01098nam a22001337a 4500 533735 533735 260615b ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d Ahmed, Sarafaraj 61240 When proximity is not enough : Why India is losing its neighbours to Beijing Economic & Political Weekly 61(21), May 23, 2026: p.13-17 India’s efforts to maintain its primacy and remain a sole Vijigishu (a central power) in the South Asian Mandala, through its “Neighbourhood First Policy,” have come under unprecedented strain as China’s economic, strategic, and diplomatic influence increasingly permeates the region, eroding New Delhi’s traditional advantages of proximity, historical and cultural ties. To reverse this trend, India must reimagine its regional strategy—delivering more competitive economic projects, pursuing respectful, egalitarian diplomacy, and revitalising its pluralistic soft power. – Reproduced https://www.epw.in/journal/2026/21/commentary/when-proximity-not-enough.html Economic & Political Weekly AR 0 0 ddc 0 0 408914 IIPA IIPA 2026-06-15 61(21), May 23, 2026: p.13-17 AR139206 2026-06-15 AR