Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, a Chinese studies expert at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), said China replacing the United States as a global hegemon is unlikely. He explained that while the US built a liberal world order, Beijing promotes a hierarchical “Middle Kingdom” order, which many countries, including India, find hard to accept, according to an ANI report.
According to the academician, India’s unresolved border dispute with China, along with regional security concerns, makes it difficult for New Delhi to align with Beijing’s global vision. Kondapalli added that China’s growing role in the Indian Ocean also raises red flags for India.
Tariffs, Pahalgam attacks, and global politics
Commenting on US tariffs on India, Kondapalli said these were likely linked to ego clashes between Washington and Beijing, rather than core trade issues. He predicted that India would soon regain its place in the US strategic calculus.
On the Pahalgam terror attack, the professor pointed to suspicious Chinese links. He noted reports of a Huawei phone with satellite connectivity used by a terrorist and evidence of Chinese satellite images shared with Pakistan before the attack. He called Beijing’s demand for a “fair investigation” ironic, given China’s refusal to allow probes into Xinjiang or COVID-19 origins.
Kondapalli concluded that China’s actions, from supporting Pakistan to pushing its hierarchical order, undermine its chances of becoming a trusted replacement for the United States.
