The Long Mountains

The rising powers of India and China are likely to be competitors. If Russia and China couldn't remain close allies with the unifying ideology of communism to hold them together, I don't think that China and India could ever really be more than commercial associates. It doesn't mean war is inevitable. But becoming allies seems far-fetched.

One intersting aspect of the competion in the military realm is that decisive land operations against each other are severly constrained by the Himalaya Mountains that separate them.

I imagine Indian strategic thinking isn't familiar with Western sources any more than I have much grasp of the history that Indian strategists draw on. Perhaps the Indians have sources more relevant to them, but I suggest the Indians review Thucydides' The History of the Peloponnesian War.

Defending the Long Mountains could draw some lessons from Athens defending the Long Walls.