ISAS Working Papers

India and China, both heirs to ancient civili sations, have emerged today as the two most powerful and influential Asian nations in terms of their economic capab ilities and geopolitical standing. The two erstwhile adversaries have rec ognised the need for casting off the baggage of history and residual mist rust and have embarked on the pa th of building a new pragmatic partnership. However, despite th e recognition that coope ration may be in their mutual interest, this will be easier said than done. Sino-Indi an relations have always been complex with multilayered regional and global dimensions, which have complicated their bilateral relationship. Even as India and China have traversed a long road from being friends to adversaries to pragmatic partners, a factor which has been constant in the conduct of their affairs, is the fact that they are neighbours and geopoliti cal rivals who have as much to gain from each other as to fear from the other.