Game theory in military strategy

Abstract

The 21st century is widely being regarded as the Asian Century. With its growing economic clout, favourable demographics and improving living standards, Asia is expected to shape a new global order. India and China, neighbours and the biggest economies in the region, are projected to play a central role in this shift. The relations of these two countries are expected to be influenced by their aspirations and interests over various fronts. It is against this backdrop that this project aims to assess both countries as players of games taking decisions in order to advance their interests. While there has been a status-quo on the conflicts between the two countries over the past four decades, tensions have simmered in the past five years in the form of border skirmishes at multiple flashpoints such as Doklam, Pangong Tso, Chushul sector, in Sikkim, at the Galwan valley and the depsang plains. With a wider power symmetry than in the past and the twin leverage of strong relations with Pakistan and improved infrastructure in the Himalayan ranges, China would be unlikely to make concessions on border clashes. The current project begins its study from the events of the clashes that had taken place at Doklam, a region at the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction area.