China and India: A 'New Great Game' founded on historic mistrust and current competition

This paper examines the ongoing strategic competition and rivalry between India and China, suggesting it can be seen as a 'New Great Game', with parallels to the original 'Great Game' played out between Britain and Russia for control of South and Central Asia in the 19th century. It argues that like the original, the current Sino-India competition includes territorial disputes, competition for access to resources, the development of strategic military alliances and the use of strategic relationships with other powers to contain the rise of the opposing nation.

The paper asserts that the two games are also similar in that both have mistrust of the other's strategic intentions and ambitions as the core aspect of their competition, based on a long history of intractable territorial disputes and diplomatic friction. The paper concludes that while the continuing socio-economic development of both countries is clearly dependent on a conducive security environment, the 'New Great Game' between India and China—unless it is checked—has the potential to lead to conflict, with likely profound consequences for regional and indeed global stability.

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