China's Strategic Challenges to India

Abstract

India and China share a complex bilateral relationship, consisting of military confrontations, diplomatic dialogues, and intense economic activities, concurrent with multilateral engagements. Their growth prospects and future visions set them on a path of intense competition. Also, China's consistent growth to become a major player in the global arena poses many strategic challenges to India’s growth story. The foremost challenge is that China poses a direct military threat to India, due to its rapidly modernising military forces, as well as the bloody history of India-China territorial disputes. Second, China's burgeoning economic muscle affords it the luxury of shaping world opinion in its favour and to India’s detriment. This factor is compounded by China's influence on international bodies like the UN and financial institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which may impinge on India's national interests. Coupled with this is the consistently expanding Chinese influence in South Asia, directly challenging India’s dominant position in the region. This commentary examines the challenges that India faces from China and further evaluates possible strategic options for India.