India–China rivalry: Geopolitical implications for South Asia and the Indian Ocean region
I. Lisansüstü Akademik Çalışmalar Kongresi [1st Graduate Academic Studies Congress], İstanbul, Türkiye, 4 - 05 Mayıs 2026, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This article examines the evolving India-China
rivalry and its implications for South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),
with particular emphasis on shifting patterns of geopolitical competition,
regional influence, and maritime security governance. It argues that the
interaction between India’s strategic regional posture and China’s expanding
economic and infrastructural engagement is progressively reshaping the
strategic architecture of Asia. Methodologically, this study employs a
qualitative geopolitical analysis grounded in neorealist theory and the
Regional Security Complex framework. It adopts a comparative analytical
approach to examine the strategic behavior of India and China across South Asia
and the Indian Ocean Region. The research draws on secondary data, including
peer-reviewed academic studies, policy documents, and think-tank reports. These
sources are selected for their relevance to maritime security dynamics,
regional connectivity initiatives, and patterns of power competition. The
findings indicate that the India–China rivalry is structured by a dual dynamic
of systemic competition and selective functional cooperation. China’s regional
influence operates through economic statecraft, infrastructure investment, and
connectivity initiatives, particularly under the Belt and Road framework,
generating long-term structural dependencies across South Asia and the Indian
Ocean Region. In contrast, India’s influence is sustained through institutional
diplomacy, strategic partnerships, and maritime security initiatives aimed at
maintaining regional balance. Overall, the study concludes that the India–China
rivalry functions as a structural driver of geopolitical transformation in
South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, reshaping regional security dynamics
and contributing to the reconfiguration of power distribution within the
broader Indo-Pacific system.
Keywords: India-China
rivalry, South Asia, Indian Ocean Region, geopolitics, maritime security, foreign
policy, power dynamics.