'Essential reading for all those interested in how India will deal with its greatest strategic challenge, an increasingly powerful China'-SHIVSHANKAR MENON 'Vijay Gokhale strips away the illusion that China ever shared convergent interests with India in Asia and globally. A disconcerting read, but indispensable.'-ASHLEY J. TELLIS India's relations with the People's Republic of China have captured the popular imagination ever since the 1950s but have rarely merited a detailed understanding of the issues. Individual episodes tend to arouse lively debate, which often dissipates without a deeper exploration of the factors that shaped the outcomes. This book explores the dynamics of negotiation between the two countries, from the early years after Independence until the current times, through the prism of six historical and recent events in the India-China relationship. The purpose is to identify the strategy, tactics and tools that China employs in its diplomatic negotiations with India, and the learnings for India from its past dealings with China that may prove helpful in future negotiations with the country. About the Author Vijay Gokhale spent nearly four decades in the Indian Foreign Service and retired as foreign secretary in January 2020. He worked on matters relating to China for the better part of his diplomatic career. His assignments in Hong Kong, Taipei and Beijing, between 1982 and 2017, and his postings in New Delhi at various levels, have given him insights into Chinese negotiating behaviour. He has had personal experience in conducting negotiations with China across a range of issues since 2000, including on some of the issues dealt with in this book. He now lives in Pune with his wife, Vandana, and devotes his time to the study of China.