India-China Strategic Relations:The Evolving Arc of Competition in a Multiplex World

Abstract

The India-China relationship has emerged as the most significant factor in the emerging world order, particularly in Asian geopolitics. As the bipolar world order is transitioning into a multipolar world, both India and China have become prime actors in the international system. Although both nations have troubled relations over their border, their strategic rivalry in the Indo- Pacific and Indian Ocean Region has become a primary source of friction in their overall relationship. The geopolitics of the new world order has reshaped India- China relations as it has transformed their border rivalry into a multi- theater security competition. This paper argues that boundary dispute between both nations is not the cause of their bitter rivalry, but it is merely an effect of their broad geopolitical rivalry arising from the structural constraints of the anarchic international system. This paper examines the changing geopolitics of India- China relationship from the framework of neorealism, especially the theories and ideas of Kenneth Waltz and John Mearsheimer. The concept of offensive and defensive realism, security dilemma, balance of power and regional hegemon would be employed to analyze this relationship. This study examines some main research questions:

First, to what extent does border conflict influence Indian balancing strategies and maritime engagements in the Indo- Pacific region.  Second, how both India and China are competing and asserting leadership across the global South in the new world order. In exploring these questions this paper analyzes how both countries attract nations of the global South through their economic cooperation and infrastructural projects like BRI and DPI in order to enhance their institutional agenda-setting power across key multilateral forums like G-20, BRICS and SCO.

This paper concludes that due to economic interdependence and nuclear deterrence, India- China security competition would be managed by both nations  but possibility of limited warfare on borders and confrontation at oceans can happen in future.