Protracted Contest: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Twentieth Century

by John W. Garver

Ever since the two ancient nations of India and China established modern states in the mid-20th century, they have been locked in a complex rivalry ranging across the South Asian region. Garver offers a scrupulous examination of the two countries’ actions and policy decisions over the past fifty years. He has interviewed many of the key figures who have shaped their diplomatic history and has combed through the public and private statements made by officials, as well as the extensive record of government documents and media reports. He presents a thorough and compelling account of the rivalry between these powerful neighbors and its influence on the region and the larger world.

Genres: China, Politics, History, India

462 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basic argument of the book is that India and China face a security dilemma due to their shared borders and relative military / geopolitical / economic power, which inextricably will lead them towards conflict, even if that conflict can be managed for extended periods through deterrence and/or diplomacy. Operating with that realist / balance of power frame in mind, the bulk of the book is focused on Sino-India disputes over Tibet and the Himalayan border states, and the two countries’ nuclear programs (and China’s support for Pakistan’s program as a counterbalance against India). There is also some interesting discussion of Sino-Myanmar relations, which at the time of writing were seen as being on track to parallel Sino-Pakistan relations as an eastern bracket on India. The author is pessimistic in his conclusion about India’s overall ability to prevent Chinese entry into a sphere of interest it might otherwise prefer to maintain South Asia, seeing a gradual erosion of Indian hegemony. The book is now more than a decade and a half out of date, so the significant shifts in terms of the US-India relationship during that period are not reflected here. Still, I thought this was a good reference piece that is helpful for understanding aspects of the Sino-Indian relationship, and South Asian security dynamics more broadly.

[Ram Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best impartial books to read about Indian and Chinese relations and the intersection of their power of influence.