A Textbook Lullaby on Sino-Indian Relations
Disclaimer: Everything below is a mix of what I observed and heard during the event. The goal isn’t to pinpoint "who exactly said what," but to share (usually) an outsider's view and overall perspective on these industries. I’m not here to act as a definitive firsthand source—readers should do their own research. I hope this inspires you to attend events, explore new industries, and hear what leaders are presenting. These notes combine my observations with thoughts on how things could run smoother and how ideas connect (IMO). I’m not an expert, you know? Just hanging out in the room with them. Enjoy!Topics: Global Relations, Conflict, Resolution, Trade, Global Reform, Climate Change, History
This is a random event at the local university and let’s check it out. Why? Well, a few weeks ago I attended that super teriffic indo-pacific event which was about (for lack of better explanations) “not china”/competiing with china. I lived in China for 4 years and loved my time there, and I love global systems. So let’s learn more about China and India. Plus, I heard that he #1 earner in america these days? Indian men. So, they are doing something right.
Why Attend: I’ve got a meeting in the first 30 minutes of the event, so I won’t be able to network at the beginning, but i’m forever on a endless drive to learn and listen to love speeches, conferences, and conversations. I want my mind to be fed and fueled with amazing chats. So, this is potentially right there andwill be interestign and teach me a bunch of stuff I didn’t know before. Then after, in all transparency, I’m going to stop by the food bank (my FAVORITE one!! lol. I’m befriending a lot of the staff/regulars) - and then MAYBEEE go play guitar/bluegrass. Thoguh, I’ll have to borrow a guitar from someone at the jam since I don’t have mine with me hahaha. Let’s see what the night brings.
Photo Collage + Commentary
Notes from the Event:
Literally over 100 people here, and not enough chairs. I’m sitting on the floor hahaha. But I did get a lemon bar and I’m so happy about that cause it was a good snack and totally perfect for right now. There were just bare snacks left, but 1.75 lemon bars so i got one. Eureka.
Lol but for a second I thought (and am still not 100% sure) I’m in the right topic/room. Cause they said there are multiple events going on at the same time -b ut maybe she just meant something else. And This says it’s about conflict and cooperation - which was the topic. But it says Sino-indian relationsh (which idk what “Sino” means but I thought it was about china + India) is “Sino” china? I guess I can look it up.
Yeah. It does. “Sino” means china??? Wtf.
The speaker has written 24 books and 90 scholarly articles. Hahahah omg. This guy BETTER be interesting, if not, that’s a LOT of boring content hahaha.
One of the guys on the virtual version of this event has his audio unmuted and then the whole audience laughs as he can’t figure out how to mute him. This is a lot of college students so I guess they think leadership not knowing how to mute peopel is funny cause it’s kinda. Basic task.
This is inspiring me to put up a “global partnership” internship - so I just did that quickly.
Okay the guy gets on stage and says thanks for this introduction.
Omg i was thinking that with this setup the speaker would be virtually streaming - but, its a live human person. good. hahahah.
He doesn’t feel like he deserves such a nice introduction but thank you. Glad to see such a beautiful campus. Usually only arts peopel show up for something like this, but scientists and many departments are here. That’s a good sign. These subjects matter and should be understood by all humanities because there is a lot of relevance to what we are doing today.
His effort is to understand this relationship between two Asias, two giants. Going back to antiquity and now, as modern states with quite a bit of conflict hahah. Yet some cooperation
He speaks at a good pace, easy to type
Some of his arguments from 10-15 years ago still sound correct and are working well. He did an adaptation tied to today.
This rivalry is 7 decades old. Since 1958 or 1960. You have intermittent flare-ups. Despite several talks at meetings. It’s not a typical rivalry you’d find in another context. Compared to India/Pakistan. China/China is a better-managed rivalry.
Only one guy in the audience laughs and then goes to grab his water bottle (I notice this stuff as a former alcoholic/recovering alcoholic - sometimes you want a drink to soothe yourself when you feel ike you stand out), but then reaches in the wrong spot, then looks down and finds it.
It’s not just based on geopolitics and economics, its a lot of sociopsychological involving status
I actually know nothing about the conflict for real!!!
Unlike the India/Pakistan rivalry, it’s not zero-sum. Every gain China makes is not a loss for India, and even a gain India makes is not a loss for China. It’s managed rivalry. An example of two rivals. Successful episodes.
Recently a meeting between the prime minister and leader in 2024. Economic reengagement occurred. More relaxation in visa rules. Both can visit without much of a hassle. Air connections that were disrupted during the past 10 years are now coming back
The relationship is somewhat positive in terms of economic size. From 2.9-155B in 2000 to 2025. Massive growth. But unfortunately very biased in favor of china.
India imported and exported 140 billion and exported 14 billion. The Indians in particular, find it very difficult. But Indian companies need Chinese components to produce and export the same goods.
I believe this is a problem with the USA companies too. India exports mostly primary products that cary profit or value.
China doesn’t want India to join the UN club. The 5 members don’t want a membership without VETO power.
Other policies where China influences India. Also maritime expansion to the Indian Ocean, South China Sea of course, and china is building ports in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They’re not militarized yet.
China has done a clever job in not militarizing those facilities it has -with the potential it has.
LOL there’s a guy sleeping in the back row, and he keeps sleeping and typing and sleeping and typing. OMG, he’s sleeping while typing hahahahahha, maybe he is like semi blind or something. But I think he’s literally falling asleep while typing. Cause now he’s nodding off. OMG, I’m so impressed with this guy’s ability to nap and like type and not have his laptop fall off like his lap. His fingers are on the keyboard in typing position while his head is nodding off, and he has AirPods in. I wanna take a pic of him but i’td be way to rude. Maybe I can.
China has been careful not to push India into an alliance despite (idk) I’m just jumping back into typing after getting epic
Yeah this guy has his eyes open again but he’s so slumped over and typing with his eyes closed back again. OMG he’s my favorite person here he’s so funny.
and i can type without looking, too - even with my eyes closed. almost every blog i type witout lookign cause its just faster and easier but thats why i hae so many typos. i wonder whats his typo ratio?
India was building a port in Iran but that has now been suspended because of the war. This is a conflict I’d call a status conflict. Not just the terror conflict.
OMG the guy reaching for the water bottle just stood up and left!! The only one to laugh at that earlier joke. I’m surprised this seemed like his vibe.
and now a super happy lady shows up late and takes the seat with a huge smile on. cause there is so few seats here. And the other guy is back asleep.
Okay let’s focus
The current war is pushing china and India to get along. Pushing them to agree on issues. Up to a point
SO his research questions:
What explains the peculiar contours of this managed rivalry
Why is it different from the India-Pakistan rivalry in terms of intensity and other behavioral characteristics
What influence have accelerated globalization, especially increased trade and (its so hard to read the font its so small and italics) -hwo are they facing globalization today?
What impact does the US China cooperation and China’s expanding reach into the South China sSe and the Indian Ocean nail have on this rivalry?Under (nevemrind, he switches slides)
To understand the rivalry, we need to look at its numerous facets:
Competition over territorial boundaries. The 3488 km long McMahon Line - LAC, often disputed, is now more common with incursions. Border infrastructure improved. China is in a better position, and India is trying to catch up
Status in Asia and beyond
Rescuers (water) Brahmaputra river - china building Dams on the Tibetan side
Notions of regional and global order
Strategic culture
Nuclear strategy and the abundance of power in the region
The infrastructure China has built gives it a lot of capacity. The 1962 war was a massive blow to India. And the Indians still haven’t reconciled to that loss
I didn’t know that there was a war
It was humiliating to the public. They don’t even want to talk about it.
China doesn’t think that was a police action, to punish India for wahtever it was doing.
For a period of time, it was a frozen situation, but ever since 1988 when former prime minister ghandi visited China, they’re getting better. Both are viewed as co-equal states. Both capital avg income were the same until 1980s. Then reforms made China far ahead later on and its successors.
26% of the world economy during hte 15th century till the europeans arrived was India. 28% was china, the world’s economy was…? Both entities are trying to get back the economic and status positions in the long run.
India lost 10 years behind as they started in 1991 and those 10 years were very crucial. Caught up to a point but not much. But India’s ambitions have changed. They’re looking for a global role.
They don’t want to be a lower-ranking actor in a global system
Water is an important part of their relationship. The river, the Chinese built the world’s largest damn here.
Okay this is so informative. Hahaha. I am losing attention. And btw there’s another guy sleeping in the audience. But of course if there are 100 people here so 2% are sleeping. Oh, I spotted another. 3%.
Pakistan has declared there will be no more trade or relationship with India until the Kashmir problem is solved. This may never happen since they problem may not be solved anytime soon.
Yeah this talk is quite educational nd historical hahah.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization with hchian and two banks that uh uh brick and I mean uh china has help to create AIB and NDB. India has been very reluctant to join (he’s reading off pop paper suddenly and keeps saying UUH and stuff all teh sudden. I feel liek he wasn’t reading off of paper earlier.
Some people say backing off was a mistake
-omg another lady is falling asleep hahahah. So yeah 4%
Now the argument that he’s making in his chapter that helped him to work on this is that a limited rivalry persists but it has remained less intense due to several factors, diplomatic and economic
Now he’s reading off the paper. DUDE I’m so over people reading speeches off of paper. If you want to read off paper, write it in a blog. Like me hahahah
Until China settles all the territorial disputes, it will not trade with the country, thats a big, big difference. Since 2017, you’ve witnessed more tensions. It’s more tense, despite the talks, partly because hte ambitions of leaders who want their respective countries to be dominant actors int eh global and asian arena.
You can look at the territorial dispute and find that some of these regions are congested. Kashmir has a long history I’m not going to go into that
He said some people may not like this map, but he has no opinion on it. There is a dispute over who owns what - some areas are held by China but claimed by India. Some spots are disputed areas and disputed borders. I had no idea.
This is like my old neighbors. They were so strict about the line between our houses, hahahah. Like they made us move a temporary fence over by a few inches… I was like, who cares? Move it by feet. I literally don’t care. Omg.
Okay, now another girl is sleeping 5%. The girl next to the typing-keyboard guy. And then a girl in the row ahead o them is falling asleep - 6%. LOLLL and even “happy to arrive late” lady is sleeping - 7%. OMGGGG hahahahah what hte heck is going on at this event. Everyone is here to sleep! hahaha. Or they dind’t want to sleep, they wanted to learn, but he just can’t keep the audience’s attention.
Bro and the sleeping keyboard guy keeps waking up to type, then fall back asleep. And happy to be here lady just woke up again hahaha. OMG this event is too funnnynynynnyyn.
here’s a guy up front getting himself water. That makes more realize I’m thirsty. Oh, it’s the photographer. He doesn’t have a flash. Good. And i have a water bottle
Now he’s just talking about weapons and water and stuff. Water politics. It’s getting quite bad in some sense. India is planning to build 200 dams. They need a water sharing treaty which is not totally impossible. They need to share the exchange water flow. China has to but hasn’t apparently. And now that the Strait of Hormuz you can use water as chokepoints. Military planners watch what others are doing and worried that India may block china going into south china. China has that worry. How sustainable is all of this? That’s the question.
His own personal thinking
One guy suddenly leaves.
Another girl is yawning
The desire to be recognized as a coequal leading power on India’s side. India’s position is that we are two founding civilizations. We are coequals.
The past 30 years are no reason India shouldn’t receive its due position. 1945, the UN was set up in san fransico; India was a colony. Once an institution is created, it’s impossible to change the structure unless another war or crisis is proclaimed.
Suddenly, a lady turns not he lights. So random and annoying 100%!!! And it seems liek a bunch of people woke up for the lights getting turned on even though his presentation is still going on.
Thinking about the Iranian situation, the Iranians didn’t do a smart thing. If you are (idk what he’s saying) the were lots of sanctions on it. Either you test or give it up. They’ve not done well convincing the world that they dont’ have a nuclear plant. If you ask me personally, this war shouldn’t have happened, but that's a different story.
My ex-fiancé is glad that the war happened cause wants his country to be changed. But true, MAYBE this coudl have happened differently. Idk I just like to be optimistic nd almost like ignorant in bliss. You know? Idk. Idkkkk
There’s a new person sleeping in the audience. No, they’re awake.
Oh but there’s a guy sleeping in the 3rd row. No, he is awake e too hahaha- oky. What? Am I just tracking people sleeping?
- OH another guy sleeping in a green hat hahaha. A green trucker hat. 8%
They’re building a lot of railroads and a lot of things.
OMG I just can’t sleep so easily. But I guess also I’m not THAT tired lately. Not like when you’re in college and have to sit through like 8+ hours a day of lectures and be in debt for it. That's a different kind of tired when there’s nothing better to do but sleep in this kinda stuff if you’re not interested. You HAVE To be here.
I (as you can guess) would happily leave this. It’s just him repeating a lot of stuff over and over.
Balance of power in these regions have been changing India in a semi-alliance with the USA since 2008, now broken by Mr. Trump. Quite interesting, Trump had a meeting in Delhi where ehe said he doesn’t want India to raise like China did. India thought that the Americans were with them bu now that is being a challenge. Some people say that the USA’s most likely friend of the market is India. An important player. Don’t just abandon this.
Considering how long it took to get there. They used to be estranged during the Cold War.
In the China-India conflict, you have to be careful whether you want to be the next easy target. Iran’s strategy is to make it global so others feel the pain and support their position to end the conflict. The economic relations are clearly one of the big reasons why this is a subdued rivalry.
Okay… I think I may leave. I have another place to go tonight - two more places. And idk just everyone sleeping here is sorta giving me the vibe, and I’ve learned a lot already. I wanna go and just enjoy my night. Not force myself to stay here. He still has 30 minutes to talk, but IDK. I just don’t want to say any I also want to challenge myself to just go and listen to myself and go.
Last notes: China does not believe India’s nuclear forces are a threat to its security.
India believes China’s nuclear weapons are a major threat. China has 600 warheads, going up to 1000 by 2030. India has 190. Most are medium or short-range.
China is spending 246 billion, while India is spending 94 billion in 2025.
This guy was like a good speaker and a not-so-good speaker at the same time. He knows his stuff, just not how to keep the interest of an audience. No idea how to keep them awake ahahha.
Until next time, I wish you the motivation and success to search for opportunities around your area. Search and explore: Who is out there giving talks? There are new things happening all of the time.
Find relatable or interesting topics you like and check them out! Maybe even something hosted at a cool venue, if there’s no other reason to go. Let’s see what you can learn and discover not too far from home. 😊
