China in India's Post-Cold War Engagement with Southeast Asia

This book explores the role of China in driving and sustaining India's post-Cold War engagement with Southeast Asia, providing a unique insight into the regional dimensions of the Sino-Indian relationship. It assesses the extent to which China has been raised as a priority in discourses of India's Look East Policy and how this has varied over time, alluding to the fact that government officials may not always reflect true intentions in their official statements.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 18 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate dynamics of China's role in shaping India's engagement with Southeast Asia post-Cold War. By providing a unique insight into the regional dimensions of the Sino-Indian relationship, it sheds light on the intricate web of factors that have influenced India's strategic outlook in the region.

In the early 1990s, India initiated its Look East Policy, driven by a strategic desire to rekindle the importance of Southeast Asia in its foreign policy agenda. This study aims to assess the profound impact of the China factor, defined as China's regional role, on the inception and evolution of India's Look East Policy.

The book explores the extent to which China has been elevated as a priority in the discourses surrounding India's Look East Policy, and how this priority has evolved over time. It examines the changing narratives and strategic frameworks that have shaped India's engagement with Southeast Asia, taking into account the interplay between official statements and the underlying motivations of policymakers.

Recognizing the gap between policymakers' official statements and their true intentions, the book alludes to the possibility that government officials may not always reflect their genuine motivations in their official pronouncements. This is particularly relevant in the context of the Sino-Indian relationship, where diplomatic rhetoric often conceals more competitive and confrontational aspects of the bilateral relationship.

By examining the interplay between India's relations with Southeast Asia and China, this book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of regional power relations. It will appeal to academics, policymakers, and students interested in International Relations, Asian Security, Southeast Asian politics, and Indian foreign policy, the Sino-Indian relationship, and India's Look East/Act East Policy.

Weight: 744g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367464066