China and India and Security: New Tensions

China and India – coined as the ‘Emerging Giants’ - face security challenges - ‘old’ and ‘new’ tensions; the former stemming from historical territorial disputes and the latter from mounting economic, military and political rivalries. This essay captures the nature of the ‘new’ tensions, embedded in ties with nations in Asia and beyond, and the scope of inducing cooperation between both. This is underpinned by diplomacy to foster their relationship. The prospects of improving understanding between the two nations and ushering in peace and development are posed.

Policy Implications

• Policy makers, in China and India, should firmly emphasise 'economic' cooperation in the areas of trade and investment while confronting but diminishing the'political' issues stemming from border disputes through periodic ' Mini Summits'.

• Policy makers in China and India should devise regular jointly conducted first hand studies of specific sectors (eg. agriculture, IT, services) to complement each other's short and long term economic development alongside periodic reports on any border tensions and disputes.

• Policy makers in China and India should stimulate the bonding of their relationship by pursuing mutual goals of bolstering their global influence through an 'Agenda of Reform of international Institutions' via existing institutions (Bretton Woods) as well as 'newer' institutions (G 20 and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and China and South Africa) to revitalize controversial trade, finance, environment and security challenges.

• International policy makers and developed country leaders should be allowed, when possible, to participate in the dialogues between China and India and lend support through concrete measures in the frame of global peace and development.