Asia power play: India falls behind, China inches closer to top spot

India is the fourth most powerful nation in Asia, according to the Sydney-based Lowy Institute's Asia Power Index for 2020, which measured power using 128 indicators. The institute’s study showed China closing in on the US as the most powerful country influencing the Asia-Pacific. While America retained its place as the region's top superpower, its 10-point lead on China two years ago has been halved. China, on the other hand stayed firmly in second place for the third year running, despite a drop in diplomatic clout it witnessed following accusations that it hid the severity of the Wuhan virus outbreak. India, which comes fourth after Japan, lost economic growth potential in the pandemic and is also ceding strategic ground to Beijing. Lowy projects India will reach 40% of China's economic output by 2030, compared with the 50% estimate last year.