ABSTRACT
This chapter examines India-China power politics in South Asia in a context where India’s ‘localism’ or influence in the region is tested by China’s ‘proximity localism’ or ‘neighbourhood localism’. The premise is that China is rapidly emerging as a power in the South Asian context, seeking closer involvement in the region.1 The chapter examines the evolving India-China power politics in South Asia against three broad aspects, namely, (i) by examining the usual and contemporary policy approach of India and China towards South Asia; (ii) to what extent the modes of refining relationship through ‘bilateralism’ and ‘multilateralism’ contribute to the overall India-China balance of power politics; and (iii) whether resource politics will remain a constant factor in their broader power dynamics.
