Holi paints dancing dragons : India's counterbalancing strategies against China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Abstract

This thesis examines the competition between India and China in their pursuit of supremacy in Asia and global power status, with a focus on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It aims to explore the national security threats posed by the BRI to India and how India addresses these challenges through counterbalancing measures. The research employs the balance of threat and covert balancing theories to provide analytical arguments. The findings highlight that the BRI has significantly impacted India’s territorial integrity and geopolitical interests in Asia. In response, India has implemented four key policies: publicly expressing objections to the BRI, adjusting its policies on Jammu and Kashmir, launching regional initiatives, and actively participating in regional balancing efforts.