Paper Details

India’s Act East Policy (launched in 2014 by replacing the Look East Policy), focuses on strengthening economic, strategic, and cultural ties with Southeast Asia and beyond. It emphasizes multilateralism, infrastructure development, maritime cooperation, and people-to-people connections, reflecting India’s commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. In contrast, China’s BRI (initiated in 2013), is a global infrastructure and connectivity project aimed at enhancing trade routes and economic corridors, including the Maritime Silk Road, which aims at reviving the ancient trade routes for China’s connectivity with Europe and Africa. While it has fostered economic growth in participating countries, the BRI has also raised concerns over debt dependency, geopolitical influence, and challenges to regional sovereignty. These contrasting strategies underscore divergent visions for the Indo-Pacific. India emphasizes partnerships based on shared values, mutual respect, and sustainable development, aligning with its broader vision of a rules-based order, whereas, China seeks to expand its own economic and strategic footprint through an extensive network of investments and bilateral agreements in the ambit of multiple partners. This paper explores the differences in objectives, implementation, and implications of these initiatives, analyzing how they shape power dynamics, regional connectivity, and the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific. Further, the paper also examines technological advancements, including investments in digital infrastructure and research and development collaborations, in conjunction with the environmental and sustainability priorities integral to both strategies.

India, China, Indo-Pacific, geopolitics, multilateralism, sustainability.