Modi’s “Issue-by-Issue” Diplomacy with China: Prospects of India’s Participation in BRI

Abstract

This paper reviews the manifestations and achievements of Modi government’s “Issue-by-Issue” diplomacy with China since 2016. It discusses the causes and development of India’s attitude towards China and analyses India’s thinking behind its diplomacy with China. In this paper, an attempt has been made to find out the thinking’s influence on India’s attitude towards its participation in the Belt and Road Initiatives (BRI). Based on these discussions and analyses, the study concludes that India is suspicious of the BRI. Moreover, whether China can dispel India’s suspicion actually does not depend on China’s policy orientation towards India and its effects, rather it depends on the specific dividends that the BRI can achieve in other countries in South Asia.