War Over Resources: India's Economic Success and Commodity Competition with China
Abstract
China and India have three things in common, an extremely large and growing population, limited natural resources, and growing economies. As these factors increase and both countries compete economically will they initiate conflict as a result of shrinking resources? The paper examined this question using journal, news articles, research organization, government, and multi-national organization data sources to answer the following arguments. First, India's economic success will lead to conflict with China as both countries' food demands exceed their domestically available resources. Second, India's growing industrialization will increase competition with China over limited domestic and global mineral commodity sources, leading to conflict over trade route security. And third, India's growing economy will further increase competition with China over shrinking domestic energy commodities, heightening the likelihood of conflict as they compete over limited global supply chains. As a result of this study, conflict is likely over food, raw materials, and energy as both countries compete not only over these resources but also over security of their overlapping logistic routes. India must take action to secure resources and the Indian Ocean while securing concrete and resilient support by the US and its allies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1184075
Entities
People
- Peter O. Gustafson
Organizations
- Naval War College