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China’s Activities in Island States: Sri Lanka as a Case — China’s Activities in Island States: Sri Lanka as a Case

As strategic Indo-Pacific locations, island states such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles draw heightened attention amid growing competition between major powers. Adopting a smaller-state analytical lens, this issue brief by Nilanthi Samaranayake examines China’s major activities in Sri Lanka across economic, military, and diplomatic domains. Bilateral cooperation remains stable, and China has been a critical provider of support when Sri Lanka desperately needed military and diplomatic assistance during and after its civil war. Sri Lanka’s need for such assistance has waned since the end of the war in 2009, yet China remains a major trade and infrastructure development partner. Sri Lanka needs China’s partnership as it rebuilds its economy since the 2022 debt default. Island countries can learn from Sri Lanka when considering their domestic needs as developing countries, as well as their concerns about large powers like China, writes Samaranayake. She further argues that Sri Lanka’s experience has become a cautionary tale for island states, like the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles, determined to maintain their agency and survival in the contested Indo-Pacific. Read this issue brief here.

Russia-Taiwan relations: From bilateral trade to limited interactions with an “unfriendly state” — Russia-Taiwan relations: From bilateral trade to limited interactions with an “unfriendly state”

This piece by Danylo Stonis analyses how the Russia-Ukraine war has affected Russia-Taiwan relations, resulting in a significant decline in trade turnover. Nevertheless, Taiwan’s dependence on fossil fuels, on the one hand, as well as Russia’s need for manufacturing high-tech components for military purposes, on the other, provides a basis for both sides to maintain trade relations, writes Stonis. He further argues that despite a sharp decline in political relations, both countries are likely to maintain unofficial trade relations, driven by mutual economic interests while continuing to pursue fundamentally different foreign policies. Read this piece by Danylo Stonis here.

Religion in Korea: Of Faith and Freedoms — Religion in Korea: Of Faith and Freedoms

Lars Vargo writes that throughout history, religion has exerted a decisive influence on political decision-making in Korea. Identifying any single religion as the principal factor shaping Korean patterns of behavior, however, is far from straightforward. Korean culture is better understood as a melting pot in which multiple religious and philosophical traditions have intermingled. Religious traditions and doctrines persist in contemporary South Korean society, while North Korean policymakers maintain that their population has chosen instead to embrace the wisdom associated with the Kim family. Confucianism is frequently said to continue to shape patterns of behavior in both North and South Korea. Other accounts emphasize the considerable influence of Christianity. North Korea’s first leader, Kim Il-sung, for example, grew up in a strictly Christian environment. In more recent years, by contrast, two South Korean presidents have been removed from office following allegations that, among other factors, excessive shamanic influence had led them to act improperly. Nor can the profound influence of Buddhism on the development of Korean culture reasonably be denied, writes Vargo. This Focus Asia paper seeks to illustrate the richness of thought to which Korea’s religious and philosophical traditions have contributed. Read and download the paper here.

Middle-lateralism under international order transition: institutional design in an era of renewed great-power competition — Middle-lateralism under international order transition: institutional design in an era of renewed great-power competition

This research article by Jae Jeok Park and Jagannath Panda explores the concept of “middle-laterals” as an emerging category for international cooperation typologies. As states adapt to a multipolar world marked by complex security dynamics, shifting power balances, and transnational challenges, they increasingly seek cooperation formats that balance flexibility with structured engagement. Middle-laterals embody this balance by adopting selective membership, issue-specific focus, and a moderate level of institutionalization, allowing members to pursue shared interests without the binding commitments typical of traditional multilateralism. Through a conceptual analysis, this article identifies the defining characteristics of middle-laterals, including their unique group identity formation, semi-permanent nature, and operational adaptability. It uses the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) 2.0 and BRICS Plus to illustrate what a middle-lateral looks like in practice. Park and Panda argue that middle-laterals play a critical role in addressing specific global challenges while complementing existing minilaterals and multilateral institutions. Read this article on the journal's website here.

Is There Anything “Strategically Stable” between Beijing and Washington? — Is There Anything “Strategically Stable” between Beijing and Washington?

This piece by Upamanyu Basu and Sriparna Pathak contextualizes that there is nothing strategic about US-China “strategic stability”; neither is there anything stable. Two reasons substantiate this. First, there is no visible agreement on the hardest questions between the two countries: Taiwan, maritime disputes, and nuclear arms were completely left out. Second, the “truce” has a clear political expiry date, tied to who sits next in Capitol Hill. A more accurate label for this relationship would be “deferred competition” rather than “strategic stability”, write Basu and Pathak. They further write that for New Delhi, the stakes are practical. Read this piece here.

China’s Regime Influence on Siliguri Corridor States: The Cases of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal — China’s Regime Influence on Siliguri Corridor States: The Cases of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal

China’s growing influence in South Asia extends beyond its global maritime ambitions to the political, economic, and strategic dynamics of its immediate neighborhood. This paper by Antonina Luszczykiewicz-Mendis examines how Beijing shapes policy choices and political outcomes in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, three countries whose geopolitical significance is heightened by their proximity to the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. It develops an analytical framework encompassing three dimensions of Chinese influence: geopolitical pressure, investment and trade, and cultural and narrative influence. The analysis explores how territorial disputes, gray-zone tactics, military activities, infrastructure development, and upstream water management serve as instruments of strategic leverage. It also assesses the implications of Chinese investment, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative, for economic dependence and political autonomy. At the ideational level, the paper investigates Beijing’s efforts to promote the term “Xizang” instead of “Tibet” in international discourse, highlighting the relationship between linguistic conventions, sovereignty claims, and asymmetric power relations, writes Luszczykiewicz-Mendis. Read this Focus Asia paper here.

‘The more China makes claims of Japanese militarism, the more anti-China sentiment grows within Japan’: An Interview with Professor Kokubun Ryosei — ‘The more China makes claims of Japanese militarism, the more anti-China sentiment grows within Japan’: An Interview with Professor Kokubun Ryosei

Japan and China bilateral relations are currently facing severe strain. Following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November regarding a potential Taiwan contingency, and Beijing’s subsequent accusations of a Japanese “resurgence of militarism”, high-level dialogues and person-to-person exchanges have been canceled, military activity in and around the East China Sea has heightened, and China has implemented export controls on several Japanese companies and institutions. To understand whether this moment represents an unprecedented crisis or a familiar cyclical downturn, this Experts’ Take explores the intersecting historical, economic, and political patterns driving Tokyo and Beijing’s complex relationship today. To navigate these issues, Viktor Hellbom, Mathilde Huard, and Diana Nieto Cruz sat down with Professor Kokubun Ryosei, a leading authority on Sino-Japanese relations and Chinese domestic and foreign policy. Read this expert's take here.

Events »

9 Nov

Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part XIII: Understanding Research Security in a Changing Global Environment. Insights from the Routledge International Handbook of Research Security
11 Nov

Korea-Nordic Forum 2026: Building Resilience Together
Stockholm
18 Nov

Rethinking the Welfare State: South Korea’s Demographic Shift and Nordic Lessons
23 Nov

Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part XI: Ukraine’s Defense Tech Revolution and Lessons from Beetroot Academy

Publications »

China’s Activities in Island States: Sri Lanka as a Case

Nilanthi Samaranayake

Religion in Korea: Of Faith and Freedoms

Middle-lateralism under international order transition: institutional design in an era of renewed great-power competition

Jae Jeok Park and Jagannath Panda

China’s Regime Influence on Siliguri Corridor States: The Cases of Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal

Antonina Luszczykiewicz-Mendis

‘The more China makes claims of Japanese militarism, the more anti-China sentiment grows within Japan’: An Interview with Professor Kokubun Ryosei

Ryosei Kokubun, Viktor Hellblom, Mathilde Huard and Diana Valeria Nieto Cruz

Japan and India must prepare for the risks of China’s Medog dam

Stephen R. Nagy and Jagannath Panda

ISDP Spotlight

ISDP opens the Stockholm Center for Arctic Policy and Governance (ARCPOL) — ISDP opens the Stockholm Center for Arctic Policy and Governance (ARCPOL)

ISDP is opening the Stockholm Center for Arctic Policy and Governance (ARCPOL), a dedicated hub for research, dialogue, and policy exchange focused on the geopolitical, environmental, economic, and security developments shaping the Arctic. Alongside the opening of the Center, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Mia Landauer as the Head of the new Center!

China’s Silk Noose Raises Strategic Alarm: Third Stockholm Himalaya Forum Calls for Greater Indo-Pacific and Western Vigilance — China’s Silk Noose Raises Strategic Alarm: Third Stockholm Himalaya Forum Calls for Greater Indo-Pacific and Western Vigilance

Stockholm, October 16, 2026 — Strategic experts at the Third Stockholm Himalaya Forum today raised concerns about China’s transformation into an increasingly demanding, transactional, and strategically unpredictable actor. Participants said China’s expanding economic and security footprint, combined with limited transparency surrounding major infrastructure initiatives, had reinforced perceptions of Beijing as a potentially suspect strategic actor whose intentions require careful assessment.

ISDP and Forum 2000 Foundation Co-Organize Panel on Middle Powers and Technology Coalitions at Forum 2000 in Prague — ISDP and Forum 2000 Foundation Co-Organize Panel on Middle Powers and Technology Coalitions at Forum 2000 in Prague

Prague, October 13, 2026: The Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) at the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), in collaboration with the Forum 2000 Foundation, organized a special panel discussion titled “Guardians or Bystanders? Middle Powers, Technology Coalitions, and the Contest with Authoritarian Influence” at the Forum 2000 Conference in Prague, Czechia.

ISDP-TSE Conference on Development-Security Nexus in Semiconductors — ISDP-TSE Conference on Development-Security Nexus in Semiconductors

ISDP and the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science (TSE) jointly hosted a conference in Stockholm titled “Development-Security Nexus in Semiconductors: Prospects for Europe-East Asian Collaboration in an Uncertain Era”. This conference was funded by the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation. Given the essential role semiconductors play in modern society, the conference addressed increasingly important questions surrounding the industry’s future.

Looking back at the CAMCA Regional Forum 2026 — Looking back at the CAMCA Regional Forum 2026

Alongside the CAMCA Network and the Rumsfeld Foundation, ISDP’s Joint Center from the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, co-organized the CAMCA (Central Asia, Mongolia, the Caucasus, and Afghanistan) Regional Forum in Baku. The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute organized the multilateral conference to bring together diplomats, politicians, business leaders, and regional experts to strengthen the regional dialogue that is needed to support the growing connectivity within the ten states that make up CAMCA.

The application period for ISDP’s spring 2027 internships is now open! — The application period for ISDP’s spring 2027 internships is now open!

Are you looking for work experience in the field of international security and development? Do you have a particular interest in Asia? Now is the time to apply for our spring 2027 internships! We look forward to receiving your application no later than November 8, 2026.

ISDP hosted a roundtable discussion with Jeffrey Stoff on the current research security environment in the United States and its global implications — ISDP hosted a roundtable discussion with Jeffrey Stoff on the current research security environment in the United States and its global implications

On October 5, the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) hosted a roundtable discussion with Jeffrey Stoff, Non-Resident Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Center for Research and Innovation Security (SCRIS) and President of the Center for Research Security & Integrity. He presented the current research security environment in the United States and its global implications, ahead of meetings with policymakers in Stockholm to further discuss these issues.

ISDP participated in the Final Conference of the European Hub for Contemporary China (EuroHub4Sino) and a separate EuroHub4Sino Policy Roundtable in Brussels — ISDP participated in the Final Conference of the European Hub for Contemporary China (EuroHub4Sino) and a separate EuroHub4Sino Policy Roundtable in Brussels

ISDP participated in the Final Conference of the European Hub for Contemporary China (EuroHub4Sino) and a separate roundtable in Brussels. The closed-door Policy Roundtable brought together European China experts and policymakers for discussions on China, while the one-day Final Conference brought together leading China scholars, researchers, and policy experts from across Europe to discuss China’s domestic political and economic trajectory, technological and environmental developments, security and defense, and its evolving role in the international order.