Lieutenant General Chander Prakash writes: China and the United Nations have started working further towards establishing a Chinese peacekeeping standby force. To make this a reality a working group from the Peacekeeping Office of China’s Defense Ministry paid a visit to the UN headquarters from 20 to 24 June 2016.
ISIS Attacks – No Respite
Shantanu Roy-Chaudhury writes: The disbelief and backlash from Muslims all over the world condemning the attacks may act as the adhesive required to combat this growing threat.
Weakened ISIS more Dangerous?
Dr Raj Kumar Sharma writes: The IS attacks outside Iraq and Syria help in keeping their ideology alive and also brush aside prospects of IS weakness.
China Expands Role in Afghanistan with Military Equipment Supply
Dr Raj Kumar Sharma writes: China seems to be hedging its bets on different stakeholders in Afghanistan. It is a close ally of Pakistan; it has channels of communication with the Taliban while it is also trying to strengthen the ANSF now.
China Inaugurates New Space Launch Centre with New Long March -7 Series Rocket
Sanjay Kumar writes: On 25 June 2016, China inaugurated a new space launch centre at Wenchang on Hainan Island; with the successful lift-off of its new, most powerful launch vehicle – Long March 7 (also referred as CZ-7) rocket.
Strategic Moves – US Facilitates India’s MCTR Membership, China Blocks NSG Entry
RPS Bhadauria writes: These developments are being widely discussed because of the implications which they have for the region and indeed for India and China relationship.