CSEP (formerly Brookings India) hosted a book launch and discussion on Ananth Krishnan’s new book, India’s China Challenge. The book comes at a critical juncture as India enters the fifth month of its border standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The recent talks between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi indicate a new political direction for disengagement. However, this must not be mistaken for any respite from the larger structural issues that pervade India-China relations.

Krishnan reported and travelled across China for over a decade, and his book explores four main challenges for India: the political challenge of dealing with a one-party state that is looking to increasingly shape global institutions; the military challenge of managing an unresolved border; the economic challenge of both learning from China’s remarkable and unique growth story and building a closer relationship; and the conceptual challenge of changing how Indians think about and engage with the most important neighbour.

To discuss these challenges and whether and how India should redefine its relations with China, we hosted a virtual book launch, with introductory remarks from Vikram Singh Mehta (Distinguished Fellow, CSEP), followed by a panel discussion with the author and guest experts:

Shivshankar Menon, Distinguished Fellow, CSEP; former National Security Advisor.

Nirupama Rao, former Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador to China.

Zhiwu Chen, Director, Asia Global Institute, and Professor, University of Hong Kong

Ananth Krishnan, Journalist and Correspondent in Beijing, The Hindu

Moderator: Constantino Xavier, Fellow, Foreign Policy and Security, CSEP

All content reflects the individual views of the speakers. The Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) does not hold an institutional view on any subject.