Commentary
Find our newspaper columns, blogs, and other commentary pieces in this section. Our research focuses on Advanced Biology, High-Tech Geopolitics, Strategic Studies, Indo-Pacific Studies & Economic Policy
Indian Express | The colonial era of AI is here — India must chart its own course
By Arindam Goswami
The Paris AI Action Summit, with its impressive array of declarations and initiatives, could not mask a deeper geopolitical reality: We have entered the colonial era of artificial intelligence, where corporate sovereignty increasingly trumps national sovereignty, and global governance and ethics have been put on the backburner while still being paid lip service. The final declaration by the real power players— the US and the UK — speaks volumes. They are the tech giants who have effectively colonised the digital frontier.
By Arindam Goswami
Read the full article here.
Firstpost | Paris AI Summit: How Indo-French partnership can be a rule maker for future innovations
By Arindam Goswami
As co-chair of the AI Action Summit in Paris, India, under the prime ministership of Narendra Modi, has the opportunity to kickstart a new chapter in global technological cooperation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a pervasive impact across different sectors. In that sense, it is a general-purpose technology (GPT), to borrow the term from Jeffrey Ding’s GPT Diffusion Theory, which promises to reshape various sectors. Nations are grappling with both its enormous potential and inherent challenges. Now is the time to come together and collaborate on setting a strong foundation for the years to come.
With its considerable experience in building and running a vast digital public infrastructure, coupled with a workforce that has proven expertise in software development, India could become an important voice in the global AI discourse
By Arindam Goswami
Read the full article here.
Firstpost | Creative insecurity: What India can learn from Chinese DeepSeek saga
By Arindam Goswami and Shobhankita Reddy
DeepSeek benefitted from a supportive structural Chinese research and development ecosystem that existed for several decades. Also, Xi Jinping’s vision for a ‘Chinese Dream’ and national rejuvenation is rooted in technological supremacy
By Arindam Goswami and Shobhankita Reddy
Read the full article here.
The Hindu | India’s reliance on China for critical minerals
By Rakshith Shetty
Does China have unparalleled dominance in the critical minerals sector? How was it able to do so? What are the minerals for which India is heavily dependent on China? Why has India not been able to excavate the lithium reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir?
By Rakshith Shetty
Read the full article here.
Life of Soldiers | Anti-Submarine Warfare: Doctrine and Capabilities of the PLA Navy
By Anushka Saxena
At the recently concluded Zhuhai Airshow in Guangdong, China, a new unmanned combat vessel of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the ORCA, made its debut as part of the Asian giant’s naval arsenal. As official sources highlighted, this 500-tonne displacement high-speed stealth unmanned surface combat vessel, equipped with a diesel-electric dual-mode propulsion system, is capable of performing a host of tasks including Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) fire strike, and air and missile defense. But perhaps what is most interesting, is its reported ability to perform anti-submarine search and strike autonomously. If true, the PLAN may just be ushering in a transformed era for China’s undersea warfare capabilities.
By Anushka Saxena
Read the full article here.
Hindustan Times | Power shifts in China’s defence establishment
By Anushka Saxena
Xi’s anti-corruption campaign aims to consolidate power and ensure loyalty within the PLA but has inadvertently exposed factional divides.
By Anushka Saxena
Read the full article here.
StratNews Global | China’s R&D Engine: Technology Diffusion Seamlessly Across Sectors
By Arindam Goswami
China's giant strides in developing cutting-edge technologies and ensuring these are disseminated where they are needed, is a tribute to the scientific eco-system they have evolved.
Massive investment, a deliberate alignment of, and removal of barriers between military and civilian research, and a clear commitment to becoming the global leader in critical technologies are vital characteristics of China’s S&T ecosystem.
It is a whole-system approach, which also focuses on building the requisite skill infrastructure, and recognises the capacity of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs) to increase economic productivity, and thereby, military prowess, by the process of diffusion into pervasive use in a wide range of activities and sectors.
By Arindam Goswami
Read the full article here.
ThinkChina | Is India warming up to Chinese investment?
By Amit Kumar
China’s investments in India, historically underwhelming, have dropped further with India’s fears of China’s “opportunistic takeovers”, says Indian researcher Amit Kumar. But a more favourable Indian public discourse towards Chinese investments and the potential for win-win benefits could turn things around.
By Amit Kumar
Read the full article here.
The Quint | A Partner in Taiwan
By Anushka Saxena
India welcomed a third representative office from Taiwan in Mumbai despite China’s efforts to undermine the latter.
By Anushka Saxena
Read the full article here.
Money Control | India-China equation reset is at a new normal, not the old one
By Manoj Kewalramani
Power asymmetry between the two countries and the likelihood of just a limited easing in the trade relationship make going back to pre-2020 phase impossible. Moreover, there’s no evidence of a dialogue yet on next step towards de-escalation. Keep your fingers crossed and expectations contained
By Manoj Kewalramani
Read the full article here.
Money Control | China-Taiwan Tensions: A shift in cross-Strait policy language
By Anushka Saxena
China's military exercises highlight regional tensions as Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te asserts sovereignty. His recent remarks signal a policy shift, encouraging potential cooperation with Beijing, despite ongoing tensions. Lai’s statements challenge China’s role as a peace broker in global conflicts.
By Anushka Saxena
Read the full article here.
The Indian Express | India-China border agreement: Five reasons to be cautiously optimistic
By Manoj Kewalramani
The announcement is just the first step in a long process of normalisation of the situation along the boundary areas. For starters, the agreement needs to be implemented on the ground, with patrolling becoming normalised
By Manoj Kewalramani
Read the full article here.
Nikkei Asia | China isn't ready to shift to a consumption-driven economy
By Amit Kumar
Investment-led export-oriented approach has acquired further salience under Xi
By Amit Kumar
Read the full article here.
Money Control | Quad, through Chinese lens
By Manoj Kewalramani
Chinese opinions on the Quad converge on one point, that it’s a US-led tool of containment. However, there are mixed opinions on the effectiveness of the wider Quad agenda. On India, Chinese portrayal depicts the country as an opportunistic and wavering partner of the US
By Manoj Kewalramani
Read the full article here.
The Indian Express | In Japan, the race to replace an unpopular leadership
By Vanshika Saraf
With departure of Fumio Kishida, ruling Liberal Democratic Party has the opportunity to reset its image and address public dissatisfaction
By Vanshika Saraf
Read the full article here.
The Print | China benefits from US involvement in Ukraine & Gaza. India must tread carefully
By Lt Gen Prakash Menon
In the context of the ongoing geopolitical contestation between the West and China, keeping the US engaged in Ukraine and Gaza will only benefit Beijing in the long run.
By Lt Gen Prakash Menon
Read the full article here.
Deccan Herald | Why a China-US thaw may not be in India’s economic interests
By Anushka Saxena
India now finds itself in a unique position, with the ability to leverage its relationship with the US to seek concessions.
By Anushka Saxena
Read the full article here.
NDTV | India And China May Finally Be Warming Up To Each Other
By Manoj Kewalramani
It's not a thaw yet, but there are certainly signs of some warming in the India-China relationship. Of late, there has been an uptick in dialogue to resolve outstanding issues along two friction points in Eastern Ladakh. At the same time, there is a fresh debate underway within India on economic engagement with China
By Manoj Kewalramani
Read the full article here.
The Hindu | The continuing churn in the Chinese military
By Anushka Saxena
The changes in the military leadership have shown up the faultlines in the reform vision
By Anushka Saxena
Read the full article here.
The Diplomat | China Will Generate More Nuclear Power Than Both France and the United States by 2030
By Rakshith Shetty
China’s rapid build-up of nuclear reactors is expected to see it top the global standings.
By Rakshith Shetty
Read the full article here.