Asia. A previous victim of colonialism and hegemony started to dream about developing its own hegemony. Obsessed with such mentality, India turned a blind eye to the concessions China had repeatedly made over the disputed border issues, and refused to drop the pretentious airs when dealing with neighbors like Pakistan.

Many Indians didn't know that Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, had once said that India could not play an inferior role in the world, and it should either be a superpower or disappear.

Although the pursuit of being a superpower is justifiable, the dream of being a superpower held by Indians appears impetuous. The dream of superpower is mingled with the thought of hegemony, which places the South Asian giant in an awkward situation and results in repeated failure.

Throughout the history, India has constantly been under foreign rule. The essence for the rise of India lies in how to be an independent country, to learn to solve the complicated ethnic and religious issues, to protect the country from terrorist attacks, to boost economic development as well as to put more efforts on poverty alleviation.

Additionally, the hegemony can also be harmful in terms of geopolitical environment. The expansion of India is restricted by its geographic locations. It has Himalaya Mountain to its north, a natural barrier for northward expansion; it has Pakistan to the west, a neighbor it is always at odds over the disputed border issues.

To everyone's disappointment, India pursued a foreign policy of "befriend the far and attack the near". It engaged in the war separately with China and Pakistan and the resentment still simmers. If India really wants to be a superpower, such a policy is shortsighted and immature.

India, which vows to be a superpower, needs to have its eyes on relations with neighbors and abandon the recklessness and arrogance as the world is undergoing earthshaking changes. For India, the ease of tension with China and Pakistan is the only way to become a superpower. At present, China is proactively engaging in negotiations with India for the early settlement of border dispute and India should give a positive response.

Giant Mao statue unveiled in Hunan

2009-11-03T19:41:00.000+05:30

A giant statue of Chairman Mao Zedong under construction in Changsha, the capital of South China's Hunan Province. When complete, the sculpture, which is 32 meters in height and covers an area of 2300 square meters, will be the largest statue of Mao Zedong in China.

Courtesy: china.org.cn

‘Monsoon in JNU’

2009-09-14T18:04:00.000+05:30

With the advent of monsoon, the mesmerizing serene beauty of JNU spells its eternal charm. Dancing peacocks, rain-soaked trees, flowers, roads….. a feeling of tranquility and sense of satisfaction everywhere. Against this backdrop, Dream One Production presents a musical video - ‘Monsoon in JNU’ (4:30). Click the following link to see the video in YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLHrt4mUBvg

2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Announced

2009-08-03T22:28:00.000+05:30

Ma Jun

Ramon Magsaysay Awardee 2009

CITATION for Ma Jun

Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies

31 August 2009, Manila, Philippines

Water is now a major issue in China, where majority of the rivers and lakes are polluted, and four hundred of its six hundred cities are facing water shortages. The problem has serious repercussions for health, food security, biodiversity, and economic growth. With rapid industrialization and urbanization, the problem has become even more critical. Ma Jun is using creative and constructive ways to address the pollution crisis.

Forty-one year-old Ma joined the Beijing bureau of South China Morning Post after finishing his university studies in English and journalism. As he traveled the country and wrote reports, he saw how China's economic boom was taking a destructive toll on the environment. In 1999, he published his book on China's Water Crisis, which has been hailed as China's "first great environmental call to arms." In it, Ma warned: "Sixty percent of our rivers are polluted, the proliferation of dams destroys ecosystems, our air quality is deplorable. This is simply unbearable."

After leaving South China Morning Post, he worked as an environmental consultant, then went to Yale University and did comparative research on environmental governance in the US and China. His experiences as a journalist and scholar deepened his understanding of the environmental issues and how to deal with them in China's specific economic and political context. He concluded that active, meaningful "public participation is the key to dealing with [China's] environmental problems" and that access to information is the precondition for such participation.

Thus, in 2006, he established the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) and launched the China Water Pollution Map, the first public database of water pollution information in China. The database is a facility accessible in and outside China, using official data from various government agencies in charge of water resources and environment protection. Through the digital map, with the click of a button, people can survey the water quality in specific rivers and lakes all over the country, monitor pollution discharges, and find out which companies discharge pollution exceeding statutory levels. In a strategy of "name and shame," thirty-five thousand records of violations by corporations have been posted in the map to date.

Ma expanded his work in 2007 with the China Air Pollution Map. Providing public access to air quality data, it has already named over ten thousand companies violating emission standards. Together with the water pollution database, this map has dramatically increased public awareness of the state of China's environmental pollution.

But Ma and his organization do not just "name and shame;" they also proactively help companies resolve their pollution management problems. Polluters are removed from the offenders' list after professional, third-party audits have shown that they have made changes to improve their company's pollution control. To complement its database program, IPE, together with twenty other NGOs, has organized the Green Choice Alliance, which works on supply chain management systems by getting corporations to openly commit not to use polluters as suppliers of products or services. Leading multinationals like General Electric, Wal-Mart, and Nike which have made such a commitment are using the IPE database regularly to track the performance of their suppliers in China.

It is Ma's fervent belief that public knowledge exerts pressure on government and corporations to act. Taking advantage of the government's greater openness to public participation in environmental protection, he has introduced initiatives that are both constructive and realistic. For this reason, his work is exerting a unique influence on environmental practices in China. Ma says that the next twenty years is a critical period for his country. "We need to make sure that this generation of Chinese has the best environmental health standards. We need to keep the best of our natural and cultural heritage, and hand it over to the next generation."

In electing Ma Jun to receive the 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his harnessing the technology and power of information to address China's water crisis, and mobilizing pragmatic, multisectoral and collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable benefits for China's environment and society.

Yu Xiaogang

Ramon Magsaysay Awardee 2009

CITATION for Yu Xiaogang
Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
31 August 2009, Manila, Philippines

China boasts of a staggering eighty-five thousand dams throughout the country, or 46 percent of all such structures in the world. Clearly, hydropower is a key requirement for China's economic development. Yet dams have led as well to the displacement of over fifteen million Chinese and incalculable damage to the natural environment. A leading figure in the debate on dams and their social impact is Yu Xiaogang.

Yu fell in love with nature early on, having been raised in Yunnan, a province of amazing beauty and home to three of the largest rivers in the world: Nu, Yangtze, and Mekong. His interest in the environment was cultivated during a stint in the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, and was further deepened when he attended the Asian Institute of Technology, where he earned a master's degree in watershed management.

His graduate research on the social impact of China's Manwan hydroelectric project documented its negative impact on local communities. Dissemination of his findings stirred controversy and led then Premier Zhu Rongji to order the conduct of an investigation; additionally, the Yunnan government was instructed to release funds to mitigate the dam's adverse effects.

In 2002, Yu established the nonprofit organization Green Watershed, which developed an integrated watershed management program in the Lashi Lake area, in Yunnan. Lashi was seriously affected by a dam project that had diverted 40 percent of the lake's water, flooded farmlands, and devastated the livelihood of people in the dammed area. Using participatory approaches, Green Watershed helped the affected communities organize a multisectoral Watershed Management Committee, and mobilized village associations for irrigation, fishery, and other purposes. The communities undertook other activities as well, including microcredit and training in watershed forest protection and biodiversity conservation.

These initiatives proved so successful that new, ecologically-friendly, and profitable enterprises flourished in the area. The first of its kind in China, the Lashi project became a model for participatory watershed management, and was cited by government as one of the top ten cases of sustainable development in the country. The Lashi project became the springboard for Yu's advocacy in other dam sites. Green Watershed conducted research and forums and used mass media to promote the cause of people's participation in the planning and development of dams.

When the local government announced plans to build thirteen new dams on the Nu River, plans that threatened to displace fifty thousand people and negatively impact a UNESCO-designated "World Heritage" nature site, Green Watershed and other environmental NGOs mounted a public debate. The controversy occasioned Premier Wen Jiabao's decision to put the planned dams on hold, requiring a more scientific study.

Still, it has been an uphill challenge. Yu has met with opposition and even harassment in the course of his work, including a ban on travel outside the country. His position, however, is not simply adversarial. In 2008, he initiated Green Banking, a network of eight major environmental NGOs that gives the "Green Banking Innovation Award" to banks and financial institutions that have contributed to environmental protection in their financing and corporate practices.

Yu recognizes that large-scale infrastructure projects like dams will go on. He is not against dams per se; however he and his fellow environmentalists will persist in showing that local communities and ecosystems need not be sacrificed in the process of development. Thus, he advocates that a true social impact assessment, in which the people themselves are actively involved, should be a precondition in all dam building programs. For Yu, their initial successes "are only the first steps in the Long March. To realize true sustainable development and build a harmonious society throughout China, we need the full participation of all Chinese citizens."

In electing Yu Xiaogang to receive the 2009 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his fusing the knowledge and tools of social science with a deep sense of social justice, in assisting dam-affected communities in China to shape the development projects that impact their natural environment and their lives.

Courtesy : http://www.rmaf.org.ph/

Chinese movie festival celebrates PRC 60th anniversary

2009-08-03T22:06:00.000+05:30

"March on! March on! March on, on!," a series of activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic China, starts in the China National Film Museum on July 31, 2009. The name of the event was inspired by the final line of the Chinese national anthem.

In the next four months, audiences will be able to watch about 200 movies produced by China's four major film studios over the past sixty years, as well as many posters and still photographs. They will also have the opportunity to talk with directors and actors.

The four studios whose films will be featured are Shanghai Film Studio, August First Film Studio, Changchun Film Studio and China Film Group Co.. The first three were set up shortly after the founding of PRC, and the last one was formed in February 1992 by eight film studios and companies. The movies will cover all periods in China's history and reflect the development of Chinese film industry. At least two movies will be shown every day. The admission price is just 2 yuan (US$0.29), and some movies are free.

The museum is also staging three exhibitions: one traces the history and achievements of the four major studios and the other two will display still photographs and vintage movie posters.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior managers from the four studios, well-known actors and actress such as Tian Hua (heroine of the 1950s film “The White Haired Girl”) and Liu Shilong (hero of the 1960s film “Heroic Sons and Daughters”), officials from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), and an audience of about 200 people of all ages.

"It's a great event,"69-year-old former Beijing Opera performer Ma Xiaofang told China.org.cn, "I am a member of the museum and come here to watch movies at least 5 times a month. I really love to watch these old films that I had no time to enjoy when I was young. I plan to bring my granddaughter here this summer so she can experience the art of film."The China National Film Museum was co-founded by SARFT and the Beijing municipal government, and opened to public in 2007. It is the biggest national film museum in the world. There are 20 exhibition halls showing 100 years of Chinese film history and the development of camera technology. It also has an IMAX cinema, a digital cinema and three conventional cinemas. Besides showing the latest releases, the museum also gives audiences the opportunity to experience the charm of old films with daily screenings at very low prices. The museum also regularly invites celebrities from the film world to give talks.

(China.org.cn by Ren Zhongxi, August 3, 2009)

Hu holds talks with Italian president in Rome

2009-07-07T08:46:00.000+05:30

Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Monday, calling for a boost to ties between the two countries.

During the talks, Hu said Chinese-Italian relations have witnessed healthy and stable expansion over the past 39 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano prior to their talks in Rome, capital of Italy, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)

In 2004, the two countries agreed to establish an all-around strategic partnership, unveiling a new page for Chinese-Italian friendly cooperation, Hu said.

As next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the forging of bilateral diplomatic relations, China is willing to join hands with Italy to lift bilateral ties to a higher level, Hu said.

According to a press release issued by the Chinese delegation, Napolitano agreed with Hu, saying cooperation between Italy and China has seen smooth expansion in a wide range of fields.

Napolitano said Italy is willing to further increase its economic cooperation and trade with China, exert every effort to host the "Chinese Culture Year" in Italy and push forward the development of bilateral ties at large.

In order to boost the ties, the Chinese president offered a five-point proposal, according to the press release.

Firstly, Hu said the two countries should increase communications, exchanges and mutual visits between high-level leaders.

Hu proposed that both sides host various events to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, adding that much attention should be attached to the "Chinese Culture Year" next year in Italy.

Secondly, Hu said the two sides should enhance political mutual trust and understand each other's major concerns.

The Taiwan and Tibet issues are the key concerns of the Chinese side, Hu said, urging Italy to understand China's concerns and offer support.

Hu also said he believed Italy would continue to exert its influence within the European Union to boost the EU-China ties at large.

Thirdly, Hu urged both sides to expand substantial cooperation on various fields such as trade, investment, science and technology, environment protection, medicine and tourism.

Fourthly, the Chinese president said both sides should increase people-to-people communications and cultural exchanges in order to boost their bilateral friendship.

Finally, Hu urged both sides to conduct more cooperation and communications in international organizations and on multi-national occasions.

Hu said both countries could enhance dialogue and coordination on various major international issues such as the global financial crisis, reform of the UN Security Council, climate change, environment protection and sustainable development.

Napolitano, on his part, praised China for its important role in the international arena as well as in addressing major global challenges.

He said he appreciates China's role in the G20 summit, the G8 + 5 summit and active participation in UN peacekeeping actions.

He also said the Italian side spoke highly of the measures China has taken to tackle the global financial crisis and economic downturn. He noted that China's participation is a must for the international community in its move to tackle the crisis, reform the international financial system and realize sustainable development.

On the EU-China relations, Napolitano said Italy would continue to play an active role in boosting the ties.

The president also reiterated Italy's adherence to the one-China policy.

According to the press release, Hu also briefed his Italian counterpart on the latest social and economic developments in China.

The two leaders held the talks at the Quirinal Palace, and Napolitano hosted a grand welcoming ceremony in honor of Hu prior to the talks.

Hu arrived in Rome earlier on Sunday for a state visit at the invitation of Napolitano.

Hu was also to attend the summit of the Group of Eight and major developing countries later this week in the central Italian city of L'Aquila.

This is the sixth time that the Chinese president has attended the G8 outreach session. The previous one took place in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako last July.

The G8, an informal forum of leading industrialized nations, includes Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada and Russia.

Source: chinaview.cn

Death toll in Xinjiang riot rises to 156

2009-07-07T08:42:00.000+05:30

Death toll has risen to 156 following the riot Sunday evening in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to official sources.

Li Yi, head of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang regional committee, said early Tuesday morning that the dead include 129 men and 27 women.

Firemen rescue a man injured in the riot in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, early July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Haitao)

Li added 1,080 people were injured in the riot.

The police put the death toll at 140 as of midday of Monday. Among the 16 newly reported dead, some died in hospitals and others were recovered from street corners, the regional police authorities said Monday night.

Police have got clues that some people were trying to organize more unrests in Kashi City, Yili Kazak Prefecture and Aksu City.

A man injured in Sunday night's riot receives treatment at the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

In Urumqi, the regional public security department commanded raids to several groups who allegedly plotted unrests in Dawan Township in Tianshan District and a former race course where floating population gathered.

A number of suspects were arrested during the raids while there were no casualties among police officers.

Vehicles set on fire and destroyed in Sunday night's riot are seen on Beiwan Street in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Shen Qiao)

In Kashi, more than 200 people trying to gather at the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China, were dispersed by police at about 6 p.m. Monday.

Most of the shops in the Kashi were closed amid the current tension. Only several restaurants run by Uygur people were open at about 10 p.m., the time for night snack in a normal period. Few people were seen in the streets.

The police had set checkpoints at crossroads from the Kashi airport to the downtown areas.

Source: xinhua.net.cn, July 7, 2009

Rainstorms wreak havoc in S. China

2009-07-04T13:19:00.003+05:30

People walk on a flooded street in Guilin, a city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 3, 2009. Due to heavy rainfall, the water level of Lijiang River which passes Guilin reached 147.5 meters at 17:00 pm on Friday, 1.8 meters over the alert level. Some scenic spots in Guilin City has been closed. [Xinhua]

DPRK fires 5 short-range missiles

2009-07-04T13:15:00.001+05:30

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired one additional short-range missile on Saturday, raising the total number of missiles fired in the day to five, local media reported.

According to South Korean Joint Forces, the DPRK fired an additional missile off the east coast from a base near Wonsan, Gangwon Province at around 02:50 p.m. (0550 GMT), in addition to four short-range missiles fired at the same place earlier in the morning.

The DPRK started with two scud-type missiles between 08:00 - 08: 30 a.m. (2300-2330 GMT Friday), after which shot two more at around 10:45 a.m. (0145 GMT) and noon (0300 GMT).

All the five missiles are estimated to have a range of 400- 500km, the official said.

The missile firing came two days after the DPRK test-fired four short-ranges off its eastern coast, which South Korean officials described as part of routine military drills.

"Although the missiles fired on Thursday appear to be part of routine military drills, the recent scud missiles seem to have political purposes as they were fired a day before the US Independence Day," the official said.

The DPRK, since May, has been spotted with actions in preparation for firing a new mid-range missile, as well as scud missiles, Yonhap said.

The military authorities, however, said no sign has been observed from either its eastern Musudan-ri base or a new Tongchang-ri base on its west to conclude that an intercontinental ballistic missile launch is imminent.

In April, the DPRK threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile in protest of the UN Security Council's presidential statement which "condemned" the DPRK's earlier long- range rocket launch.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)

Dam bursts in SW China

2009-07-04T13:10:00.000+05:30

The mounting threat of a local reservoir dam that had cracked and collapsed in part of its structure after days of heavy rainfall has led to the evacuation of more than 7,000 residents in down stream area in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Soldiers and volunteers carry rocks to reinforce the Kama Reservoir dam in Luocheng County in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [China National Radio]

The swelling floods caused by continuous rainfall started to overflow via the spillway of the Kama Reservoir dam Friday evening, but it also burst through the bottom of the dam, causing the collapse in part of the structure and making the dam in a shaky position, China News Service reports.

Floods overflow via the spillway and burst through the bottom of the Kama Reservoir dam, causing the collapse in part of the dam and making the whole structure in a shaky position. [Cnsphoto]

Soldiers and volunteers have been mobilized to reinforce the dam located in Luocheng County and latest reports said no more damage occured.

Courtsey:China.org.cn (CRI July 4, 2009)

Adieu Jackson !

2009-07-03T20:30:00.000+05:30

"What about sunrise

What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain.. .
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine...
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice

The crying Earth the weeping shores?"

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman.

The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his debut as an entertainer in 1968 as a member of The Jackson 5. He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group and was referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years. Jackson's 1982 album Thrillerremains the world's best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and History (1995).

In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in American popular music and culture. He was the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"—widely credited with transforming the music video from a promotional tool into an art form—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop music and contemporary R&B artists across several generations.
Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his Heal the World Foundation, charity singles, and support of 39 charities. Other aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy that damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged. The singer had experienced health concerns since the early 1990s along with conflicting reports regarding the state of his finances since the late 1990s. Jackson married twice and fathered three children, actions which caused further controversy. In 2005, during People v. Jackson, Jackson was tried and acquitted of different sexual abuse allegations and several other charges.
One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—thirteen Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide. At the time of his death, Jackson was preparing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held at The O₂ arena in London at the beginning of July 13, 2009.
Courtsey : Text (Wikipedia.org) & Photo(Time)

2009-06-29T19:30:00.000+05:30

बादल को घिरते देखा है

अमल धवल गिरि के शिखरों पर,
बादल को घिरते देखा है।
छोटे-छोटे मोती जैसे
उसके शीतल तुहिन कणों को,
मानसरोवर के उन स्वर्णिम
कमलों पर गिरते देखा है,
बादलों को घिरते देखा है।

तुंग हिमालय के कंधों पर
छोटी बड़ी कई झीलें हैं,
उनके श्यामल नील सलिल में
समतल देशों से आ-आकर
पावस की ऊमस से आकुल
तिक्त-मधुर बिसतंतु खोजते
हँसों को तिरते देखा है।
बादल को घिरते देखा है।

ऋतु वसंत का सुप्रभात था
मंद-मंद था अनिल बह रहा
बालारुण की मृदु किरणों थीं
अगल-बगल स्वर्णाभ शिखर थे
एक दूसरे से विरहित हो
अलग-अलग रहकर ही जिनको
सारी रात बितानी होती,
निशा काल से चिर-अभिशापित
बेबस उस चकवा-चकई का
बंद हुआ क्रंदन, फिर उनमें
उस महान सरवर के तीरे
शैवालों की हरी दरी पर
प्रणय-कलह छिड़ते देखा है।
बादल को घिरते देखा है।

दुर्गम बर्फ़ानी घाटी में
शत-सहस्त्र फुट ऊँचाई पर
अलख नाभि से उठनेवाले
निज के ही उन्मादक परिमल -
के पीछे धावित हो-होकर
तरल तरुण कस्तूरी मृग को
अपने पर चिढ़ते देखा है,
बादल को घिरते देखा है।

कहाँ गया धनपति कुबेर वह
कहाँ गई उसकी वह अलका
नहीं ठिकाना कालिदास के
व्योम-प्रवाही गंगाजल का,
ढूँढ़ा बहुत परंतु लगा क्या
मेघदूत का पता कहीं पर,
कौन बताए वह छायामय
बरस पड़ा होगा न यहीं पर,
जाने दो, वह कवि-कल्पित था,
मैंने तो भीषण जाड़ों में
नभ-चुंबी कैलाश शीर्ष पर,
महामेघ को झंझानिल से
गरज-गरज भिड़ते देखा है,
बादल को घिरते देखा है।

शत-शत निर्झर-निर्झरणी कल
मुखरित देवदारू कानन में,
शोणित धवल भोज पत्रों से
छाई हुई कुटी के भीतर,
रंग-बिरंगे और सुगंधित
फूलों से कुंतल को साजे,
इंद्रनील की माला डाले
शंख-सरीखे सुघड़ गलों में,
कानों में कुवलय लटकाए,
शतदल लाल कमल वेणी में,
रजत-रचित मणि खचित कलामय
पान पात्र द्राक्षासव पूरित
रखे सामने अपने-अपने
लोहित चंदन की त्रिपुटी पर,
नरम निदाग बाल-कस्तूरी
मृगछालों पर पलथी मारे
मदिरारुण आँखों वाले उन
उन्मद किन्नर-किन्नरियों की
मृदुल मनोरम अँगुलियों को
वंशी पर फिरते देखा है,
बादल को घिरते देखा है।

- नागार्जुन

2009-06-29T19:10:00.000+05:30

This beautiful poem by Nagarjuna depicts the stark contrast before and after the onset of rains. There is no doubt, in the Northern Indian planes, rains bring in a new lease of life for Nature and human beings alike

100 MEMBER YOUTH DELEGATION LEAVES FOR CHINA ON SUNDAY

2009-06-12T22:01:00.000+05:30

The Fourth Indo-China Youth delegation will be visiting China from 15^th to 24^th June, 2009 under Indo –China Youth Exchange Programme to further foster and enhance the continued youth-to-youth contact between the two countries and consolidate our long-standing bilateral relations over 55 years. Shri Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports will lead the 100 member Indian delegation. During their ten day stay in China, the delegation will visit Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou.

In view of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010, in New Delhi , the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has finalized this year the Indian Youth delegation with an objective to get an exposure to the Volunteers Programme in China, where large number of volunteers were recruited and trained to handle the international visitors and also for the actual conduct of the international events like the Beijing Olympics, World Expo and similar International Events. The Chinese side has welcomed this Ministry’s proposal to utilize the visit to learn about the volunteers’ programme in China. To facilitate this ,they will be arranging appropriate visits and interactions for the delegation and the accompanying officials in the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou (the venue of Asian Games next year) and Sichuan – the first two are places where volunteers will be mobilized for mega international events, while the third is where volunteers played important role in relief and rehabilitation after the massive Wenchuanearthquake last year. The places to be visited in China by the delegation shall meet the objectives for exposing the youths for the volunteers’ programme to be utilized for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, 2010.

The 100-member Indian Youth Delegation, 2009 will comprise of 94 volunteers from National Service Scheme(NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS), Cultural Artistes (National Youth Festival Winners), Distinguished Young Journalists and distinguished Students of Chinese Language as Interpreters and five officials .

Courtesy: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Scholars of East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Happy New Year 2012!!!!!!

Dr. Acharya analyses the Origins and Implications of the Sino–Indian Agreements of 2003 and 2005

Prof Kondapalli on Deputy Chief of General Staff General Ma Xiaotian Visit to India

Notice

Prof. Kondapalli on POLITICAL DEMOCRACY FOR TIBETANS: CHINA’S RISING DILEMMA

Right Sino-Indian move in right direction

Chinese Youth: Rise of a New Culture

Prof. Kondapalli reviews Martin Jacques's "When China Rules The World: The Rise of the Middle Kingdom and the End of the Western World"

Dr. Geeta Kochhar, Assistant Professor in Chinese Language, SLL & CS, gives a pictorial account of China's Visible Underclass

Prof. Kondapalli reviews A. G. Noorani's "India-China Boundary Problem, 1846-1947: History and Diplomacy"

Happy New Year 2011

Position at IPCS, New Delhi.

Prof. Kondapalli on "Bilateral Give And Take" in Sino-India Relations

Rajiv Ranjan on "Water Wars? Damming the Brahmaputra and Its Implications" in Opinion Asia

Shashi Bhushan Bharti, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, with his debut book "The China Factor In ROK- U.S. Relations: Trilateral approach"

Gunjan Singh and Avinash Godbole on "Peninsular Shells and the Chinese Dilemma(?)"

Prof. Kondapalli reviews Frank Dikötter's "Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe, 1958-1962"

PhD and Post Doctoral Scholarship

Prof. Kondapalli receives IDSA's K Subrahmanyam Award 2010

Avinash Godbole, on the 5th plenum of the 17th Party Congress of the CPC

Cotton production in China, and the Creation of a New Manufacturing Base

Prof. Kondapalli on 'Kashmir imbroglio'- The China Connection

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the centre, on Pentagon Report on China

Sriparna Pathak, a Research Scholar at the Centre, on Sino- African Trade: Facts and Opinions

Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on Industrial and Environmental Disasters inside China

Rajiv Ranjan, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on Damming the Brahmaputra River

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, explore the new dimensions in China-Pakistan Relations

Bhavana Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on 'TURKISTAN ISLAMIC PARTY'

Prof. Kondapalli on 'N-plants to Pak'

Dr. Alka Acharya on "Revisiting the China-India Border Dispute" at University of Westminster

Rukmani Gupta, A PhD Candidate at the Centre, examines the ‘CHEONAN’ INVESTIGATION

Shamshad A. Khan, an alumnus of the centre, on Is Japan ready to shun the Peace Constitution?

SRIPARNA PATHAK, Research Scholar at the Centre, on Japan- American relations: (Absence of) Evolution in the 21st Century

Dr. Alka Acharya Participated in the discussion on External Affairs Minister visit to China.

Abanti Bhattacharya, an CEAS alumnus, on China prepares for post-Dalai Lama Tibet

The Economist, in its latest issue, warns that for the time being, China has a bark that is worse than its bite

Prof. V.P. Dutt, an CEAS alumnus, on "India, China and the United States: The Triangle that isn't"

Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, on secret nuke pact between Japan and US

Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, currently Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, decipher the secret nuke pact between Japan and US..

M.Phil dissertation draft presentation

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan Struggle

Gunjan Singh, a PhD Candidate at the Centre & Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, on 51st Anniversary of the Tibetan Struggle...

Dr. Alka Acharya Reviews Khetsun’s book, "Memories of Life in Lhasa Under Chinese Rule"

Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli reviews K. Natwar Singh's Book, "My China Diary 1956-88"

Rajiv Ranjan reviews Garry L. Chamberlain's "Troubled Waters: Religion, Ethics and the Global Water Crisis "

Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre, on "Contradictory Tendencies in the India-China Relationship"

Avinash Godbole, a PhD Candidate at the Centre & Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, examines the tendencies in the India-China Relationship.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Joe Thomas Karackattu, PhD student at the Center visited SIIS

China unveils grand plan to develop Tibet

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

IS CHINA GROWING TOO FAST: The Economist

“Friendship via the Media”

One Step One Mind

नूतनवर्षाभिनंदन

Wen Jiabao Holds Talks with Nepali Prime Minister Nepal

Visit of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to India

My connections

Debate among Chinese intellectual over emissions cut target

China's media to go global

Wen: China's emissions cut promise serious

How Chinese News Paper perceives India

Giant Mao statue unveiled in Hunan

‘Monsoon in JNU’

2009 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees Announced

Chinese movie festival celebrates PRC 60th anniversary

Hu holds talks with Italian president in Rome

Death toll in Xinjiang riot rises to 156

Rainstorms wreak havoc in S. China

DPRK fires 5 short-range missiles

Shamshad Khan, a CEAS alumnus, currently Research Assistant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi , decipher the secret nuke pact between Japan and US..