Security and Strategy in the Himalayas: Examining India’s Approach to the China Challenge

Abstract

The Himalayas represent one of Asia’s most complex security frontiers, where territorial sovereignty, military contestation, ecological fragility, and hydrological interdependence converge within a single, strategically contested space. This study examines four core research objectives: the strategic and territorial significance of the Himalayas in shaping India-China relations; the historical and contemporary drivers of the border dispute; the impact of China’s assertiveness on India’s territorial, political, and environmental security; and the effectiveness of India’s post-2020 deterrence-diplomacy-development response. Employing a qualitative methodology drawing on government primary sources and peer-reviewed scholarship, the study applies Offensive Realism to explain China’s assertive behaviour, Defensive Realism is used to analyse state priorities security under anarchy, Liberal Institutionalism and Complex Interdependence to capture how rivalry coexists with diplomacy and institutional engagement and Environmental Security theory alongside hydro-hegemony to analyse transboundary river governance as an arena of strategic competition. The findings demonstrate that India’s post-Galwan strategy constitutes a coherent, and increasingly integrated response to China's challenge. Notable progress is visible in the strengthening of deterrence capabilities, the expansion of diplomatic engagement, and the consolidation of developmental initiatives in frontier regions. While structural constraints persist-particularly in achieving full deterrence parity, institutionalising transboundary water governance, and enhancing borderland resilience-India’s strategic approach reflects growing policy coordination and longterm orientation. Overall, the dissertation argues that India is not merely managing a protracted contest but progressively enhancing its capacity to shape outcomes in the Himalayan strategic environment, thereby contributing to a more stable and sustainable regional security framework