DIMAPUR: The 19th All India Conference of Chinese Studies (AICCS) 2026, jointly organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), New Delhi, and the Department of Political Science, Nagaland University, from October 28 to 30, concluded with a call for strengthening India’s research ecosystem and developing an independent, evidence-based understanding of China.
The valedictory session on October 30 underscored the importance of studying China through primary sources, moving beyond dominant external narratives and encouraging greater participation of young scholars, particularly from the Northeast, in China Studies. Speakers also highlighted challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), including digital inequality, job displacement, ethical concerns and dependence on foreign technologies.
The conference received 90 abstracts, of which 54 papers were selected for presentation across 11 thematic panels and two special panels. Scholars from over 27 institutions across the country participated in the three-day event.
Discussions on the opening day focused on the institutional, linguistic and epistemic challenges facing China Studies in India, as well as China’s political economy, governance and society. Presentations examined issues such as epistemic sovereignty, the evolution of China Studies, Chinese language education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the shortage of programmes and faculty in Northeast India.
Speakers also discussed China’s energy transition, digital governance, ethnic cultural industries, environmental risks linked to technology infrastructure, youth disengagement, state feminism, and women’s movements in China and India. The sessions stressed the need for stronger research infrastructure, ethical and inclusive governance, independent scholarship and continued human expertise in an increasingly AI-driven world.
On the second day, discussions centred on emerging technologies, strategic competition, India-China historical interactions and the growing influence of AI on global power dynamics. Presentations explored critical mineral supply chains in Central Asia, AI in contemporary Chinese literature, digital nationalism and the implications of technological rivalry for national security.
A special panel on strategic autonomy and techno-geopolitics highlighted the importance of developing indigenous AI capabilities, strengthening semiconductor infrastructure, fostering public-private partnerships and balancing technological self-reliance with international cooperation.
The final day focused on China’s role in shaping global technological norms, AI governance in the Global South, high-tech security architecture, digital infrastructure and regional relations. Researchers examined China’s influence on international technology standards, India’s pursuit of digital sovereignty, cybersecurity risks associated with smart-city infrastructure, and India’s dependence on Chinese battery technologies and electronic components.
The discussions also explored the strategic implications of undersea cables, digital connectivity and technological dependencies for national security and international relations. The conference concluded by identifying three key priorities for advancing China Studies in India: deepening empirical research, strengthening interdisciplinary and comparative approaches, and enhancing institutional capacity for research on China. The organisers informed that the 20th edition of AICCS will be hosted by Chanakya University, Bengaluru, in 2027.
