UPSC Mains 2017 GS2 Q9 — India-China Relations
"China is using its economic relations and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia." In the light of this statement, discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- discuss
- Scope keywords
- economic relationspositive trade surpluspotential military power status in Asiaimpact on India as her neighbour
- Implicit sub-parts
- Mechanism: How China converts trade surplus and economic leverage into hard power (e.g., funding PLA modernization, R&D in emerging tech).
- Geopolitical Encirclement: How economic projects like BRI/CPEC create 'debt-trap' dependencies that result in military access (e.g., dual-use ports).
- Security Impact on India: Specific threats to India's strategic autonomy, border security (LAC), and influence in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Economic Impact on India: The challenge of trade deficit with China being used as a strategic weapon against Indian manufacturing/security.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending 100 words solely on describing the BRI without linking it back to China's military expansion.
- Ignoring the 'Trade Surplus' aspect of the prompt—failing to mention how India's own trade deficit with China indirectly funds China's military budget.
- Providing a generic 'India-China relations' history instead of focusing on the 'Economic-to-Military' conversion specifically requested.
- Neglecting the 'Asia' context by focusing only on the LAC and ignoring the maritime 'String of Pearls'.
- Dimensions required
- Economic-Strategic LinkageGeopolitical/TerritorialMaritime Security (IOR)Technological/Cyber WarfareRegional Hegemony
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate roughly 40-50 words to explain the nexus between China's trade surplus and its military build-up (the first part of the statement). Devote the remaining 100 words to a multi-dimensional analysis of impacts on India, specifically covering the 'security-dilemma' and the 'encirclement' through economic leverage.
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