Gender Perspectives in India-China Relations: Challenges and Future Prospects

Abstract

India and China are two of the largest Asian powers and their bilateral relations have traditionally been marked by strategic competition, border disputes, economic interdependence and geopolitical concerns. However, the gender perspective in India–China relations has remained a relatively under-researched area in the field of international relations scholarship. Gender perspectives help in gaining a broader understanding of the social, political and institutional factors that influence interstate relations and human development. The present study aims to examine the role of gender perspectives in India–China relations by identifying the existing challenges and exploring the prospects of future cooperation. It underscores the importance of gender issues such as women’s empowerment, gender equality, social inclusion, education, leadership participation and policy initiatives within the framework of bilateral and multilateral relations. The study is qualitative in nature and is based on secondary sources such as books, research articles, government reports, policy documents, and publications of international organizations. The research explores the similarities and differences in gender-related policies and approaches of India and China by using thematic analysis. While the economic progress and reforms have been made by both countries, the study argues that they still face challenges such as gender inequality, uneven participation in the workforce, cultural barriers, gaps in representation in decision-making institutions and differing policies in implementation. The study also indicates a better future for India – China relations through more cooperation in areas like women empowerment initiatives, educational exchanges, technological development, healthcare cooperation and multilateral forums like BRICS and international forums. Gender perspective in bilateral relations can lead to inclusive development and greater people-to-people engagements. The research adds to the existing literature by focusing on gender as an important aspect of international relations and its possible role in generating sustainable and cooperative engagement between India and China.