China s Digital Silk Road and Chip-Based Geopolitics: A Critical Analytical Study from the Indo-Taiwan Perspective

Principle Investigator：ICSSR-NSTC Project, 2025.1-2026.12

The Digital Silk Road, a component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), encompasses numerous digital infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity and digital cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region. China's Digital Silk Road initiative seeks to extend its digital influence globally, raising concerns for countries like India regarding technological dependency, security risks, and strategic competition. The Digital Silk Road has contributed to the redefinition of social norms in Indian society, particularly in the context of interactions and behavior. This interdisciplinary joint project will involve esteemed scholars in cultural studies, political science, security studies, media studies, migration studies, and postcolonial scholars from India and Taiwan. This project explores the problems regarding China's Digital Silk Road and its impact on the Indo-Pacific Region, particularly India and Taiwan. The project examines China's Digital Silk Road and Chip-Based Geopolitics from four interrelated dimensions: 1) Chip-based Geopolitics and Economic Issues of Supply Chain, examining how collaborations between India and Taiwan's semiconductor sectors can mitigate these concerns and enhance India's technological sovereignty and resilience; 2) Labour migration induced by the “Chip” friendship between India and Taiwan; 3) Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, examining how China's DSR initiative has transformed India's technological landscape, specifically in terms of technological reliance and security challenges; 4) Theoretical speculation of a new Nomos of the earth. This interdisciplinary project offers a critical analysis from the Indo-Taiwan Perspective.

參與研究員 Participating Researchers

PI: Prof. Joyce C.H. Liu (TAIWAN) Professor Emerita, Director, International Center for Cultural Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

PI: Prof. Rosinka Chaudhuri (INDIA), Director and Professor of Cultural Studies, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta

1.      Vivekananda Mukherjee (India), Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India. With a background in technological innovation and geopolitical analysis, Prof. Mukherjee's role will focus on assessing technological advancements, geopolitical implications, and strategic recommendations for fostering successful Indo-Taiwan semiconductor partnerships.
   Website: https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/hyderabad/prof-vivekananda-mukherjee/.
2.      Pranab Kumar Das, Associate Professor of Economics, The Centre of Studies in Social Sciences (CSSSC-India), Kolkata, India. As a seasoned researcher with expertise in supply chain dynamics and economic analysis, Prof. Das will lead the investigation into supply chain interdependence, economic impacts, and policy implications of Indo-Taiwan collaboration in the semiconductor industry.
   Website: http://www.cssscal.org/ pranab_kumar_das_contact.html.
3.      Maidul Islam, Assistant Professor of Political Science, The Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (CSSSC-India), Kolkata, India. Maidul Islam contributes expertise in political economy and geopolitics to analyze economic issues and chip-based geopolitics in Indo-Taiwan collaboration. His role involves formulating policy recommendations, data analysis, and collaboration with other researchers.
   Website: http://cssscal.org/faculty_maidul_islam.php
4.      Poonam Sharma (ICCS-Taiwan) Post-doc Researcher, the International Center for Cultural Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. With a focus on migration studies and socio-economic exchanges. She will investigate the impact of the India-Taiwan memorandum of understanding (MoU) on labor migration and mobility stimulated by the 'Chip' friendship between the two nations. She will conduct interviews, surveys, and case studies to explore the dynamics of labor migration, employment patterns, and the socio-economic benefits of increased collaboration between India and Taiwan. Poonam's research will shed light on the human aspects of Indo-Taiwan economic relations and contribute to understanding the broader implications of digital Silk Road initiatives and China's reaction on India-Taiwan Relations.
   Website: https://iccs.chss.nycu.edu.tw/en/phd.php?USN=335&type=phd_list.
5.      Monika Verma (ICCS-Taiwan) Post-doc Researcher, the International Center for Cultural Studies, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. Leveraging her expertise in international relations and defense and strategic studies, Monika will spearhead the research on India's dependency on China's Digital Silk Road and its implications for national security She will conduct extensive data analysis, literature reviews, and stakeholder consultations to understand the cybersecurity challenges and strategic risks posed by this dependency. Monika's research will provide critical insights into safeguarding India's digital sovereignty and resilience against external threats.