Document Type : Original Article from Result of Thesis
Highlights
Introduction
In the present era, the transformation in the structure of the international system, the emergence of emerging powers, and changes in economic, political, and security interaction patterns have caused various regions of the world to become the scene of increasing geopolitical competition. In the meantime, Asia, especially its south and east, has become the main focus of these competitions due to its geostrategic location, economic and demographic capacities, and access to important trade routes. China and India, as two major Asian powers, have tried to consolidate and enhance their regional and trans-regional positions over the past two decades through the development of economic and trade corridors. With the grand plan of the "Belt and Road Initiative," China has tried to expand its geopolitical influence in various regions from East Asia to Europe and Africa by investing in infrastructure, creating cross-border economic links, and facilitating trade. In contrast, India has also turned to the development of alternative corridors, such as the North-South International Transport Corridor and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, in order to counter China’s growing influence. This competition in the field of connectivity and transit of goods is not limited to just the two countries, and other international actors have also intervened in it in various ways.
The United States, as the dominant power in the international system, understanding the geopolitical consequences of China’s projects and concerned about the change in the global balance of power, has sought to contain China’s initiative and support actors such as India through a series of political, economic and security measures. Strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation with India, opposing China’s projects in international forums, and designing alternative plans in cooperation with Western allies are part of the United States’ strategy in this regard.
From this perspective, the geopolitical competition between China and India in the corridor arena is no longer simply a confrontation between two regional powers, but has also become an arena for strategic competition between Washington and Beijing. As a result, studying this phenomenon requires a simultaneous understanding of the logic of regional competitions and the intervention of transregional actors.
This article aims to analyze the role of the United States in the framework of China-India competition in the field of corridors, and attempts to examine the various dimensions of this competition from a geopolitical perspective. The main question of the article is what is the role of the United States in the geopolitical competition between China and India in the field of corridors and what impact does this role have on regional order? Also, China's corridor policy and its geopolitical goals and India's corridor policy and its geopolitical goals have been examined. This research also deals with a three-way comparative analysis of this competition in the field of corridors.
Methodology
The research method the research method in this study employs an analytical-explanatory and qualitative model. This approach involves first presenting analyses, which are then fully developed through critique and review. Analytical-explanatory research is a method used to examine a phenomenon or subject by analyzing and explaining the factors and causes behind it. As a synthesis of analytical and explanatory research, this qualitative approach examines cases to facilitate a deeper understanding of the subject.
Results and Discussion
The findings show that China is seeking to increase its geopolitical influence in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe through the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of multiple regional corridors; in contrast, India is developing alternative corridors such as the North-South Corridor and, with direct US support, the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. By strengthening India, opposing Chinese projects, and providing alternatives, the US is seeking to contain and manage Beijing’s expanding influence. This role of the US has not only intensified geopolitical competition but also significantly affected the balance of power in the area of regional and trans-regional corridors.
Conclusion
Corridors are no longer simply economic or trade routes, but rather tools for exerting geopolitical power, regional influence, and redefining the global order. In this context, the rivalry between China and India, which is rooted in geography, history, and security, has been elevated to a structural and multi-layered stage by the entry of the United States. With the Belt and Road Initiative, China is pursuing a multi-dimensional policy that includes building infrastructure dependencies, developing trade routes, accessing energy resources, and gaining political influence in host countries. Under the banner of the “Chinese Dream and Greatness,” this policy is an attempt to create a new geoeconomics order centered on Beijing. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the Central Asian land routes, and the Indian Ocean ports within the strategic framework of the “String of Pearls” all reflect China’s efforts to bypass strategic bottlenecks and increase its geopolitical autonomy. In response to these developments, India is seeking to balance China by relying on projects such as the North-South Corridor, Chabahar Port, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. At the same time, New Delhi is trying to strengthen its position in the regional order by participating in strategic alliances such as the Quadrilateral Security Group and emerging economic alliances with the United States. These developments in India indicate the country’s transition from a mere regional player to a global connecting power. The United States has also become an active and structural actor in this competition.
The competition in the corridor arena is part of the geopolitical realignment of the world in the 21st century. In this competition, all three players –China, India, and the United States– have different strategic goals, competitive logic, and tools. China seeks to redefine its global position, India seeks to enhance its position and strategic independence, and the United States is trying to maintain its structural superiority.
Corridors in the new world order are not only a tool for development, but also a mechanism for competition, pressure, and even alliances. Understanding the geopolitical competition between China and India is incomplete without analyzing the structural role of the United States, and the future of this competition will have a direct impact on the formation of the global connectivity map.
