India and China in Southeast Asia: Competition for strategic influence

Abstract

The competition for influence between India and China in Southeast Asia has intensified amid the ongoing restructuring of the Indo-Pacific regional order. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India pursues its Act East policy as a strategic counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This study analyses strategic competition across three domains: economics, diplomacy, and energy security, over the 2014-20225 period. Methodologically, the article adopts policy analysis and the theory of power competition in international relations to explain the strategic motivations of India and China. The qualitative research combines content analysis of policy documents, comparative analysis of strategic orientations, and case studies from selected ASEAN member states. The findings show that China retains an advantage through its financial capacity and extensive institutional networks, whereas India, despite its growing engagement, remains constrained by its implementation capacity. This strategic contest not only reshapes regional balance but also poses challenges for ASEAN in maintaining strategic balance.