Geo-strategic Competition between India and China: A Comparative Analysis of BRI and IMEC

Abstract

The aim of this study is to do a comparative analysis between two development initiatives, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and India's India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), with a particular emphasis on the geostrategic rivalry between these projects. This analysis demonstrates that both of the countries are attempting to increase their power and economic interests, despite their differing goals and techniques. In this study, a qualitative methodology has been used and the secondary sources used to analyze both of the projects and states their significance in contemporary period. The Regional Security Complex Theory assists the geostrategic rivalry among both of states. The study examines the strategic competition among China and India along with other nations in the region using an exploratory, descriptive techniques. The comparison between the BRI and the IMEC highlights Pakistan’s distinct and complicated geostrategic implications as an essential communicating element, including financial dependability, local circumstances, development of infrastructure, safety risks and financial benefits. The results of this study shows the security concerns regarding the infrastructure schemes and initiatives that has been started in this region. This study recommends that if both China and India works on multilateral cooperation and shared security risks and works on using cultures as measures of soft power, then it would be beneficial for both of them.