DECEMBER 2021
       

Dear Friend,

 

December was a busy month for the ICS community with three webinars and the 4th India Forum on China (IFC). As India continues to battle the Covid pandemic, the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) maintained a high level of programme and research activities through the virtual mode to disseminate informed analysis of China and East Asia.

Due to the pandemic, ICS has continued to offer virtual internship to provide young and aspiring scholars who may not be able to come to Delhi, but wish to connect with the institute through online channels to pursue projects or short assignments that fit into their study programs, and receive guidance from the ICS faculty. The virtual internship programme has immensely helped in academically grooming young scholars interested in Chinese studies as more than 18 interns have successfully completed their virtual internship since April 2020.

 

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

This month ICS organised three seminars in addition to the 4th India Forum on China (IFC).

Mr. Ravi Bhoothalingam, Founder and Chairman of Manas Advisory spoke on Globalization and a pandemic: Revisiting the Mongol Empire on 8 December. Mr. Bhoothalingam covered the Mongol Empire as an earliest known example of Globalisation and how revisiting the empire during the ‘bubonic plague’ could provide us some insights for our times. Prof. Madhavi Thampi, Honorary Fellow, ICS chaired the event. (Soundcloud) (YouTube)

 

We organized a panel discussion on ‘ICS-HYI Doctoral Fellowship in China Studies’ on 15 December. The panellists included former and current ICS-HYI Fellows, Dr. Veda Vaidyanathan, Visiting Associate Fellow, ICS and a multi-disciplinary researcher specializing in Asia-Africa interactions, Madhurendra Jha, Assistant Professor, Department of Chinese Studies, Doon University, Tiasangla Longkumer, doctoral candidate at JNU and China-India Visiting Fellow at Ashoka University and Shanky Chandra, PhD candidate at JNU who shared their collective experiences on how the ICS-HYI Fellowship opens various avenues to help research in China Studies. The panel discussion was chaired by Prof. Alka Acharya, Professor of Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, (JNU). (Soundcloud) (YouTube)

 

Prof. Shahhana Thankachan, Assistant Professor, University of Navarra, Spain spoke on the topic ‘Japan’s Quest for Normalization: A Case Study of Japan’s Arms Export Policy’ on 22 December. Prof. Srabani Roy Choudhury, Professor in Japanese Studies, Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, chaired the event. (YouTube

 

We conducted the 4th India Forum on China from 2-4 December in collaboration with Konrad-Adenuer-Stiftung (KAS) India office with the support of Goa University. The event was an outstanding success with distinguished speakers from both India and abroad like Amb. Kishan Rana, Amb. Shivshankar Menon, Dr. Carlos Masala and various scholars from different institutions like JNU, Lowy Institute, The Australian National University etc, stating their views. The hybrid event was well attended. (Key Takeaways, Full Report)

 

 

PUBLICATIONS:

This month we had five publications in total- four occasional papers and one research blog.

 

ICS Occasional Paper

  1. Ms. Saloni Sharma,  research scholar, JNU on Looking Beyond the Crossroads: Rethinking China’s Ecological Civilization amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
  2. Ms. Shagufta Yasmin, PhD candidate, JNU on China’s Environmental Diplomacy: From Sovereignty to Authoritarian Environmentalism.
  3.  Amb. Shivshankar Menon, Chairman, Advisory Board, ICS on Internal Drivers of China’s External Behaviour.
  4. Mr. Ashu Maan, Research Intern, ICS on China’s Prospects in Afghanistan: Opportunities and Adversities.

 

ICS Research Blog

  1. Mr. Ashu Maan, Research Intern, ICS on The U.S Policy towards China: Obama. Trump, and Biden Administrations.

 

 

IN THE MEDIA

Amb Shyam Saran wrote three articles titled, A New road map for Xi’s political future for the Business Standard on 14 December, Coping with Democratic Slide’ for The Tribune on 15 December and Communal Virus runs riot for The Tribune on 29 December. Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor of Chinese Studies at JNU and Honorary Fellow at ICS authored two pieces on ‘Amid signs of Cold War 2.0, China ups Ante to be Recognised as World’s Pre-Eminent Power for First Post on 2 December and ‘China has Taken the Arms Race to a Different Level’ for the Deccan Herald on 5 December. Prof. Sandip Kumar Mishra, Associate Professor at the Centre for East Asian Studies, JNU wrote Between the US and China: Japan’s Layered Balancing Act Under Kishida for Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies on 30 December.

 

 

FACULTY UPDATES

Dr. Anand P. Krishnan, Visiting Associate Fellow, ICS on 15 December made a presentation on ‘Communist Party of China’s common prosperity campaign and its disconnect with Labour’, under the lecture series on Perceptions and Realities on People’s Republic of China, organized by the Department of Political Science, Sree Keralavarma College, Thrissur, Kerala. Ravi Bhoothalingam, Honorary Fellow, ICS and Founder, Manas Advisory, spoke on the topic “India-China Relations: Understanding History to plan for the Future” on 22 December in a seminar organized by Guangdong University, Jai Hind College, Mumbai and Asia Converge.

 

The ICS WebsiteFacebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts are among several ways you can get the latest on our publications and activities. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter to follow our events and publications as well as browse our YouTube and SoundCloud channels.

 

We look forward to your participation in our events and activities in the coming days and hope for your continued support. Please consider contributing to ICS. Click here to contribute.

 

Best regards,

Ashok K. Kantha

Director

 

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