China’s revival of its Mao-era “Third Front” strategy represents one of the most consequential shifts in contemporary geopolitics. Originally conceptualised by Mao Zedong in 1964, the Third Front aimed to relocate critical defence industries deep into China’s mountainous interior, particularly in provinces such as Sichuan, Gansu, and Ningxia, to shield them from external attack. Over 15 million people were mobilised to build secret factories in remote terrains, forming what w

Recent developments in India-China relations suggest a careful but deliberate attempt at stabilisation, after years of deep strain following the 2020 border crisis. The appointment of Vikram Doraiswami as India’s new Ambassador to China, positive signalling from Beijing, and evolving economic policy choices in New Delhi together reflect a pragmatic recalibration. Illustration by The Geostrata This is shaped by both geopolitical and economic compulsions. This emerging approach

Geography is destiny. Nowhere is that true more than in the Brahmaputra basin, where China's position as an upper riparian state transformed this shared river into an instrument of silent coercion. Illustration by The Geostrata The Yarlung Tsangpo as it is called in Tibet before it flows down into Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang and spreads into Assam as the mighty Brahmaputra is not just a watercourse but a lifeline for many as it sustains agriculture, drinking water and ecol

The two largest civilisational states and the emerging powers of the global order, New Delhi and Beijing, are often perceived as strategic competitors in an evolving geopolitical landscape. This conventional narrative overlooks a much more complex strategic reality. There exists geopolitical rivalry along with deep economic interdependence and partial cooperation in global governance. Amid an increasingly multipolar international system, shifting supply chains, and intensifyi

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) , a trade agreement linking ten ASEAN countries with five of their key Free Trade Agreement partners, is one of the largest trade blocs in the world. Illustration by The Geostrata The RCEP treaty is significant due to its representation of nearly a third of the world’s gross domestic product , encompassing a population of over two billion people and an estimated $5.2 trillion in total exports. Despite its scale and s

The US Department of War (formerly Department of Defense) submitted its latest annual report on Chinese military and security developments to the US Congress, highlighting Beijing's military expansion, both horizontal and vertical, its growing dominance in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, cyber warfare, etc., leading to wider implications in the Indo-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. Illustration by The Geostrata The report also claims that the Indian northeastern s

‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without even fighting’- Sun Tzu, The Art of War. The Asian dragon and its growing relevance in global affairs have persistently dictated the geopolitical sphere and shaped global policies. From dominating global supply chains to an established hegemony in rare earth resources, China is no longer just an active player in a rapidly evolving global order, emerging at the helm of affairs. Illustration by The Geostrata As the geopol

Geopolitics enthusiasts, we smell the brewing of the New World Order, and yes, of course, it does involve China, but here is a slight twist to it. The Big Three or the Asian Tigers, whatever you would like to call them, are gaining significant traction, primarily due to their proactive effort to safeguard regional and economic stability. But the larger question remains: is this convergence limited to strengthening the regional order, or does it extend to challenging America’s

The People's Republic of China, founded in 1949, has always had a thirst for power and dominance. In the beginning, while it was protecting and conquering lands, it left the coasts unguarded. A brutal mistake to commit. Illustration by The Geostrata It was only in the late 1970s that Deng Xiaoping's reforms transformed the coast into China’s economic engine. Exports and the presence of ports tied China’s survival to maritime security. Yet, by the 1990s, clashes in the South C

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was promised as a “game changer” upon its initial arrival in 2015. Modern infrastructure,...