Daniel Kliman.
India’s economic growth, its strong regional relationships, and its improving military capabilities provide it with an important tool to counter China’s growing power in Asia and beyond. India has long been a counterweight to Chinese regional influence – during the Cold War, when the two countries were aligned with opposing global powers, and more recently through bilateral dialogues and international multilateral alliances.
India has a burgeoning economy with a population that is over 1.3 billion – and growing. India is the world’s third-largest economy and is currently the fastest-growing major economy in the world. It is set to become the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2025. This provides India with the economic resources to compete with China in diplomatic, economic, and military arenas.
Furthermore, India’s regional diplomatic efforts in the Indo-Pacific have made it an increasingly important actor. Through its membership in ASEAN+3, India has a dominant role in regional economic, diplomatic, and security issues, including the challenge of managing tension between China and other nations in the region. India has also quickly developed a series of strong relationships with countries in the region, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with the US, Japan, and Australia.