Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Monthly Compilation of Views of VIF Expert Groups: August 2021

In August 2021 eminent speakers, expert groups and bilateral discussions were organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation through webinar on events and topics affecting India’s interests worldwide. The diversity of the expertise of each of...

September 23 , 2021

New Leadership Takes Charge in Vietnam: Challenges and Prospects

On 05 April Vietnam’s National Assembly officially elected Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, member of the Politburo as the Prime Minister of Vietnam replacing the erstwhile Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The National Assembly resolution was passed with...

April 13 , 2021

Implications of China’s New Coast Guard Law

The new law passed by China’s legislature giving powers allowing its Coast Guard to fire on foreign vessels (without warning if necessary) as also permitting it to demolish structures built in under the ‘jurisdiction’ of China is undoubtedly a...

February 26 , 2021

2021: The Year Ahead for Japan

Although 2020 remained a challenging year for Japan due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2021 offers no alleviation from the existent troubles. The year started with a second month-long emergency, albeit a soft lockdown limited to the nation's capital...

January 20 , 2021

India Vietnam Relations on an Even Keel but Need a Push

On the eve of forthcoming virtual summit between Prime Ministers Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Narendra Modi it would be useful to reflect on the current status of bilateral relationship and look for ways and means to impart further momentum to the same....

December 18 , 2020

APEC More of a Talking Shop than a Meaningful Regional Forum

The summit of the 21 members Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC hosted and chaired by Malaysia this year on 20 November was held in the virtual mode because of the coronavirus pandemic. In response to the growing interdependence of Asia-...

December 2 , 2020

ASEAN Response to Covid-19 Pandemic: An Assessment

ASEAN countries being next to mainland China were the first ones to come in contact with the Coronavirus. In fact, the first confirmed case outside China was detected in Thailand on 13 January who was a Chinese woman traveller from Wuhan and it was...

July 30 , 2020

Perceptions, Policies and Narrative about China over COVID-19 from the Indo-Pacific

As the initial shock from the COVID-19 pandemic recedes in the past few weeks, there has been a rising criticism of China from nearly all over the world. This piece would survey China’s policies and popular narratives from the Indo-Pacific that have...

May 27 , 2020

Vietnam: Integral to ASEAN and Reliable for Indo-Pacific

Introduction Vietnam will chair the 36th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in June this year. The summit which was initially scheduled in April has been shifted to June due to the Covid-19 outbreak. For Vietnam, this...

May 1 , 2020

Vietnam as ASEAN Chair - Preparing for the Next Decade

The ASEAN under the Chairmanship of Vietnam has been preparing a draft for the mid-term review of the Overall Plan for the Implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. It is assessing the outcomes and accordingly working out a feasible...

April 16 , 2020