India-China relationship
India and China have been at loggerheads for years, the most notable being the conflict of 1962. With both countries emerging as Asian superpowers, the constant clashes between them have become a point of concern across the world. Given the currently volatile situation that has been developing over the past couple of weeks, it becomes necessary for us to understand the relationship between the two countries, and how their foreign policies, support of other nations, geopolitical and military strategies inform their decisions. This list of books provides a clearer understanding of the various aspects involved in the India-China relationship and the extent of the conflict.
India-China relationship

01

1962- The War That Wasn’t

Shiv Kunal Verma

With speculations about an impending India-China war on the rise, it is imperative to understand the unofficial Sino-India ‘war’ that happened in the past. Based on over 20 years of research, including in-person interviews with army officials and soldiers, Shiv Kunal Verma’s book is an extensive analysis into the India-China border issues, and the escalation that led to thousands of lives being lost on both sides. Not only does the author describe the conflict (as it has never officially been declared a war), but also makes us understand the horrors we might have had to face had the situation spiralled further. This book provides a stark picture of the horrors of war and the extreme conditions our soldiers go through on the India-China border, and is a highly relevant read today.

Buy it here.

India-China relationship

02

India Turns East: International Engagement And US-China Rivalry

Frédéric Grare

In India Turns East, author Frédéric Grare describes India’s journey to claim its position in a war of domination that has mainly been influenced by US-China animosity. With India’s Look East policy, the country rapidly looked to cultivate economic relations with neighbouring countries in order to strengthen relationships. But as China’s influence grew, it became necessary for India to also increase its political and military relations. The author argues that even though India and the U.S. have been united in their objectives regarding China, the way both the countries approach their resolutions remain vastly different. The book also explores some solutions for India’s dilemma regarding China and the US-India relationship and is a good one to get your hands on.

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India-China relationship

03

Dragon On Our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power

Pravin Sawhney & Ghazala Wahab

China’s military prowess is one of the most formidable in the world, along with their cyber warfare capabilities and nuclear weaponry. In Dragon On Our Doorstep, the authors argue that while India is a mighty military power, its neighbouring countries, China and Pakistan, have also been developing military strategies, and their partnership puts India in a vulnerable position. In this book, the authors analyse the military and geopolitical plans of the three countries to try and understand how India can rise as a dominant power in this struggle.

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India-China relationship

04

The Great Game In The Buddhist Himalayas: India And China’s Quest For Strategic Dominance

Phunchok Stobdan

Tibet is quickly becoming an important player in the strife between India and China. To gain its support, both India and China have attempted to influence the Buddhist community in order to assert dominance in the area. China has focussed its ‘Buddhist diplomacy’ on Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, and even India has had to look for non-military alternatives to gain the support of these communities. Providing an insight into India-China, India-Tibet and China-Tibet relations, this book can help us understand what would happen if the Tibet issues remain unsolved, and how India can deal with subsequent conflicts in the region.

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India-China relationship

05

The China Syndrome: Grappling With An Uneasy Relationship

Harsh V. Pant

The framework of modern world politics is somewhat dependant on the relationship between the two superpowers in Asia – India and China. In The China Syndrome, author Harsh Pant seeks to unveil the complex relationship between the two countries, and the strategies involved in India’s policies when it comes to China. This subject needs to be thoroughly understood in the context of the current India-China conflicts, and the growing tensions between them.

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India-China relationship

06

Running With The Dragon: How India Should Do Business With China

Saibal Dasgupta

Chinese businesses have made the effort to learn the foreign markets, while their competitors have remained stagnant. Due to this, Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Lenovo, etc. have made themselves household names in the Indian market, while Indian brands continue to suffer when it comes to gaining a foothold in the Chinese market or even while competing on home turf. With the current political situation highlighting the number of Chinese products present in the Indian market, Running With The Dragon becomes an essential book to read. It takes into account the experiences of experts who have learned Chinese business tactics to understand how to both compete and cooperate with Chinese businesses in order to make a name for Indian businesses.

Buy it here.

India-China relationship

07

China-Nepal-India Triangle: The Dark Side Of Indo-Nepal Relations

Shiva Hari Dahal

Nepal has a prominent part to play in India-China relations that goes beyond its location. Positioned in between the two countries, Nepal is strategically, politically and economically important to both India and China. Even though India and Nepal have had a long-standing relationship with each other, it has not always been properly explained in literature. China-Nepal-India Triangle analyses the current relationship between India and Nepal and tries to decipher it in relation to China. The book also seeks to understand how they can come together to create harmony and peace in the region.

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India-China relationship

08

Asymmetrical Threat Perceptions In India-China Relations

Tien-Sze Fang

South Asia is rapidly becoming a war ground for the continuous rivalry between India and China. The increasing support to Pakistan, as well as China’s actions in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Maldives, have positioned the latter as a threat to India. However, China doesn’t see India as a major threat. In this book, Taiwanese scholar Tien-Sze Fang constructs an analysis of how the uneven manner in which both India and China perceive each other as threats has a definite impact on their relationship. Covering four major aspects – nuclear issues, Tibet, border problems and regional competition – the book is a comprehensive guide for understanding the turbulent India-China relationship.

Buy it here.

India-China relationship

09

The McMahon Line: A Century Of Discord

General (Retd.) J. J. Singh

Situated between Tibet and the North-East region of India, the McMahon Line serves as the legal boundary between India and China and has been a highly disputed border for years. The ongoing dispute due to the border has led to multiple conflicts between the two countries, most notably, the India-China conflict of 1962. Retd. Gen J. J. Singh has thoroughly examined this border from its birth to the 2017 clashes over it and offers his perspective on what might happen if the clashes escalate in The McMahon Line. This book is an essential read in order to understand the strategic significance of this boundary between India and China.

Buy it here.

Prasanna is a human (probably) who makes stuff up for a living. When she’s not sleeping or eating, you’ll find her in the quietest corner of the library, devouring yet another hardbound book. She vastly prefers the imaginary world to the real one, but grudgingly emerges from her writing cave on occasion. If you do see her, it’s best not to approach her before she’s had her coffee.

She writes at The Curious Reader. You can read her articles here