A Descriptive Analysis on Sino-Indian Geostrategic Relations in the Context of South Asia and Indian Ocean

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VII, July 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

A Descriptive Analysis on Sino-Indian Geostrategic Relations in the Context of South Asia and Indian Ocean

Akkas Ahamed¹, Md. Sayedur Rahman^2*
1Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh
²Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur -5400, Bangladesh & Masters Student, Master’s Programme in Socioeconomic and Political Development of Modern Asia, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation
*Corresponding author

Abstract: The rise of China and India has restructured relations and shaped a wider area of economic cooperation in South Asian countries, where both India and China have kept their eyes on growing trade and economic progress as a security implication for long term. However, South Asian geostrategic, political and economic activities are now being pressurized that it can lead to a change in geopolitics and geo-economics in the region. Political crisis in the Indian Ocean country, Maldives, and China’s interest in constructing a naval base in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean region are an important indicator of geostrategic change in the region. China’s huge investments in the Indian Ocean countries are not just about economic development but also about China’s aspiration to present itself as a “local power” in the Indian Ocean region. Mutual worries on China’s armed presence in both South China Sea and Indian Ocean have inspired both Indian and Indonesian governments to come up with the plan of constructing the Sabang port. Although many observers think that the China’s presence in the region is peaceful and for ensuring the security of navigation. However, this study has described about the geostrategic relations of China and India in the context of their interests in South Asia and Indian Ocean. It is a descriptive study based on secondary data. At the end of the study, some strategies have been suggested to improve the relations between China and India through promoting trade and investment in the region instead of confronting each other in South Asia and Indian Ocean.

Key Words: China, India, South Asia, Pakistan, Geostrategic Relations, Indian Ocean, Border, Security, Economic Interests.

I. INTRODUCTION

In terms of geostrategic location both China and India are located in center point of East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, South East Asia and Russian Federation. These two countries are the largest countries taking into account of their size of population. China is now number one country in relation to its GDP by purchasing power parity (PPP) and the size of population. China’s development has great implication for India along with other South Asian countries. China has always considered developing nations as first priority of its development cooperation including South Asia and Africa.

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