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Economic Relations with China and Indo-Myanmar: A Theoretical Study

Prabin Kumar Sahoo1
Pratip Kumar Mishra2
1Research Scholar, 2Professor
Utkal University, Vani Bihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Abstract:This study investigates the intricate dynamics of India's economic interactions with its two principal Asian neighbours’—China and Myanmar—through a theoretical and comparative framework. Trade and investment flows are not the only things that affect economic connections between countries. Strategic, political, and cultural variables also have a role. This study aims to examine the evolution, characteristics, and theoretical foundations of India's economic relations with China and Myanmar, emphasising both bilateral and regional aspects. The study analyses several theoretical frameworks of international economic interactions, such as liberalism, realism, and dependency theory, to establish a conceptual basis for comprehending the motivations and dynamics of India's economic relationships. From a liberal standpoint, economic collaboration and interdependence with China and Myanmar are regarded as avenues for reciprocal development and regional stability. On the other hand, realist and strategic views focus on competition, power imbalance, and geopolitical issues. This is especially true for India-China ties, which go back and forth between cooperation and rivalry. India's "Act East Policy" sees Indo-Myanmar relations primarily as a developmental partnership and a way to unite the two countries in the region. The study contends that India's developing economic diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region signifies its ambitions for strategic autonomy and its dependency on regional interdependence. The results underscore the significance of a balanced, theory-driven methodology for enduring regional economic advancement.
Keywords: Economic Relations, India, China, Myanmar, Liberalism, Realism, Act East Policy, Regional Cooperation.