In Season 4 of Interpreting India, we continue our exploration of the dynamic forces that will shape India's global standing. At Carnegie India, our diverse lineup of experts will host critical discussions at the intersection of technology, the economy, and international security. Join us as we navigate the complexities of geopolitical shifts and rapid technological advancements. This season promises insightful conversations and fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Saheb and Suyash begin by laying out where the PLA stands today in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, and the factors driving its evolution. While the PLA has made major strides in modernizing across land, air, sea, space, and cyber, it still struggles with issues like deep-rooted corruption, a lack of well-trained personnel, and delays in meeting its own ambitious goals.The discussion dives into how the PLA is preparing for a potential Taiwan contingency through new mobilization efforts, localized recruitment (especially in border regions like Tibet), and more frequent joint military exercises. Suyash argues that despite these efforts, the PLA still isn’t ready for a full-scale operation anytime soon. They also examine China’s changing nuclear posture, including its gradual shift toward a “launch on warning” approach. Even though both India and China adhere to no-first-use policies, new developments in missile systems and strategic signaling are quietly reshaping the region’s security dynamics.Finally, the episode looks at what all this means for India. With growing military capabilities on both sides, we may be entering a period of “armed coexistence”—a tense, yet controlled standoff that defines the new normal along the India–China border. Episode Contributors<a href="https://www.fpri.org/contributor/suyash-desai/">Suyash Desai</a> is a nonresident fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) and a political scientist specializing in China’s defense, foreign policies, and nuclear strategy. His research focuses on Chinese military affairs, security and foreign policy issues, nuclear strategy, India-China relations, and strategic and security developments in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific region. <a href="https://carnegieindia.org/people/saheb-singh-chadha?lang=en¢er=india">Saheb Singh Chadha</a> is a senior research analyst in the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. His research focuses on China’s foreign and security policies, India-China relations, and India’s military modernization. He is broadly interested in the geopolitics of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Additional Readings<a href="https://carnegieindia.org/research/2025/04/views-from-taipei-essays-by-young-indian-scholars-on-china?lang=en¢er=india">Views From Taipei: Essays by Young Indian Scholars on China</a> by Vijay Gokhale, Suyash Desai, Amit Kumar, and Aadil Brar
Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

Interpreting India

Interpreting China: The People’s Liberation Army—Reforms and Challenges

In this conversation, Saheb and Amit examine the three major structural dilemmas facing China’s economy: a persistently low domestic consumption rate of around 40 percent of GDP, making China an outlier among large economies; the Chinese state’s reluctance to adopt fiscal stimulus due to its ideological opposition to welfarism; and a sharp slowdown in real estate investment that has had ripple effects across the broader economy. They also discuss how China’s enduring trade surpluses, particularly with the U.S., EU, and India are generating international pushback. Despite high trade volumes, Amit highlights the limited nature of Chinese investment in India, noting that economic outreach from China is driven less by genuine market interest and more by geopolitical calculations. The episode further explores why China’s engagement with regions like Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia cannot substitute for the demand found in Western markets. The episode also looks at how India’s large and growing consumer market could make it a prime destination for companies relocating under the China Plus One strategy, even if Chinese firms themselves remain reluctant to invest directly. Finally, the discussion draws a clear line between China’s diplomatic messaging and its actual economic practices, revealing a gap that continues to shape global perceptions. Episode Contributors <a href="https://takshashila.org.in/people/amit-kumar">Amit Kumar</a> is a Staff Research Analyst at the China desk of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme. With a broader focus on China, he studies issues at the intersection of the economy, technology and security. His work encompasses writings on the Chinese economy, domestic politics, foreign policy, and India-China trade and security issues.  <a href="https://carnegieindia.org/people/saheb-singh-chadha?lang=en¢er=india">Saheb Singh Chadha</a> is a senior research analyst in the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. His research focuses on China’s foreign and security policies, India-China relations, and India’s military modernization. He is broadly interested in the geopolitics of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Suggested Readings<a href="https://carnegieindia.org/research/2025/04/views-from-taipei-essays-by-young-indian-scholars-on-china?lang=en¢er=india">Views From Taipei: Essays by Young Indian Scholars on China </a>by Vijay Gokhale, Suyash Desai, Amit Kumar, and Aadil Brar<a href="https://www.penguin.co.in/book/crosswinds/">Crosswinds: Nehru, Zhou and the Anglo-American Competition over China</a> by Vijay Gokhale <a href="https://china-economy-book.com/table-of-contents/">China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know</a> by Arthur R. Kroeber<a href="https://academic.oup.com/book/33634">China’s Western Horizon: Beijing and the New Geopolitics of Eurasia</a> by Daniel S. Markey
Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

Interpreting China: The Economy and its Impact on Foreign Policy

The conversation delves into the shifting contours of global space governance, touching on the rise of dual-use technologies, the importance of transparency and norms in space activities, and the need for trusted partnerships. Samson outlines how India and the U.S. can work together to ensure space remains a stable and secure domain, citing examples from recent dialogues and space exercises. This episode underscores the importance of rules-based order in space and the benefits of integrating space cooperation into broader diplomatic frameworks of both countries, including under the Quad and the U.S.-India strategic tech and defence partnership. Episode Contributors<a href="https://swfound.org/about-us/our-team/victoria-samson/">Victoria Samson</a> is the Chief Director for Space Security and Stability at the Secure World Foundation, with over 25 years of experience in military space and security issues. She has served as a senior analyst at the Center for Defense Information and is a leading voice in advancing norms of responsible space behavior. <a href="https://carnegieindia.org/people/tejas-bharadwaj?lang=en¢er=india">Tejas Bharadwaj</a> is a senior research analyst with the Technology and Society Program at Carnegie India. He focuses on space law and policies and also works on areas related to applications of artificial intelligence and autonomy in the military domain and U.S-India export controls. Tejas is also part of the group that works in convening Carnegie India’s annual flagship event, the “Global Technology Summit” co-organized with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

Securing Space: Opportunities for U.S.-India Cooperation in a New Strategic Frontier

Episode NotesLt Gen P. R. Shankar outlines the evolution of India’s defense industry and how it is nurturing a growing ecosystem of indigenous production. He highlights that India’s armed forces have always been adequately equipped for national defense, the key question being whether it can develop a defence industry that would enable it to act as a regional power.The discussion explores the historical structure of India’s defence sector, traditionally dominated by public sector organizations such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It traces the gradual but significant entry of private players into the defence industry, marking a shift towards a more diversified and dynamic ecosystem. Gen. Shankar emphasizes that meaningful reform in procurement processes does not necessarily require more rules; rather clarity of intent, domain expertise, and better coordination among the armed forces, bureaucracy, political leadership, and industry. A key highlight of the episode is the artillery modernization program, which serves as a successful case study of long-term strategic planning and sustained execution, offering valuable lessons for other sectors and weapon systems. The conversation also delves into the relevance of international defense partnerships for deeper co-development and interoperability. Finally, broader reforms such as the introduction of positive indigenization lists, a more robust export policy, and the inclusion of startups and academic institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology, are seen as critical to strengthening India’s defense industry.  Episode ContributorsLt Gen P.R. Shankar (Retd.) is the former Director General of Artillery in the Indian Army and currently a professor in the Aerospace Department at IIT Madras. He has played a key role in India’s artillery modernization and frequently writes on strategic and defense issues. He also runs a YouTube channel, Gunner’s Shot, focusing on defense and geopolitical affairs.<a href="https://carnegieindia.org/people/saheb-singh-chadha?lang=en¢er=india">Saheb Singh Chadha</a> is a senior research analyst in the Security Studies Program at Carnegie India. His research focuses on China’s foreign and security policies, India-China relations, and India’s military modernization. He is broadly interested in the geopolitics of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. He is also a researcher on a project examining the nature and dynamics of cross-border violence and its impact on civilian communities. Further reading:<ol><li><a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/The-Indigenisation-of-India-Defence-Industy-without-cutmar-for-web.pdf">The Indigenisation of India’s Defence Industry</a> by Dhruva Jaishankar.</li><li><a href="https://theprint.in/defence/framework-to-restrict-chinese-components-in-military-drones-submitted-to-defence-ministry/2543584/">Framework to restrict Chinese components in military drones submitted to defence ministry</a> by Smruti Deshpande</li><li><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ccs-clears-mega-deal-for-big-indigenous-artillery-guns/articleshow/119234281.cms">CCS clears mega deal for big indigenous artillery guns</a> by Rajat Pandit</li><li><a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-defence-firms-need-to-invest-more-in-innovations-and-rd-to-keep-pace-with-global-standards-report/articleshow/111405034.cms">Indian defence firms need to invest more in innovations and R&D to keep pace with global standards: Report</a></li><li><a href="https://bharatshakti.in/defence-procurement-overhaul-mod-aims-to-cut-delays-faster-acquisitions/">Defence Procurement Overhaul: MoD Aims To Cut Delays, Faster Acquisitions</a></li><li><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2114546®=3&lang=1">https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2114546®=3&lang=1</a></li><li>https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/indian-defence-exports-from-brahmos-to-akash-who-are-the-major-buyers-124102800396_1.html </li></ol>
Every two weeks, Interpreting India brings you diverse voices from India and around the world to explore the critical questions shaping the nation's future. We delve into how technology, the economy, and foreign policy intertwine to influence India's relationship with the global stage.As a Carnegie India production, hosted by Carnegie scholars, Interpreting India, a Carnegie India production, provides insightful perspectives and cutting-edge by tackling the defining questions that chart India's course through the next decade.Stay tuned for thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and a deeper understanding of India's place in the world.Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to join the conversation and be part of Interpreting India's journey.

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