Dynamics of Negotiation: Strategy, Tactics and Tools

It goes without saying that China is India’s most important neighbour and India-China bilateral relations is the most consequential diplomatic engagement for India in the 21st century. Despite greater attention being paid to China in India recently, there is still not enough research and writing that would stand the test of time. However, the gap is getting filled with a lot of quality work that has been published recently. Vijay Gokhale, who retired as India’s Foreign Secretary and has had a long engagement with China in various capacities over his diplomatic career, has written the work under review, The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India.

This book looks at six distinct episodes where India and China negotiated with one another on matters of mutual interest. This is a small book at 160 pages but it’s densely packed and a fast-paced read. These events span an extended time period, two being the most consequential ones: India’s recognition of China in 1949 and the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between Tibet Region of China and India in 1954.