The article, “Authored by Venus Upadhayaya via The Epoch Times” emphasizes that India’s grand strategy is largely influenced by China, according to analysts. The piece is part of a series titled “India: The Next Five Years,” which explores India’s foreign relations and global outlook from 2024 to 2029.
India, being the world’s fastest-growing economy, is also growing in its self-understanding. Experts suggest that India’s perception of its place in the world is predominantly shaped by China. Dhruva Jaishankar, in his book “Vishwa Shastra: India and the World,” highlights the significant role of China in India’s strategic thinking.
Jaishankar outlines five key objectives of India’s grand strategy, including strengthening the nation domestically, ensuring a stable neighborhood, maintaining a balance of power, addressing historical issues, and advocating for India’s participation in global institutions. These objectives have guided India’s grand strategy since its independence in 1947.
Srikanth Kondapalli, the dean of the School of International Studies at JNU, emphasizes the importance of a country’s grand strategy in shaping its trajectory over the long term. He mentions that major powers like the U.S., Russia, the UK, and China have articulated their grand strategies to varying degrees.
India’s grand strategy, although not explicitly outlined, has been the subject of various interpretations by scholars. Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” aims to transform India into a self-reliant and prosperous economy by 2047. However, India faces challenges in achieving its grand strategy, with China being identified as a major obstacle due to historical conflicts and territorial disputes.
Overall, the article underscores the complex dynamics between India and China and how these interactions influence India’s strategic thinking and global positioning. He mentioned that the dispute is not going to be resolved in the short term and must be factored into India’s grand strategy.
India’s Role in Shaping the World Order
When discussing the potential role of India in promoting a multipolar world, Jaishankar outlined several key objectives.
These objectives include taking on a leadership role in Southeast Asia, securing the Indian Ocean region, fostering stronger connections with neighboring countries and the Middle East, and utilizing a mix of incentives and deterrents to steer Pakistan away from supporting terrorist organizations.
Jaishankar also highlighted the importance of managing India’s relationship with China in a manner that encourages healthy competition without escalating into conflict.
Elaborating on this, Kondapalli emphasized that India’s engagement in multilateral forums is driven by its strategic interests.
Both India and China participate in various shared multilateral platforms, with the understanding that these forums are not meant for discussing bilateral or sovereignty-related issues. Their involvement signifies a commitment to resolving disputes through confidence-building measures and peaceful means.
Utilizing multilateral forums can be instrumental in advancing bilateral agendas. Kondapalli pointed to India’s nuanced approach in such settings, such as the meeting between Modi and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, where they agreed to delegate discussions on territorial disputes to their national security advisors.
This approach led to progress in addressing these issues.
Jaishankar underscored that India’s leadership in a multipolar world would involve collaborating with key balancing powers like the United States, Japan, Australia, and others to enhance and diversify supply chains.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of countering China by expanding India’s strategic interests. By cultivating multiple strategic and economic partnerships, India can mitigate the risk of disruptions from China and safeguard its national interests.
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