Some Thoughts on India’s Security Strategy Toward China

            There is a growing consensus among Indian elites that China’s rise represents a major security threat to India, one that is likely to endure for the foreseeable future.  This view is not universal, but it is increasingly pervasive.  As the administration of newly elected prime minister Narendra Modi settles in to power, policymakers in New Delhi would be wise to take this opportunity to reassess the nature of this security challenge and how it should be addressed. 

            Indian security planners should begin by taking a fresh look at China and its relationship to India’s strategic interests.  India’s humiliating defeat during the 1962 Sino-Indian border conflict colors Indian perceptions of China in ways that may be counterproductive.  Recent disclosures from the Indian government’s own internal assessment of the war have cast doubt on the long held view that India was an innocent victim of Chinese betrayal and aggression.  Nonetheless, this narrative continues to influence contemporary Indian beliefs regarding China’s motivations and intentions.  Recent friction between the two countries has only fueled perceptions in New Delhi that Beijing’s ultimate goal is to prevent India from assuming its rightful place as one of the world’s great powers.