The beauty about Geopolitics is that it keeps changing on a daily basis. What in 1949 were two impoverished countries are in 2023, two civilizational powers turned m

The beauty about Geopolitics is that it keeps changing on a daily basis. What in 1949 were two impoverished countries are in 2023, two civilizational powers turned modern states. India and China have a long history of interaction between the two societies. Be it the spread of Buddhism through religious preachers from India to China or diplomatic envoys exchanged during the times of mighty empires on both the sides, the two cultures have peacefully interacted and penetrated within each other.

Up until the advent of European colonialism in the 17th century, India and China controlled a quarter to a third of global GDP in complete mutual co-existence. The instances of Taiping Rebellion, wherein Indian soldiers turned against their British masters to support the ailing Chinese, to the support offered by the Chinese to Indian nationalists like the Ghadar Party, the two have lived in harmony while being sympathetic for each other.

Since 1949, the two have been at odds that are deep layered and complicated in its very nature. The legacy of the British defined border still haunts the two major Asian powers. With that comes the issue of Tibet and Buddhism. For India, being the land of Buddhism, it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the pain of Tibetans. The Chinese look at this as a separatist movement sponsored by India for decades. They try to level this with their support for Pakistan and its state policy of terrorism against India.

There are historical baggages that are complicating the broader relationship of our times. The two sides acknowledge that there are very limited options to steer this relationship through the contemporary Geopolitical environment, except for Diplomacy. However, Diplomacy comes at a cost and that cost is TRUST. But there are avenues where there is no choice but to TRUST.

The best way to rebuild a really comprehensive strategic and global Balance of Power initiative between India and China is to start by talking and compromising on the Border issue. This can be followed up by 3A’s - Africa, Afghanistan and Arctic. The 3A’s are arenas where there are no other options but to cooperate.

India and China have to cooperate in the African natural resource markets for the simple fact that both have to cater to a billion plus population. The two have to cooperate in Afghanistan because religious extremism in the heart of Asia is going to come and haunt both these rising giants. Arctic needs a synergy in India-China cooperation because it is in their interest to not let the resource rich region become a hotbed for geopolitical competition between NATO and Russia, both of whom might corner and stake claim over the region.

Diplomacy is the only solution for two nuclear armed, billion plus populated and modern states with rich civilizational status. Bilateral trust and multilateral cooperation is the best way forward and as History has shown, it is possible when there is an intent to make it possible.

The Case for Cooperation

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