Big Picture,Great Powers,Military History,Technology & Poetry. De-mystifying China and its Army through primary source analysis. Can speak Chinese.
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Did PLA suffer 8 Casualties in Galwan ?
My brief research says, its likely. See details at the link
newreckk.substack.com/p/did-…
Another research paper titled, “The Evolution of China–India Relations and a Way Forward (中印关系嬗变及出路)”, postulates that post Galwan incident, India’s alignment with US has increased and there is a need to restore the strategic balance.
It claims that India’s post-Galwan tilt towards US has left a negative impact on China’s security, economy, strategic environment.
Essentially because it increased US *containment strategy* on one side and India’s *friction strategy* on the other.
The paper published in 2023, recommends that a fresh assessment of India from *bottom line thinking and long-term perspective* was needed.
newreckk.substack.com/p/chin…
Part III : Chinese Views Quad & Indian Ocean Region, Global South and China-India Relationship
Re-constructed from multiple Chinese Research Papers... May read about Chinese Views on India at the link below--
newreckk.substack.com/p/chin…
Anoop Singh retweeted
The Northeast is not where India ends. It is where India begins — and in Guwahati, it is where #VandeMataram at 150 came alive.
At #NamamiBharat, hosted by #VidyaBharati, I stood before students, parents, alumni, NCC cadets and citizens not as a former Army Chief, but as an ex-student of Saraswati Shishu Mandir. One "How's the josh?" and the hall answered as one.
We remembered #ZubeenGarg, Assam's own voice, who sang Vande Mataram too. We recalled how my jawans from the mountains of J&K loved to sing #BhupenHazarika's "Ganga Behti Ho Kyun". An Assamese song on the lips of soldiers from Kashmir: that is national unity. And when #OperationSindoor came up, the audience didn't just applaud the Army. They owned it. Rightly so, because the whole nation stood as one team.
To the young, 5 Ds for life:
*Dream — the kind that won't let you sleep.
*Discipline — even when the mind says no.
*Determination — the first failure is only the first attempt.
*Duty — the nation before self.
*Desh — whatever you become, make #Bharat stronger.
The soldier guards the India of today. The student builds the India of tomorrow.
Vande Mataram!
#NationBuilding #NortheastIndia
Anoop Singh retweeted
The front line now runs through our labs.
At @IITGuwahati, spoke on the Tech Warrior of #FutureWars. Two ideas : Hot Peace; Antifragility over Resilience.
Takeaways for young India:
• Code is Kavach
• Think with AI
• Be antifragile
• The lab is the frontline
• Clarity is power
Impressive ideas; the gap is the path from lab to product. Academia, industry, thinkers and policymakers must converge to steer R&D to outcomes. That bridge is the next battle of #AtmanirbharBharat.
Compliments on pioneering the Manekshaw Centre for Defence among IITs.
Anoop Singh retweeted
#GenZ asked the hard questions. Here are my answers.
A fireside conversation with Ms Kadhambari S Viswanathan at @VITBhopal, in a hall full of India’s future:
▸ Duty, dignity, discipline: the foundation of everything
▸ Staying rational under pressure: lessons from #OperationSindoor
▸ Beating FOMO and cognitive overload: short, mid and long-term goals
▸ IQ is not enough: build EQ, SQ and AQ
▸ AI can inform a decision. A human must own it.
▸ Atmanirbhar tech: SAMBHAV, and academia as a partner
And a tribute to those who serve in silence: the military family.
Thank you @VIT_univ for hosting.
#Inspiration #Motivation #YouthOfIndia
What does it take to lead under pressure, make difficult decisions and stay true to your values?
Watch here: youtu.be/Kiwys1ypr5A?si=EJbn…
@VITBhopal
#VITBhopal #GeneralUpendraDwivedi #OperationSindoor #FiresideChat #Leadership #VelloreInstituteofTechnology
When did China issue orders to attack India for War in 1962?
This book by PLA Lieutenant General Yun Fatang says, *29 May 1962*…
He writes,
“In its directive dated May 29, 1962, titled "Regarding the Struggle on the China-India Border," the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army pointed out that the western sector of the China-India border was the primary focus. Regarding the eastern sector (the McMahon Line), the directive emphasized making preparations against aggression
中国人民解放军总参谋部在1962年5月29日《关于中印边境斗争》的指示指出：中印边境西段是重点，东段地区（麦线）主要是做好反侵略的准备，
so that—should the need arise and in accordance with instructions from the Central Military Commission—forces there could support the struggle in the western sector and be ready to counter any encroachment or attacks by the Indian military.”
以便必要时根据中央军委的指示，配合西段地区的斗争，准备对印军的蚕食和进攻进行反击。
Source: Page 210, “From Mount Tai to Mount Everest : Memoirs of Yin Fatang (从泰山到珠峰：阴法唐回忆录)” by Yun Fatang (阴法唐)
Here is the summary of all that i wrote in last few weeks. Will remain pinned for next few days. May bookmark and share.
1-Chinese Strategic Approach Towards India
Part 1 : China’s Worldview
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part II : China’s Views of its Neighbours including ASEAN
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part III : China’s Views on India through prism of Quad, Indian Ocean, Global South & Bilateral Relationship
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
2-Command & Control in Tibet & Xinjiang Military Districts
Part I : Overall C2 & Tibet Order of Battle
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part II : Xinjiang Order of Battle
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
3-History of India-China dispute
Part I : Connectivity & Trade between India & Tibet (1947-54)
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part II : Learning from Sino-Burma Border Negotiations (1956-60)
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part III : Nehru-Zhou Letters on Boundary Dispute (1956-60) Part I, more later
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part IV : Excerpts of boundary negotiations from Book “Strategic Dialogues” written by first Chinese Special Representative Dai Bingguo
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
4- Summaries of Chinese Official Papers
Paper 1 -PLA Strategic Studies(战略学), Approach to Military Crisis Management
Part I - substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part II -
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Paper 2 - White Paper on " Global Community for Shared Future"
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Paper 3- Chinese "Global Strategic and Security Risk Report 2025"
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
5- About 1962 India-China War
Part I : Excerpts of book Sino-Indian War(中印战争) by Chen Jiawei (陈家伟) describing Chinese War Planning Conference of 1962
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part II : Excerpts of Interview of PLA Lieutenant General Yin Fatang on India-China War
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part III : Chinese Military Offensive Plan for Tawang Sector (re-constructed)
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part IV : Logistical difficulties of PLA in Tibet as described in Chen Jiawei's book
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
6- Some quick Summaries to Read
Part I : 10 Points on Chinese Strategic Approach Towards India
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part II : On th sacking of first WTC Chief, General Zhao Zongqi
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part III : Military Theaterisation in Western Theatre Command remains incomplete
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Part IV : Retirement options for PLA personal and a story
substack.com/@newreckk/note/…
Another Chinese research paper titled, “The Modi administration has adjusted its Indian Ocean strategy, seeking to rope in the U.S. to contain China—a fine plan in theory, but what has the actual outcome been? (莫迪政府调整印度洋战略拉 美遏华，想得很美，结果是什么呢)”, traces evolution of India’s strategy for Indian Ocean region from historical perspective.
1-The paper traces that in 2004, India came up with its first Indian Ocean strategy.
2-The 2007 revision of the strategy defined Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal as major interest areaswithin Indian Ocean and waters near Australia and Africa were relegated to secondary interest areas.
3-In 2009, the strategy took another leap and entire Indian Ocean region less South East Indian Ocean was defined as primary area of interest. In addition, South east, Indian Ocean, South, China Sea, East China Sea and Western Pacific were defined as secondary areas of interest.
4-Subsequently India’s Maritime strategy of 2015 pivoted India’s maritime strategy from purely being a *military strategy to security strategy* and proposed safety of Indian Ocean region. The strategy highlighted role of Indian Navy as a net security provider.
5-The paper claims that within Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal in eastern IOR is Chinese strategic area of interest therefore Indian Navy looks at Bay of Bengal as a theatre of controlling the land from the sea and it is upgrading the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with a view to guard Malacca Strait and thus constraint China, if the need arises.
In their paper, “Cognitive Differences and Cooperation Dilemmas Between China and India in the Global South (中印全球南⽅认知差异与合作困境)”, Ye Hailin (叶海林) and Zhang Zhanyu(张展毓), recommend a 12 character policy for India ..
“Providing temporary support, combine pulling and striking and simultaneously destroying the old and constructing the new” (临时相济 拉打结合 破⽴并举)
Read a re-construction of Chinese policy towards India through multiple Chinese Research Papers at my substack. Link in attached tweet..
Link to all papers at Substack..
Since someone thought it’s an AI generated paper…please see details of author’s & publication below..it’s all the link given in substack..but still..
About the Authors:(作者简介)
朱翠萍，云南财经大学印度洋地区研究中心教授。
Zhu Cuiping is a professor at the Center for Indian Ocean Region Studies, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics.
胡文远，云南财经大学印度洋地区研究中心讲师、博士生。
Hu Wenyuan is a lecturer and doctoral candidate at the Center for Indian Ocean Region Studies, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics.
本文选自《南亚研究》2024年第2期，原标题为《印度莫迪政府印度洋战略调整的双重逻辑与战略限度》
This article is taken from *South Asian Studies*, Issue 2, 2024. The original title is "The Dual Logic and Strategic Limitations of the Modi Government’s Indian Ocean Strategy Adjustment."
A thought provoking article..thank you for bringing this and similar other thoughtful articles for us to read..
Adding to conversation, some thoughts..
1-One of the differences between societal structure of India and China is belief in religions versus belief in a way of life(Confucianism, Daoism..also Buddhism but that’s the most benign of all Indian religions). Point being that religions are by default hierarchical..thus the hierarchy of birth is a deeply ingrained value system in India..
2-I am currently reading the book Strategic Dialogue (战略对话) by Dai Bingguo(戴秉国). Dai later became a top Chinese diplomat. Among other things, I am struck by the fact that Dai came from a peasant family with 6 siblings..and he had to do manual labour for much of his school life..my takeaway is that a lot of people in China have moved up the social ladder within a single generation.
A lot of credit to Chinese sustained Reform & Opening up..for making this possible..in India we haven’t matched this pace of reform even though our population growth has outperformed China’s. Some more about the book here
teapawt.org/newreck/status/2115053…
3-While reading Yukichi Fukuzawa’s autobiography covering period of Meiji Restoration in Japan, I got to know of feudal system which was also entrenched in the society.
In this system too rank of a person was fixed by birth.. but post restoration this system was dismantled with iron will.
One of the reasons, it gets perpetuated in India is because it’s politically expedient to keep reminding people of their caste. My point being that as long as the route to Political Power goes through Caste..this system cant get reformed. The excerpts of the book can be seen here
teapawt.org/newreck/status/2031907…
4-Finally despite all this, a prosperous society has a tendency to provide better social mobility for larger numbers. I wish and hope that this happens in India too..
What will it take for India to catch up with China? No, its not just economic growth. pallaviaiyar.substack.com/p/…
In their paper, “Cognitive Differences and Cooperation Dilemmas Between China and India in the Global South (中印全球南⽅认知差异与合作困境)”, Ye Hailin (叶海林) and Zhang Zhanyu(张展毓), recommend a 12 character policy for India ..
“Providing temporary support, combine pulling and striking and simultaneously destroying the old and constructing the new” (临时相济 拉打结合 破⽴并举)
Read a re-construction of Chinese policy towards India through multiple Chinese Research Papers at my substack. Link in attached tweet..
Link to all papers at Substack..
Part III : Chinese Views Quad & Indian Ocean Region, Global South and China-India Relationship
Re-constructed from multiple Chinese Research Papers... May read about Chinese Views on India at the link below--
newreckk.substack.com/p/chin…
Anoop Singh retweeted
To every young Indian who dreams of the sea: this is where it begins.
A memorable day at the Indian Naval Academy, #Ezhimala. Where hills meet the sea, India shapes its naval leaders.
I put six questions on #OperationSindoor to the faculty and the passing-out term. The questions a young officer should be able to answer before they command:
1. Who decides, and how? Political aim first. Fifteen days from shock to action, with diplomacy and force moving together.
2. How do three Services act as one? Know each other, share one picture by design. Networks today, unified commands next.
3. Conventional or grey zone? Start from the effect on the citizen, not the instrument. End where the politico-military aim is met.
4. What is escalatory deterrence? Credible capacity, control of every step, and an off-ramp the other side can accept.
5. What sustains a campaign? Precision does not remove logistics; it makes them harder. Stocks, production lines, fused intelligence.
6. Where is victory won? In the minds or physical realms. A war ends when the adversary and the world accept the outcome.
Warm thanks to Vice Adm Alok Ananda, the faculty and the trainees. The officers shaped here will command a joint, multi-domain, technology-led Navy. Officer trainees from friendly nations tell me its reputation travels well beyond our shores.
I was most impressed by its state-of-the-art infrastructure and outstanding faculty. #IndianNavalAcademy is among the finest academies I have seen anywhere.
My message to the next generation of naval officers: think joint, think technology, think strategy. Know the politico-military end-state before the plan. And remember, every officer is a narrator. Discipline on social media is operational security. I am sanguine that you will command the first truly joint, multi-domain Navy.
@indiannavy
Part III : Chinese Views Quad & Indian Ocean Region, Global South and China-India Relationship
Re-constructed from multiple Chinese Research Papers... May read about Chinese Views on India at the link below--
newreckk.substack.com/p/chin…
In April 2026, China organised a Central Conference on Work Relating to the neighbourhood. It was first such Conference since 2013 and it acknowledged that “China’s relations with its neighbouring countries are currently at their best in modern time”.
As per Chinese classification, China has a total of 30 neighbouring countries and except Russia, 29 of them are in Asia. China has so far signed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation agreements with 25 of these countries, it is the largest trading partner with 18 countries and it has reached a common understanding on “building a community with a shared future” with 17 countries.
In the North of China is Russia, which is arguably China’s closest ally and only country with which China has “comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era”. Both countries are members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and maintain a close strategic relationship. China-Russia trade was $234 Bn in 2025 despite a decline from comparatively higher levels in 2024 and China is Russia’s largest trading partner. Chinese and Russian citizens can also visit each other countries without a visa for a period of 30 days.
What “Partnerships” Does China Have? [中国的“伙伴”关系有哪些？]”, 项昊宇 (Xiang Haoyu). CSIS Interpret (Link shared at end). This article provides details of five categories of partnerships by China and discusses its relative hierarchy.
While describing, Strategic partnerships that start with “comprehensive,” “global” and “all-round”, it says,
1-These partnerships include the “comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era” with Russia.
2-The “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnerships” with nearly 20 countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Kenya.
3-The “comprehensive strategic partnerships” with about 30 countries including Italy, Malaysia, Spain, and Indonesia as well as ASEAN and the European Union.
4-The “all-round strategic partnership” with Germany.
5-The “global comprehensive strategic partnership” with the United Kingdom.”
It also describes Strategic partnerships that start with “all-weather” and “permanent.”
1-These partnerships include the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnerships” with Pakistan, Belarus, and Venezuela.
2-The “permanent comprehensive strategic partnership” with Kazakhstan”.
interpret.csis.org/translati…
For comparison India & China have a “Strategic and
Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity”, which was established in August 2003. Link below
mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRel…
May see part II of Chinese World View, Sourced heavily from Chinese writings.
In this part I have covered, Chinese views on its neighbourhood including ASEAN Countries.
If interested may read the full article here,
newreckk.substack.com/p/chin…
In April 2026, China organised a Central Conference on Work Relating to the neighbourhood. It was first such Conference since 2013 and it acknowledged that “China’s relations with its neighbouring countries are currently at their best in modern time”.
As per Chinese classification, China has a total of 30 neighbouring countries and except Russia, 29 of them are in Asia. China has so far signed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation agreements with 25 of these countries, it is the largest trading partner with 18 countries and it has reached a common understanding on “building a community with a shared future” with 17 countries.
In the North of China is Russia, which is arguably China’s closest ally and only country with which China has “comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era”. Both countries are members of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and maintain a close strategic relationship. China-Russia trade was $234 Bn in 2025 despite a decline from comparatively higher levels in 2024 and China is Russia’s largest trading partner. Chinese and Russian citizens can also visit each other countries without a visa for a period of 30 days.
May see part II of Chinese World View, Sourced heavily from Chinese writings.
In this part I have covered, Chinese views on its neighbourhood including ASEAN Countries.
If interested may read the full article here,
newreckk.substack.com/p/chin…
To the South West are countries of South Asia. This area doesn't have good inter-regional or intra-regional comparatively due to perpetual conflicts. China has a border dispute with the largest country in the region, India, thus limiting the potential for both strategic as well as economic engagement. Despite these sub-optimal factors, trade between China and South Asia crossed $ 200 Bn for the first time in 2025, primarily due to increased trade between India and China.
Towards East, China’s global competitor US has multiple treaty allies and military bases in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand. In addition US has a political commitment to Taiwan, under the rubric of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 even though US maintains an ambiguous stand towards defence of Taiwan.
Despite the high strategic competition in East, combined Chinese trade with Japan, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan was in excess of $1.174 Trillion in 2025[xv] while its trade with ASEAN group of nations exceeded $1.05 Trillion for the first time. China has remained ASEAN’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, while ASEAN has been China’s biggest trading partner for six successive years.
Overall, combined trade of China and its neighbours in three directions of North, West and South West was less than $550 Bn in 2025. In contrast its trade with nations to its East including ASEAN was close to $2.2 Trillion. Strategic and economic relationship with Russia in North and economic relationship with ASEAN & East Asian nations is already as close as it can be, therefore while the data shows the overwhelming importance of the Eastern direction for China, there is great untapped potential in Western and South Western directions.