ISDP Voices

The geopolitical landscape of the 21st century has seen power dynamics altering towards the Indo-Pacific. This has led both rising and the established powers to reorient themselves towards this region, making the Indo-Pacific one of the most contested regions in the world. Although the region is facing new power competitions, already existing issues have the […]

China has been relentlessly flexing its muscles in Nepal to establish multi-dimensional engagement. After the formation of the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’-led government on December 26, 2022, China’s activities have become noticeably more assertive. As a planned move, 68-year-old Dahal took oath of office as Nepal’s Prime Minister on the occasion of the […]

The unstoppable rise of China in the international system, especially in the economic, military, political, and technological fields in the last 30 or 40 years, has made it the most important global rival for the United States of America (U.S.), which was the sole superpower of the post-Cold War era. When we look at the […]

In his recent interview on December 27 with the Washington Post, former Afghan president Hamid Karzai demanded that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) begin a national dialogue, which he described as ‘good’ for both Taliban and Afghanistan. Karzai’s demand has been voiced by many Afghans for some time now, to facilitate taking key decisions […]

In recent years, China’s increasing footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has become obvious within the Indo-Pacific. Designated in New Delhi’s 2015 Maritime Security Strategy as the primary area of responsibility for the Indian Navy, India has long perceived the Indian Ocean as its traditional backyard. New Delhi had recently raised concerns to the […]

Leaders of the U.S., South Korea (ROK), and Japan met in the middle of November 2022 to reaffirm their trilateral partnership to combat the nuclear threat from North Korea and align their collective efforts in pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). The statements indicate a hopeful future for deeper and more comprehensive cooperation […]

Asia is currently brewing with the heat of missile testing and rhetorical statements made by leaders with nuclear weapons like Pakistan and North Korea. North Korea and Pakistan are two countries with different socio-cultural and political structures but share an engrossing relationship i.e., nuclear power and technology, and are geographically destined with the same neighbor, […]

Ranking as 15th largest donor on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2021, South Korea has been one of the promising donors which adheres to the humanitarian-based global development norm. This is visible from the increase in humanitarian aid from South Korea to the Global South. […]

“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Winston Churchill There comes a time in a prolonged and extended battle when the attacking force is unable to make gains and its leading forces reach a point where overextended logistics support or the absence of reserves no longer makes it practical to […]

China’s military expansion, North Korea’s nuclear power and now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have all propelled Japan to revise its National Security Strategy (NSS) in terms of taking a tougher stance on being able to improve its capabilities to defend itself from threat. Japan’s National Security Strategy was revised on December 16, turning away from […]