What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: After Trump–Xi Ceasefire in Busan: A To-Do List for New Delhi

Context:

The geopolitical implications of the 2025 Trump–Xi meeting at the APEC Summit in Busan, marking a pause in escalating U.S.–China tensions. It examines how India should recalibrate its foreign policy amid shifting global power dynamics and renewed great-power diplomacy.

Background and Contextual Setting:

• The Busan meetingbetween U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping symbolises a temporary “ceasefire” in U.S.–China rivalry.
• This thaw follows years of “wolf warrior diplomacy,” trade wars, and aggressive posturing in the South China Sea.
• The summit’s tone — staged at a U.S. military base — was symbolically charged, reflecting the delicate balance between rivalry and dialogue.
• China’s stance is shifting from aggressive nationalism to measured pragmatism, acknowledging internal economic strains and external pushback.

Emerging Global Dynamics:

• China’s recalibration:
  • Facing slowing growth, youth unemployment, and investor distrust, Beijing may adopt a more strategic and restrained foreign policy.
  • Hints of Deng Xiaoping’s pragmatism (“hide your strength, bide your time”)suggest a reversion to calculated diplomacy.
  • Xi’s military and foreign policy tone now signals predictable, pragmatic diplomacyover confrontation.
• United States’ strategic reorientation:
  • The U.S. seeks to manage China through selective engagement and containmentrather than all-out confrontation.
  • Washington is keen on coalition diplomacy— revitalising ties with India, Japan, ASEAN, and NATO — to balance Beijing’s influence.

Implications for India:

• Strategic Prudence:
  • India must avoid being drawn into a binary alignment (pro-U.S. or anti-China).
  • New Delhi’s foreign policy should remain autonomous yet assertive, guided by strategic patience.
  • India’s experience from Doklam and Galwanproves that Chinese insecurity can be more destabilising than aggression.
• Diplomatic Engagement:
  • Maintain open communication channelswith Beijing while strengthening deterrence and border vigilance.
  • Support regional stability through ASEAN and Indo-Pacific frameworksrather than direct confrontation.
• Deepening the U.S. Partnership:
  • India–U.S. relations should be institutionalised beyond individual leaders (e.g., Trump, Biden).
  • Strengthen cooperation with the White House, Congress, Pentagon, and U.S. think tanksto ensure policy continuity.
  • Prioritise defence technology sharing, supply chain resilience, and intelligence cooperationunder the 10-year defence framework.

India’s Strategic To-Do List:

• Strengthen Regional Diplomacy:
  • Deepen engagement with ASEAN, Japan, and Australia through the Quadto counterbalance China’s regional influence.
• Enhance Economic Resilience:
  • Diversify supply chains, attract FDI, and reduce dependency on Chinese imports in critical sectors (electronics, pharmaceuticals).
• Leverage Middle Powers:
  • Coordinate with the EU, South Korea, and Gulf nations for technology partnerships and energy security.
• Defence Preparedness:
  • Continue military modernisation and maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Strategic Communication:
  • Use diplomacy to project India as a credible, stabilising powerrather than a reactive state.

Broader Significance for Global Order:

• The Busan “ceasefire” may not end U.S.–China competition but could redefine it into managed coexistence.
• For India, this period offers an opportunity to assert middle-power diplomacy, focusing on multi-alignment rather than bloc politics.
• A stable U.S.–China thaw could also provide economic breathing spacefor India to pursue domestic priorities like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.

Challenges Ahead:

• Unpredictable U.S. Policy:Trump’s leadership style may bring volatility in Indo-Pacific commitments.
• Chinese Tactical Flexibility:Beijing may combine diplomacy with pressure tactics along the border or in multilateral forums.
• Geopolitical Polarisation:Increased great-power rivalry could constrain India’s autonomy in trade and security alignments.

Conclusion:

The Trump–Xi ceasefire in Busan signals a pause, not peace, in great-power competition. For India, the moment calls for strategic prudence, policy agility, and calibrated engagement. New Delhi’s success will lie in maintaining a fine balance between deterrence and dialogue, leveraging partnerships without dependence, and reaffirming its place as a stabilising pivot in an evolving Indo-Pacific order.

 

Editorial 2: Drug Combo Reduces Death Risk for Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Context:

A recent global clinical trial has shown that a combination therapy of leuprolide and enzalutamide significantly reduces mortality in men with high-risk, recurring prostate cancer, marking a major advancement in cancer therapeutics and personalized medicine.

Background and Significance:

• Prostate canceris the third most common cancer in men worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related deaths.
• It often progresses silently and becomes aggressive when diagnosed late.
• India has seen a rising trend in prostate cancer cases, particularly in urban centers, due to lifestyle changes, improved detection, and ageing demographics.
• The breakthrough therapy provides new hope for patients with recurrent or advanced disease, where standard treatments often fail.

Key Findings of the Study:

• Conducted under the EMBARK protocol, this Phase-3 clinical trialtested leuprolide (hormonal therapy) combined with enzalutamide (androgen receptor blocker).
• Result:Combination therapy reduced the overall risk of death by 40.3% compared to single-drug therapy.
• The approach delays disease progression, lowers relapse rates, and improves survival outcomes in high-risk cases.
• The therapy is already approved and available in India, making it accessible to patients through oncological centers like Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.

How the Combination Works:

• Leuprolide:
  • Suppresses the production of male hormone testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer cell growth.
• Enzalutamide:
  • Blocks the androgen receptor, preventing cancer cells from using residual hormones for proliferation.
• Combined Effect:
  • Attacks cancer cells from two hormonal fronts.
  • Prevents recurrence after surgery or radiation.
  • Reduces biochemical relapse (rising PSA levels).

Implications for India:

• Early Detection & Screening:
  • Physicians advocate regular PSA testing and urological evaluationfor men over 50 or at high risk.
  • Early identification improves outcomes and reduces treatment burden.
• Oncology Infrastructure:
  • India’s growing network of cancer care institutionscan integrate this therapy into standard protocols.
• Public Health Impact:
  • Can reduce cancer-related mortality and enhance life expectancy in men.
  • Promotes evidence-based treatment protocolsin Indian oncology practice.
• Cost & Accessibility Challenge:
  • Combination therapies remain costly; insurance and government support will be crucial for widespread use.

Broader Scientific and Policy Relevance:

• Scientific Importance:
  • Represents a shift towards precision oncology— tailoring treatment based on molecular and hormonal profiles.
• Policy Perspective:
  • Aligns with India’s National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
  • Encourages integration of clinical research with healthcare delivery.
• Ethical Consideration:
  • Reinforces the need for clinical trial transparency, patient safety, and equitable access to new treatments.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen Cancer Registries:Improve surveillance and early diagnosis mechanisms nationwide.
• Enhance Medical Research:Promote Indian participation in global multicentric clinical trials.
• Public Awareness:Educate men about prostate health and the importance of early detection.
• Affordable Access:Government schemes and generic production could make therapies more affordable.

Conclusion:

The success of the leuprolide–enzalutamide combination represents a milestone in managing aggressive prostate cancer. It reflects how scientific innovation, early diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment can converge to save lives. For India, integrating such therapies into the public health system, while ensuring affordability and accessibility, will be essential in strengthening the country’s fight against cancer.