The Asia-Pacific Strategic Triangle: Untangling the India, China, US Relations on Conflict and Security in South Asia

Johannes Dragsbaek Schmidt
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to give insight into the debate over the strategic triangle and how it impacts conflict and security in South Asia. First the new geopolitical motives of the United States in the Asia Pacific are outlined. Then the concept of strategic triangle is elaborated and its applicability discussed; third, details about China and India’s relations and responses to the new US policy are being analyzed; the perspective turns to the implications for conflict and security in South Asia with a focus on Afghanistan and Iran where oil and energy security are the main denominators of foreign policy calculations and moves in the strategic triangle; and finally, some concluding remarks are offered to explain the recent shifts in interactions between these core players in the emerging world order and whether a new geopolitical architecture is emerging.