Protracted Contest: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Twentieth Century

by John W. Garver

Book Overview

Ever since the two ancient nations of India and China established modern states in the mid-20th century, they have been locked in a complex rivalry ranging across the South Asian region. Garver offers a scrupulous examination of the two countries� actions and policy decisions over the past fifty years. He has interviewed many of the key figures who have shaped their diplomatic history and has combed through the public and private statements...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295980745
• ISBN13: 9780295980744
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: University of Washington Press
• Length: 462 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.1"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The Age of the Asian giants

This book is a must for anyone interested in Sino-India relations. It chronologically analysizes the relations/events between modern China and India upto the late 1990's and mainly covers military and political aspects. It's interesting to read the Chinese view points and policies though understandably overall more of the Indian perceptions are explained. The author John Garver has done a thorough job and I was suprised the the in-depth information on all important issues. References to Sardar Patel as leader 'realpolitik', failures of Indian diplomacy to garner support inspite of supporting democratic insistitutions/values in the region, China playing the Pakistan card to achieve higher status, India's sphere of influence v/s China's tributary status in the region, reasons for Sino-Soviet split are some of the few. Now with post-Deng China attaining great economic progress and slowly abandoning its belligerent Maoist policies, it would be good to see if it can sustain this level of progress without social change and freedom. At the same time India's bureaucratic and dysfunctional democratic system needs a lot of catching up to do if it wants to reduce the progress gap with China. The opening of the Nathu-La pass, the Qinghai-Tibet railway, fierce competition for global energy resourses etc.; these two Asian giants are getting more interactive leading to rivalalry with few instances of cooperation. Like John Garver says that unless India is willing to become a junior partner of China in the emerging world order, we may further see Sino-Indian rivalry in the 21st century.