Distracted Antagonists, Wary Partners: China and India Assess their Security Relations

The growing importance of India-China relations to the security of the Asia- Pacific region requires that the United States better understand the forces and trends that shape this relationship.   This study evaluates the major sources of tension and cooperation between India and China, and analyzes how leading security specialists and policymakers in the two countries see future trends in their relations.

China and India’s potential for serious conflict is mitigated by four powerful strategic desires common to both countries:
• Avoiding a major threat on a secondary strategic front
• Maintaining a relatively peaceful environment to permit their governments to focus on economic growth and stability concerns
• Deferring conflict with the other country in the hope that time may favor their long-term strategic position
• Enjoying the benefits of security cooperation on issues of overlapping interests.