{"id":341601,"date":"2025-06-28T18:07:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T12:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=341601"},"modified":"2025-06-28T18:07:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T12:37:59","slug":"china-builds-trilateral-ties-to-corner-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/china-builds-trilateral-ties-to-corner-india\/","title":{"rendered":"China builds trilateral ties to corner India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source<\/strong>: The post China builds trilateral ties to corner India has been created, based on the article \u201cA China-led trilateral nexus as India<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s new challenge<\/strong>\u201d published in \u201cThe Hindu<\/strong>\u201d on 28th June 2025<\/p>\n

UPSC Syllabus Topic:<\/strong> GS Paper<\/strong>2-India and its neighbourhood- relations. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Context<\/strong>:\u00a0 China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh recently held their first trilateral meeting, soon after a similar one with Afghanistan. These meetings reflect China<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s fresh push to reshape regional dynamics<\/strong>, boost Pakistan\u2019s standing, and distract India through strategic alignments amid changing regional equations.<\/p>\n

Historical Roots of the China-Pakistan Alliance<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Post-1962 Strategic Realignment: <\/strong>The 1962 India-China war shaped regional geopolitics. China aligned with Pakistan<\/strong> to tie down India, while Pakistan saw China as a reliable partner<\/strong> for military and economic support.<\/li>\n
  2. Deep Economic and Military Dependence: <\/strong>By 2024, Pakistan owed over $29 billion<\/strong> to China. Over 80% of Pakistan<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s arms<\/strong> come from China. China has also shielded Pakistan-backed terrorists<\/strong> at international platforms.<\/li>\n
  3. China<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s Position in Operation Sindoor<\/strong>: <\/strong>After India\u2019s retaliation in May 2025 for the Pahalgam terror attack<\/strong>, China called India\u2019s action \u201cregrettable\u201d and supported Pakistan\u2019s call for an investigation. Pakistan deployed Chinese-supplied radars, drones, missiles, and fighter jets<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  4. Reaffirmation of Ties: <\/strong>In the aftermath, Pakistan\u2019s foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart to reinforce their \u201c<\/strong>iron-clad friendship.\u201d<\/strong> This led to more trilateral engagements with other regional countries.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Resurgence of the <\/strong>\u2018<\/strong>Plus One<\/strong>\u2019 <\/strong>Strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. A Recurring Strategic Pattern: <\/strong>This China-Pakistan-plus-one model is not new. In 1965, Pakistan attempted to use East Pakistan, China, and Nepal<\/strong> to isolate India from the Siliguri corridor.<\/li>\n
    2. Assertive Indian Responses: <\/strong>India\u2019s responses to the Uri (2016)<\/strong>, Pulwama (2019)<\/strong>, and Pahalgam (2025)<\/strong> attacks have been forceful. India has signaled an end to tolerating Pakistan<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s nuclear threats<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    3. Strategic Isolation of Pakistan: <\/strong>India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty<\/strong>, stopped trade, restricted port access, and hit military sites. These actions weakened Pakistan<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s military morale and strategic confidence<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    4. Countering Chinese Intrusions: <\/strong>India\u2019s bold stance during Doklam and Galwan<\/strong> has surprised China. It has also strengthened ties with like-minded global partners<\/strong> to deter further aggression.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      China<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s Waning Regional Momentum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Maldives Returns to India: <\/strong>Despite initial anti-India moves, President Muizzu has turned back to India<\/strong> as China hesitates on economic commitments.<\/li>\n
      2. Nepal<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s Stalled BRI Progress: <\/strong>Nepal signed the BRI framework, but key funding issues remain unresolved<\/strong>, and project implementation is slow.<\/li>\n
      3. Sri Lanka Reorients Toward India: <\/strong>President Dissanayake has shown respect for India\u2019s concerns and visited Delhi before Beijing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
      4. India<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s Regional Diplomacy: <\/strong>Despite tensions, India allowed trilateral energy cooperation<\/strong> with Nepal and Bangladesh, reflecting pragmatic engagement<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Strategic Targeting of Bangladesh and Afghanistan<\/strong><\/h2>\n
          \n
        1. Efforts to Shift Loyalties: <\/strong>After regime changes in Afghanistan (2021)<\/strong> and Bangladesh (2024)<\/strong>, China and Pakistan aim to pull these countries into their sphere.<\/li>\n
        2. Wary of India-Taliban Ties: <\/strong>India\u2019s engagement with the Taliban worries Pakistan, prompting stronger ties with Bangladesh<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s new government<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        3. Terror and Security Risks: <\/strong>Bangladesh and Afghanistan\u2019s historical links with Pakistan may facilitate new terror threats<\/strong>. This would reinvigorate Pakistan<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s regional relevance<\/strong> and clear ground for China<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s BRI ambitions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          India<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s Strategic Challenge and Path Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n
            \n
          1. China as the Primary Threat: <\/strong>China remains India<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s main strategic challenge<\/strong>, with Pakistan playing a secondary role. Trilateral alignments are Beijing\u2019s tools to undermine India\u2019s position.<\/li>\n
          2. Balancing Act for South Asia: <\/strong>South Asian nations must balance ties<\/strong> between India and China. India needs to clearly assert its redlines<\/strong> and warn that provocations carry severe consequences<\/strong>\u2014economically, militarily, and politically.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Question for practice:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Discuss how China is using trilateral engagements to reshape regional alignments and challenge India\u2019s strategic position.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Source: The post China builds trilateral ties to corner India has been created, based on the article \u201cA China-led trilateral nexus as India\u2019s new challenge\u201d published in \u201cThe Hindu\u201d on 28th June 2025 UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-India and its neighbourhood- relations. Context:\u00a0 China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh recently held their first trilateral meeting, soon after… Continue reading China builds trilateral ties to corner India<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230],"tags":[212,239,10498],"class_list":["post-341601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","tag-gs-paper-2","tag-international-relations","tag-the-hindu","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=341601"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/341601\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=341601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=341601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=341601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}