A delegation from Prospect Foundation visited the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) on 16 June 2025. The interaction was attended by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director (VIF), Lt. General R. K. Sawhney (Retd.), Brig Vinod Anand, Air Marshal S.P. Dharkar (Retd), Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar (Retd), Lt Gen. Rakesh Sharma, Lt Gen Anil Ahuja and other scholars from the VIF.

Key Themes and Discussions:

The interaction centred on two overarching themes: the changing dynamics of cross- strait situation and the evolving architecture of global security. The interaction was framed against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable and interconnected international environment. The opening remarks highlighted the erosion of traditional markers of global order and the growing urgency for collaborative threat assessments.

Key geopolitical developments were examined as indicators of systemic transformation. The Russia–Ukraine conflict was identified as having entered a new phase, with Ukrainian deep strikes challenging Russian deterrence. In the Middle East, the ongoing Gaza conflict and fears of Iranian escalation against U.S. interests raised concerns about a potential regional spillover. These developments were presented as symptomatic of the broader collapse of multilateralism, the weakening of transatlantic security institutions, and the resurgence of nuclear brinkmanship.

India’s recent counter-terrorism campaign, Operation Sindoor, featured prominently. The operation, launched in response to a major terror attack in Pahalgam, India on 22nd April, was interpreted as a significant departure in India’s strategic posture, marked by assertive, precision-led, and sub-conventional retaliation under the nuclear threshold. Notably, the operation signalled India's intent to reassess its deterrence framework with respect to Pakistan, particularly by challenging the strategic restraint faced by India in the past, due to Pakistan’s nuclear posture.
The interaction drew attention to the converging nature of conflict theatres, especially the Indo-Pacific and West Asian theatre, arguing that traditional geographic distinctions in warfare are diminishing. Structural changes in global security, including China’s assertiveness, were discussed extensively.

Op Sindoor was an event viewed with analytical seriousness in Taipei. In response to the escalation, Taiwan convened a high-level inter-agency meeting, reflecting its growing interest in India’s operational doctrines and regional implications. The Taiwanese delegation emphasized the value of the insights received from Indian counterparts and reiterated the need for strategic dialogue to better understand shared threat landscapes.

To reciprocate, Taiwan provided an in-depth briefing on the evolving cross-Strait security environment. Taiwan’s current China policy, while committed to the status quo, has become more assertive, characterized by enhanced defence spending, institutional countermeasures against political warfare, and a push to diversify economic dependence. A set of 17 measures have been implemented to curb Chinese infiltration efforts, alongside broader military reforms and deterrence-based posture recalibration.

China has responded with intensified military pressure, including a series of exercises such as Joint Sword 2024A and Strike Thunder 2024A, simulating strikes on Taiwan’s infrastructure and blockade scenarios. These developments were contextualized within a range of structural variables: internal Chinese political dynamics, evolving U.S. Taiwan Strait policy, Taiwan’s domestic defence reforms, and the so-called “2027 window” for potential PLA action, all of which are viewed as both strategically significant and operationally constrained.

The deepening of India–Taiwan strategic cooperation was underscored as an emerging pillar of regional deterrence. Despite differences in strategic theatre and threat perception, the shared experience of managing grey-zone aggression, cognitive warfare, and information campaigns established strong grounds for deeper collaboration.

The interaction also featured a detailed operational analysis of Operation Sindoor. The Indian response showcased a doctrinal shift toward agile, non-contact, multi-domain warfare, leveraging standoff precision strikes, real-time ISR, and cyber-electronic integration.

The Pakistani counter-response featured advanced Chinese-origin fighter platforms with long-range missile capability and multi-sensor integration. Pakistan also deployed Turkish and Chinese drones, as well as surface-to-surface missiles, marking a qualitative breakthrough in its technological integration. However, Indian air and ground forces, supported by modern air defence systems, contained the threat effectively.

India’s targeting expanded beyond the LoC to sectors opposite Punjab and deeper Pakistani territory. The coordination between the Army and Air Force was seamless, enabled by spatial intelligence, precision firepower, and cyber-EW support. Notably, no full-scale mobilization was undertaken, and operations were deliberately calibrated to prevent uncontrolled escalation.

A phased escalation ladder was outlined:

1. Counter-terror precision strikes
2. Targeted military infrastructure engagement
3. Response to adversarial attacks on population centres (if required)
4. Attacks on critical national infrastructure
5. Strategic targeting under a nuclear threshold

This doctrine preserved space for de-escalation while maintaining escalation dominance. The Navy's readiness further reinforced broader deterrence architecture. Moreover, the Indian approach was framed as a model of discipline and controlled application of force in a nuclear environment. It was distinct from the more open-ended wars seen in Ukraine and the Middle East. Emphasis was placed on integrating precision strike capability with robust public communication in order to manage both domestic morale and international perception.

Discussion and Q&A

Following the presentations was an interactive discussion between Indian and Taiwanese participants which focused on clarifications, operational observations, and expressions of interest in future cooperation.

Taiwan inquired about India's employment of electronic warfare and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) during Operation Sindoor. Specific questions were raised regarding the degree of electromagnetic warfare usage and whether India's operational choices were influenced by escalation thresholds. Interest was also expressed in Pakistan’s use of sensor-shooter fusion, including whether such integration was supported by China.

Taiwanese delegation also sought insights into the performance of India’s S-400 air defence system, particularly in defending against drones and cruise missiles. In this context, Taiwan noted the relevance of Chinese-origin HQ-9 systems deployed in Pakistan and the implications of their reported attrition during Indian strikes.

Information warfare and public messaging were another area of focus. Questions were posed regarding how India managed information dissemination during the conflict, countered disinformation and balanced military communications with public morale.

The operational integration between China and Pakistan, with emphasis on real-time intelligence sharing, joint electronic warfare efforts, and use of space-based surveillance technology were discussed. Specific references were made to cyber operations, cognitive warfare and coordinated disinformation campaigns during the conflict.

Taiwanese delegation expressed concern over the absence of strategic briefing outreach from India despite Taiwan’s public support during the crisis. They emphasized the importance of institutionalized engagement and proposed further cooperation in areas such as electronic warfare, targeting intelligence and countering China’s global media operations. Furthermore, comparisons were made with other conflict theatres, including recent Iran-Israel hostilities, to understand evolving patterns in precision targeting and escalation control.

The interaction concluded with acknowledgments of the strategic value of continued India–Taiwan exchanges. A call was made for institutionalized dialogue, joint capacity-building in hybrid and electronic warfare domains, and structured lessons-sharing to enhance regional resilience. The shared imperative for democratic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, anchored on deterrence, information integrity, and technological self-reliance, was identified as central to addressing the challenges of a rapidly evolving global security order.