Size. Strength. Potential. Neighbors. The world’s two fastest rising powers – China and India – are often considered strategic rivals, not close friends. Sure, Beijing and Delhi often sing the same tune in international powwows, but their differences are real and could become more pronounced.
Beijing and Delhi largely agree on climate change, trade and several other issues of global concern. India’s environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, recently said that “India feels closer to China than the United States” on the issue of climate change – the two are “standing 100 percent together.”
This united front is analyzed by Neeta Lal, a journalist based in New Delhi, and she argues that their resistance to strict carbon emissions is a noteworthy but rare display of solidarity “given the two Asian giants’ generally tenuous relationship, as well as previous fractiousness regarding which one should do more to combat global warming.”
Possibilities for cooperation seem to be extending beyond climate change. “In its attempt to stomp out the pro-Uighur movement in its restive western autonomous region, Xinjiang, China might be looking for help from a surprising partner: its major rival in the region, India,” writes Bahukutumbi Raman, who formerly served in India’s intelligence agency.
While this could bring the rivals closer together, “this new partnership only goes so far…although cooperation against acts of terrorism will continue to expand, the chances of China and India working together against terrorist organizations are remote.”
Their agreements will not forever overshadow their disagreements. The relationship is still burdened by border disputes, unease over growing military capabilities, competition for resources and influence and different friends in Asia.
China and India are both too big to ignore. And neither will ignore the rise of the other.
Photo from Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images.
