India & Its Neighborhood

KEY POINTS

China’s dominance

·         China is becoming a global leader in terms of composite national strength and international influence.

·         Its superpower ambitions are bound to have a system-shaping impact on the Asian region.

·         China is thus involved in a grand strategy to anchor its supremacy and eliminate any U.S.-led coalition in the Asian region.

Why it is not desirable?

·         There are several sources of fear for India which include

a)     denying India entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group

b)     repeatedly blocking UN sanctions against Pakistan-based terrorists

c)      ever-strengthening China-Pakistan military alliance

d)     ignoring India’s sensitivity over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

e)     revisionist claims in the land and oceanic space. E.g. revisionist statements on Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh

f)       increasing naval presence, including dispatching its nuclear submarines on patrol, in the Indian Ocean.

g)     China, stepping up its political and economic footprint in the region

·         China’s further dominance will increase the pressure for India even more. 

Why keeping china out is unrealistic?

·         Power - Amidst Chinese grand strategy, India's US-centric strategy keeping china out, could turn to be a spoiler. This is because:

a)     the US is a quickly-receding extra-regional power

b)     its long-term commitment to the Asian region is increasingly indeterminate and unsure

·         Economy - Trying to match the powerful Yuan, with our humble rupee is a losing battle.

·         Boycotting Chinese goods would also mean Indian consumers paying more to get them from elsewhere and also it will affect India’s export to china.

Smart balancing

·         A smart way to balance china is viewing China as part of the solution to the region’s challenges than as part of the problem, or the problem itself.

·         A mutual ‘complex interdependence’ in economic, security and other domains should be strengthened by initiating structured consultations.

·         E.g. The current India-China joint anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden.

·         India should certainly focus on the Indo-Pacific and consider cooperating with China, even while being part of the Quad.

·         India also needs to strategise a plan to nudge China towards playing a role so as to ensure a stable regional security order.

Please review.  Thank you. 

Please review.  Thank you.