iarjhssIARJHSSIARJHSS2708-6267https://doi.org/10.47310/iarjhss.2022.v03i02.005China and India’s Strategic Competition of Central Asia in the 21st CenturyTranMy HaiLocIndia as well as China, have maintained diplomatic ties with the five former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan after the Cold War ended. Both India and China have devised diverse tactics in recent years to develop their respective connections with these resource-rich economies known together as the Central Asian Republics. China's strategic ambition is the Belt and Road Initiative, whereas India's objective is Connect Central Asia’s policy to expand its influence in a region that has been considered the most important region to complete China's hegemonic intention in Asia. China's closeness to the Central Asian Republics, financial power, and policy stability has propelled it ahead of India. This article examines the geopolitical significance of Central Asia on the political map of the world and contends that New Delhi's approach in the Central Asian Republic region is constructive while China's approach is hegemonic, from which to assess the two countries’ strategic competition in this region.