This article examines strategic patience in India-China relations, suggesting it shapes their cautious responses to conflicts and trade.
Co-existence of border tensions between India and China following Galwan incident of June 2020 with a constant rise in their bilateral trade has intrigued experts. In this backdrop, this article attempts to examine this puzzle of contemporary India-China relations using the framework of ‘Strategic Patience’ as an integral part of Indian and Chinese civilizations. It interrogates the assumption that concept of Strategic Patience reveals being increasingly critical in shaping contemporary India-China relations. Can it explain their cautious and measured responses to bilateral, regional and global issues, especially to their border skirmishes that co-exist with flourishing economic relations? Also, what makes this Strategic Patience of India and China a unique driver behind their piecemeal approach to resolving their border tensions and other irritants? This article explores whether their sustained restraint is simply guided by the pragmatic prudence of their national leaders or does that form integral part of their civilizational orientation for optimal outcomes for both sides.
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Swaran Singh (2026) studied this question.
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