Contesting Neighbours

Context: The engagement by India and China in the West Asia region is a good example of their metamorphosing approaches 

Similar foreign policy stances of India and China in relation to West Asia

• Basing the non-alignment on an issue rather than ideology: Both India and China have developed the ethos of equitable engagement with the three poles of power in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel.

• Without stepping into the entanglements of the region’s multi-layered con?icts and political ?ssures. 

• Prior suggestions to construct ‘importers  Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’: to promote interests of major oil importers against the producers’ cartel. 

India vs China in West Asia:

• India’s Advantages and Challenge :

• India as an investment destination:  As the powerful and oil-rich Gulf states looked for investment alternatives away from the West
• Stable economic progression: Despite entanglements in the Yemen war and general tensions between the Gulf states and Iran; recent Israel-UAE accord adds to it.
• Challenge: Relationship with Iran has been strained due to US sanctions.

• China’s Advantages: 

• Decline of the role of the US: has led to

• Rising military engagements United Arab Emirates (UAE) obtained Chinese Wing Loong drones in 2016.
• Negative Peace or peace through development in Iran: China offered $400 billion to Iran after the US abandonment of Iran’s nuclear deal.

• Presence of the market for oil: since the Gulf nations are still dependent on Petrodollar and China and India act as obvious markets.

Conclusion: The theory of interests superseding ideology in foreign policy is fast unravelling practically, both from the perspectives of India and China.