Modi Answer Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the relevance of China and India’s relationship?
- Both countries are seeking to become the hegemonic powers in the Southeast Asian region
- Strong economic ties exist between the two powers
- A contested border has been in place since Indian independence in 1947
- China expanding influence in Indian Ocean and Malacca Strait.
What initiatives are driving the security dilemma between India and China?
- Chinese military growth (both at LAC and in ocean)
- Belt and Road initiative
- China and Pakistan Economic Corridor (China aiding India’s main strategic rival)
What does Vittorini (2022) argue is Modi’s approach to politics?
Vittorini argues Modi has a performative approach to politics - this approach allowing him to appear as a political strongman to his base as well as allowing a more assertive approach on the international stage.
How can the India-China relationship be characterised according to Pardesi (2022)?
Pardesi argues that the rivalry is an asymmetrical yet managed one. It contains a major and a slightly weaker power, as well as showing no sign of abating or dramatically heightening.
How does Bajpai (2017) argue Modi has changed the orthodoxy behind the relationship between India and China?
Bajpai (2017) believes that Modi has changed the status quo in the relationship between India and China, shifting policy to be that a solution should be found on the border between India and China before a normalising of the relationship, rather than the reverse.
What examples of border confrontations have there been since 2014, signifying a more aggressive approach from Modi?
- Ladakh confrontation, 2014
- Doklam clash, 2017
- Galwan Valley clash, 2020
- Sikkim, 2021
- Arunachal Pradesh, 2022
What were the casualties in the Galwan Valley clash of 2020?
The Galwan Valley clash of 2020 saw 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers killed.
What is China’s ‘string of pearls’ strategy?
China’s string of pearls strategy is an attempt to achieve dominance over the Indian Ocean, stretching down to the Horn of Africa. This has been achieved by constructing military and communications technologies throughout these areas.
What has resulted in an abating of the immediate tensions over the India-China border recently?
India and China struck an agreement DIPLOMATICALLY in 2024 to reduce patrolling on the border.
How has Modi sought to respond to China’s military and maritime growth through the ‘necklace of diamonds’ approach?
The ‘necklace of diamonds’ is an approach which looks to strike back at China’s growth in influence at sea. This sees India building up its naval capabilities, as well as striking military agreements with the likes of Singapore and Indonesia to restore a balance of power.
How can constructivism be used to explain Modi’s approach towards China?
Constructivism can be used to explain Modi’s approach to China due to its focus on identity and its role in behaviour. In India, Modi has been somewhat deified, forming a cult of personality around him which has solidified his own power and India’s status as a Hindu nationalist nation. This has emboldened Modi to behave far more assertively towards China as a result.
How do Joshi and Mukherjee characterise India’s policy along the LAC towards China?
Joshi and Mukherjee characterise India’s policy of one of ‘deterrence by punishment’, essentially looking to raise the costs of Chinese aggression to deter this from occurring. It is a policy of restrained, yet aggressively tinged means!
How can defensive realism explain Modi’s approach towards China at the LAC?
Defensive realism prioritises offensive actions being taken to ensure security. This can be seen along the LAC, where tempered aggression is being used to secure India’s border integrity, while hoping to steer China towards a diplomatic resolution to the issue.
Why is all-out aggression unlikely to break out between India and China?
As India and China have such strong economic and diplomatic ties, their relationship is unlikely to deteriorate to the extent that extreme confrontation will occur. This would be imprudent for either side!
How can the desire to achieve a balance of power explain India’s policy in the Indian Ocean? (Internal and External Balancing)
The balance of power theory, as held by defensive realism, can explain India’s policy in the Indian Ocean, as the buildup of naval capabilities shows internal balancing, while alliances with Singapore and Indonesia show external balancing against the power of China.
