Ambassador (Retd) Gautam Bambawale is a former Indian diplomat and served as the Indian Ambassador to China from 2017 to 2018. He also served as the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan from August 2014 to December 2015 and the High Commissioner of India to Pakistan from January 2016 to November 2017. He retired in 2018 after an illustrious career spanning 34 years.
Bambawale has obtained a Master’s Degree in Economics from the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in August 1984. He studied Mandarin Chinese and served in the Indian missions at Hong Kong and Beijing from 1985 to 1991. Upon his return to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, he served as the first Desk Officer for China in the Ministry. From 1993 to 1994, Bambawale was the Director in the Americas Division of the Ministry. From 1994 to 1998, he was the Director of the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin where he dealt with Public diplomacy. From March 2001 to June 2002, he worked at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi as the Staff Officer to the Foreign Secretary of India. Subsequently, he functioned at the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi as the Deputy Chief in the Division of National Security Affairs, Defence and International Policy.
Bambawale was the Minister (Political) and Head of the Political Wing at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. from July to September 2007, the period when the Indo - US nuclear deal was negotiated which transformed ties. From September 2007 to December 2009, he served as India’s first Consul General in Guangzhou. From December 2009 to July 2014, he was the Joint Secretary (East Asia) at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Bambawale is considered as an expert on China.
He is a co-author of the book “Rising to the China Challenge”.
Interviews and Articles
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/countries-together-to-fight-public-health-issues-gautam-bambawale-8460953/ - February 22, 2023
Like in Galwan, Beijing probably wants to again attempt to change LAC status quo by force
Why India-China troop clashes are more frequent
Foxconn-Vedanta chip project should be the start of a deep Delhi-Taipei engagement
7 ways India can make Taiwan its strongest partner ever - Oct 13, 2022
India must focus on rapid economic growth as defence policy: Gautam Bambawale
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/india-must-focus-on-rapid-economic-growth-as-defence-policy-gautam-bambawale-11665643762230.html - Oct 13, 2022
PLA’s big aim at LAC is to get India to accept China’s hegemony. We must see this & prepare
PLA's intent is clear: Get India to accept China’s hegemony Aug 31, 2022
Why India must keep China's overtures at mending fences at bay - Mar 22, 2022
India will look to democratic partnerships to address power gap with China: Ex-Indian ambassador
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/03/28/gautam-bambawale-discusses-india-china-ties.html - Mar 28 2022
The former public servants question whether India is prepared to capture this opportunity of artificial intelligence today and what it will take to realise the trillion-dollar dream
How China has left behind India in the AI race - Feb 2, 2022
His consolidation of power doesn’t mean China’s supreme leader will have it easy -
Will history say Xi Huzoor? - Nov 12, 2021
It is built around propping up Mao rather than Jack Ma. It puts China’s prosperity at high risk -
Xi is taking China away from its proven success path - Sep 30, 2021
E-xplained with Gautam Bambawale: Galwan and what happens after -
https://youtu.be/0tWGbxO3KOg - Jun 30, 2020
For minor tactical gains on the ground, China has strategically lost India, says former Indian Ambassador to China -
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/for-minor-tactical-gains-on-the-ground-china-has-strategically-lost-india-says-former-indian-ambassador-to-china/article31884054.ece - June 21, 2020
'Leverage China’s vulnerabilities in Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang' - Jun 19, 2020
Ola ropes in Gautam Bambawale as senior advisor -
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/ola-ropes-in-gautam-bambawale-as-senior-advisor/article30924154.ece - February 26, 2020