The relationship between China and India is undergoing significant changes. While there is mounting hostility due to recent border clashes, economic ties between the two countries are flourishing. This shift in dynamics could have implications for the United States and its allies.
Historically, China has looked down on India, scornful of its politics, infrastructure, and poverty. India, on the other hand, has envied China’s economic progress and hoped to be treated as an equal. However, recent border bloodshed suggests escalating hostility. Despite this, economic ties between the two countries are flourishing, presenting a different narrative.
China’s disdain for India is rooted in a long-standing perception of superiority. Chinese intellectuals have argued that India should not try to revive its traditional culture but instead learn from the West to resist its influence. Chinese officials and scholars still hold a sense of disdain towards India, citing data that shows China’s economic superiority over India.
However, the military and economic fundamentals of the China-India relationship are changing. India has been moving closer to the United States since signing a civil nuclear cooperation pact in 2008. The alignment between the two countries has accelerated following clashes on the Indian frontier with China, including a clash in 2020 that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers. The hope among American and allied officials is that India’s ongoing border disputes with China will push it further into a democratic coalition aimed at constraining Chinese power.
The question remains, what if India and China find a way to resolve their border dispute? Despite the tensions, economic ties between the two countries continue to grow. This changing dynamic between the world’s largest democracy and largest autocracy forces both countries to reassess their relationship with each other and the rest of the world. The implications of this shift are significant and could have repercussions for the United States and its allies.
