Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 35

PERSPECTIVE
CHINA’S
STRATEGIC
BEHAVIOUR
BY BRIG SANJEEV CHAUHAN
T
he 21st century is witnessing a tectonic shift in the
economic and strategic balance of power from the
West to Asia. The economic rise of China, which is
steering this monumental shift, is leading to increasing in
China’s sphere of infl uence in various parts of the world and
posing diff erent challenges to diff erent nations. In recent
years, China, supported by its overall economic growth has
shown increased assertiveness globally. China has clearly
enunciated its vision of being a regional power by 2021 and a
global power by 2049. Traditional powers are weighing their
response options to this increasing Chinese infl uence and
ambition in their established spheres of infl uence in various
parts of the world, whether it is the US infl uence in the Asia
Pacifi c; Europe and US in Africa; the US in South America
or Russia in Central Asia.
In the Indian context, Chinese growing inroads into our
neighbourhood and the IOR rim are noteworthy. China is
systematically positioning itself as an important actor and
steadily expanding its strategic infl uence. Emerging as the
largest trading partner of almost all the nations in the region,
it is involved with massive investments in these nations. It has
employed a multi-dimensional approach using all instruments
of its national power to develop inroads in the region.
These inroads are likely to be a well thought out strategy
of the Chinese. Inroads into our neighbourhood and IOR
need to be analysed with respect to the various facets of
Chinese behaviour and precedents which have been noticed
in the past. These political, economic, military or behavioural
precedences could lead to likely trends which could provide
a realistic picture of Chinese intentions.
Environmental Scan
The global security environment has seen a shift in recent
years especially since 2013. The world seems to be shifting
from being unipolar towards an emerging great power
competition between Russia–China on one side and the USA
led international order. The impact of these changes is most
visible in the Euro-Afro - Asian landmass and India by virtue
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida • 35