International Relations

Nepal objects to India-China Trade through Lipulekh Pass

Context: Nepalese Prime Minister has voiced his concerns over India and China to resume using Lipulekh pass to carry out border trade. Nepal claims Lipulekh as its own territory, however, India has categorically dismissed it as “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence”.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Lipulekh Pass. Mains: An important aspect of challenges associated with India-Nepal Relations. 

About Lipulekh Pass

  • The Lipulekh Pass is a Himalayan pass situated in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is located on the border between Uttarakhand, Nepal and Tibet. 
  • Lipulekh is strategically important to India as it provides access to Tibet and serves as a key route for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra.
    • The pass is near the trading town of Taklakot (Purang) in Tibet and has been used since ancient times by traders, mendicants and pilgrims. 
    • It is also used by pilgrims to Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra. 
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Nepal’s claim to Lipulekh Pass and Kalapani Region:

  • Historical Basis: Nepal claims the southern side of the pass called Kalapani territory, based on the Treaty of Sugauli 1816 between British East India Company and Nepal. 
  • The treaty delimited the boundary along Kali river (Sharda/Mahakali river). It stated that Nepal would cede the territories west of the Kali river.
    • Nepal claims that the Kali river originates from Limpiyadhura, west of Kalapani and Lipulekh. On this basis, Nepal claims Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura as its part. 
    • India claims that the Kali river originates at Kalapani village in Pithoragarh, where all its tributaries merge. 

Hence, the bone of contention is the differing interpretation of the origin of the Kali River. 

India’s stand on Lipulekh Pass: 

  • Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to COVID-19 and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it.
  • India rejects Nepal’s objection to resumption of India-China border trade through the Lipulekh Pass stating that the arguments are not based on “historical facts”. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims by Nepal is untenable. 

In the recent past the official map of Nepal, included in the constitution of Nepal, shows Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani located to the east of the Mahakali River as integral parts of Nepal.  

India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has signed an Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the government of Japan on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Article 6.2 of Paris Agreement, National Designated Authority.

Mains: Significance of India-Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism.

The MoC was unveiled as part of the broader Indo-Japan cooperation framework titled Green Energy Focus for a Better Future.

Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement

  • Under Article 6.2 countries can trade emissions reductions bilaterally. It enables a host country to sell units to a buyer country, in exchange for investments, support for capacity building, and access to technologies not available through domestic resources. 
  • The buyer country purchases these units known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) to address any gaps in meeting its own climate goals.
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About the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

  • The JCM is a Japanese initiative designed to promote global climate action. Under this mechanism, Japan implements and invests in low-carbon technologies in developing countries.
  • The resulting emission reductions are credited to both Japan and the host country, and Japan uses its share to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
  • Unlike the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) established under Kyoto Protocol, host countries under JCM act as joint implementers, not just passive participants.
  • A Joint Committee manages the mechanism including rules, methodologies, project registration, and credit sharing.
  • India has established a National Designated Authority (NDA) to approve JCM projects and oversee the functioning of the domestic carbon market.

Significance for India’s Climate Commitments: 

India has made ambitious NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement for 2030. These include: 

  • Reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 45% from 2005 levels.
  • Achieving 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
  • Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through afforestation.

JCM will support India in meeting these targets by providing foreign investment, advanced technology, and access to international carbon markets. 

It will also enable the international trading of carbon credits generated from such projects under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement with Japan and other countries on similar lines without adversely impacting India’s NDC commitments.

India-Japan Ties: Old partners, New priorities 

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of India visited Japan for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. The visit is expected to further consolidate the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between the two nations.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India-Japan bilateral relations. 

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Key Highlights of India PM’s Visit to Japan

India and Japan inked 21 pacts during the recent visit. The key agreements, MOUs and announcements include:

  • India-Japan joint vision for the next decade: The roadmap covers vital areas such as economic growth, security, technology, innovation, health, sustainability, mobility and people-to-people exchanges.
  • Revision of the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation. 
  • Bilateral energy partnership on clean Hydrogen and Ammonia.
  • Memorandum of cooperation on joint crediting mechanism.
  • Private investment target of ¥10 trillion (about $68 billion) in India over the next decade. 
  • Economic Security Initiative launched to promote supply chain resilience in strategic sectors.
  • MoU on India-Japan digital partnership 2.0 
  • Launch of the India - Japan AI Initiative to strengthen collaboration on large language models, data centres, and AI governance.
  • Launch of the Next Generation Mobility Partnership
  • Launch of the India - Japan Small and Medium Enterprises Forum
  • Launch of the Sustainable Fuel Initiative
  • Implementing arrangement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan aerospace exploration agency (JAXA) concerning joint lunar polar exploration mission. 
  • Transfer of Japan's next-generation E10 series Shinkansen technology for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
  • Japan Human Resource Exchange: an action plan to promote two-way exchange of 5 lakh people between India and Japan, particularly 50,000 skilled and semi-skilled personnel from India to Japan in the next five years.

Overview of India-Japan Bilateral Relationship: 

India and Japan are two of Asia’s leading democracies and among the world’s top five economies. The partnership is rooted in civilisational ties reinforced by convergence in their regional and global outlooks. The countries share values, trust, and strategic outlook.

Strategic Partnership:

  • India-Japan bilateral relations were elevated to Global Partnership in 2000, Strategic and Global Partnership in 2006, and Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014.
  • India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) align closely with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) policy. 

Multilateral and Regional Cooperation: 

  • Cooperation between the countries extends to plurilateral platforms such as the:
    • Quad (India and Japan coordinate closely with the US and Australia to ensure a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific) 
    • International Solar Alliance (ISA)
    • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
    • Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (India and Japan are looking to diversify and secure supply chains through the SCRI which also involves Australia).
  • Japan leads the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI’s) connectivity pillar.

Trade Ties: 

  • Bilateral trade reached $22.8 billion in FY 2024. 
  • Imports from Japan continue to outweigh exports.
    • India’s main exports: chemicals, vehicles, aluminium, and seafood 
    • India’s major imports: machinery, steel, copper, and reactors.

Investment: 

  • Japan is India’s fifth-largest source of FDI with $43.2 billion cumulative investment up to December 2024. Annual inflows have been strong: $3.1 billion in FY 2024.
  • Around 1,400 Japanese companies with nearly 5,000 establishments operate in India; more than 100 Indian companies are present in Japan.

Emerging Focus Areas: 

  • Digital cooperation (involving AI, semiconductors, startups), clean energy, supply chain resilience, industrial competitiveness, public infrastructure and skill development.
  • Economic security initiative focuses on semiconductors, critical minerals, AI, telecommunications and clean energy. 

Infrastructure Cooperation: 

  • Japan has been India’s largest Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) donor since 1958, supporting critical infrastructure and human development projects. ODA disbursement stood at about JPY 580 billion ($4.5 billion) in FY 2024.
  • The flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail is the flagship project symbolising advanced technology transfer and skill development. The latest tranche of JPY 300 billion ($2.2 billion) was signed in 2023.
  • Japan is transferring its next-generation E10 series Shinkansen technology for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

Defence and Security: 

  • Key agreements on defence and security include the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (2008), Defence Cooperation and Exchanges MoU (2014), Information Protection Agreement (2015), Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (2020), and co-development of the UNICORN naval mast (2024).

Military Exercises: 

  • Malabar (with the US and Australia), Milan (multilateral naval), JIMEX (bilateral maritime), Dharma Guardian (Army), and Coast Guard cooperation are held regularly.
  • Dialogue Mechanisms: Defence Ministers’ meetings, Chiefs’ visits, and Joint Service Staff Talks (2024) have consolidated trust.

People-to-People, Culture and Education: 

  • Tourism: 2023-24 was celebrated as the Year of Tourism Exchange with the theme “Connecting Himalayas with Mount Fuji”.
  • Education: There are more than 665 academic partnerships between Indian and Japanese universities. Platforms like Edu-Connect and Universities Forum promote exchanges. The Skill Connect platform launched in 2023 links Indian talent with Japanese employers.
  • Diaspora: About 54,000 Indians live in Japan, mainly IT professionals and engineers.

The visit consolidates India-Japan relations making Japan India’s most consistent partner in Asia. 

US’s Tariffs: Nature, Impacts, and Lessons for India

Context: The US has imposed 50% tariffs on most US imports from India with effect from August 27, 2025. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Concept of Tariff, WTO, MFN Principle, India-US Trade. Mains: US’s Tariffs - nature, impact, and lesson for India.

What is Tariff?

  • A tariff is a tax or duty imposed on imported or exported goods by a government.
  • It is one of the oldest instruments of trade policy used to regulate cross-border trade.
  • Objectives:
    • To protect domestic industries from foreign competition
    • To raise government revenue
    • To be used as a tool of foreign policy or retaliation. 

Under the WTO framework, members commit to tariff ceilings and must follow the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle, applying equal tariffs to all members except under FTAs or customs unions.

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Nature of US Tariffs on India: 

  • The US has imposed two layers of tariffs on Indian products: 
    • a reciprocal tariff of 25% (effective August 7, 2025)
    • secondary tariff of 25% (effective August 27, 2025).
  • The tariffs apply to a broad range of Indian exports, sparing only a few critical sectors such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, mobile phones, lumber, and certain chemicals.
  • The tariffs have been imposed unilaterally by the US without negotiation or consultation, making them a violation of WTO commitments.
  • The tariffs directly breach the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle, since India is being treated less favourably compared to other WTO members such as the EU and China, which are not subjected to similar duties.
  • The tariffs violate binding tariff commitments under WTO schedules, where the US had agreed to maintain duties below certain ceilings for all members.
  • The tariffs are discriminatory in nature, the US has not imposed any tariff on the EU and China, the two largest buyers of energy from Russia. 

The tariffs demonstrate the weaponisation of trade policy, where tariffs are being used to pursue geopolitical objectives such as pressuring countries on Russian oil purchases. 

The paralysis of the WTO’s Appellate Body since 2019 has been exposed further, as countries like India have no effective mechanism to challenge such unilateral actions.

India’s Concessions to the US: 

  • India reduced tariffs on bourbon whiskey, high-end motorcycles, and electric vehicles.
  • India withdrew the equalisation levy on offshore entities, a long-standing US objection.
  • India offered zero or near-zero tariffs on most industrial products and some agricultural products.
  • India expressed willingness to increase energy imports from the US to reduce the bilateral trade deficit.

At the same time, India drew red lines by refusing concessions on GM foods, soya, maize, cereals, and dairy products, citing farmer livelihoods and food security.

Likely Impact on India: 

Impact on Exports: 

  • Tariffs are expected to affect 55% of India’s $89-billion goods exports to the United States.
  • Labour-intensive industries such as textiles, clothing, gems and jewellery, and engineering goods will be among the worst hit.
  • Indian exporters in low-to-medium value segments will lose competitiveness, as South and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh enjoy lower tariff regimes.
  • China may gain an advantage because of the 90-day tariff extension it received from the US and a lower 30 per cent tariff rate, thereby diverting some orders away from India.

Impact on Imports: 

  • India’s imports from the US, which include mineral fuels, uncut diamonds, capital goods, machinery, organic chemicals and plastics, and edible fruits and nuts, will not be directly protected by retaliation.
  • Any counter-tariffs by India on these imports would hurt domestic industries that depend on these products as raw materials or intermediates. 

Impact on Services and Investments: 

  • Tariff retaliation by India may provoke the US to adopt cross-sectoral retaliation in services trade, threatening India’s IT and professional services exports.
  • Indian professionals may face stricter visa regimes or regulatory hurdles in the US, which would affect India’s services sector earnings.
  • The US investors may become more cautious about investing in India if trade relations deteriorate, thereby affecting foreign direct investment flows.

Impact on Employment and Economy: 

  • Job losses are likely in labour-intensive industries like textiles, jewellery, and engineering goods, where export demand will shrink.
  • Export slowdown may create inflationary pressures in India by reducing foreign exchange earnings and widening the current account deficit.
  • Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of India’s export ecosystem, will be particularly vulnerable to these shocks.

Way Forward

  • India must recognise the risks of overdependence on a single market, as nearly 17% of its goods exports currently go to the United States. It shows the urgent need to diversify export destinations, particularly towards Latin America, Africa, West Asia, and other emerging economies.
  • India must broaden its export basket by moving beyond traditional sectors such as textiles, gems, and jewellery to high-value areas like electronics, green technologies, and services.
  • Strengthening and fast-tracking trade agreements with partners such as the EU, Japan, Korea, ASEAN, and Australia is necessary to secure alternative markets.
  • India should expand intra-BRICS and South-South trade, thereby reducing dependence on Western economies and creating alternative trade corridors.
  • India must invest in skilling, technology, and innovation ecosystems to ensure its workforce and industries remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.

The episode should be seen as a wake-up call similar to the 1991 reforms, pushing India towards deeper economic reforms and stronger integration with global trade networks.

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The Asia Challenge: Opportunities and Challenges for India

Context: Indian Prime Minister’s Asia tour covering the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China and a bilateral visit to Japan has significant implications for India’s foreign policy. The visit comes amid trade tensions with the US, strained ties with China, and shifting alliances in Asia. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: PM Modi’s Asia Tour: Opportunities and Challenges for India. 

For India, the tour highlights both strategic opportunities and persistent challenges in its continental and maritime engagements.

Opportunities for India

  • Strengthening Strategic Partnership with Japan: India and Japan share converging interests in maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Defence cooperation, joint exercises, and technology collaborations can deepen mutual trust. Japan’s concerns over US unpredictability create room for India to emerge as a reliable strategic partner.
  • Expanding Trade and Technology Cooperation: Japan offers prospects for investment in critical technology, resilient supply chains, and infrastructure development. Collaborations in areas like digital economy, semiconductors, and green energy can reduce India’s over-dependence on China.
  • Leveraging Maritime Asia: India’s geographical position and naval strength make it a natural partner for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian nations. Maritime partnerships allow India to project influence beyond the continental constraints of its neighbourhood.
  • Diplomatic Space in SCO: Despite contradictions, the SCO provides a platform for India to engage with China, Russia, Central Asia, and Pakistan simultaneously. Participation helps India avoid isolation in regional forums where China is expanding its influence. Even limited dialogues on border management or counter-terrorism can reduce immediate risks of escalation.
  • Balancing Major Powers: India’s presence in both Japan and China underscores its multi-alignment strategy. By engaging with the US allies like Japan, while also remaining part of SCO, India signals its intent to retain strategic autonomy.

Challenges for India: 

Economic Vulnerabilities to China

  • India’s manufacturing sector remains dependent on China for critical inputs like rare earth magnets and tunnelling equipment. Disruptions in supply chains, such as China’s withdrawal of engineers from iPhone production in India expose India’s fragile industrial base.
  • Campaigns like Make in India and Swadeshi will take time to reduce this dependency.

Limitations of the SCO Forum: 

The SCO is portrayed as an inner-Asian club standing up to American dominance, but this aspiration is undermined by severe internal contradictions. They include-

  • India-China mistrust
  • India-Pakistan disputes
  • Though counterterrorism was one of SCO’s founding goals, the forum has been unwilling to censure Pakistan due to China’s protection.
  • Economic divergence: India rejects China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), central to SCO’s economic vision.

Russia’s Shrinking Utility: 

  • Discounted Russian oil, once seen as a stabilising factor, has now become a diplomatic liability as the US pressures India to scale down energy ties with Russia.
  • Russia’s growing dependence on China reduces India’s room for manoeuvre in Eurasian geopolitics.

Erosion of Strategic Primacy in South Asia: 

  • With SAARC effectively non-functional, China has quietly drawn much of the Asian subcontinent into the SCO orbit. China is promoting new minilateral formats such as trilaterals with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and dialogues with Bangladesh and Myanmar positioning itself as South Asia’s most consequential external power.
  • China seeks to entrench its role as both economic engine and political stabiliser, thereby eroding India’s traditional strategic primacy in the neighbourhood.

Uncertainty in US Relations: 

  • Trade tensions with the US threaten India’s biggest export market.
  • While the SCO and Japan visits show alternatives, neither Russia nor China can replace the US as a trade partner. In 2024, India’s exports to the US stood at $88 billion with a $45 billion trade surplus, far exceeding exports to Russia ($5 bn) and China ($15 bn) combined.

Risk of Losing Strategic Space to US-China Rivalry: 

  • As both the US and China advance competing regional visions for South Asia, India risks being squeezed between the two.
  • China is embedding itself as the region’s “benign benefactor” through the SCO and minilateral formats, while the US has signalled its intent to counter this influence by appointing a special envoy for South Asia.
  • In this growing great-power rivalry, India faces the danger of erosion of its traditional strategic primacy in its own neighbourhood.

For India, the challenge is to stabilise difficult ties with China and Russia, while deepening reliable partnerships like Japan to safeguard its strategic autonomy in an era of great-power rivalry.

India-Fiji deepen Defence and Climate Cooperation 

Context: Recently, the Prime Minister of Fiji paid his first official visit to India. India and Fiji unveiled significant initiatives to enhance defence and maritime security cooperation, positioning Fiji as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific amidst rising Chinese influence in the region.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Strategic Significance of India-Fiji ties in the Indo-Pacific. 

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Key Outcomes of the Visit

The most important outcome of the visit was the announcement of enhanced defence and maritime cooperation between India and Fiji. 

  • India has committed to providing training and equipment to upgrade Fiji’s maritime security and strengthen the capacity of its armed forces.
  • A Defence Attaché post was created at the High Commission of India in Suva, which will also cover the wider Pacific Islands, marking a permanent institutional mechanism for security engagement.
  • India announced the gifting of two sea ambulances to the Fijian Military Forces and extended support to Fiji’s initiative “Ocean of Peace,” which aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. 
  • India announced the establishment of a Cyber Security Training Cell in Fiji, thereby extending cooperation in digital security and resilience against cyber threats.
  • Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, given the vulnerability of Fiji and other Pacific Island countries to cyclones and climate-induced disasters.
  • Nine agreements and MoUs were exchanged between the two countries, including- construction and operation of a super-speciality hospital in Fiji; supply of medicines under the Jan Aushadhi scheme; migration and mobility partnership etc. 
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Strategic Significance of India-Fiji Ties in Indo-Pacific

  • Geopolitical Leverage: Fiji’s central location in the South Pacific provides India with a strategic gateway to engage with other Pacific Island nations and expand its maritime outreach.
  • Maritime Security Cooperation: By assisting Fiji in protecting its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), India strengthens regional maritime security and ensures safe and open sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC): India views Fiji as a hub for its engagement with Pacific Island countries, and closer ties with Suva strengthen India’s position in FIPIC.
  • Countering Chinese Influence: Strengthening defence and development ties with Fiji helps India counterbalance China’s growing military and economic footprint in the Pacific Islands.
  • Quad Plus Alignment: Closer India-Fiji ties complement the objectives of the Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia) to promote a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific order.
  • Climate and Disaster Resilience: Cooperation in disaster management and humanitarian assistance positions India as a credible partner for climate-vulnerable Pacific Island states.
  • Diaspora Connect: Fiji’s large Indian-origin community (nearly 38% of the population) provides India with strong cultural and people-to-people linkages that reinforce strategic trust.
  • Soft Power and Development Diplomacy: India’s initiatives in healthcare, migration, and capacity building enhance its image as a development partner, broadening the scope of its influence beyond defence into socio-economic cooperation.

India-Fiji relations have acquired new strategic depth by combining defence, development, and maritime cooperation within the larger Indo-Pacific framework.

China’s Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Project

Context: China has recently set up the Xinjiang-Xizang Railway Co. Ltd. to construct a high-altitude railway line linking Hotan in Xinjiang with Shigatse and Lhasa in Tibet.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: China’s Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Project. 

China’s Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Project

  • The project is part of Beijing’s larger “Go West Strategy” to integrate its underdeveloped western regions.
  • The line will connect two restive and strategically sensitive frontier provinces – the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (northwest) and the Tibet Autonomous Region (south).
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Key Features of the Project: 

  • The Xinjiang-Xizang line will run from Hotan in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to Shigatse and Lhasa in Xizang, Tibet.
  • The project is a part of five planned railway corridors into Tibet, aimed at building a comprehensive rail network across the high-altitude region.
  • The route is expected to run close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and may pass through Aksai Chin, Indian territory occupied by China since 1962.

Significance of the Project: 

The project has multiple aims including facilitation of the movement of soldiers to harness untapped economic potential in these regions.

  • Political Integration of Frontier Regions: Xinjiang and Tibet are historically prone to separatism and unrest. Enhanced connectivity strengthens the Chinese state’s presence and integrates them more tightly into Beijing’s administrative framework.
  • Cultural Assimilation (Sinicisation): The railway facilitates Han Chinese migration into minority regions. This supports the policy of Sinicisation, which aims to assimilate local Uyghur and Tibetan populations into the dominant Han culture.
  • Military and Strategic Utility: The railway provides the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with faster troop mobilisation and logistical support in high-altitude areas.
  • Economic Development of the West: The project seeks to unlock resources, promote trade, and generate employment in historically underdeveloped western provinces.

Implications for India:  

  • The railway may pass through Aksai Chin, strengthening China’s control over the Indian territory occupied by China since 1962.
  • It will improve the PLA’s mobility and logistics, giving China a military edge along the LAC.

Taking stock of India-China Bilateral Ties 

Context: Recently, the Chinese Foreign Minister paid a two day official visit to New Delhi, first such visit since 2021. He co-chaired the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ dialogue on the Boundary Question between India and China with India’s National Security Advisor.

Relevance of the Topic : Mains: India and its Neighbourhood: India-China Relations. 

India-China relations constitute one of the most significant bilateral equations in contemporary international politics. Characterised by deep economic interdependence, multilateral cooperation, and persistent strategic distrust, the relationship has been under strain since the 2020 Galwan clashes

Recent talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian leadership, along with the planned Modi-Xi meeting at the upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin, indicate renewed efforts to stabilise borders, rebuild economic ties, and restore strategic trust.

Key Developments of Chinese Foreign Minister’s Visit

Border Management and Security: 

  • Both sides agreed to establish new mechanisms under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs:
    • Expert Group to explore early harvest outcomes in boundary delimitation.
    • Working Group to advance effective border management in order to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.
    • General Level Mechanisms in the Eastern and Middle Sectors, in addition to the existing General Level Mechanism in Western Sector. 
  • Both sides reiterated that peace and tranquillity along the LAC is essential for overall ties.

Political and Diplomatic Engagement: 

  • Indian Prime Minister Modi stated that India-China relations must be guided by mutual respect, sensitivity, and shared interests.

Economic and People-to-People Ties: 

  • Agreement to resume direct flight connectivity and finalise an updated Air Services Agreement.
  • Decision to reopen border trade routes at Lipulekh Pass, Shipki La Pass, and Nathu La Pass.
  • China assured India of addressing its needs for fertilisers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel boring machines.
  • Revival of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra and planning of people-to-people exchanges to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025.
  • Agreement to facilitate visas for tourists, businesses, media, and other visitors.

Strategic and Regional Issues: 

  • India strongly raised concerns about cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, with both sides agreeing that SCO must prioritise counter-terrorism.
  • India expressed concerns over China’s mega dam on the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo), stressing the need for transparency and data-sharing.
  • On trans-border rivers cooperation, the Chinese side agreed to share hydrological information during emergency situations based on humanitarian considerations. 
  • Both sides agreed to cooperate on multilateral issues, uphold a rules-based WTO system, and promote a multipolar world.
  • India and China pledged reciprocal support for hosting BRICS summits in 2026 and 2027.

Challenges in India-China Relations: 

  • Taiwan Controversy: China’s readout claimed Jaishankar acknowledged Taiwan as part of China. India clarified no change in policy, i.e., relations with Taiwan remain economic, technological, cultural.
  • Trust Deficit from repeated Chinese incursions on the border: Depsang in 2013, Chumar in 2014, Doklam in 2017, Galwan in 2020. 
  • Chinese Projects on Brahmaputra: India remains cautious of hydrological risks and ecological consequences.
  • China-Pakistan Axis: India continues to be wary of China’s all-weather friendship with Pakistan. China’s military cooperation with Pakistan was on display during Operation Sindoor, when the Chinese supplied weapons and live intelligence to the Pakistanis. 
  • China’s export restrictions: India is concerned at China’s export restrictions on rare earths, tunnel boring machines, and fertilisers, which are key to India’s development and food security.

The Wang Yi visit and the upcoming Modi-Xi meeting represent an opportunity for recalibration in India-China relations. The litmus test remains peace and stability on the border. For India, the challenge will be to remain firm on sovereignty while pragmatic on cooperation.

Also Read: India-China Relations: Developments & Challenges 

India’s Strategic Engagement with Namibia 

Context: Namibia is a valued and trusted African partner with which India is seeking to boost bilateral cooperation and partnerships. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India’s engagement in Africa; India-Namibia bilateral relations; Global South diplomacy. 

India’s Engagement with Namibia

India and Namibia have a shared anti-colonial heritage and enjoy warm and cordial relations.

Diplomatic Engagement: 

  • India was among the first nations to raise the question of Namibian independence in the UN in 1946. 
  • At the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, India offered full diplomatic recognition to SWAPO (South West Africa People's Organisation), which led Namibia’s liberation struggle, accompanied by material assistance and military training.
  • The first SWAPO Embassy (South West Africa People’s Organisation led Namibia’s liberation struggle) abroad was established in New Delhi in 1986. 

Bilateral Trade & Investment: 

  • Bilateral trade has grown from less than $3 million in 2000 to almost $800 million in 2025, supported by a $12 billion development partnership across Africa. 
  • Indian companies have invested in mining, manufacturing, diamond processing and services in Namibia.

Digital Infrastructure & Capacity building: 

  • Namibia became the first country in Africa to adopt India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 
  • India’s targeted investments in capacity-building include, India-Namibia Centre of Excellence in IT at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, and the ‘India Wing’ funded by a $12 million grant. These efforts leverage India’s strengths in IT and respond to Namibia’s youthful population and digital readiness.
  • Namibia’s recent accession to the Global Biofuels Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) aligns with India’s global vision of resilient infrastructure. 

Translocation of Cheetahs

  • Eight cheetahs from Namibia were translocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in 2022, the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a major carnivore species.
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Significance of Namibia to India: 

  • Namibia’s rich mineral resources, particularly Uranium, Copper, and rare earth metals, can meet strategic critical mineral requirements to India. 
  • Gateway in Southern Africa: Namibia’s ports and connectivity provide India with an entry point into southern Africa’s markets.
  • Global South Diplomacy: Namibia is a key collaborator in the Global South’s broader effort to reshape international rules and usher reforms in global governance. This is in line with India’s advocacy for rules-based international order. 

Challenges

  • Lack of Consistent Engagement: India’s developmental ambitions in Africa are often criticised for uneven implementation and long lapses. This is evident in the recent visit to Namibia by an Indian head of government, the first in nearly three decades.
  • Lack of major agreement or strategic framework to access Namibia’s critical mineral reserves. 

To further the engagement, India needs to overcome structural and operational issues by consistent engagement matched by sustained investment and institutional coherence. The upcoming India-Africa Forum Summit could serve as a vital platform to formalise and solidify these diplomatic efforts through institutional cooperation.

The Concept of Necropolitics 

Context: Necropolitics is a theory that examines how modern nation states determine whose lives are disposable and may be sacrificed in the name of security, threat, or political control. 

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: About the idea of Necropolitics.  Mains: Essay: Necropolitics: What, How Necropolitics Operates? 

What is Necropolitics? 

  • Necropolitics refers to the power of the state (or other authorities) to decide who may live and who must die. It goes beyond physical killing as it includes slow neglect, abandonment, and structural violence where certain people are denied care, dignity, or justice. 
  • E.g., Bengal Famine of 1943 - Millions died not due to a lack of food, but because British colonial policies prioritised imperial interests over Indian lives.
  • The idea of Necropolitics was coined by Cameroonian historian Achille Mbembe in a 2003 essay and later expanded in his book Necropolitics (2019). The concept of Necropolitics builds on Michel Foucault’s Notion of Biopolitics. 

How Necropolitics Operates? 

Necropolitics is not always about open violence. It works through invisible systems and everyday decisions. Mbembe identifies key features of necropolitical systems:

  • State terror and suppression: Even in democracies, dissent is crushed using surveillance, arrests, or killings. 
  • Collaboration with non-state actors: Governments often work with militias or gangs, blurring lines between legal and illegal violence. 
  • Enemy creation as governance: Politics often revolves around inventing an enemy- a community to blame, exclude, or control. 
  • War and terror as economies: Violence fuels industries- arms, surveillance, and security become profitable. 
  • Displacement of communities: Large-scale resource projects or conflict zones often force poor people out of their homes. 
  • Varied forms of death: Torture, drone strikes, hunger, lack of healthcare, all can be tools of political death. 
  • Moral justifications: Ideologies like nationalism, religion, or security are used to justify abandonment or violence. 

‘Living Dead’ and ‘Death Worlds’

  • Mbembe introduces the idea of the "living dead", people who are alive biologically but have been stripped of all social, legal, and political recognition.
  • These people may not be killed directly, but live in conditions so degrading and unstable, it is like dying slowly every day.
  • For Example: During India’s COVID-19 lockdown, migrant workers were left without food, shelter, or transport. Many died walking back to their villages, not from the virus, but from state neglect.
  • Mbembe calls such spaces “death worlds”, zones where people live outside the protection of law, care, or justice. 

The State of Exception: 

  • Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben describes the "state of exception", a situation where governments suspend laws and rights in the name of protecting them.
  • Mbembe extends this idea: For some communities (like refugees, slum dwellers, minorities), this exception is not temporary, it is permanent. In these zones, people are governed by logistics, not justice.

Necropolitics in Everyday Life: 

  • Necropolitics is not confined to war zones. It thrives in the slow violence of poverty, caste, racism, and displacement. It exists all around us, through silence, neglect, and “routine” policy decisions.
  • Examples: 
    • Sterilisation of Dalit and Adivasi women: bodies controlled without consent. 
    • Police profiling of Muslims or Dalits: targeted surveillance. 
    • Neglect of refugees, slum dwellers, and tribal areas: systemic denial of basic rights.
  • It also exists in silence, in the world including states and global institutions, looking away as thousands of civilians, including women and children, are killed in places like Gaza, while the rest of us carry on with our daily lives.
  • In a necropolitical world, the aim must not just be survival. It must be the right to a dignified life- a life that is: Valued, Protected, Mourned if lost.

Way Forward

Challenge Necropolitics by: 

  • Resisting narratives that normalise suffering. 
  • Questioning systems that abandon the most vulnerable. 
  • Demanding policies that protect all lives equally. 

Recognising necropolitics around us is the first step towards building a state that protects, not abandons, a nation where every life counts.

India and Philippines upgrade ties to Strategic Partnership

Context: During the recent official visit of the Philippines President to India, both nations have elevated their bilateral relationship to Strategic Partnership. The move aims at renewed commitments in trade, defence and maritime cooperation, and digital collaboration.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India-Philippines Bilateral ties.

India and the Philippines established diplomatic ties in 1949. Over 75 years, the relationship has grown steadily. In recent years, amid the rising assertiveness of China in the South China Sea, shared democratic values and strategic interests have brought the two nations closer.

Key Outcomes of the Strategic Partnership

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India-Phillipines Strategic Partnership Formalised

  • India and the Philippines have boosted their ties to a Strategic Partnership. India is now one of only five strategic partners of the Philippines.

India’s Strategic Partners in ASEAN: 

  • Vietnam: Comprehensive Strategic Partner Defence, maritime security.
  • Indonesia: Comprehensive Strategic Partner Trade, energy, security.
  • Singapore:  Strategic Partner in finance, defence training. 
  • Philippines: Strategic Partner (2025) in Defence, PTA, maritime.

Trade and Economic Cooperation

  • Bilateral trade between the countries has crossed over $3 billion annually and is on a rising trajectory.
  • Decision to start negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to enhance bilateral trade further.
  • Both sides committed to expediting the review of the India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to further strengthen regional trade linkages.

This is especially relevant as reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. have impacted India and ASEAN exports, making regional trade cooperation more important.

Defence Cooperation

  • India’s indigenous defence industry is emerging as a key partner to Philippines’ ongoing military modernisation and regional maritime concerns.
  • The Philippines has acquired BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India in 2022.
  • The Philippines has expressed interest in other Indian systems like the Akash missile and air defence systems.
  • Agreement to conduct service-to-service talks for enhanced joint training and information exchange between their armed forces.

Maritime & Indo-Pacific Security: 

  • Both leaders reaffirmed support for freedom of navigation and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The Philippines is seen as an important partner in India’s Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR vision.
  • Indian naval ships, including a hydrography ship, participated for the first time in a naval exercise in the Philippines during the visit.
  • The Philippines condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, expressing solidarity with India. 
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Digital and Scientific Collaboration: 

  • India to support a pilot project to help the Philippines build its Sovereign Data Cloud infrastructure.
  • Ongoing joint research between the two countries in areas such as virology, AI, and additive manufacturing.

People-to-People & Connectivity Initiatives

  • Direct flights between India and the Philippines to begin in 2025.
  • India to offer free e-tourist visas to Filipino nationals for one year starting August 2025.

Strategic Importance of Elevated Partnership: 

The partnership comes at a time when both countries are navigating economic challenges due to external trade disruptions and facing shared security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.

  • Strategic Indo-Pacific Engagement: Strengthens India’s Act East Policy by partnering with a key Southeast Asian nation amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.
  • Defence Diplomacy and Export Boost:  Expands India's role as a defence exporter, with BrahMos as a flagship project, and supports the Philippines' military modernisation through indigenous Indian systems.
  • Economic Diversification through PTA: Launch of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) negotiations and ASEAN FTA review offers India a route to reduce dependence on traditional markets amid US tariff pressures.
  • Technological and Digital Collaboration: Positions India as a reliable digital partner through initiatives like the Sovereign Data Cloud and joint research in AI, virology, and additive manufacturing.
  • Maritime Security Collaboration: Enhances joint naval operations, coast guard interoperability, and supports freedom of navigation based on international law.

The elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership marks a major milestone in India-Philippines relations. The particular focus is to deepen defence and maritime cooperation, as both countries seek to navigate their security concerns due to China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

“From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, we are united by shared values. Ours is not just a friendship of the past; it is a promise to the future.” - PM Narendra Modi

Gaza War and Diplomatic Isolation of Israel 

Context: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has announced to recognise the state of Palestine during the coming UN General Assembly session in September 2025, unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows more humanitarian aid and commits itself towards long-term peace based on the two-state formula.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Balfour Declaration; Diplomatic Isolation of Israel; Gaza War. 

Gaza War and Diplomatic Isolation of Israel

  • The Gaza war began in October 2023, when Hamas launched coordinated armed incursions on Israel from the Gaza Strip. In retaliation, Israel declared war and launched “Operation Swords of Iron,” launching airstrikes against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. 
  • As the 21-month-long war on Gaza rages on, over 58,000 people have been killed, including more than 17,000 children. 
  • Israel is facing one of its biggest diplomatic crises with more and more countries in the West (Israel’s traditional allies) adopting a favourable position towards Palestinian statehood.
    • Recently, the President of France declared to recognise Palestinian statehood in September. 
    • Canada and Portugal have also expressed their intention to do the same. 
    • The United Kingdom has announced to recognise the state of Palestine during the coming UN General Assembly session. 
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Changing Diplomatic Positions of the Western Nations: 

Of the 193 UN member states, 147 have already recognised the state of Palestine. Until now, powerful Western countries had resisted such recognition, insisting it should be part of a final diplomatic settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, the position is beginning to shift. 

  • Among the five members of the UN Security Council, Russia and China have already recognised Palestine. If France and the U.K. follow through with their recent statements, the U.S., Israel’s closest ally and patron, will be isolated at the UNSC. 
  • France, the U.K. and Canada are also members of the G7 group of advanced economies, and their recognition could influence other countries to follow suit. 
  • Britain’s move, in particular, carries historic weight, given its central role in the Israel-Palestine question. In the 1917 Balfour Declaration, Britain became the first major power to endorse the Zionist demand for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. 

About Balfour Declaration: 

  • The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War announcing its support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. 
  • The declaration was issued by Sir Arthur Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, addressed to Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, a Zionist and leader of the British Jewish community. 
  • By the time the Balfour Declaration was issued, there were roughly 60,000 Jews in Palestine, accounting for over 9% of the total population. Palestine was a part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of the First World War, in the late 19th century.

108 years after the Balfour Declaration was issued, Britain' s announcement to recognise the state of Palestine, clearly reflects a change in the UK’s policy towards Israel and Palestine.

India’s Stand in Israel-Palestine issue

  • India announced its recognition of Israel in 1950 and has recognised Palestine in 1988.
  • Two-State solution: India consistently supports a negotiated two-state solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within a secure and recognised border, side by side at peace with Israel. 
  • Focus on Practical solutions: Recently, at a United Nations conference (July 2025), India joined the call for Israel to end the war in Gaza and ensure access to food, for Hamas to return hostages, and for U.N. members to recognise the Statehood of Palestine. India advocated the need for practical solutions, not paper solutions, to bring about a Two-State solution through purposeful dialogue and diplomacy. 

As Israel is facing accusations of committing genocide against Palestinians, and images of Gaza’s devastation and starving children are coming out, it becomes untenable for many Western nations to continue to back Israel unconditionally.

Also Read: Is Israel committing Genocide in Gaza? 

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