Introduction
A state must keep its self-interest in mind while taking friendly or hostile action to protect its national interest, as Kautilya says. A political realist and proponent of foreign policy principle, Kautilya advocates gaining and maintaining power without moral confusion. His name is often recognised among ancient Indian scholars of politics and his international influence is still relevant even in contemporary world politics. Kautilya’s key principles regarding India’s foreign policy, such as the pursuit of power, national interest, alliance hostility and diplomacy are still applicable when dealing with other countries. Therefore, his ideas are necessary even today in the trans-modern global society. India’s national security strategy will be based on its core values and interests and will involve careful assessment of potential challenges. India has consistently given priority to global understanding and development issues, ensuring internal security, protecting territorial integrity and promoting peace etc.
Kautilya’s Six-Fold of Foreign Policy:
1)The first form is Sandhi, which defines peace as “agreement with pledges.”Agreement to pledges means committing to upholding promises, deals, or obligations. It shows that you are aligned with the intentions or goals and are willing to endorse their significance, commit to fulfilling them and actively implement them.
2) The second form is Vigraha, which means offensive operation or war. Offensive operations or warfare refer to military actions initiated to seize territory, defeat an adversary, or achieve strategic objectives by actively engaging enemy forces. However, the mobilisation process and marching towards battle are considered different methods.
3) The third form is Yana, which means parading or marching the army against the enemy or along the borders. Marching the army against the enemy or along the borders involves the organised movement of military forces towards a given direction, usually aiming to engage with the adversary or ensure security within national borders.
4) The fourth is Asana, which means indifference between sides. Indifference can be seen through the lack of strong emotions that one may show in biased views on particular situations and outcomes. It demonstrates a commitment to equality, honesty and non-violence; it shows that resolution should be promoted through international diplomacy and other involvement approaches; neutrality as a whole can maintain peace among different nations across the globe. But Indifference and neutrality may serve as tools for ensuring stability rather than generating conflicts due to diversity in relation to personal relationships and many more international contexts.
5) The fifth one is Samasraya, which means alliance or friendship. Friendship or alliance is all about mutual trust, support and camaraderie among people, groups or nations. It denotes a close and cooperative relationship built on shared values, interests or goals. Parties in alliances commit to strategic collaboration by pooling efforts and resources towards common objectives, whether politics, economics, or defence. Mainly, it represents a strategic manoeuvre by weaker states to enhance their security and stability by seeking the protection and support of more vital allies.
6) The sixth one is Dvaidibhava, which means double-dealing. It can also be called ‘double-dealing’ or ‘duplicity’—maintaining good relations with an adversary yet at the same time scheming to weaken him so as to defeat him. For example, a king might not win if he fought alone, but those who possess enough strength to do so require additional reinforcement from an ally while going to war against his enemies. Double-dealing involves pretending to be on the side of one party while secretly supporting another.(Rangarajan, 1992)
Reflection of Six-Fold Foreign Policy in Contemporary National Security Policy towards China:
The contemporary national security policies towards China reflect a nuanced approach encompassing six key facets: economic engagement, military deterrence, diplomatic dialogue, strategic competition, human rights advocacy and multilateral cooperation. This six-fold foreign policy framework reflects a pragmatic and comprehensive approach to managing the complexities of the China challenge, balancing engagement with competition and cooperation while safeguarding national interests and upholding universal values.
The first aspect is Sandhi, defined as an agreement with a pledge. In this context, India signed four agreements with China. In 2019, India and China signed four agreements to strengthen further. The agreements between India and China, which focus on the cultural and people-to-people ties between the two ancient civilisations, were signed after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi attended the 2nd meeting of the India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchange.(Jaishankar in China: 4 agreements signed to strengthen cultural ties, 2019)
The second is Vigraha, defined as an offensive operation on war. In this concept, in 2020, in the India-China Galwan Valley clash, India responded in a very offensive way. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted to the violent face-off, saying that India does not “instigate” and will not compromise on “integrity and sovereignty.” “India wants peace, but if instigated, India is capable of giving an appropriate response at all costs,” Modi warned in a strongly worded statement, which still left the door open for de-escalation.(Sud, june 2020)
The third aspect is Yana, defined as marching the army against the enemy or along the borders. In this concept, after the Galwan Valley clash, India Modernisation of Border Infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh: India focused on modernising border infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly along the McMahon Line separating it from China. This involved the construction of roads, bridges and advanced surveillance systems to improve border security and facilitate rapid troop movement in the region.(India, 2021). For some more examples, India conducts Military exercises with the US Army. For instance, India and the United States conducted military exercises (Yudh Abhyas) in October 2022, 18th Edition Auli, Uttarakhand.(India-US military drills near LAC violate the spirit of Sino-India agreements: China, 2022)
The fourth aspect is Asana, defined as showing indifference or neutrality and keeping quiet; in this concept, keeping India quiet in internal matters of China, like Assault on Hong Kong’s Autonomy, fear of Arbitrary Arrest and religious freedom abuses. India respects the principle of non-interference in China’s internal affairs, which is a fundamental aspect of international relations.
The fifth aspect is Samasraya, defined as alliance or friendship, which means seeking protection. In this concept, strategic autonomy is not protection. India maintains partnerships with the USA, Japan and Australia. India is actively participating in the G20 and looking to pursue the FOIP (Free and Open Indo-Pacific) strategy, focusing on free trade, promotion, establishing freedom of navigation and a rules-based Indo-Pacific (Deshpande, August 2023). India maintains partnerships with other countries, countering China’s presence.
The sixth aspect is Dvaidibhava, which is defined as double-dealing. This concept can be interpreted as engaging in ‘double-dealing’ or ‘duplicity’—maintaining amicable relations with an adversary while secretly strategizing to undermine and ultimately conquer them. This concept defines India as double-dealing with China to protect its economic and border security. For example, India maintains a strategic partnership with the USA, Japan and Australia to counter China’s presence.(Deshpande, August 2023). It conducts military exercises with the USA and other countries on the Indo-China border to protect India’s border security. (India-US military drills near LAC violate the spirit of Sino-India agreements: China, 2022). Still, India maintains trade relations with China; for example, India’s trade relations with China are significant as China has been India’s largest source of imports for the past 15 years. China’s share in India’s imports has increased over the years. In 2020-21 and 2021-22, China’s share in India’s imports reached a record high of 16.53% and 15.43%(RAY, Mar 2023).
Conclusion:
Kautilya’s foreign policy, as outlined in the ancient Indian text Arthashastra, emphasises a pragmatic and realpolitik approach to international relations. It focuses on pursuing national interests through diplomacy, military strength, economic strategy and intelligence gathering. This approach resonates strongly with contemporary India’s national security concerns, particularly in its relationship with China. India-China relations, Kautilya’s principles offer valuable insights. His emphasis on maintaining a balance of power, leveraging alliances and exploiting opportunities for strategic advantage remains relevant. India’s focus on building solid military deterrence, engaging in diplomatic dialogues and fostering economic partnerships reflects Kautilyan principles adapted to modern geopolitics.Kautilya’s emphasis on gathering intelligence and understanding adversaries’ motivations is also significant. In dealing with China, India must remain vigilant about Beijing’s intentions and actions, ensuring that a deep understanding of Chinese strategies and objectives informs its national security policies. Kautilya’s foreign policy provides a timeless framework for India to navigate the complexities of its relationship with China. It offers strategic guidance that is adaptable to contemporary challenges while remaining rooted in the pursuit of national security and interests.