- cooperation in trade, multilateral forums, alongside competition & strategic challenges
- PM Modi: journey from INCH (India - China) to MILES - Millenium of exceptional synergy
Cooperation
- pol: India was first non socialist bloc nation to recognize PRC in 1950
- Economic: trade $127B in FY24
- Cultural: Yoga College estd. in China, buddhism
- multilateral: SCO, BRICS, AIIB, NDB
- informal summits: Wuhan 2018, Chennai 2019
- promote 5 principles of peaceful coexistence
- Counterterrorism: SCO-RATS
Challenges
- border disputes: unresolved 3488km LAC; standoff in Ladakh
- Salami Slicing: construction of villages along border
- BRI & sovereignty: india opposes CPEC through PoK
- strategic encirclement through SoP
- trade deficit: over $99B
- critical dependence on Chinese API
- South China Sea: clasesh w/ India’s strategic & energy interests
Recent developmenst
- disengagement at Galwan, Pangong Tso, Hot springs
- Strategic important: Depsang near Karakoram, vital for Indian logistics
Border disputes
| Dispute origin | details |
|---|
| McMahon Line 1914 | Rejected by china |
| Tibet Annexation 1950 | created undemarcated border |
| LAC proposal 1959 | proposed by china, rejected by India |
| 1962 War | china seized Aksai Chin |
- China protests indian projects in arunachal eg. Sela Tunnel, claiming it as south tibet
Recent provacations
- border infra by Indi eg. DBO road
- revocation of 370, Ladakh’s reorganiation
- QUAD particpation
way forward
- infra: boost border & naval strength
- rethink one-china policy
- expand maritime reach in indian ocean & SCS
- alliances: sthrengthen QUAD, IOR, Indo Pacific ties
- shared Info Pacific vision with USA
India china water relations
- shared rivers: Brahmaputra, Sutlej
- Limited cooperation: annual hydrological data sharing during monsoon
- challenges
- delayed / withheld data impacts flood forecasting
- dams / diversions eg. Zangmu threaten downstream flow
- trust deficit, ecological threats
- way forward
- draft binding water sharing pacts
- model on IWT
- depoliticize water issues
BRI
- infra mega project launched in 2013 to link Asia - Europe - Africa
- india: opposes BRI due to sovereignty issues: CPEC through PoK
- Concerns:
- Debt trap eg. Hambantota port, SL
- env damage: 204 coal projects
- unsustainable costs: $6B Laos Railway
- Slow progress: Structural issues in pakistan
- governance gaps: no centralized frameworks
China’s influence in south asia
| Country | Details |
|---|
| Pakistan | CPEC, Gwadar, Defence ties |
| Bangladesh | largest trade/defence partner |
| satellite launch |
| energy projects |
| Sri lanka | Hambantota lease |
| post war diplomacy |
| Nepal | BRI linked infra eg. Pokhara Airport |
| Maldives | Debt, island leases - Feydhoo, Finolhu |
Concerns for india
- encirclement - string of pearls
- declining regional influence
- 2 front threat - china pak nexus
- regional instability from debt diplomacy
India’s countermeasures
| China | India |
|---|
| Gwadar, Hambantota, Maldives ports | Duqm (Oman), Chabahar (Iran), Sittwe (Myanmar) |
| Navla presence in IOR | Naval modernization eg. INS Vikrant |
| expanding BRI influence | Act East, SAGAR, BIMSTEC |
| Encroachment in neighborhood | boosting connectivity & aid in S.Asia |
reducing dependence on China’s supply chain
- diversification: west supports india’s role as alternative hub
- strategic ties: India - EU tech council; Indo Pacific framework
- Tech cooperation: Semiconductor US-India iCET
- Infra push: western investmetns in logistics, manufacturing
Way forward
- multilateralism: promote code of conduct for SCS
- CBM: hotlines, joint patrol, prevent clashes
- legal mechanism: uphold UNCLOS, PLA rulings
- sustainable partnership: Env cooperation, joint development
- India led development: expand SAGAR, INSTC, Act East