India-China Relations: Understanding the Urgency of Developing China Expertise
On August 31, Prime Minister of India's visit to China sparks questions about the future direction of India-China relations. The critical inquiry is whether India possesses adequate understanding of China to shape these relations effectively.
Challenges in Developing China Expertise in India
- Scholarly Warning: Historically, scholars have highlighted India's lack of deep China expertise. They noted a crisis in studying Chinese history due to insufficient language training, methodological rigor, and limited research capacity.
- Dependence on Foreign Scholarship: Without robust expertise, India relies on foreign interpretations, limiting discourse to superficial analysis and acceptance of political narratives.
- Diplomatic Engagement: While diplomatic openings are significant, they need backing by independent knowledge of China, beyond military or trade relations.
Comparative Insights and Lessons
- Comparative Mirror: Both India and China are large, diverse states facing similar development challenges and ambitions. China, with an $18 trillion economy, offers lessons in poverty alleviation, climate adaptation, and more.
- Learning from Missteps: China's environmental policy, urbanization, and financial management missteps provide learning opportunities for India.
Current Limitations in India's China Studies
- Surface-Level Analysis: Indian analysis often focuses on troop movements, trade numbers, or political statements, neglecting historical and socio-political contexts.
- Lack of Infrastructure: Unlike the U.S. and Australia, India's China Studies infrastructure is underdeveloped, with limited centers concentrated in a few cities.
- Need for Expertise: Without in-house expertise, India remains reliant on foreign narratives, affecting foreign policy and understanding of history.
Strategies for Building China Expertise in India
- Investment in Education: Developing China expertise requires well-funded centers in universities with a focus on Mandarin training and interdisciplinary research.
- Fellowships and Immersion Programs: Creating opportunities for Indian scholars to work with Chinese sources and immerse in Chinese archives and universities.
- Local Expertise Development: Establishing state-level hubs, particularly in border regions, to decentralize China Studies from Delhi.
- Enhancing Accessibility: Translating research into Indian languages and creating digitized archives accessible to scholars and policymakers.
Conclusion: The Imperative of Understanding China
India's future depends on its ability to understand major powers, especially China, beyond mere economic and military metrics. Developing China expertise is not optional but essential to formulating proactive and informed policies. Investing in this capacity ensures India acts from a position of strength, not insecurity.
