India needs to stay cautious with China

Yesterday, India’s Prime Minister Modi met with China’s leader Xi Jinping during a meeting in Russia. This was their first big discussion in five years, and although it might seem like a step toward better relations, India needs to be very careful. China is a powerful country, and India has to protect itself from being taken advantage of.

Big Differences | While it might be nice to think that India and China are equal, they really aren’t. China’s economy is much larger—about $18.5tn compared to India’s $3.8tn. China also spends a lot more on its military, $236bn versus India’s $75bn. This means China has more resources to use if it ever wants to push its weight around.

China’s Navy | China has the largest navy in the world, with 60 submarines, some of which are nuclear-powered. India has only 18 submarines. With such a strong navy, China could try to control important shipping routes in the Indian Ocean, which India relies on for trade.

Technology Gap | China is also way ahead in important technologies. For example, China controls most of the world’s market for lithium-ion batteries, which are used in electric cars. This could make India’s future plans for clean energy depend on China. Even in making computer chips, China is more advanced. While India is starting to build its own chip factory in Gujarat, China is already making better ones.

Stay Alert | China is known for changing its policies without warning, and its leader, Xi Jinping, is focused on making China more powerful. India needs to keep a close watch and be prepared. Trusting China is fine, but India should always be ready to protect itself and become stronger.

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Views expressed above are the author’s own.

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