The 21st century is witnessing a historic reconfiguration of global power. At the heart of this shift lies the rise of China, whose ambitions stretch beyond economic growth and territorial influence. China is actively constructing a “new mandate of power”- an attempt to reshape global governance, redefine legitimacy, and project an alternative vision of order.
In sharp contrast, India offers a different model- what can be described as a “mandate of legitimacy.” Rooted in democracy, inclusivity, and South-South solidarity, India’s approach emphasizes trust, transparency, and respect for sovereignty. The contest between these two models is not a rivalry of equals, but a struggle between centralization of power and democratization of influence.
The deliberations at the 3rd Global Conference on New Sinology (GCNS) 2025, held in New Delhi, provided an ideal lens to unpack this contest. The conference examined how China is exporting its governance model through infrastructure diplomacy, multilateral maneuvering, and military modernization- and how India can position itself as a counterweight through legitimacy-driven engagement.
China’s “New Mandate of Power”
The idea of a mandate in Chinese political thought draws upon dynastic tradition—the “Mandate of Heaven” as justification for rule. Under Xi Jinping, this idea has been reimagined for the global stage, articulated through the China Dream (中国梦).
1. Strategic Thinking and Civil-Military Fusion
China’s strategic posture blends historical grievance, strategic determinism, and regime legitimacy. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is central to this vision, acting as both defender of sovereignty and instrument of power projection. Civil-military fusion enables rapid innovation, embedding military logic into industrial policy, space technology, and digital infrastructure.
2. Chronopolitics of Power
Unlike the short-term cycles of liberal democracies, China manipulates time as a strategic resource. Its rise is temporalized through visions like the Two Centennials and 2049 Dream. It invests in infrastructure projects with multi-decade horizons, while simultaneously delaying sensitive disputes (such as Taiwan and the Line of Actual Control with India) to gradually shift ground realities. The ability to decide when change happens and at what pace gives Beijing unique strategic flexibility.
3. Economic Diplomacy and Adaptation
China’s economic diplomacy is marked by a dual character: assertive in ambition yet adaptive to constraints. Through concessional lending, debt renegotiations, and infrastructure investments, Beijing has entrenched influence across the Global South. Platforms like FOCAC (Forum on China–Africa Cooperation) and CELAC (China–CELAC Forum) institutionalize these linkages. In advanced economies, Beijing modulates its approach, balancing competition with interdependence.
4. Multilateralism and Norm-Building
China has moved from rule-taker to rule-maker. Within the UN system, it has secured leadership roles in key agencies (WHO, FAO, ITU, UNESCO) and expanded its influence in peacekeeping operations. This “controlled multilateralism” embeds Chinese preferences into global governance while challenging liberal norms.
5. Domestic Authority as Global Strength
Xi Jinping’s consolidation of domestic legitimacy—through ideological campaigns, the Social Credit System, and techno-nationalist governance—feeds directly into external assertiveness. By promoting digital corridors, submarine cables, and standards-setting in emerging technologies, Beijing exports its governance logic beyond borders.
India’s “Mandate of Legitimacy”
India does not seek to mirror China’s model of power. Instead, it projects legitimacy as the basis of leadership. This legitimacy rests on three pillars: democratic values, inclusive development partnerships, and a commitment to a rules-based, multipolar order.
1. Partnerships Built on Trust
Unlike China’s debt-driven infrastructure diplomacy, India emphasizes development partnerships based on transparency and sovereignty. Initiatives in Africa, South Asia, and the Indo-Pacific prioritize capacity-building, digital public goods, and healthcare access. Programs like Vaccine Maitri during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated New Delhi’s commitment to collective well-being.
2. Reformist Multilateralism
India’s engagement with multilateral institutions is driven by calls for reform and inclusivity, not capture. By championing the permanent membership of developing countries in the UN Security Council and ensuring the African Union’s entry into the G20, India demonstrates that its leadership is exercised through expansion of voice, not monopolization of power.
3. South-South Solidarity
India’s foreign policy positions itself as a credible and empathetic partner for the Global South. From lines of credit to skill development programs, India’s initiatives aim at empowerment rather than dependency. This contrasts sharply with Beijing’s infrastructure-heavy and loan-centered model.
Contestation in the Global South
The competition between India and China is most visible across the Global South:
- Africa: While Chinese loans finance roads, ports, and railways, Indian investments have focused on education, ICT, and health infrastructure. African nations increasingly weigh debt sustainability concerns against long-term partnerships.
- Asia-Pacific: China’s island-building and maritime assertiveness contrast with India’s role in the Quad and Indo-Pacific initiatives, emphasizing freedom of navigation and inclusive growth.
- Latin America: Beijing uses platforms like CELAC to institutionalize influence, while India leverages cultural diplomacy and technology cooperation to carve its own space.
For many countries, the choice is not simply between India and China but between two models of engagement.
Norm-Setting in Multilateral Arenas
The United Nations remains a critical arena of contestation. China uses its Security Council position and leadership in agencies to embed its vision of order. India, while not yet a permanent UNSC member, seeks to reform these institutions to reflect contemporary realities.
India’s emphasis on multipolarity and rules-based governance appeals to states wary of both Western dominance and Chinese centralization. The G20 presidency in 2023, where India successfully integrated the African Union, underscored its credibility as a reformist actor.
Future Trajectories: Power vs. Legitimacy
The China–India contest is not symmetrical. Beijing commands far greater resources, a larger economy, and deeper global networks of influence. However, India’s strength lies in normative legitimacy—a value that resonates deeply in a world increasingly skeptical of coercive dependence.
The future of global order will not be shaped by power alone but by whose vision resonates with more nations. If China represents a “mandate of power,” India represents a “mandate of legitimacy.” The contest between these two mandates will define the trajectory of the 21st century.
Conclusion
As the GCNS 2025 deliberations highlighted, China’s rise embodies a comprehensive strategy that fuses historical memory, temporal patience, and military modernization into a bid for global dominance. Yet, India’s counter-narrative offers an alternative pathway- one that emphasizes trust, inclusivity, and reform.
India is working not towards confrontation but towards shared growth and a multipolar, rules-based order. In the long arc of history, legitimacy may well prove to be a more enduring currency than raw power.