Article
Self-Strengthening First: A Blueprint for Economic Engagement with China

By : Manoj Kewalramani, Amit Kumar

Page No: 209-226

Abstract
This article contends that the global order is undergoing an epochal transition, defined by a fundamental realignment of power and intensifying competition between the United States and China. As the boundaries between geopolitics, national security, and economic policy blur, Indian policymakers face an increasingly complex landscape in their pursuit of the goal of developmental transformation. Within this context, the article advocates for a strategic recalibration of India’s economic engagement with China. Proposing a framework of self-strengthening and de-risking, it outlines specific policy interventions across trade, investment, and global governance priorities. Ultimately, the article argues for a pragmatic synthesis, i.e., leveraging economic ties with China to catalyse domestic growth while systematically mitigating the attendant security risks.

Authors
Manoj Kewalramani is the chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme at the Takshashila Institution. His research interests range from Chinese politics, foreign policy and great power competition to addressing questions of how India can work with like-minded partners to address the challenges presented by China’s rise.
Amit Kumar is a Staff Research Analyst with the Takshashila Institution’s Indo-Pacific Studies Programme. With a broader focus on China, he primarily studies issues at the intersection of economy, security and technology. He keenly tracks the geopolitical and geo-economic trends emerging from China.
 

DOI: http://doi.org/10.32381/NS.2026.09.02.4