BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

CHINA AND THE US IN SOUTH ASIA: COOPERATION OR CONFRONTATION?

Author: Samia Zaman

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2017v38n3a3

ABSTRACT

South Asia is experiencing a new kind of dynamism with impressive economic growth coupled with changing geopolitical landscape. It is undergoing geopolitical transformations primarily driven by China’s growing political and diplomatic clout in the region and the US attempt to recalibrate its strategy in South Asia. These transforming dynamics are triggering new alliance system in the region between India and the US, on the one hand and Pakistan and China on the other. In this context, the central research question of the paper is, whether the increasing involvement and interest of China and the US in the region will lead to cooperation or confrontation. Therefore, the paper addresses several questions. It examines the significance of South Asia. It also explores the interests of both China and the US in South Asia with the focus on their existing level of involvement with the regional countries. Finally, the paper argues that China and the US, both are trying to maximise their share of world power in different regions in the world. In this process, they are competing in South Asia and the competition can have various vicissitudes, but there is always a threat that the competition could turn into a confrontation in the changing realities of South Asia.