An Analysis Of The Motives Of The Evolution Of India's Modi Government's China Policy (2014-2021

Between 2014 and 2021,the Modi government's China policy has alternated between pragmatic cooperation and adventurous toughness.Its China policy is broadly divided into three phases: strategic testing at the beginning of its term,strategic de-escalation in April 2018,and intensifying competition with China after2020,and it is characterized by continuity,utilitarianism,opportunism,and risk-taking.In view of the reasons for the adjustment of China policy in different periods of the Modi government,there are three theories,including system path,unit path and integrated path.Although there is no lack of explanatory power,each has its own shortcomings.In view of this,this paper attempts to explore the internal logic of the Modi government's China policy adjustment using a neoclassical realism framework based on the evolution of the Modi government's China policy since 2014.The study found that the Indian Modi government's China policy in the period2014-2021 was “swinging,” with repeated changes reflecting changes in the strategic rivalry between the US and China and the Modi government's perception of international systemic factors.In the international system,the Sino-US strategic competition situation is the fundamental reason that affects the Modi government's adjustment of China's policy.While the strategic tension between China and the US is more relaxed,India has more room to adjust its China policy.Modi's government tends to seek a balance between China and the US,with a friendly policy orientation towards China.However,due to the interference role of India's domestic politics,the Modi government's China policy adjustment is not always in line with systemic factors.Its China policy adjustment will also consider whether the domestic political ecology is conducive to the Modi government's position in power,with domestic "authority holding" as its main political consideration.The strategic rivalry between China and the United States,a system-level factor,is the decisive factor in the Modi government's China policy adjustment.In a word,the Modi government's adjustment to China's policy mainly starts with the changes in the strategic competition situation between China and the United States in the international system.After the intervention of the cognition of policy makers and domestic political changes,the orientation of China policy adjustment is finally obtained.However,the Modi administration's back-and-forth on China policy has generally brought India-China relations down and indirectly affected the interests of countries in the region around the country.Not only that,the implementation of the Modi government's hardline approach to China is constrained by both domestic environment and international environment.The epidemic has impacted India's domestic politics,economy and society.India's economy is struggling under the impact of the novel coronavirus,domestic tensions are rising,and Hindu nationalism is gripping the government's foreign policy.Domestic economic development is difficult,Hindu nationalism is engulfing foreign policy,partisan competition has intensified,and social contradictions have intensified;there are conflicts between India-US cooperation and India-Russia traditional cooperation internationally,also the India-US strategic cooperation exists internal contradiction.There is not only an inherent conflict in India-US cooperation at the international level,but also with India-Russia cooperation.The multidimensional Sino-Indian relationship is complex.India is China's incapable neighbor,and the two countries share common interests.However,due to the remarkable changes in the internal and external environment of China-India relations,the current downturn trend in bilateral relations will not be completely resolved in the short term.Influenced by internal and external factors such as the new crown epidemic,the economy,nationalism,and the co-optation of the United States,the Modi government has formed a foreign policy toward China that focuses on competition.The Chinese government should clarify India's strategic position,maintain our strategic composure,actively build a mutually beneficial and win-win China-India relationship,and push bilateral relations back on track.