The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) grouping has been the forerunner of global economic and political developments for over a decade. The BRICS countries account for over 40% of the world’s population and over 25% of global GDP. They are also among the fastest-growing economies in the world. India is an important player in the BRICS grouping. It is the second most populous country in the world and the sixth largest economy. India has also been growing swiftly in recent years, with GDP growth comprising over 7% per year over the past decade.
Category: Asia-Pacific
Indo-China Border: A Perspective on Six-Point Consensus
The 23rd round of discussions between India and China’s special representatives on the boundary issue marks an important milestone in their bilateral relationship, particularly after a prolonged gap of five years. The agreement reached in Beijing, comprising six key points, reflects both progress and the complexities that existed in the India-China border dispute. While this consensus signals both parties desire for stabilising relations, it also highlights the deep seated security challenges that continue to shape the interactions.
Why Nuclear Weapons Remain the Privilege of the Few?
While a lot of countries associate the possession of nuclear weapons as a huge plus to their geopolitical power, there are still some that fear the consequences and stay within the protected boundaries of conservatism while going international. No matter how awed we can be when seeing nuclear missile tests or new launches happen, we still have a long way to go to see what constitutes hegemony very easily here and how only 9 countries in the world have gone nuclear so far. The problem with this distinction is, it is no longer dependent on resources or military strength, but rather a very calculative set of steps that go beyond what a simple human can imagine.
China’s Economic Policy for 2025
On December 9, 2024, the Political Bureau (Politburo) of the Central Committee (CC) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened a meeting to discuss the country’s economic policy priorities for the year 2025 and the broader and deeper challenges facing the Chinese economy. The headline of the readout is “CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Holds Meeting to Analyze and Research 2025 Economic Work, Study and Deploy Party Conduct, Clean Governance and Anti-Corruption Work, CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping Presides Over Meeting.
Decoding the Economy of an Isolationist Country
Being one of the most isolated, secretive, dark and censored countries in the world, North Korea continues to baffle audiences and surpass trends of journalistic opportunity. It has one of the largest militaries in the world, a staggering domestic infrastructure and much speculation as to what goes on inside the closed-to-exhibition country. The citizens aren’t allowed to venture outside and no official economic data has been published since 1965, which is both scary and bold at the same time.
Which Road is the Belt and Road Initiative Leading to?
A huge surprise is that the true scale of the debt – thought to be at hundreds of billions of dollars – is not known. Many of the loans are covered in secrecy. As this fares dangerously for the future of the world entirely, there is still an angle of security to it as the BRI might not be dead, but evolving into an alligator underwater.
Asia’s Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific
Historically it is the competition for land that provokes tensions between the states, over time the world has seen this shift towards the blue territories as Kaplan calls it. Two explanations for the same could be economic mercantile trade and the dynamic shift of attention from Eurasia to East Asia which is largely maritime. Kaplan says that seas can act as a seed or a dodger in creating tensions and even invasions. However, the likelihood is quite tilted towards aggression.
How can China Respond to Trump’s New China Policy?
During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised to impose 60% tariffs on Chinese goods and services coming to the United States. This time, Beijing seems already strategising to retaliate against the upcoming tariffs from the second Trump administration. Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese imports could disrupt China’s export-driven economic model, which has driven the country’s growth over the past few decades.
From Secular Promises to Islamist Alignments: The Evolution of Bangladesh’s Political Landscape
For days now, Indians have watched with bated breath as the violence in Bangladesh unfolds with the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. Concerns run deep about the attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus as well as for the potential hijacking by Islamist groups and a renewed accession to power. Fifty years ago, a poet by the name of Daud Haider was arrested by the then government of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, tortured in custody, and then sent into exile.
China’s Mercenaries in Pakistan: Economic Promises vs. Sovereignty Costs
China’s growing involvement in Pakistan’s security, especially with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), represents a significant strategic shift that deserves a closer look. This shift occurs as Islamabad grapples with internal unrest, particularly in Balochistan, while Beijing focuses on safeguarding its economic interests. As regional stability and sovereignty issues become increasingly crucial, understanding this evolving dynamic is essential for academics and policymakers. CPEC, launched as a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is valued at roughly $62 billion (Caskey, 2024).