China taps its diaspora as an economic engine while India lags behind

China has moved decisively to harness the economic potential of its diaspora, using overseas communities to channel investment, transfer expertise and extend the country's global influence, in contrast to India, which has so far failed to capitalise on a comparable resource.

Both nations count among the world's largest diaspora populations, yet the two countries have adopted strikingly different approaches to engaging with their citizens abroad. Where China has built structured pathways for its overseas nationals to contribute to domestic growth, India has largely left that potential untapped.

A country's diaspora can serve as a powerful asset, generating economic returns through remittances and investment while projecting soft power through cultural influence and individual success stories. The gap between how Beijing and New Delhi manage that asset is becoming increasingly consequential.