Vipin asked: What could be the implications of China’s space diplomacy in India’s neighbourhood, especially Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka?

Reply: Refer to Ajey Lele’s recent commentary, “China’s ‘String of pearls’ in Space”, March 21, 2013; and his book, Asian Space Race: Rhetoric or Reality?, Springer, 2013. Also, refer to other IDSA publications on the subject: Radhakrishna Rao, “The Indian Space Programme in 2012: A Review”, January 2, 2013. Ajey Lele, “China to Launch Satellite for Sri Lanka: India’s Missed Opportunity?”, November 16, 2012. Gunjan Singh & Ajey Lele, “China’s 2011 White Paper on Space: An Indian Perspective”, January 12, 2012. Ajey Lele, “China launches a communications satellite for Pakistan”, August 24, 2011. Ajey Lele, “Success of GSAT-8 and Future of India’s Space Programme”, May 25, 2011. Ajey Lele, “Space Technology and Soft-Power: A Chinese Lesson for India”, October 5, 2009 Ajey Lele, “China’s Posture in Space and its Implications”, Strategic Analysis, 32 (4), July 2008. Wu Chunsi, “China’s Outer Space Activities: Motivations, Goal, and Policy”, Strategic Analysis, 32 (4), July 2008.