Countdown to 2047: Will India form alliances with like-minded economies to keep China at bay?

China will remain India’s biggest strategic challenge for the foreseeable future. While New Delhi has joined hands with like minded democracies and partners to counterbalance China’s rise and its implications in South Asia, it is unlikely that India will enter into a formal treaty or form military alliances with any power to counter China.

The mantra of strategic autonomy that involves partnership with both the US and Russia will be pursued to balance Beijing’s ambitions. Simultaneously, channels of engagement with Beijing will be kept open through BRICS and the SCO groupings.

While the Galwan conflict has been the lowest point in Sino-Indian ties in decades, critics would say that relations had been slipping since 2006 when China flouted a 2005 accord to lay claim to Arunachal Pradesh. Since the ascent of Xi Jinping, Chinese bullying has increased significantly.


There’s a lack of trust between the two. While China continues with its aggressive policy in the north and does not pay heed to Indian interests, forming an axis with Pakistan, New Delhi is now of the opinion that without the resolution of the border issue there cannot be normalisation of the relationship.

China is depending on Pakistan to protect its interests in Afghanistan, which impacts India’s security. Simultaneously, the US is reviving its ties with the Pakistani military as it considers this important to maintain its linkages in West Asia. Washington has made the right noises regarding the LAC impasse but the Biden administration is currently being stretched from Ukraine to Taiwan.

India is also concerned about Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean and against this backdrop plurilaterals and trilaterals play a crucial part to play safeguarding the national interest. The crucial part is to have an alternative to the BRI to have stability in the entire Indo-Pacific. India has supported the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for this purpose. India’s effort is aimed at putting economic pressure on China along with other countries taking a similar approach to ensure its behaviour is acceptable to the international community