China’s "Strategic Partner" India

Abstract

In the article, historical relations between the two giant economic and political as well as mili-tary powers of Asia, China and India, the directions of modern cooperation, conflicting issues that exist parallel to cooperation, especially territorial disputes, and factors such as the perception of In-dia's cooperation with the West as a threat to China and its reflection in the relations between these neighbors are discussed, along with the future prospects of relations between India and China.
China and India are rapidly developing countries with a stable economic system. The role of these states in regional projects is increasing. However, there are problems in the relations between the two countries due to border issues and the historical past. Researchers attribute the origin of the Sino-Indian territorial conflict to the spread of British influence in India.
The cooperation between China and India, which began at the beginning of the 21st century, led to the economic growth of both countries. During these years, both countries have been able to come up with even more successful projects with the policy of turning their demographic problems into economic opportunities. The same interests in various global issues have turned them into strategic collaborators. The extensive economic ties of both countries have made them economic giants of the world.
However, political instability in the region, territorial claims, and tensions between neighboring countries do not affect China-India relations. The path from cooperation to competition was not very long, with states that prioritized economic development on certain issues and compromised on others. It also turned out that there are still many unresolved issues between these countries. So, although both countries have enough influence in the region due to their geopolitical and economic potential, India lags behind China economically, and they have not been able to exploit their full potential from an economic point of view. Although China is largely a manufacturer, India is still viewed by China as a consumer and commodity market. Despite the dynamics of bilateral cooperation, factors constraining the conflict atmosphere still remain. The countries still have not resolved border issues, they are afraid to take the same position in the political arena, expert speeches are heard on Indian television that the Chinese army is dangerous for India, the military forces of both countries are more concentrated on the borders, not a common position towards Pakistan has been determined, etc. In this regard, strategic competition has a negative impact on the relations between both countries and serves to deepen unstable relations in the region. The participation of third-party countries in this competition also leads to dangerous problems. However, forecasts are not yet able to clearly formulate positions.