Ambassador Kishan S. Rana (DiploFoundation), Ambassador Shyam Saran

China's diplomacy & foreign policy hardened in 2020. Its aggressive diplomatic style is not new as was seen by Norway after the award of 2010 Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and Australia in 2020.

I. Global Politics & Economics
'China's decline' is wishful thinking. The reality is an expanding power acting on its own terms. Like any country, it calculates and exploits opportunistic gains, adding to unpredictability. It is also the only major country to grow in 2020.

II. Chinese MFA: Institution & Constraints
It's a challenged system, with strengths & weaknesses. A major problem for the MFA is its low domestic status and strong Party pressure. The Mar 2018 administrative reorganization created a Central Foreign Affairs Commission, to overcome long-standing rivalries. The Diplomatic system is under pressure.

III. Dealing with China
India should look at the experience of other Asian and other states to identify viable options