Source: The post India’s relations with Asian Nations has been created, based on the article “The Asian Challenge” published in “The Indian Express” on 27th August 2025.India’s relations with Asian Nations.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an Asian tour, visiting Tokyo for a bilateral meeting and later traveling to Tianjin to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The visit is seen as significant for giving fresh momentum to Indian diplomacy in the region.
Current Geopolitical Context
- India–US Relations: India’s ties with the US have seen tensions over trade, technology restrictions, and policy differences on Russia.
- China Factor: China has emerged as a manufacturing powerhouse, creating economic vulnerabilities for India due to trade deficits (almost $100 billion) and dependence on imports.
- Russia’s Tilt: Russia, once a close partner of India, is now increasingly aligned with China, thereby complicating India’s foreign policy choices.
Strategic Partnership with Japan
- Shared Vision: India and Japan share a common interest in maintaining a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific region.
- Economic & Infrastructure Cooperation: The two countries are collaborating on infrastructure, technology partnerships, and diversification of global supply chains.
- Defence & Security: Defence and security cooperation are deepening through joint exercises like Malabar and India’s participation in the QUAD grouping.
- Balancing China: Japan also provides economic opportunities and acts as a reliable partner for India in balancing China’s influence.
India and the SCO
- Opportunities: The SCO offers India a platform for counter-terrorism cooperation and regional dialogue with Central Asian states.
- The forum also provides an opportunity to participate in discussions on connectivity and infrastructure, even though India remains wary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
- Challenges: Pakistan’s presence within the SCO complicates India’s security concerns and limits the effectiveness of the grouping. China’s consistent shielding of Pakistan on issues of terrorism demonstrates the contradictions within the SCO.
Way Forward
- Engage with SCO: India needs to continue engaging with the SCO to avoid isolation in the regional security framework.
- Strengthen Partnerships: India should strengthen its partnerships with Japan, the US, and ASEAN nations to counterbalance China’s dominance.
- Reduce Dependence on China: Reducing economic dependence on Chinese imports and promoting self-reliance in manufacturing and technology is critical for strategic autonomy.
- Support Neighbors: India should take a proactive role in supporting smaller South Asian states like Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh to prevent them from falling under China’s influence.
Question: India’s Asian diplomacy today involves balancing engagement with forums like the SCO while deepening strategic partnerships with democratic allies such as Japan. Discuss the opportunities and challenges of this dual approach in the current geopolitical context.
