This paper critically examines the intensifying strategic competition between China and India in Turkistan, a region of profound geopolitical significance at the heart of Eurasia. This evolving rivalry unfolds amidst significant power transitions, particularly beyond Russia's historical hegemonic presence in Central Asia, where a strategic vacuum is increasingly emerging. Moving beyond simplistic interpretations of border disputes, we conceptualize this contest for influence as a multifaceted phenomenon, deeply rooted in the broader shifts within the international system. Turkistan's unique attributes—its geographical proximity to both powers, its central Asian location, abundant natural resources, and historical role as a nexus of civilizations—render it a pivotal arena for emerging great power politics. While China has demonstrably established a dominant position across various sectors, significantly eclipsing Russia in economic and, increasingly, political domains through institutional frameworks like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), India is concurrently pursuing a determined, long-term policy to secure a lasting regional footprint. This study argues that the evolving dynamics of Chinese and Indian engagement, understood through the lens of emerging hegemonic aspirations and geopolitical maneuvering to fill this evolving power landscape, will fundamentally shape Turkistan's trajectory. We anticipate that the nature and intensity of this competition will remain a decisive factor in the region's political, economic, and security future.

This paper critically examines the intensifying strategic competition between China and India in Turkistan, a region of profound geopolitical significance at the heart of Eurasia. This evolving rivalry unfolds amidst significant power transitions, particularly beyond Russia's historical hegemonic presence in Central Asia, where a strategic vacuum is increasingly emerging. Moving beyond simplistic interpretations of border disputes, we conceptualize this contest for influence as a multifaceted phenomenon, deeply rooted in the broader shifts within the international system. Turkistan's unique attributes—its geographical proximity to both powers, its central Asian location, abundant natural resources, and historical role as a nexus of civilizations—render it a pivotal arena for emerging great power politics. While China has demonstrably established a dominant position across various sectors, significantly eclipsing Russia in economic and, increasingly, political domains through institutional frameworks like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), India is concurrently pursuing a determined, long-term policy to secure a lasting regional footprint. This study argues that the evolving dynamics of Chinese and Indian engagement, understood through the lens of emerging hegemonic aspirations and geopolitical maneuvering to fill this evolving power landscape, will fundamentally shape Turkistan's trajectory. We anticipate that the nature and intensity of this competition will remain a decisive factor in the region's political, economic, and security future.