Hesitant Realism
China–India Border Tensions and Delhi’s Deepening Strategic Ties with Tokyo and Canberra
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22116372 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Purnendra Jain (0000-0003-0085-2062, The University of Adelaide, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 77-97 |
| Publication date | 2021-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2347-7970 • E-ISSN: 2349-0039 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/2347797021992529 |
| OpenAlex | W3133744837 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 16 |
The deadly conflict on the Ladakh border in June 2020 will force India to re-evaluate its approach to foreign policy. This dangerous turn, despite decades of mutual restraint, border talks, agreements and recent bonhomie between the Indian and Chinese leaders, has intensified the strategically tense environment of the Indo-Pacific region. China’s assertiveness in the South China and East China seas and its technology and trade tensions with a number of neighbouring Asian and Western nations have already raised political temperatures in global politics. In that light, this article considers how the June 2020 border incident may influence India’s strategic rethink, especially in relation to two key nations of the Indo-Pacific, Japan and Australia. The article suggests that forcing a re-evaluation of the strategic challenge posed by China, the June 2020 border confrontation has inspired a more realist edge to India’s security thinking. India is continuing the strategic autonomy with a multi-alignment approach it has favoured, but with a keener sense of realpolitik it is pressing ahead to deepen its defence and strategic alignments with like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific region. This means that India is not abandoning its relations with traditional partners such as Russia to instead pursue a more formal alliance with one or a group of other powers. Rather, India is further developing strategic partnerships with the United States and its allies, while continuing strong relations with Russia and other long-standing partners to ‘balance’ its national security position. This article identifies India’s approach as ‘hesitant realism’, an explanatory term to explore India’s moves to balance its external relations through growing ties with Japan and Australia—two US allies that are key Indo-Pacific nations
Alliance · Autonomy · China · Economics · Economy · Foreign policy · Management · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Realpolitik · Security Dilemma · Sociology · Strategic planning · Strategic thinking · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Law · South Asian Studies and Conflicts · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies
Against the universality of categories
Evolution of Japan’s official development assistance amidst great power competition in the Indo-Pacific
India’s Grand Strategy in East Asia in the Era of Covid-19
Understanding China's political will for sustainability and conservation gains
Kashmir conflict evolution from armed insurgency to democratic governance following article 370 abrogation
| Unique citing works | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2021 - 2026 (6) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |