Youth-led protest movements across South and Southeast Asia seek a political reset

Written by Adhiraaj Anand

Deeper and more sustained transnational exchanges could foster new regional identities and solidarities between national protest movements, as well as increase their resilience and capacity for innovation.

People for democracy, states for impunity: Competing transnational solidarities in Southeast Asia

Written by Yatana Yamahata

Solidarity among Southeast Asians has strengthened pro-democracy movements across the region and, in doing so, fostered a sense of shared regional identity. ASEAN, however, does not mirror nor reinforce this solidarity. Instead, it remains constrained by its founding principle of non-interference.

Understanding Nepal’s pro-monarchy momentum

Written by Amit Ranjan

Many Nepalese are frustrated and disenchanted with the current political situation and poor government performance. But returning to a constitutional monarchy would be a regressive, authoritarian step, not a path toward democracy.

China sees a chance in Nepal with Left Alliance

Written by Dr Rishi Gupta

Nepal has reportedly conveyed that it would prefer to receive more grants from China instead of taking high-interest loans under the development partnership, including for BRI projects.

Editor's Picks9DLMay 2, 2024China sees a chance in Nepal with Left Alliance, 9dashline, Rishi Gupta, Asia Society Policy Institute, Nepal, China, Left Alliance, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Wang Yi, India, South Asia, Tibet, Kathmandu, Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, Global Security Initiative

Sino-India rivalry for port dominance in Bangladesh

Written by Mae Chow and Shakthi De Silva

Ultimately, Bangladesh's ability to maintain constructive engagements with China and India will not only shape its own future trajectory but also contribute significantly to the stability and prosperity of the broader Indo-Pacific region.

South Asia, Faultlines9DLApril 24, 2024Sino-India rivalry for port dominance in Bangladesh, Mae Chow, Shakthi de Silva, 9DASHLINE, Bangladesh, India China, India, China, Sino-India rivalry, least developed country, developed economy, port, maritime, infrastructure, trade, port infrastructure, Beijing, New Delhi, Dhaka, intra-regional trade, Belt and Road, Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, Bangladesh-China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCM-EC), Myanmar, Mongla Port, Bay of Bengal, Neighbourhood First Policy, Kyaukpyu, Sri Lanka, Hambantota Port, Chittagong, foreign direct investment, China Harbour Engineering Company, investment, Sheikh Hasina, Sonadia Deep-Sea Port Project, single-point mooring, sea-land integrated super-large oil storage and transportation system, Chittagong port, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), China State Engineering and Construction Company (CSCEC), Payra Deep Seaport, Indian Ocean, littoral, String Of Pearls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives, Nepal, connectivity, sea lines, Mongla port, Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line, Eigs India Consulting Engineers, Mongla Port Authority, development, Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA), Yun Sheng BD, Mongla Export Processing Zone, electric vehicle manufacturing supply chains, loans, balancing, strategic partnerships, sovereignty, diplomacy

Resurging monarchist sentiment in Nepal: Challenges to democratic redemption

Written by Manish Jung Pulami

The pro-monarchy protests are a reminder that Nepal’s democratic journey is far from over. While the monarchy may be a relic of the past, the underlying grievances that fuelled the latest protests remain relevant today.

Emerging Issues9DLDecember 21, 2023Manish Jung Pulami, Youth Organisation Nepal (YON), Communist Party of Nepal, Durga Prasai, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, national identity, nationalism, Nepal, corruption, federalism, Lalita Niwas Land Scam, Bhutanese Refugee Scam, 9dashline, Resurging monarchist sentiment in Nepal: Challenges to democratic redemption

BIMSTEC revival: A compelling alternative to the BRI in the Bay of Bengal

Written by Eve Register

It will be important for BIMSTEC to learn from the mistakes of the BRI if it is to work as a viable alternative for countries in the Bay of Bengal region.

Revival of Bay of Bengal: Bhutan and Bangladesh agree on sea port access

Written by Bhumika Sevkani

The development of these seaports is particularly crucial for the smaller landlocked countries of South Asia such as Nepal and Bhutan.

Climate displacement in South Asia and India’s imperative to act

Written by Bhumika Sharma

Given the lack of international consensus, a unique opportunity exists for India to address the protection gap in South Asia’s policy regime for climate migrants.

South Asia9DLApril 12, 20239DashLine, Climate displacement in South Asia and India’s imperative to act, Bhumika Sharma, South Asia, climate vulnerability, climate change, floods in Pakistan, Pakistan, displacement, World Bank, climate-sensitive policies, climate-induced migration, internal displacement, Internally Displaced Persons, cross-border population movements, migration, climate-related risks, floods, salinity ingression, Bangladesh, India, climatically displaced persons, 2012 Nansen Initiative, Switzerland, Norway, humanitarian assistance, climate mobility, climate displacement contingencies, 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, 1967 Protocol, IDPs, Kampala Convention, international human rights law, United Nations Human Rights Committee, Ioane Teitiota v. New Zealand, principle of non-refoulement, Kiribati, resource scarcity, economic insecurity, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Warming, UN IPCC, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), conflict, droughts, erratic rainfall, seasonal labour migration, income diversification, rising sea levels, cross-border transhumance arrangements, West Africa, Asian Development Bank, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Sundarbans Delta, trafficking, human trafficking, slavery, Nepal, Terai, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, seasonal migration, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, Palk Strait, humanitarian visas, relocation, resettlement, 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act

Best of 2022: In Conversation

In 2022, 9DASHLINE had the pleasure of speaking with the authors of several insightful books, with topics ranging from the current US-China strategic competition to the history of mountain communities in Nepal. Here we present some of our most thought-provoking In Conversation interviews of the past year.

Editor's Picks9DLJanuary 6, 2023In conversation: Nicola Nymalm on From Japan Problem to China Threat, Nicola Nymalm, US, China, United States, Japan, In conversation: Julia Gurol on 'The EU-China Security Paradox', Julia Gurol, European Union, In Conversation: James Borton on 'Dispatches from the South China Sea: Navigating to Common Ground', James Borton, SCS, South China Sea, Mekong River, Antarctica Treaty, In Conversation: Amish Mulmi on 'All Roads Lead North', Amish Mulmi, Nepal, Beijing, Tibet, In conversation: Ramon Pacheco Pardo on 'Shrimp to Whale: South Korea From The Forgotten War to K-Pop', Korea, Ramon Pacheco Pardo, In Conversation: Katie Stallard on ‘Dancing on Bones’, Wilson Center, Russia, North Korea, Putin, In conversation: Ali Wyne, Eurasia Group, America’s Great Power Opportunity, Cold War, In Conversation: Salvador Santino Fulo Regilme Jr., Southeast Asia, Global South, Philippines, Marcos Jr.

Building a case for disaster diplomacy in South Asia

Written by Apoorva Jain

South Asia is increasingly facing threats from natural, technological, and complex disasters. Meanwhile, coordination failure is turning natural disasters into catastrophes. Disaster aid and relief can be an effective diplomatic tool in the region.

South Asia9DLNovember 1, 20229DashLine, Building a case for disaster diplomacy in South Asia, APOORVA JAIN, Pakistan, flood, flood-borne diseases, international aid, international organisations, Bangladesh, India, United States, China, Turkey, South Asia, regional mechanisms, natural disasters, Afghanistan, Himalayan belt, earthquakes, glacial lake outburst floods, Dudh Koshi sub-basin, Nepal, Pho Chu sub-basin, Bhutan, tropical cyclone, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, climate change, flash floods, urban centres, agricultural lands, droughts, desertification, tropical storms, tsunami, Kosi flooding, Kashmir earthquake, Indian Ocean tsunami, humanitarian assistance, institutional frameworks, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, SAARC, sustainable development, environment, Male Declaration, Hyogo Framework of Action, HFA, Dhaka, SAARC Disaster Management Centre, SDMC, New Delhi, South Asia Disaster Knowledge Network, SADKN, South Asia Digital Vulnerability Atlas, SADVA, SAARC Food Bank, South Asian Annual Disaster Management Exercise, SAADMEx, GSAT-9, South Asia satellite, disaster diplomacy, emergency routes, disaster resilience, disaster mitigation, disaster management, Central Emergency Response Fund, CERF, World Food Programme, WFP, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNOCHA, Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure, CDRI, Climate Action Summit, European Union-South Asia Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Management Program, EU-SAR DRM Program

South Asia must proactively prepare to face climate change

Written by Manali Kumar

South Asian countries would do well to finally set aside their mutual animosities and start developing transnational and regional mechanisms to adapt to climate change and recover from disasters.

South Asia9DLOctober 20, 20229DashLine, South Asia must proactively prepare to face climate change, Manali Kumar, South Asia, climate change, natural disaster, flood, flooding, Pakistan, humanitarian disaster, humanitarian crisis, health crisis, Bangladesh, Nepal, landslides, India, heatwave, heat wave, drought, Indo-Pacific, Africa, Europe, disaster-prone, hydrometeorological, storms, water scarcity, food insecurity, poverty, weather disaster, Asian Development Bank, cyclone Amphan, displacement, internal displacement, internal migration, sea level rise, climate migration, climate migrants, megapolises, Delhi, Mumbai, pollution, environmental degradation, cyclones, earthquakes, population growth, urbanisation, population density, disaster preparedness and relief, urban planning, urban development, local ecology, monsoon season, climate adaptive, resilient, multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mechanisms, regional cooperation, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Myanmar, IORA Action Plan 2017-2021, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment, Thimphu Statement on Climate Change, Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change, United Nations, World Bank, relief, China, US, UK, EU, Germany, extreme climate events, GDP, COP27, Common But Differentiated Responsibility, Global South, 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), developed countries

In Conversation: Amish Mulmi on ‘All Roads Lead North’

9DASHLINE recently sat down with Amish Raj Mulmi to discuss his new book All Roads Lead North: China, Nepal and the Contest for the Himalayas.

Liberalism from below: The Global South, Ukraine and the Liberal International Order

Written by Indrajit Roy

Of the 141 countries that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, over 90 are from the Global South. Criticisms of Russia are thus not confined to European or North American countries.

Faultlines9DLApril 12, 20229DASHLINE, Indrajit Roy, Liberal International Order, Global South, LIO, Non-Aligned Movement, China, India, Pakistan, South Africa, UNGA, Russia, Putin, Ukraine, Zelensky, Middle East and North Africa Region, MENA, Rule of law, Eurocentric, Second World War, Atlantic Charter, UN, United Nations, US, UK, USSR, Kenya, Haiti, Nepal, Liberia, multilateralism, rules-based order, liberal internationalism, Potsdam, Tehran, Yalta, Bandung Conference, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Antigua, Barbados, Cote d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Palau, colonisation, colonialism, Maldives, Martin Kimani, Liberalism from below: The Global South, Ukraine and the Liberal International Order, Asia Pacific, Nations General Assembly, Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, internationalism, WW2, United States, United Kingdom, Multilateralism, Asia, Africa, Trinidad, Non-alignment, University of York

Trade in the new Indo-Pacific: Moving towards gender inclusivity and openness

Written by Aditi Mukund and Sanya Saroha

Policymakers across the Asia-Pacific region must work towards adopting gender mainstreaming principles. A feminist perspective, which advocates for including all marginalised groups, is necessary for fully transformative outcomes in the Indo-Pacific’s future, and an economic recovery must make provisions for women as stakeholders.

Pacific9DLMarch 22, 20229DASHLINE, Aditi Mukund, Sanya Saroha, Indo-Pacific, Feminist Foreign Policy, Gender, Asia-Pacific, COVID-19, World Bank, India, Border Haats, Gender Gap, Bangladesh, Commonwealth Nations, Gender responsiveness, Gender inclusion, Small and Mid-Size Enterprises, SMEs, Sexual harrassment, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, Trade and Gender Toolbox, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, Quad, Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, SCRI, France, Japan, US, United States, ASEAN, ASEAN Committee on Women, ACW, ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network, AWEN, ASEAN-Business Advisory Council, ASEAN-BAC, Australia, South Asia Regional Trade Facilitation Program, SARTFP, Bhutan, Nepal, Neighbourhood First, Trade in the New Indo-Pacific: Moving Towards Gender Inclusivity and Openness, South Asia, covid, digital technology, telecommunications, pandemic, women, gender, feminist, Indo-pacific, Commonwealth, violence against women, Haats, australia, South Asian, garment secto, garment sector, information and technology support, BBIN, Kubernein Initiative

States in action: Federalism and foreign policy in India

Written by Chirayu Thakkar

Expats interested in returning to their roots are important tourists to places of religious and cultural significance. The inbound remittances and heritage tourism support both states as well as the centre.

India’s new consulates and sub-national diplomacy in South Asia

Written by Constantino Xavier and Nitika Nayar

As the region’s predominant power with a history of interventionism, India’s sub-national missions must be able to balance their sub-national outreach, especially to minority groups, with the security concerns of the host country’s central authorities.

Dams on the Brahmaputra River

Written by Ambika Vishwanath

It is imperative that Bangladesh, China and India cooperate on the multitude of weather and climate-related issues that will continue to affect the eastern Himalayan region and work with Bhutan and Nepal to create a formal disaster mitigation and management organisation.