INDIA-U.S. SPACE COOPERATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINA’S SPACE POLICY AND REGIONAL BALANCE IN ASIA

Abstract

It examines the effects of increasing cooperation between India and the United States in space on China's space policy and the balance of power in Asia. With their improved space abilities, both countries have made their partnership vital in geopolitics, mainly by helping to check China’s rising influence in the region. A constructivist theoretical framework is used in the study to explain why India and the U.S. cooperate in space, focusing on the role of like-minded values, democracy and common interests in helping preserve peace and stability. It includes realism to show how states compete with each other and consider their strategies in foreign policy. This work attempts to uncover the key history of India-U.S. space teamwork, what China notices about it and what this might imply for regional security. Research results suggest that India and the U.S. are partners in space due to having common goals for innovation and defense. An example of this partnership’s significance is seen in the Mars Orbiter Mission and the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, aimed at addressing worldwide challenges. Since China regards this cooperation as a danger to its national strategy, it has stepped up its actions in space, devoted more money to the military and explored methods to protect itself. Others in the Indo-Pacific could align more with India and the U.S., due to China’s influence, as the areas research highlights. The partnership might also impact guidelines for international cooperation in regards to space governance. India and the U.S. working together in space helps reveal new trends in power in Asia. As things develop in the world, this partnership offers chances and problems for regional stability and security, meaning policymakers need to pay close attention. As a result of this cooperation, the behavior of other regional players changes and it sets an example for future global space governance.