ISAS Working Papers

Does a sense of inadvertent appeasement underpin the recent China policy of the Government of India? Since Mr. Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, China has consistently adopted positions that oscillate between benign indifference, and the plainly hostile, with regard to India's national interest. The efforts by the Indian government have not visibly succeeded in influencing Chinese policy which comes across as obstructive and uncooperative on issues vital for India. India's economic engagement with China is skewed in favor of China. Under the Modi government this situation has become worse, reflecting, perhaps, a long-term term trend based on structural factors. On the basis of available evidence it can be argued that the pattern of India's increasing economic engagement with China has contributed to strengthening China's position in its relation with India, while constraining India's strategic and diplomatic options.