ARTICLES

Between Rivalry and Rapprochement: The Trials and Trajectory of India-China Relations

Manoj Kewalramani

After five years of tensions, India–China relations have entered a phase of cautious and fragile re-engagement. However, deeper structural faultlines remain. Meaningful progress will depend on whether Beijing chooses to accommodate India’s strategic interests – but given the power asymmetries between the two countries, this Long Read argues that the prospects are dim.

RedNote’s Success and Beijing’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia

Wang Zheng

The Chinese social media app RedNote has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia, making the region its second-largest market outside mainland China. RedNote, which only has a single global version for both domestic and foreign users, is subject to greater content regulation from the Chinese government than platforms like TikTok and WeChat. Ultimately, RedNote’s ability to grow its regional influence depends on its ability to address regional concerns over whether the app will be exploited by Beijing to propagate its political narratives and influence Southeast Asian netizens.