Our weekly newsletter, analysing global stories from an Indian lens
In Focus
Sri Lankan President Visits China, Discusses BRI & Debt Restructuring
During Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s four-day state visit to China, Colombo and Beijing signed 15 cooperation agreements, including aligning China's Belt and Road Initiative with Sri Lanka's 2030 digital economy blueprint. Talks also advanced on finalising a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.
China pledged investments in agriculture and the marine economy while Sri Lanka pushed for the implementation of debt restructuring plans with China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank to meet IMF requirements for further disbursements.
Dissanayake’s visit follows his trip to India, where he finalised energy and security cooperation deals in a bid to reduce Colombo’s reliance on Beijing, its largest bilateral lender. Analysts suggest that China is shifting its focus from mega-projects to increased high-level interactions and smaller development initiatives in Sri Lanka.
More Stories
Triple Commissioning into the Indian Navy
In an unprecedented move, the Indian Navy commissioned three major platforms on January 15: INS Nilgiri, the lead frigate of Project 17A; INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the Project 75 Kalvari class; and INS Surat, the fourth and final destroyer under Project 15B.
With this commissioning, India currently has no destroyers under construction, although plans for a Next Generation Destroyer class are reportedly underway. INS Vaghsheer, known for its stealth and versatility, ranks among the world’s most advanced diesel-electric submarines, while INS Nilgiri brings significant advancements over the Shivalik-class frigates.
With over 75% indigenous content in INS Surat and INS Nilgiri, this commissioning aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence self-reliance goals. India’s defence production now exceeds INR 1.25 trillion (USD 14.5 billion), with exports spanning over 100 countries.
The triple commissioning occurs against the backdrop of China’s rapidly expanding naval capabilities and China-backed modernisation of the Pakistani Navy. While this milestone reflects progress, critics highlight Indian shipyards’ slower construction timelines compared to China.
China Tightens Export Checks to Disrupt Tech Supply Chain Shifts to India and Southeast Asia
China has started tightening export checks on equipment manufactured for Apple and other US tech companies, slowing their efforts to expand production in India and Southeast Asia and diversify away from China. While officially linked to a December 2024 law on dual-use technology, the real motivations are believed to be economic and political.
Reportedly, Apple’s Taiwanese manufacturing partner, Foxconn, has halted new work rotations for its Chinese employees at iPhone factories in India, sending Taiwanese workers instead. Chinese authorities have also reportedly held up shipments of specialised manufacturing equipment destined for Foxconn’s Indian facilities at Chinese ports for several months.
Beyond stalling US tech firms’ plans to reduce dependence on China, this move appears to be part of a broader retaliation against India’s restrictions on visas for Chinese officials and its “selective approach to approving Chinese investments.” This is likely to further wean India away from supply chain dependencies on China.
India on the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Announcement
On January 15, Qatar and the United States announced a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas. India welcomed the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would facilitate the safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.
Analysts noted that while President Biden had been pushing for the deal for a year, President-elect Trump’s threat that “all hell will break out in the Middle East” if Hamas did not release hostages may have spurred both parties to reach a solution. This strengthens President Trump's image as the “deals” and “no wars” president—a view that remains widely held.
In fact, a new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations revealed that Indians are the most optimistic about the upcoming Trump presidency, believing that he will not only strengthen India-US relations but also contribute to global peace.
Related Posts
