Opportunities and Restrictions for the Indian-Chinese Cooperation at the Global and Regional Level

Relations between India and China are a complex multi-level system, to the study of which we approached from the standpoint of neo-realist approach. The aim of this paper is to analyze the factors and conditions that create a favorable environment for the development of bilateral cooperation between India and China at the regional and global level, or, vice versa, impede their interaction. We refer to the neorealist concept since all the actions of India and China tend to be determined and driven by their national interest and may be logically explained by this paradigm. In this case, the structural realism and peripheral realism represented a high level of importance. To explain the contrariety between the two Asian giants the theory of dual purpose by Glenn Palmer and Morgan Clifton was applied. The systematic approach made it possible to consider the relations between India and China as a kind of integrity. Also, a comparative analysis, concrete historical method and forecasting method were applied.Studies have revealed that the traditional obstacles to the Indian – Chinese relations remain strong and do not tend to be eliminated in the foreseeable future. Among these constraints it is possible to distinguish such aspects, as the long-standing territorial disputes, different priorities in their cooperation with third countries, and most importantly - the growing rivalry for the regional and global leadership. On the other hand, similar viewpoints on the current system of global governance and a number of common interests concerning the development of international relations contribute to the rapprochement between the two Asian powers. Eventually, the cooperation between these two giants will be based on a pragmatic approach, primarily because the war between them is irrational. Each Power will try to defend its own national interests, and both parties will strategically benefit from the cooperation when their geopolitical and geostrategic goals tend to match.