China began reforming its economy in 1976. India began reforming its economy in 1991. As such, China had a 10-15 year head start [0], especially thanks to American support in the 1980s as a bulwark against the USSR (sounds familiar?).
When you compare the Indian metrics with Chinese metrics from 10-15 years ago, the difference becomes marginal. For example, India's 2023 HDI (0.685) versus China's 2008 HDI (0.672) or India's 2025 GDP PPP per Capita (~$12K) and China's 2010 GDP PPP per Capita (~$12K).
Even the way NYT writes news articles about Apple's manufacturing in India [1] in 2025 use the same tone as NYT articles about Apple manufacturing in China [2] in 2012.
India won't allow India to become a rival like China. India wants to be a federation. China wants to be a kingdom.
The kingdom scales better til it doesn't scale at all and needs to federate.
China began reforming its economy in 1976. India began reforming its economy in 1991. As such, China had a 10-15 year head start [0], especially thanks to American support in the 1980s as a bulwark against the USSR (sounds familiar?).
When you compare the Indian metrics with Chinese metrics from 10-15 years ago, the difference becomes marginal. For example, India's 2023 HDI (0.685) versus China's 2008 HDI (0.672) or India's 2025 GDP PPP per Capita (~$12K) and China's 2010 GDP PPP per Capita (~$12K).
Even the way NYT writes news articles about Apple's manufacturing in India [1] in 2025 use the same tone as NYT articles about Apple manufacturing in China [2] in 2012.
[0] - https://www.mitsui.com/mgssi/en/report/detail/__icsFiles/afi...
[1] - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/business/apple-foxconn-in...
[2] - https://www.nytimes.com/video/business/100000001313019/made-...