Amrita Jash

Research Fellow, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi

Amrita Jash is a research fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi. She holds a PhD in Chinese Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University and was a recipient of the Pavate Fellowship at the University of Cambridge in 2019. She also received the Chief of the Army Staff (Indian Army), General Bipin Rawat’s commendation in 2019 for contributing to the field of Chinese Studies. She is the author of the book titled The Concept of Active Defence in China's Military Strategy (Pentagon Press, 2021). Dr Jash has been a visiting fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge, a UGC graduate fellow (2012-2017), a researcher under Harvard-Yenching-Nanching Programme (2015), a researcher under China’s Ministry of Commerce (2014), and a US-INDIA-CHINA Initiative Fellow SAIS-Johns Hopkins University (2013). Her research interests are in China’s foreign policy, the PLA, and security and strategic issues in India-China and China-Japan relations as well as the Indo-Pacific.

A coast guard official raises the Indian national flag on board the Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel "Vajra" during its commissioning ceremony, in Chennai, India, on 24 March 2021. (Arun Sankar/AFP)
Politics

Indian academic: The Quad gains momentum and China feels threatened

By Amrita Jash 09 Apr 2021
Amrita Jash notes that the Quad has gained momentum since its inaugural virtual leader-level summit in March. China is worried, but she reasons that the Quad is taking a macro view by having a vision for a “free, open rules-based order, rooted in international law” in the Indo-Pacific, and this is a much larger endeavour than just simply targeting China. But whatever the suspicions or discomfort, the Quad mechanism looks set to stay.
This handout photo taken and released by the Indian Navy on 18 November 2020 shows a ship refuelling during the second phase of the Malabar naval exercise in the Arabian sea. (Indian Navy/AFP)
Politics

India warms up to the US amid 'new cold' in India-China relations

By Amrita Jash 27 Nov 2020
With both India-China and US-China relations grinding to a halt, the strengthening of India-US ties unnerves China the most, says Amrita Jash. Will recent high-signature events — such as the signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA) between the US and India, and the Malabar exercise involving the Quad countries of India, Japan, Australia and the US — have China walking on eggshells?
A woman looks out to the Indian Ocean at Meulaboh beach in Aceh on 12 July 2020. (Chaideer Mahyuddin/AFP)
Politics

India in the Indo-Pacific: Reining in China in the new theatre of great power rivalry

By Amrita Jash 18 Sep 2020
In recent times, the Indo-Pacific has evolved from being a geographical concept to a political and strategic construct that means different things to different countries. With Covid-19 turning the international tide against China, proponents of ensuring a “free and open Indo-Pacific” have found more incentive to rally together. Among them, dominant stakeholders such as India can play a bigger role to balance the perceived threat.
A sign pasted on a security barricade is seen after the India Gate war memorial was closed for visitors amid measures for coronavirus prevention in New Delhi, India, on 19 March 2020. (Adnan Abidi/File Photo/Reuters)
Politics

India-China relations: Compromises and conflicts amid Covid-19

By Amrita Jash 13 May 2020
India and China marked 70 years of diplomatic relations with an exchange of letters between the countries’ leaders on 1 April. Other commemorative events were to follow but have been postponed due to the coronavirus. Often mentioned in the same breath as two populous Asian powers on the rise, India and China have seen their fair share of ups and downs as competitors and partners. Apart from derailing the celebratory side of things, how will pressures from the Covid-19 pandemic affect India-China relations?
People walk past closed stores on the Nakamise shopping street leading to the Sensoji temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, Japan, on 25 April 2020. (Soichiro Koriyama/Bloomberg)
Politics

Warming up of China-Japan ties hijacked by the pandemic

By Amrita Jash 30 Apr 2020
A severely disrupted supply chain, an inevitable blame game, a collision in the East China Sea... Dr Amrita Jash says that like many things this year, the warming up of China-Japan ties has been hijacked by the spread of Covid-19 and its aftermath.