How New Delhi can manage the Beijing challenge it faces

India faces a unique, and complex, China problem. Contemporary India’s most important relationship may be the one with the US, but the most consequential one is with China. Washington's ability and willingness to support its strategic partnership with India during times of crisis will depend on the prevailing circumstances, but China is a strategic challenge to India no matter the circumstances.

- Happymon Jacob

If Washington and Delhi team up against Beijing in the region, China’s challenge to India will get sharper; but even if they don't, the China challenge to India will get sharper, albeit slowly but steadily. If you balance China’s power militarily, it will respond with even greater military strength; if you don’t, it will still offset your power. In other words, no matter what, India’s China problem is here to stay. That being the case, India’s China strategy needs to be tailored to meet the long term.