Relevance : GS Paper II
Analysing India-China relations
- Over the past decade, three forces have been shaping India-China relations.
- changing world order and the rise of Asia
- West’s declining capacity to manage international affairs,
- a changing South Asia with China’s policies such as Belt and Road initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
- Between 2014 and 2017, the relation was characterised by tension, mistrust, and competition
- The Doklam episode saw the culmination of mistrust.
- At 2018 “informal summit” in Wuhan, both sides attempted to chart a fresh course.
The Wuhan Summit
- Wuhan Summit was was built on pillars such as:
- simultaneous emergence of India and China
- respecting each other’s concerns and aspirations
- peaceful border management
- greater consultation on all matters of common interest
- Wuhan approach was critiqued for not going far enough in terms of laying out a blueprint to resolve differences.
Road map
India’s China policy should be guided by three grand strategic goals:
- an inclusive security architecture in Asia
- a fair and rules-based open international order
- sustainable economic development in the neighbourhood.
Conclusion
Both countries should step up and play constructive roles to shape the emerging world order.