In 2022, our screens were filled with news about Sri Lanka facing a crisis. The country was running out of its foreign currency reserves and the price of basic neces

In 2022, our screens were filled with news about Sri Lanka facing a crisis. The country was running out of its foreign currency reserves and the price of basic necessities was off the charts. All examinations were cancelled due to a shortage of paper and medical operations were done under candles or electric torches. One of our neighbours was under economic turmoil and when the average Sri Lankan needed some reassurance from their leaders, they went radio silent. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, an eminent expert on Sri Lanka, gives his detailed critical insights on how his home country

The Book sets up the stage for this economic crisis and how the country of Sri Lanka, which was once the beacon of economic prosperity and growth in South Asia, fell into a deep hole of financial ruin and political corruption that undid all the positives in the post-Civil War era.

The Author has used a unique structure in this book which might seem overwhelming at first but throughout reading, it will help in connecting the timeline of the events set between the years of 2019 to 2022. The book is divided into five major headings, each having an average of eight chapters with the chapters indicated by a specific date. The significance of the date in each chapter helps us track the major events happening not only in Sri Lanka but in the entirety of the Indo-Pacific. It also covers the political dynamics within Sri Lanka in great detail.

The book is supported by various graphical representations through charts, maps etc which are supplementary to the arguments proposed by the author as well as the inputs by fellow scholars such as C Raja Mohan, Ambassador Shivshankar Menon, Srikanth Kondapalli, Harsh V Pant and many more. 

Some of these inputs can be perceived as a foreshadowing of the events that were about to transpire in the upcoming years.

The book was quite detailed, covering several major incidents such as the Chinese Spy Ship on Sri Lankan Ports, the 2019 Sri Lankan Elections which brought the Rajapaksas back in power, the controversial policies that started to derail the country’s economy and so on. The author did not spare any space when it came to the impact of all the events on that one singular event.

One of the areas that I found interesting was the section on Geopolitics and the meticulous coverage of the foreign policy dynamics. The chapter opened with an introduction to the concept of Indo-Pacific which was given by Karl Haushofer in 1920. Haushofer linked it in the context of the global dynamics in the Second World War and how it can be used by Great Britain (UK) and the US to combat the Axis Powers. The chapter also delved into the current dynamics of the region with QUAD (India, Japan, US and Australia) and the European Union (EU) and their perception of China as a potential threat or in the words of the EU, a “Systemic Rival”.

The chapter also dealt with Chinese Diplomacy via the BRI and how did it affect foreign policy in the Global South by covering the high-profile visits of Chinese Delegations under the leadership of Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi. Yang Jiechi visited Sri Lanka to meet the Rajapaksas in a high-profile meeting in the post-pandemic era. The visit was a sign of reassurance over the continuity of BRI amid concerns of withdrawals at that time within the region, especially in Bangladesh. Around that time, the author also delved into the foreign policy under Joe Biden’s Presidency where he covered the deepening Indo-US ties in the shadows of the Sri Lanka-China ties. It also focused on the Huawei 5G controversy whose rollout was not approved by the preceding government led by Mathripala Srisena, who prioritised India as a close partner over China. The presiding government halted all Chinese projects for investigation, especially after the fact that the Hambantota port was leased to China.

Other parts of the chapter that caught my eye were the critical evaluation of the other major powers like Russia and the EU in the Indo-Pacific as well as the impact of the rise of the Taliban and their takeover in Afganistan. The takeover had a significant impact within Sri Lanka especially in the context of the status of Muslim citizens. This religious connection was also seen in the Sri Lankan response to the Human Rights Violations in Xinjiang.

International Scholars also covered the security dynamics in detail about AUKUS and QUAD. Their arguments were supplemented by statements by leaders from both India and Sri Lanka, the author quoted that the informal structure of the QUAD focused on protecting democratic nations from the Chinese debt trap as a counterweight with India at its helm. The chapter also covered the similarities in the Chinese strategy towards Sri Lanka and Solomon Islands, both of them located at pivotal points and their leaders giving political favours to Chinese investors in high-loss infrastructural projects.

The book also covered the various facets of Sri Lanka's Domestic policies under the Rajapaksas and how they dealt with the domestic responses when it came to the resistance and critique towards Chinese companies and China-based projects. 

The other section critically analysed the situation within Sri Lanka. It started with the August 2020 Parliamentary election and concluded with the rise of the economic crisis in 2022. The author provided a comparative analysis between the presidencies of Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the approaches they took towards domestic and foreign policies. I think that this overview was very critical in understanding the similarities and differences between the leadership of the two brothers and what objectives they had in mind for the prosperity of the country after the end of the Civil War. Since the Author is a native of the country, the analysis can be felt more authentic than contemporary publications on Sri Lankan Foreign Policy which tend to have an India or China-heavy lens. It also covered some of the policies of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government between 2015-19, which had a more hawkish attitude towards China and focused on repairing its relationship with India which was damaged by the end of Mahinda Rajpaksa’s presidency.

The author called Gotabaya Rajapaksa an Autocratic leader under whose leadership there was a large number of human rights violations. It was a concern from the end of the European Union which raised a resolution on the withdrawal of the “Generalised Scheme of Preferences+” (GSP). The government also rejected the UNHRC resolution which was raised in March 2022, focusing on the reconciliation process with the civil war leaders and the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The GSP+ was a crucial policy which helped Sri Lankan exports and enabled duty-free access for 7200 products in the EU.

The author covered the abrupt steps and policies of the former government such as the setup of several family members in positions of power, shortages of essential goods, the sudden shift towards organic agriculture which impacted crop cultivation and so on. It started to form cracks in not only one of the oldest democracies in the region but also a prosperous economy which surpassed India at one point in time.

As per the author, Sri Lanka was in its “Arab Spring” moments and wanted to overthrow the autocratic leaders and their corrupt practices. The common man was marred with rising prices, and delays in the supply of essential goods. Lawyers appeared as the voice of the protesters in courts while the people in power escaped to avoid accountability. In his opinion, the Rajapaksa government was incapable of functioning after changing the cabinets twice a month which created frustration on the end of the people. This was highlighted at the moment when the Sri Lankans entered the Presidential Residence and started using its facilities.

In the final pages of the book, there were two detailed family trees which focused on the Rajapaksa family and the number of members who were present in positions of power.

The book was an eye-opening delight which covered the legacies of a corrupt leadership and how their short-sightedness can impact a country’s economic and foreign policy. The author has critically evaluated the leadership of the Sri Lankan government under the Rajapaksas and connected it to the global scenarios at that time. The book did well in avoiding leaning too much into India or China, the latter being in the subtitle, it also covered the other international players like the European Union, the US and Japan.

However, there were some gaps when it came to the coverage of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government from 2015-19 as the main focus of the book was only on one family. The author could have focused on covering this government to set the tone for the comeback of the Rajapaksas and the repeal of the older policies. The book could have added a more economic dimension as I felt the book focused more on the security perspective in the context of BRI. 

In my opinion, this book is one of the better publications which gives the perspective of Sri Lanka in the current context and the political dynamics of the island nation.

Book Review: Teardrop Diplomacy: China's Sri Lanka Foray 

Early Bird

The rising threats from North Korea have led South Korea to reflect upon its position and consider an option once again which was left back in the 1970s. This option

The rising threats from North Korea have led South Korea to reflect upon its position and consider an option once again which was left back in the 1970s. This option is nuclear weapons either through American deployment in the US-held bases or the country developing its own nuclear arsenal.

North Korea’s rising ambitions have been a concern for the country and with the signs of an impending invasion of Taiwan by the Chinese, South Korea might think that the US may not be able to handle two conflicts at the same time. Despite the informal trilateral alliance with Japan and the USA as well as its participation in QUAD as an additional partner, the country fears that its troublesome neighbors could attack them at any time.

South Korea dabbled with the idea of nuclear weapons in 1972. South Korean President, Park Chung-Hee initiated a top-secret military nuclear program called “Project 890”.This was done at a time crucial for the Korean Head of state, who saw the murder of his wife by a pro-North Korean assassin in 1974. At the same time, infiltration tunnels were discovered under the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Americans discovered the program in late 1974. President Park took the Nixon administration’s decision of withdrawing a U.S. Army division which reduced the number of American troops in the South in a Negative light, a decision at the time when the US was withdrawing from the Vietnam War. These actions made the South Koreans skeptical of the Americans and their security assurances.

U.S. intelligence collected evidence for the programme and predicted that if the plans went as by, the country would have nuclear weapons by 1980. South Korea was in talks with France for the purchase of a chemical separation plant which is known to be used for producing plutonium, a component for nuclear weapons, a fact which was confirmed by a French diplomat in 1974. The country was also in negotiations with Canada to buy a nuclear reactor.

The US started to dissuade Korea, initially by cutting off technological support and working with France to cancel the chemical plant deal. Canada also sorted out the nuclear plant deal after the Koreans reassured Canada that the plant would not be repurposed for the creation of nuclear weapons. Later, the US promised to provide “peaceful nuclear cooperation” after Korea canceled the deal with France.

 Project 890 ended by late 1976, and research efforts resumed in secret for a while before the official end in 1980 by President Chun Doo-Hwan.

In 1981, the Reagan administration vowed to maintain troop levels in exchange for Korea to redirect its nuclear energy research for civilian purposes, and by 1991, the US withdrew all nuclear weapons from South Korea.

In January 2023, the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies conducted a poll, it was revealed that  76.6% of the respondents stated that South Korea needs to develop nuclear weapons independently to counter North Korean nuclear threats. Moreover,  77.6% of the respondents considered denuclearization of North Korea to be "impossible.”

A larger number of participants also believed South Korea was capable of developing its own nuclear weapons.

South Korean President, Yoon Suk-Yeol, also addressed the possibility of nuclear weapons in the region at a Joint briefing with the Defense and Foreign Ministries, however, he stated that it is not an official policy yet. He also added that creating nuclear weapons might add fuel to pre-existing tensions on the peninsula.

Despite the increasing engagement of the USA towards the Korean Peninsula and supporting South Korea by sending a nuclear submarine earlier this year as well as the creation of a "Nuclear Consultative Group". The South Korean Public has diminishing trust in the US, stating that no US President would be willing to launch a nuclear weapon as it could lead to massive destruction in the region. They think that the country should prepare in retaliation against the advancing arsenal of the North, after the successful launch of a spy satellite recently.

However, A nuclearized Korean Peninsula will either make the region tenser than ever before, more than the nuclear-armed borders of India and Pakistan, as the Korean War never “ended” formally and even lead to a cross-border arms race with the two countries investing more in weapon development.

In short, bringing in nuclear weapons might create a trickier situation in Korea and increase the tensions to a new high.

South Korea and its Nuclear Dilemma

Today, I’m talking about a man whose speeches are becoming the new clickbait for reaction channels on Youtube to grab the eyeballs of 1.5 billion people and slide in

Today, I’m talking about a man whose speeches are becoming the new clickbait for reaction channels on Youtube to grab the eyeballs of 1.5 billion people and slide in some of that AdSense money in their monthly income. It’s none other than the current Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar, who may or may not have written a little book in the pandemic era.

His book, The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World, reflects the insights of a diplomat with four decades worth of experience as he touches upon the diplomatic decisions taken by the country from his days in South Block to the Pandemic challenges of 2020.

It contains chapters in the form of excerpts from lectures given by the author at multiple forums, giving personal insights on global events ranging from China’s Belt and Road Initiative to the challenges the country faces in a pandemic-marked era. As a person who looks up to the author, this first-hand account can be seen as a guide for anyone who wants to understand Indian Foreign Policy from a professional's perspective.

The Book is divided into chapters with intriguing titles like, “The Lessons of Awadh”, “A Delayed Destiny”, and “Dogmas of Delhi” among a few, though my favourite chapter of the book is “The Art of Disruption”. The chapter titles are a reflection of what a topic the author will touch upon and has a hidden subtext of the direction the country takes over the years by analyzing the paths of their counterparts during historical events like the ‘Cold War’, ‘World War’ and the wars that India took part in. That correlation, in my opinion, was a factor in how I got hooked on the book, more likely due to my background as a student of history, however, it doesn’t mean that one has to be an expert in history to enjoy this book.

He even provides some perspective on where the policymakers can improvise upon the ongoing improving relationships within the Ind-Pacific as well as on how to keep a balance with the American-Russo-Sino trifecta through his analysis on the MEA’s direction with Indian Foreign Policy in the 2010s and other preceding years.

If I were to pick a quote from the book, it would be this one from my favourite chapter,

“If you had believed the best minds of our times, this was not supposed to happen. But for two decades, China had been winning without fighting, while the US was fighting without winning.”

This quote doesn’t only touch upon the events that passed in the 21st century but acts as a metaphor for the waning influence of the United States of America as the leader of global politics and the People’s Republic of China’s walking onward on the path to becoming the new status quo. I liked the usage of metaphors in certain parts of the book where fewer words were effective in understanding what was going on in the world.

Another chapter that effectively uses metaphorical terms is “Krishna’s Choice,” where the cast and scenarios in the Mahabharata were used in explaining the approach taken by India towards its foreign policy. 

The language of the book is, I would say, lucid, with a tinge of complexity. The author made the reader understand the world of foreign policy through the use of simple sentences, which made any average reader grasp the concepts covered in the book. Still, the complexity of understanding terms related to the field of diplomacy may require the average reader to ask Google for an easier explanation.

However, a minor flaw that I have observed in the book is that there is a heavier focus on “Hard Power” (Defence, Economy and other related) aspects of Diplomacy and International Relations and there is a lack of mention of any soft power related aspects (Culture, Diaspora relations, Education etc.), which was and is currently a crucial part of Indian Foreign Policy. I hope that the author can touch upon this aspect of diplomacy in a future edition or another book someday.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand Indian Foreign Policy but doesn’t know where to begin, and definitely to my family and friends, who are still trying to understand why I decided to go into this field. My rating for this book is 4 out of 5 stars. 

With no further spoilers, I hope you all enjoy reading this book.

Book Review : The India Way by S Jaishankar

China's evolution of Influence Operations has reached in the Entertainment Sector and Social Media where the use of Soft Power is prominent to push a narrative 

China has been using this unique combination of soft power and the internet to push for an image of China as a modern, progressive, and strong leader in the global order. It is seen in the videos of tiktoks and reposted tiktoks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., where videos range from modern fashion to patriotic-driven posts to dramatic skits and everything else in between. Another aspect is the social media posts and activities of Chinese Celebrities on the internet and in promotional activities. 

The “Machine of Propaganda” used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the past decade used a mixture of star power and social media to change the minds of the outside world in their favour.

China has a thriving film and music industry, with Hong Kong taking the lead in both areas with prominent figures like Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Tony Leung, and many others in the ranks. These celebrities are not famous within Hong Kong but have gained a following in Mainland China and globally.

The path to fame is not easy in China. Here, youths compete to join MCNs (Multi-Channel Networks) or famous streaming services to become the top online influencer. In recent times, the entertainment industry has also been swarmed with issues relating to Nepotism and the use of money, which makes it difficult for aspiring individuals to make it big.

In Mainland China, they adopted the South Korean “Trainee System”, in which youths are scouted by entertainment agencies and trained in their skills in Singing, Rapping, Dancing, acting, or modelling, and if they reach a specific standard, they can make their debut in the industry. It led to a wave of C-Pop bands with groups like  NEXT, UNIQ, 7SENSES, etc. These groups have similar elements to their South Korean counterparts.

 It was not uncommon for Chinese Youths to be scouted by South Korean Entertainment Agencies and relocate to Korea to pursue their careers as K-pop idols. However, due to the THAAD Deployment in 2016, South Korea has reduced its intake of youths from China as trainees to avoid public backlash from having a Chinese member in a K-pop group. China started to form “Idol Survival Shows”, another concept taken from South Korea, to expand the music industry in China. It led to the formation of "temporary groups" like Rocket Girls, R1SE, Nine Percent, etc.

These shows were eventually banned after the ‘Milk Wasting Controversy’ generated by the popular show “Youth with You 3” in 2021. 

In the past decade, we have seen that these prominent figures have shared posts or statements during certain events in China and Hong Kong, often inclining towards a Pro-China stance. Those who make social media posts condemning the events and criticising the Chinese government get blacklisted from performances and activities in the Mainland.

 The Mainland has been a lucrative market for any celebrity to gain fame and money. Chinese K-pop idols often come back to the Mainland to relaunch their careers with great success as well as avail themselves of opportunities they may not be able to get in a foreign land.

These prospects may incline the celebrities to support the ideals of the Chinese Communist Party, whether that could lead to criticism in their home, as in the case of Hong Kong or Taiwan-based celebrities.

Jackie Chan came under severe backlash from Hong Kong for his statement calling “Chinese Control” a positive thing at a conference in 2009. He also joined the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as a member in 2013 to represent the “Culture and Art” Occupation category.

During the 2019 Pro-Democracy Protests in Hong Kong, various celebrities, including Jackie Chan, Tony Leung, and Jackson Wang, shared posts supporting the police. Individuals like Denise Ho, Anthony Wong, and Chow Yun-fat stayed vocal in supporting the movement. The ones who supported the movement have either seen their careers die down or got blacklisted from the Mainland Entertainment sector as a whole.

In 2021, there were sudden withdrawals or terminations of endorsement contracts by well-known celebrities like Dilraba Dilmurat, Wang Yibo, and Zhang Yixing after brands like Puma, Adidas, Nike, and H&M announced that they would no longer purchase or utilise any cotton coming from Xinjiang in light of the atrocities and genocide against the Uyghur Community. The celebrities shared their announcements through Weibo and were applauded by Chinese Netizens for standing up for their nation.

(Image Credits: Dilraba Dilrumat on Sina Weibo)

This creates an awkward position for the fans of the celebrities who live outside the “Great Firewall of China,” ie an extensive system of internet censorship and surveillance implemented by the Chinese government to regulate and control online content within China through IP blocking, DNS filtering, URL filtering, packet filtering, etc.

These fans know the harsh pain of the atrocities in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and other parts of the country and encash the fame they get from all over the world. They question within themselves whether they should support the artist for taking a certain political stance or not.

There could be a possibility that celebrities resort to taking such stances to keep their careers safe, even if they don't align with their thoughts. It is common, especially after the stringent crackdowns in the Entertainment Sector in recent times that led to a crackdown on celebrities on the charges of “Tax Evasions”, and Corruption,” like in the case of Fan Bingbing and Zhao Wei, along with the ban of “Survival Shows” and depiction of “Effeminate Men” on Chinese television, leaving their careers at the mercy of the netizens.

Chinese Netizens hold significant power when it comes to increasing or decreasing the popularity of celebrities in China, especially if one takes a stance that may not be favourable in the eyes of China or, by extension, the Chinese Communist Party.

During the 2019 protests in Hong Kong, Actress Charmaine Sheh, who worked in major films and dramas on the mainland, also came under the bullying of Chinese Netizens. It was discovered that she liked an Instagram post depicting the protests. The celebrity had to make a statement on Weibo, stating her shock at what she saw in the post.

(Image Credits: Charmaine Sheh on Weibo - Today Online)

Taiwanese singer from the famous girl group, S.H.E., Hebe Tien, also came under backlash from Chinese Netizens after posting an Instagram story of the singer enjoying an Italian Meal during Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022. Her Instagram story was mistaken as a gesture for Taiwanese independence, as the meal was taken as a reference to Pelosi’s Italian Heritage.

In such instances, fans can take a sentimental stance of separating the art and politics from the artist and even feel pity for their icons for taking such positions to keep their careers afloat. 

As mentioned before, the way to achieve fame in the Entertainment or Influencer Industry is quite competitive. In the Influencer sector, there are a large number of Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) in which an individual signs a contract and works on creating content specific to their niche. The MCN helps individuals develop their online presence on social media platforms or streaming websites by providing professional support and giving strategic advice on pushing their content to favour the algorithm. In these contracts, the split on profit and sponsorship varies from company to company, and the individual is prohibited from pursuing their brand-related interests without the prior permission of the MCN. 

Some of the MCNs are often tied to the Communist Party. One major MCN called ‘Muyun’ is a host to a lot of the rising influencers from China’s ethnic minorities like Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongols, etc. 

These influencers make vlogs that show a rosy image of China and a peaceful co-existence between the majority and the minority at a time when the country was under the global spotlight regarding the pandemic and Xinjiang issues. These influencers have fluency in both Mandarin Chinese and English 

The subject of such videos ranges from cultural experiences to field trips to certain parts of the country, exposing the “truth” videos among a few.

These can involve Chinese and Non-Chinese individuals who have fluency in either English Or Mandarin, or even both languages. In the case of the Chinese Influencers, they often feature individuals from China’s Ethnic Minority communities like Uyghur, Tibetan, or Mongol. All of the groups currently facing persecution in China.

Another interesting pattern that was discovered is that most of these accounts were created between 2020 and 2021. Guli Sisters, Duoduo Qimuge, Ayituna, and Naqulamu are some of the people whose accounts popped up in the same timeframe. Their videos showed a mixture of lifestyle blogs and subtle Communist Party propaganda. 

Sabira Samat from the Guli Sisters used to directly bash the Western media for the lies they shared in the news about Xinjiang. The video from the "Guli Sisters" covered “Cotton Farms”, “Covid-19 policy measures,” and any other policy that was deemed controversial outside China, indicating the involvement of the Communist Party’s Propaganda department. 

(Source: ‘GuliXinjiang’, Instagram; account currently Deactivated)

The social media accounts of the "Guli Sisters" were suspended in 2021, however, their videos can give us a sneak peek at how creative the Chinese Propaganda Department has become.

It doesn't end with the accounts featuring Chinese individuals, we can also observe the rise of Non-Chinese individuals who are based in China, speaking in favour of the Chinese Communist Party and bashing the US and its allies for creating fake news about China.

(Image Source: Twitter - @BarrettYoutube)

These accounts have a similar pattern of duo lingual fluency, and aggressive presence on all social media platforms, especially Youtube, Instagram and Twitter as well as on the other side of the firewall in platforms like Weibo, Bilibili, Xiguashipin, etc. One can also observe that these accounts have active interactions with Chinese Government Officials' accounts, with replies or resharing on their accounts.

(Image Source: Youtube - @JasonLivinginChina)

China’s “International Media Outlets,” like the Global Times, and China Global Television Network (CGTN) have even featured these foreign-origin influencers to create videos on their behalf to show a positive image of China as well as show China’s proactive status as a world leader. The videos from CGTN have even showcased a positive image of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Syria and Pakistan, which is a contrast to the actual reality where the projects are in a state of limbo in the said two countries, especially in Pakistan.

If one can go through the comment sections of the videos or posts of these influencers, we can see that the mind of an average person has also changed. We can observe that some of the people also started to see the media outlets as liars or biassed to talk about their agendas and often thank these individuals for “Opening their Eyes” about China as well as express hope for a change in their country’s foreign policy to become more China-oriented.

It can be seen as a curious case from China on how they are utilising their soft power and the internet to change global opinion in their favour, unlike their counterparts, who have set up extensive policies on tapping into the power of soft power and utilising the benefits from it despite the historical popularity of Chinese Actors in the west as well as the rising popularity of Chinese web novels, dramas, and music.

For the time being, there are no signs that there will be any decline in the product or rise of such social media accounts all around the world, as the CCP is ready to take any opportunity to gain positive approval from as many countries as possible by hiding the reality with the perfect and idealistic portrayals of their countries and the superstars who will continue to promote all around the world.

Book Review: Teardrop Diplomacy: China's Sri Lanka Foray

South Korea and its Nuclear Dilemma

Book Review : The India Way by S Jaishankar

The Non-Stop Machine of Propaganda: China's Use of Social Media and Entertainment Sector