PIC-CCAS China Conference 2026 Opens in Pune; Experts Examine India-China Ties, Strategic Challenges

Pune, 4th September 2026: The two-day China Conference 2026, organised by the Pune International Centre (PIC) in collaboration with the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy (CCAS), began in Pune on Friday, bringing together diplomats, military experts, academics, industry leaders and policy specialists to discuss the evolving India-China relationship and its wider strategic, economic and regional implications.

The conference was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik (Retd.), Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, who spoke about China’s evolution under the Chinese Communist Party and the implications of its expanding military, economic and strategic capabilities for India and the wider region.

Describing China as a “civilisational neighbour”, Parnaik cautioned that its strategic outlook remained expansionist. He referred to China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, the renaming of places in Indian territory and what he described as “cartographic aggression” in Arunachal Pradesh.

Parnaik also highlighted China’s military restructuring under President Xi Jinping and its strategic partnerships with Pakistan, Russia and Iran. He said China was expanding its influence in India’s neighbourhood and beyond through infrastructure financing and initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Highlighting the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Parnaik said the population living in border areas could play an important role in providing local awareness and support for national security. He also pointed to India’s efforts to improve road connectivity towards the border.

‘India-China cooperation crucial for Asian century’
In his welcome remarks, Jayadeva Ranade, President of CCAS, described India-China relations as complex and stressed the need to take strategic discussions beyond New Delhi.

“If India and China cooperate, this will be the Asian century,” Ranade said, underlining the need to focus on repairing bilateral relations while recognising the strategic challenges between the two countries.

Dr Vijay Kelkar, Vice President of PIC, said the conference was intended to initiate a sustained dialogue on China and expressed hope that it would become an annual event.

He said Pune’s strong intellectual and academic ecosystem made it an ideal location for a sustained discussion on China.

Experts discuss Xi Jinping, PLA and India’s military preparedness
A key session, titled “Reading Chinese Tea Leaves,” featured a discussion between former Ambassador to Bhutan and China and former High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale, CCAS President Jayadeva Ranade and former Chief of Army Staff Gen. Manoj Pande (Retd.).

The panel discussed whether Xi Jinping is likely to secure a fourth term. Ranade said Xi was expected to continue in office and currently exercises extensive control over the Communist Party.

The discussion also covered recent removals, purges and anti-corruption measures within China’s military establishment. Gen. Pande said these developments could be viewed as part of Xi’s efforts to consolidate authority and ensure loyalty within the military.

He said an emphasis on loyalty over competence could have implications for the operational effectiveness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
On the comparative fighting capabilities of Indian and Chinese troops, Pande said the PLA may have a technological advantage, while Indian soldiers have an edge in combat effectiveness.

Ranade stressed the importance of understanding China’s strategic intentions while assessing the bilateral relationship.

China’s economy, social compact also discussed
The panel also examined China’s economic challenges and the relationship between the Communist Party and the Chinese population.
Ranade said growing public discontent could put pressure on China’s existing social compact, although he expressed doubts that it would fundamentally undermine the current political arrangement.

Bambawale argued that purchasing power parity (PPP) provides a better measure of a country’s comprehensive national power. On this basis, he said India ranks third globally after China and the United States.
Discussing the Ladakh standoff, Gen. Pande said India’s response had been “robust and strong” and that the country’s military intelligence capabilities had improved.

He added that India and China could be partners in certain areas, but described the relationship as fundamentally “strategic”.

China’s higher education model examined
The conference also featured a session titled “Engineering Excellence: China’s State-Directed Transformation of Higher Education and its Implications for Emerging Economies.”

The discussion was led by Dr Ajit Ranade, Senior Fellow, PIC, and Dr Konthoujam Sarda, Senior Research Associate, PIC, and examined China’s transformation of its higher education system and the potential lessons and implications for emerging economies.

The second day of the conference will feature discussions with experts including Prof. Kanti Prasad Bajpai, Visiting Professor at Ashoka University and author of India Versus China: Why They Are Not Friends; Pranay Kotasthane, Deputy Director of The Takshashila Institution; Amb. (Retd.) Ashok K. Kantha, former Indian Ambassador to China and Chair Professor of International Relations at Chanakya University; Dr Arvind Goel, Vice Chairman of Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd.; and Dr Sruthi Kalyani, Policy Fellow at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.