India’s Engagement with China under the Leadership of Prime Minister Modi

Abstract

In 2020 India celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations with China. India’s engagement with China under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is proactive rather than defensive in nature. While Modi has shown himself willing to claim India’s interests within the region with regard to China, his initial term showed a seamless interest in consolidating New Delhi’s regional presence in a way favorable to India. Specifially, India increased its diplomatic engagement with diplomatic partners within the Indo-Pacifi region, proceeding from the premise of reconciliation with a rising China. The bilateral relations between India-China have expanded in the past decade. The article analyzes the effcts of hometown diplomacy, the role of informal ties as well as the strategy of issue-based diplomacy of Modi. It also singles out the key challenges of bilateral ties, to wit: issue of Masood Azhar, India’s application to Nuclear Supplier Group, the 14th Dalai Lama’s separation, South Tibet territorial dispute and Border standoff The authors also reveals two strategies of Modi’s government – engaging and competing.