GeoGames

Imagine it's an India versus Pakistan final world cup cricket match going on, and you are in the stadium watching the game. As you look around, you notice Indian and Pakistani spectators, and wait, some Chinese spectators as well, and then someone tells you if Pakistan wins this match, the trophy is going to China. This strikes a resemblance to the real-world situation, where the trophy symbolizes resources and geopolitical advantage that comes with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(POK), the game symbolizes the conflict over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and I’m the one who tells you that if Pakistan wins, the trophy goes to China. By this time you must have figured out that, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is far more valuable to China than Pakistan itself. Therefore, when discussing India's claim to regain that region of Kashmir, it's not just a one-on-one situation but rather a one-versus-two scenario. source: Jagran Josh The geopolitical advantages Along with being stunning from an aest...

                                        Havana Syndrome The first case of the coronavirus was reported in Wuhan, China on December 2019. Since then the disease has affected over 200 countries all over the world, and since then there have been a lot of theories and rumors around the world about COVID being a bio-weapon. Doesn’t this sound very much like a Hollywood movie? Spies, gadgets, and bio-wars! That’s what Havana syndrome  might be  all about, a kind of disease that started spreading from Havana, Cuba. Why did this disease not make much of a buzz in the news? This is because this disease didn’t spread as fast as COVID and did not pass to everyone, yes you read it right, it just happened to the US diplomats in the country, and that’s what raises eyebrows. 2016 Havana, Cuba Multiple US diplomats registered similar complaints,  “They are being attacked by a laser-like be...

                                 Indo-China border strategy Importance of disputed regions Soon after its independence in 1947, India was one of the first few countries that recognized the People’s Republic of China. Since then, India and China relations have been harmonious, but only till the mid-50s. In the late 50s when China intruded into Tibet, Dalai Lama in 1959, fled to India and took refuge. That’s when India and China started walking apart, China put India at fault for accepting Dalai Lama and refugees. The conflict grew to the war of 1962, and since then India and China have had border disputes. Areas under conflict are: 1.       1.    The northwestern Himalayan region near Ladakh is called Aksai-Chin. 2.       2.   Doklam plateau in the Sikkim and Bhutan region. 3.          3.   Arunachal Pradesh  ...

FOIP - Free and open Indo-Pacific  Japan's FOIP is seen as a response to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which has been criticized for its lack of transparency and potential to create debt traps for participating countries. Japan's FOIP is expected to strengthen ties with its allies in the region and promote a more stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. A variety of challenges, including piracy, terrorism, the spread of WMD, and natural disasters are present throughout the Indo-Pacific region.   Japan seeks to ensure a rules-based international order, including the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, the resolution of conflicts via peaceful means, and the promotion of free trade in order to make the Indo-Pacific free and open as "international public goods". image source: Ministry of foreign affairs of Japan On 20 th  March during his visit to India, Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida announced the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, which ...

  DIAMOND NECKLACE STRATEGY As China is trying to dominate its presence in the Indian Ocean with its String of Pearls strategy, India has made its own moves. Firstly reviving the QUAD. Standing with The United States of America, Japan,  and Australia, India is working towards a free, prosperous, and restriction-free Indo-Pacific region, for world trade.  Then comes the Diamond Necklace Strategy, a counter-encircling policy of India against China, improving its relationship with strategically placed countries around China. Delhi made really good relations with countries like Singapore, Oman, and Indonesia, as it got direct military access to these country's ports in 2018 and access to Seychelle's port back in 2015. The most important access here is the Sabang Port, of Indonesia. This port is situated at the mouth of Malacca Strait, which is one of the world's most famous choke points. Around 70%  of China's oil import moves through this strait, and the presence of the...

  Picture credits: Daily Sabah The Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected Asia, Europe, and Africa during ancient times. The Silk Road was not a single road, but a complex network of trade routes that connected China, India, Persia, the Middle East, and Europe over thousands of miles. The many populations along the path were able to exchange goods, concepts, and cultural traditions because of the Silk Road. Together with silk, traders also dealt with precious metals, pottery, jade, ivory, and spices. The rise of civilizations along the Silk Road's course was significantly influenced by it. It promoted the expansion of Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity as well as the development of science and technology. The mastery of trade routes brought wealth and power to those who held them, hence the Silk Road also played a role in the expansion and downfall of empires. This silk road is being revived by China now, through its Belt and Road initiative. The Chinese government u...