China and India currently enjoy great economic growth and development after the economic reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. China with economic growth rate of 11% and India with economic growth rate of 7% managed to emerge as world economic power in the early 21th century. In 2012 and in spite of world economic crisis, China became the 2nd top economic power in the world and the first economic power in Asia. India is now the 3rd largest economy in Asia and 11th largest economy in the world. Chinese have achieved considerable development in agriculture sector and Indian has been successful in IT. Economic progress and empowerment have also powered these countries’ military power, which made China the 3rd military power and India the 4th military power in the world.
Following this trend, the both countries have increased their military budget and following similar policies in their foreign policies, they are striving to expand their power in Asia in the hope of regaining their old age glory. The first priority of China and India in foreign policy is to gain controlling power in Asia. Chinese believe that they have been kept put-down by European countries and Japanese and now it is their turn to reclaim their previous dignity. On the other hand and in competition with Chinese, Indians try to show their power beyond their borders. These policies have triggered competition between the two countries and they keep competing in two geographical fields (domestic and beyond borders) and three thematic fields (economic, politic, and military). Furthermore, in their quest to control Asia, the two countries have entered into four geographical field of competition in Asia. The four fields are South and South East Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia.