With the world’s two most populous nations in close proximity, tensions are bound to arise. Competition between China and India is fierce on economic growth, geopolitical clout and security strategy. 

While the border war has receded into memory to leave a stable—albeit nebulous—northern border, conflict has moved to other realms. India’s concerns have now turned to bridging the economic gap with China by leveraging its large population; however, a rising India may make its neighbour nervous. What are the prospects for this relationship?

Madeleine Durand of the AIIA’s National Office spoke with Dhruva Jaishankar at the Australian National University’s National Security College conference, “Strengthening Australia-Japan-US Strategic Cooperation: Prospects and Challenges”. They discussed India’s long history of contention with China, India’s economic prospects, China’s and India’s realms of influence and the potential consequences of the Trump administration for the Indo-Pacific.

Dhruva Jaishankar is fellow for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution India Center in New Delhi. He was a Transatlantic fellow with the German Marshall Fund (GMF) in Washington from 2012 until 2016.

Interviewed by Madeleine Durand

 Filmed by Lisa Green