Abhijit Singh

Pakistan’s decision to allow a Chinese company to take over operations of the Gwadar port in Baluchistan has raised anxiety in South Asia, and particularly in India. Many in New Delhi see the move as another bead in China’s “string of pearls” strategy of investing in South and Southeast Asia in a manner that appears to encircle India. The reality could be different, though no less disquieting for New Delhi. more

Since winning parliamentary elections in mid-December, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has not missed a chance to send purposeful signals to Beijing. As much as his recent statements highlight Japanese concern about China’s growing assertiveness, they also suggest a larger game plan aimed at forging a string of regional strategic relationships from which both Japan and the U.S. will stand to benefit. more

The anxiety over China's naval buildup is not confined to China’s neighbors in Southeast Asia. And while India is most concerned about China’s forays into the Indian Ocean, it has not ignored developments in the South China Sea. New Delhi's “Look East” policy, originally devised as a strategy to boost trade with Southeast Asia, has more recently acquired a prominent maritime edge. more

In secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan that concluded in Islamabad on June 25, the two nations decided to set their differences aside and work toward a new future. But even as both sides reassess their ties and mull confidence-building measures, the thorny issue of tactical and strategic missile tests and ballistic missile defense continues to cast a long shadow over the bilateral relationship. more

Against the backdrop of an escalating crisis with Vietnam over territorial claims in the waters off the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, China declared that it would boost its "offshore surveillance capability." China has used surveillance vessels to mark "presence" and intimidate foreign crafts. They are a blatant show of strength in China's perceived area of influence in the South China Sea and East Sea. more

In an extraordinary development, Iran deployed submarines to the Red Sea last week, prompting fears that the Islamic Republic is engaging in another brazen show of strength. Reports suggest the ostensible purpose of the submarines' mission is to collect data in international waters and carry out surveillance against suspicious activity. But there might be more to the deployment than meets the eye. more