The Dragon and The Elephant's Shadow: India's Strategic Autonomy Identity Amidst China's Rising Regional Influence

Abstract

Background of this article, revolves around the authors examination of how growing Chinese regional power especially in Indian Ocean & South Asia is threatening and reshaping the deep-seated Indian identity of strategic autonomy. The research problem touches on subtle dilemma presented on table by India concerning its non-aligned tradition as pressure mounts due to a strong and assertive neighbor. This article makes a vital theoretical contribution to constructivist International Relations because it shows how dynamic re-accommodation of core national identity occurs through reinterpretation according to ideational pressure imposed on outside. Purposely, as India staunchly supports its strategic autonomy identity, rising Chinese presence in region taking form of economic initiatives such as (BRI) and increased security depth is generating considerable ideational conflict. That is why India gradually has to change form of its foreign policy and intensify its interactions (e.g., QUAD) in a manner that subtly redefines its self-help approach, positioning such disputing as notion of multi-alignment or issue-based coalitions instead of relinquishing its essential character. With the qualitative case study design, the research will employ discourse analysis and process tracing. Authoritative national media, high-level rhetoric and official Indian foreign policy documents are actively used to draw data in a systematic manner. Important findings are that strategic autonomy is repeatedly reaffirmed as an Indian discourse in same way China behaviors are discursively constructed as explicit counteractions. This concludes and brings about a strategic re-orientation that reconstitutes some meaning of autonomy to incorporate the balancing behavior.