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India’s rise in the Asia Power Index reflects both its growing capabilities and the untapped potential it holds
India has emerged as the third most powerful nation in Asia, overtaking Japan and Russia, according to the latest Asia Power Index by Australia's Lowy Institute.
This achievement marks a significant shift in the power dynamics of the region, positioning India as a rising force after the United States and China. The comprehensive assessment paints a picture of evolving influence, underscoring both India’s growth and the challenges faced by its competitors.
The Asia Power Index evaluates 27 countries and territories in the region based on their ability to project power and influence across economic, military, diplomatic, and cultural domains. For the first time, India has moved ahead of Japan in this ranking, reflecting significant strides in its power accumulation over the past several years.
According to the index, in 2024, India achieved a score of 39.1, an increase of 2.7 points from 2023. The United States retains its position as the most powerful country in the region with a score of 81.7, followed by China at 72.7.
Japan’s decline in the rankings can largely be attributed to its economic stagnation. Once a formidable economic powerhouse with technological supremacy, Japan has seen its advantages eroded by rising competition from countries like South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Tokyo, which had long held a dominant position in the region, has now dropped to fourth place.
Despite this, Japan has bolstered its position in defense and security. Tokyo has taken a more assertive stance, stepping up collaboration with the United States and other regional partners to counter growing Chinese influence. The signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with the Philippines is just one example of Japan’s heightened focus on security and military cooperation.
India’s rise in the Asia Power Index reflects both its growing capabilities and the untapped potential it holds. While India has surpassed Japan, the report notes that India still faces significant hurdles in matching the expectations set by its abundant resources. The country remains limited in its ability to project power and influence beyond certain geographic limits, particularly east of the Malacca Strait.
"The fact that its influence remains well below the level promised by its resources suggests it stillI has ample potential for further growth as a major power," states the Lowy Institute report.
India’s economic growth, military modernization, and expanding diplomatic footprint have been critical to its rise. However, India’s negative “power gap" - the difference between its projected influence in Asia based on its own resources - is the biggest in the region barring Russia and South Korea.
The competition for dominance in Asia remains primarily between the United States and China, with both nations leading the rankings by a significant margin. While the United States maintains a clear advantage over China in six of the eight parameters used to measure power, the gap is closing, particularly in the domain of military capability. China has made considerable strides in modernizing its military forces, eroding the US’s lead in this critical area.
Despite China’s growing capabilities, the United States retains its leadership role in Asia. The report notes that the US leads China in six out of eight key indicators, including economic capability, diplomatic influence, and cultural reach. However, the US is losing ground in military capability, as China rapidly modernizes and builds its capacity to project power regionally.
The long-term competition between the US and China appears set to define the future of Asian geopolitics. Both superpowers are “digging in for a long contest,” the report states, signaling that the current bipolar power structure in Asia is likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, India’s rise as a major power in Asia is a crucial development, and its continued growth in economic, military, and diplomatic arenas will shape the future of regional dynamics. As India moves forward, it must focus on closing the gap between its resources and its influence, ensuring that its rise is not only celebrated but fully realized in the coming decades
This achievement marks a significant shift in the power dynamics of the region, positioning India as a rising force after the United States and China. The comprehensive assessment paints a picture of evolving influence, underscoring both India’s growth and the challenges faced by its competitors.
The Asia Power Index evaluates 27 countries and territories in the region based on their ability to project power and influence across economic, military, diplomatic, and cultural domains. For the first time, India has moved ahead of Japan in this ranking, reflecting significant strides in its power accumulation over the past several years.
According to the index, in 2024, India achieved a score of 39.1, an increase of 2.7 points from 2023. The United States retains its position as the most powerful country in the region with a score of 81.7, followed by China at 72.7.
Japan’s decline in the rankings can largely be attributed to its economic stagnation. Once a formidable economic powerhouse with technological supremacy, Japan has seen its advantages eroded by rising competition from countries like South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Tokyo, which had long held a dominant position in the region, has now dropped to fourth place.
Despite this, Japan has bolstered its position in defense and security. Tokyo has taken a more assertive stance, stepping up collaboration with the United States and other regional partners to counter growing Chinese influence. The signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with the Philippines is just one example of Japan’s heightened focus on security and military cooperation.
India’s rise in the Asia Power Index reflects both its growing capabilities and the untapped potential it holds. While India has surpassed Japan, the report notes that India still faces significant hurdles in matching the expectations set by its abundant resources. The country remains limited in its ability to project power and influence beyond certain geographic limits, particularly east of the Malacca Strait.
"The fact that its influence remains well below the level promised by its resources suggests it stillI has ample potential for further growth as a major power," states the Lowy Institute report.
India’s economic growth, military modernization, and expanding diplomatic footprint have been critical to its rise. However, India’s negative “power gap" - the difference between its projected influence in Asia based on its own resources - is the biggest in the region barring Russia and South Korea.
The competition for dominance in Asia remains primarily between the United States and China, with both nations leading the rankings by a significant margin. While the United States maintains a clear advantage over China in six of the eight parameters used to measure power, the gap is closing, particularly in the domain of military capability. China has made considerable strides in modernizing its military forces, eroding the US’s lead in this critical area.
Despite China’s growing capabilities, the United States retains its leadership role in Asia. The report notes that the US leads China in six out of eight key indicators, including economic capability, diplomatic influence, and cultural reach. However, the US is losing ground in military capability, as China rapidly modernizes and builds its capacity to project power regionally.
The long-term competition between the US and China appears set to define the future of Asian geopolitics. Both superpowers are “digging in for a long contest,” the report states, signaling that the current bipolar power structure in Asia is likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, India’s rise as a major power in Asia is a crucial development, and its continued growth in economic, military, and diplomatic arenas will shape the future of regional dynamics. As India moves forward, it must focus on closing the gap between its resources and its influence, ensuring that its rise is not only celebrated but fully realized in the coming decades
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