Diplomacy in Decline
How India Is Navigating China's Rise

Manoj Kewalramani is a Fellow of China Studies at Takshashila Institution , where he focuses on Chinese politics, foreign policy, and approaches to new technologies. Prior to joining Takshashila, he spent eleven years working as a journalist in India and China, where he also helped set up digital newsrooms and train young journalists. His work has been published by many media outlets, including NDTV, WION, Al Jazeera, CGTN, and the Diplomat. He also curates a weekly brief, “Eye on China,” which tracks developments in China from an Indian perspective.

Suyash Desai is a Research Analyst at the Takshashila Institution. His MPhil dissertation is titled “India and Regionalism in Asia: Case Studies of Select Organisations,” and his research areas include China, India’s foreign policy, and strategic studies. Previously, he received a master’s in political science and also has a diploma in international law. Prior to joining Takshashila, he worked with Outlook Magazine, the Indian Express, and the Indian Council of World Affairs in various capacities.

Podcast Timestamps

4:48 “How did you get interested in studying China?”

12:08 “How salient is public opinion in influencing India’s foreign policy approach to China?”

19:02 “Does China carry the same political weight domestically as India’s more urgent threats (such as Pakistan)?”

23:14 “What are the causes of this less-than-ideal India-China relationship?”

29:13 “If the relationship is deteriorating because of fundamentally structural reasons, how much better can it be?”

33:53 “What are India’s levers? Where does it have a comparative advantage to push back against Chinese influence?”

41:56 “Is there a way for India to escape a situation where India must react to every border issue with China?”

47:47 “Does India actually have military options to counter Chinese incursions?”

57:06 “Is it actually possible for India to be a ‘swing power’ between the United States and China?”

Related Publications

“An Indian Approach to Navigate China’s Rise” by Manoj Kewalramani, Anirudh Kanisetti, Shibani Mehta, and Suyash Desai.

“Exploring India’s Strategic Futures” by Arzan Tarapore.