Issue No. 1055, September 30, 2025
Duty Editor: Rao Jinshan He Jiawei
Reviewer: Wang Zeyuan Guan Yunyi
Executive Editor: Chen Zhuo
Photo Source: WeChat Official Account "Meng Hui Hu Tu"
"The Hindu", Bloomberg, September 29 reported that India and Bhutan plan to build two new cross-border railways, connecting Bhutan to link India's West Bengal and Assam. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the project was finalized during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bhutan in 2024, which will help Bhutanese people better connect with the world market. It is reported that the two countries signed an agreement on September 29 when Bhutan's foreign secretary visited India. One connects India's Assam Kokrajhar (Kokrajhar) and Bhutan's Gelephu (Gelephu), planned to be completed within four years. The other connects India's West Bengal Banarhat (Banarhat) and Bhutan's Samtse (Samtse), planned to be completed within three years. The proposed railway is 89 kilometers long, with an investment of 40.33 billion rupees, which will allow Bhutan to access India's 150,000-kilometer railway network. Currently, the two countries have established road connections through "integrated checkpoints, trade routes, and new border crossings." Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that most of Bhutan's trade goes through Indian ports, and railway connectivity is crucial for Bhutan's economic development. After the completion of this railway, it will also become another channel for India to connect its mainland with the northeast region.
NEWS
Photo Source: Financial Express
"Financial Express", September 25 reported that the resumption of direct flights between China and India is expected to be delayed by at least three months until 2026. According to Indian officials, the initial expectation was to resume direct flights in winter, but faced practical obstacles. One is regulatory bottlenecks. Airlines from both countries have not yet obtained operating authorization, and both are seeking operating licenses from each other's aviation authorities, which will take at least three months to complete the application and obtain approval. The second challenge is operational. Airlines need to re-validate expired certifications, such as air operation permits, and update operation manuals, publish financial and operational status to ensure compliance with international civil aviation organization standards. In 2019, there were 539 direct flights between China and India, connecting major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. After the outbreak of the epidemic in 2020, direct flights between the two countries were interrupted and have not been restored for a long time. Currently, about 1 million passengers travel between the two countries annually via non-direct flights. Analysts believe that with the growth of tourism, education, and business demands, if direct flights are resumed, they could reach 3 million passengers per year.
NEWS
Photo Source: WeChat Official Account "Meng Hui Hu Tu"
"South China Morning Post", September 29 reported that Bangladeshi experts called on China to lead the establishment of a permanent committee aimed at promoting the phased repatriation of Rohingya people, believing that China plays a key role in resolving this humanitarian crisis. Currently, nearly a million Rohingya refugees are stranded in temporary camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. With the risk of interruption of funding support from major donors such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, this refugee aid system has become unsustainable. At a recent meeting in Dhaka, Rohingya representatives emphasized that, in addition to continuing to call on the international community for basic assistance, they hope to return safely and with dignity to Rakhine State in Myanmar. Bangladeshi analysts believe that China's push for repatriation has two motivations: economically, the Kyaukphyu deep-water port and the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline in Rakhine State are key projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the long-term instability in this area directly threatens the security and long-term operation of these strategic projects; Bangladesh is unable to bear the burden of millions of refugees for a long time, and China's assistance in handling this difficult issue helps maintain stability in Myanmar, which is in line with China's interests; geographically, in the context of the United States' declining influence in the region, China's leadership in solving this crisis can demonstrate its global leadership as a responsible major power. In terms of specific paths, China can promote the establishment of a permanent coordination mechanism involving Myanmar's State Administration Council (the military government), Bangladesh, the United States, the UNHCR, and Rohingya representatives, gradually implementing the "phased repatriation plan," including security guarantees, humanitarian protection, and economic reconstruction.
NEWS
Photo Source: The Print
"The Print", September 29 reported that the Trump administration announced a 100% tariff on medicines, and while Indian pharmaceutical companies face challenges, there are potential transformation opportunities. Trump announced on social media that starting October 1, a 100% tariff will be imposed on all branded or patented medicines imported, unless foreign companies establish medicine production facilities in the US. It is known that India exports $30 billion worth of medicines, and 90% of prescriptions in the US contain Indian medicines. Indian pharmaceutical industry faces the impact of Trump's tariffs. However, Meenakashi Lekhi, former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture in India, said that India still has potential opportunities. First, Indian companies not only export generic drugs but also "branded generics" (drugs that are generic but sold under specific brand names by pharmaceutical companies), providing space for US regulators to redefine boundaries. Second, Indian medicines often get re-labeled or re-packaged before entering the global market, making Indian manufacturers hidden suppliers. Lekhi pointed out that India should respond to the US drug tariffs in five aspects. First, promote the sale of India's own brands in the international market. Second, establish production and regulatory centers in partner countries like Latin America to avoid US involvement in the re-labeling process. Third, continuously improve compliance standards to support these Indian exporters with their own brands. Fourth, challenge the US tariffs through multilateral channels such as the WTO, clearly distinguish between branded drugs and generic drugs, and use trade remedy measures. Fifth, accelerate R&D processes and move up the value chain. Finally, Lekhi pointed out that the US's move to restructure the supply chain by imposing higher tariffs on medicines will certainly fail, and India can take advantage of its relationship with Latin American countries like Colombia to improve its position in the pharmaceutical industry value chain.
NEWS
Former Nepalese Prime Minister Oli (middle). Photo Source: The Kathmandu Post
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Mohiuddin (left) meets Chief Minister of Assam Sarma. Photo Source: X
"India Today", September 29 reported that the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) won the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) election in Assam, adding uncertainty to the 2026 Assam election. In the 2025 Bodoland Territorial Council election, Hagrama Mohilary's BPF won 28 of the 40 seats, higher than the previous 17 seats, while the BJP's seats dropped from 9 to 5. Despite the BJP's first independent participation in the BTC and the strong support from Assam's BJP Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, it was unable to prevent the reduction in its seats. The BTC was established in 2003 and has autonomy under Schedule 6 of the Indian Constitution, governing the Bodoland area in western Assam covering an area of about 8,970 square kilometers with a population of over 3 million (note: this area has long pursued independence since India's independence, and armed rebellion issues have plagued it for decades). The BTC election is considered a "rehearsal" for the upcoming Assam election. The BJP has been in power in Assam since 2016. The party has long maintained dominance in the region by forming alliances with certain BTR local parties, and controlling the political forces of the BTC is often a crucial "kingmaker." Currently, Sarma is still trying to downplay the impact of the BJP's defeat, congratulating the BPF leader on winning the election and claiming that the BPF is also part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), so "the NDA won all 40 seats."
NEWS
On November 26, 2024, workers wait in line at an Israeli labor recruitment event held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Photo Source: Frontline Magazine
The magazine Frontline published an article on February 8 titled "Rebellion Under 'Make India Great Again': How Modi's 'Welfare' Promotion Is Dividing the Base," arguing that the slowdown in India's economy is hard to blame on the 'deep state,' and Modi's welfare policies may continue to cause dissatisfaction among middle-class supporters, leading to a crisis in the BJP's voter base. Author Saba Naqvi is a well-known journalist.
In recent years, the Trump administration has long criticized the 'deep state' for hindering economic development, causing high resonance in India. In common language, the 'deep state' refers to entrenched interest groups in the bureaucracy, business, and defense sectors. On January 20, 2025, Trump announced the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aiming to reduce 'wasteful spending' and 'unnecessary regulations,' focusing on weakening the 'deep state' to advance policy proposals. In response, the Indian public highly promotes the 'deep state' theory, accusing India's 'deep state' as the 'main culprit' for the country's economic slowdown in recent years.
However, the Indian government may not need to focus on weakening the 'deep state.' Factors such as the Indian bureaucratic system and central authority make it easy for the government to implement policy proposals. In the Indian public discourse, the 'deep state' encompasses senior bureaucrats, large industrial groups, and their media allies, but does not attribute the economic slowdown to the ruling party's inaction. However, the powers of the states in India are much less than those of the states in the US, and Indian senior officials and the media follow the Modi government's policy agenda without question, unable to inflict fatal damage on the Indian economy. In fact, breaking through the Indian bureaucratic system is extremely difficult, and those who question government policies are often quickly marginalized.
Therefore, the 'deep state' theory in India is actually used to shift attention and prevent the public from developing disappointment with the Modi government's poor governance. Currently, the BJP's voter base includes a large number of middle-class supporters whose ideology is centered around Hinduism and strong leadership. However, since the BJP came to power, it has long focused on creating monopolies for a few super-rich individuals and distributing subsidies to millions of poor people, using slogans such as 'Great Nation, Great Leader, the Dawn of Hindu Civilization' to pacify the middle class. Therefore, the harsh reality of employment and income for the Indian middle class may lead to widespread disappointment. To address this, the BJP is trying to alleviate it through tax reduction measures in the 2025 budget; on the other hand, it uses the 'deep state' theory to shift contradictions and further consolidate its voter base.
Additionally, the Modi government's vigorous promotion of the Direct Cash Transfers strategy may provoke dissatisfaction among many supporters. Right-wing economists argue that this strategy aims to distribute food or cash to the poor, representing a 'socialist' model, which contradicts the BJP's ideology. Reports also mention that the Modi government plans to abandon its privatization policy for state-owned enterprises and instead invest in reviving several state institutions. As a result, many past BJP supporters have already launched the "Make India Great Again" movement, accusing Modi of deviating from the right path and leading India towards decline.
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Editor of this issue: Yu Jiaxuan
Reviewer of this issue: Jiang Yi
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