Figure 3: India vs China GDP Growth.
From the data above, it is found that although both of
them are emerging economies, China’s GDP level is
still far above India. In this regard, despite China’s
declining GDP figures, the average decline is still
above the Indian GDP. This is then feared by India,
that with such stability, it is not impossible for China
to advance as a hegemonic country. The more
hegemonic China then India indirectly will
experience stagnation and made other countries will
try to get closer to China. So then the author found
that the logical policy taken was balancing by looking
for alliances as well as sending a diplomatic signal
(Mearsheimer, 2001). India in this case invites Japan
to cooperate in improving its infrastructure in the
Indo-Pacific region in order to maintain its position.
Japan has been one of the largest investors in India
since 2003-2004 through ODA (Official
Development Assistance) which continued until
2014, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited
India and supported the construction of infrastructure
in the region by providing assistance around 35 US
billion dollars in various sectors over a five-year
period (Sahoo and Bishoni, 2016). In this case the
author found that India tried to hold Japan in
counterbalancing business is due to the proximity that
has been going on for quite a long time and the
similarity of interest in efforts to limit the influence
of China. Particularly in history, there is an
unfavorable relationship between the two that has
lasted long enough between Japan and China. In
accordance with the long cycles theory, India and
Japan cooperation efforts did not rule out the
possibility of a global war. The deconcentrated
international system has finally triggered the
intentions of the state to dominate, one of which is to
form alliances such as India and Japan, although it has
not led to joint-military cooperation.
5 CONCLUSION
From the above explanation it can be concluded that
there are indications that the international system
ultimately influenced India’s foreign policy. This
refers to a shift from unipolar to a more multipolar
system. The emergence of new actors such as China
is ultimately considered a potential threat to the
position of the United States as a global force today.
However, not only the United States, but India also
experienced the impact of China’s aggressiveness,
especially in China’s One Belt One Road policy. The
initiative try to connect China with countries in the
Middle East and Europe through countries such as
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others, including the
Indian Ocean. This location is quite crucial for India
because India has ambitions to become the leader of
Asia and trying to dominate the Indo-Pacific maritime
especially the Indian Ocean. The Indians are affected
by the argument of Alfred Thayer Mahan who says
that when the country is able to rule the Indian Ocean
it will be able to dominate the world. This is agreed
by India by trying to realize maritime imperatives
policy by inviting coastal countries to engage in
IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association).
However, the One Belt One Road policy
considered more interesting than the policies made by
India, and that makes India feel threatened by China.
There is evidenced by the development of ports in
Gwandar, Pakistan by China that ignites
disappointment from India, especially Pakistan as the
strategic competitor from India. In addition, evidence
that China’s significant economic acceleration will be
successful in its initiative. With the ODI that China
throws at the non-formal sector indirectly raises the
interdependence of the receiving countries, so that
there is a tendency towards China. India sees this as a
threat, threatened when its GDP levels are not able to
compete with China entirely so they decided to seek
friends by involving Japan. This common purpose
then creates a balancing policy election. In
accordance with the international system level of
analysis, it is found that the Indian policy is not as
influential in the international political constellation.
But the emergence of China as a global challenger
has enough impact on decision making in India that
decided to do counterbalancing with Japan. In
addition, the involvement of major power such as the
United States, is actually seen implicitly which India
and Japan as partners of the United States have also
helped to push its involvement in the Indo-Pacific
forum. But the role of supranational organizations is
not found in this case since what seen today are the
tendencies of states to contest that able to disturb the