Global India Global India answers listeners’ questions
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Feb 21, 2024 
Tara Varma, a visiting fellow at Brookings specializing in Indo-Pacific security, joins host Tanvi Madan to tackle listener questions on India's evolving global role. They explore how perceptions of India's democracy compare to China, emphasizing India's unique complexities in balancing economic ties with defense readiness. The conversation highlights India's strategic challenges with China, its nuanced position amid the Ukraine conflict, and the potential for future dialogue and stability in their relationship.
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Tara's China India Perception Anecdote
- Tara Varma shares her experience living in China, highlighting how India was viewed as a third world country compared to China.
- Chinese colleagues portrayed India negatively as chaotic and less secure compared to China's infrastructure and economic performance.
India's China Policy Trade-Offs
- India's China policy reflects complex trade-offs between development, defense, and foreign relationships rather than appeasement.
- Leaders balanced autonomy versus alignment, prioritizing Pakistan challenges sometimes over China during capability constraints.
China's View on India’s Equality
- China perceives India as a weaker country unlikely to attain parity due to historical defeats and China's unilateral strategy.
- Despite economic shifts, China dismisses India's rising global role and investment appeal as insufficient for equality.