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Cited by 0South Asian Studies and ConflictsInternational Relations and Foreign PolicyCOVID-19, Geopolitics, Technology, Migration

India’s evasive balancing vis-a-vis China post-Galwan?

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Verma, Raj·2026·Contemporary South Asia
DOI 10.1080/09584935.2026.2649750
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Abstract

The Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops in June 2020 is a tipping point in India–China ties, similar in magnitude to the 1962 India–China war. Although academic literature on India–China relations is gaining ground post the Galwan Valley clash, there is dearth of literature on India's balancing strategies vis-à-vis China after Galwan. This article makes a contribution to the existing literature by examining whether India is still pursuing evasive balancing vis-à-vis China after the Galwan Valley clash. It does so by borrowing Rajesh Rajagopalan's definition of evasive balancing. Prior to the Galwan Valley clash, India was pursuing evasive balancing because it was balancing internally and externally against China, but it was also reassuring China that it was not balancing against it by following five reassurance policies. This article highlights that post-Galwan, India has enhanced its internal and external balancing vis-à-vis China. With respect to reassurance towards China, the article illustrates that out of the five strands of the reassurance strategy pursued by India prior to Galwan, New Delhi is pursuing only two aspects of the reassurance strategy. Thus, India is no longer undertaking evasive balancing against China to the extent it pursued prior to Galwan.

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Authors
Verma, R.
Affiliations
George Washington University (US)
Corresponding author
Verma, Raj
ORCID
Verma, Raj
Venue
Contemporary South Asia
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2026-04-24
Pages
1-23
ISSN
  • 0958-4935 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-364X
DOI
10.1080/09584935.2026.2649750
OpenAlex
W7155497778
Cited by
0
References
20
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
Contemporary South Asia (publishedVersion, public-domain)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › South Asian Studies and Conflicts
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › International Relations and Foreign Policy
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › COVID-19, Geopolitics, Technology, Migration
Keywords
India-China relations, balancing strategy, border disputes

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