Modi’s Neighborhood Policy and China’s Response

Abstract

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election victory in May 2014 under the leadership of Narendra Modi saw the first parliamentary majority achieved by a single party in three decades. Both Indian and foreign observers of India’s foreign policy knew a little of Modi and the BJP’s approach to India’s external engagements. Modi’s image as a nationalist and strong leader led to the speculation that he would substantially change the direction of India’s foreign policy. This may be most visible in India’s “Neighborhood-First” Initiative (NFI). This study focuses on Modi’s neighborhood policy. It gives an overview of how the Modi government is redefining India’s neighborhood policy and considers the new vision and approach that the Modi government is pursuing with India’s neighborhood. It is followed by an assessment of difficulties in putting the policy into practice. Finally, it discusses responses from China and summarizes key points in the concluding section.