Rising to the China Challenge: Sino-Indian Ties Under Modi

Introduction Harsh V. Pant and Kalpit A. Mankikar As two critical nodes in the Asian power structure, India and China have had a complex relationship characterised by phases of cooperation and competition. There has been a convergence of interests between the two countries with respect to issues like climate change, global trade, and the reform of international financial institutions, among others. With both nations rising in the inter-state hierarchy, contestation has become a more visible feature of their bilateral relationship. It is increasingly present in geographies such as the Indian Ocean and South Asia, where China is eager to spread its influence. It can be seen in the Chinese pushback against India at global multilateral bodies. However, the most significant facet is the periodic tension on account of the unsettled border and China’s expansive territorial claims within India, which makes it central to the latter’s security and foreign policy calculus.