China has announced plans to boost naval ties with Pakistan, which will likely irk India. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu recently met with the Pakistani chief of naval staff to discuss the expansion of cooperation between the two navies. The move is expected further to deepen China’s presence in the Indian Ocean and help contain India.
The announcement came as part of a broader effort by China to increase its regional influence. With the country expected to help modernize the Pakistani armed forces through weapons sales and training, the move is also likely to increase tensions between India and Pakistan, which have long been at odds.
According to analysts, China views Pakistan as a critical partner in ensuring security along Indian Ocean shipping routes. By increasing its naval presence in the region, China hopes to expand its access to key ports such as Gwadar in Pakistan. This will help to strengthen its position vis-à-vis India, with which it is vying for regional influence.
The Pakistani navy has long been seen as a key player in the region. It operates a large fleet of vessels, including submarines, and has been actively involved in anti-piracy and counter-terrorism operations. The navy has also played a key role in developing the Gwadar port, which is seen as a key strategic asset for China.
According to Timothy Heath, a senior analyst from the US think tank Rand Corporation, closer cooperation between China and Pakistan will help to promote the modernization of the Pakistani navy. This will, in turn, enable the Chinese navy to increase its presence along the Indian Ocean and expand its access to key ports. Heath also noted that such cooperation would help China more effectively contain India.
India has long been wary of Chinese military aid to Pakistan, which it sees as a threat to its own security. The country has been actively working to counter China’s influence in the region through its “Neighborhood First” policy. This policy aims to strengthen ties with India’s neighbors to counter China’s influence.
The Indian navy has also been actively increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean. The country recently announced plans to deploy its first nuclear-powered submarine to the region. The INS Arihant is expected to significantly boost India’s naval capabilities in the region, particularly in its ability to track Chinese submarines.
Despite these efforts, however, analysts say that India may struggle to contain China’s influence in the region. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already seen the country invest heavily in infrastructure projects in Pakistan and other neighboring countries. These investments have helped to strengthen China’s position in the region and have given it a significant economic and strategic foothold.
Moreover, China has been actively working to build stronger ties with other countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. These efforts have helped to expand China’s influence in the region further and have given it a greater ability to shape regional politics.
Against this backdrop, India will likely continue to seek ways to counter China’s influence in the region. The country is expected to increase its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and to continue to build strong ties with neighboring countries. However, analysts say that India will likely need to find new ways to counter China’s economic and strategic influence, particularly in the context of the BRI.
Overall, the deepening of naval ties between China and Pakistan is likely to increase tensions in the region further. With both countries seeking to contain India, the move will likely be seen as a direct challenge to India’s regional ambitions. As such, it is likely to escalate further the ongoing power struggle between China and India in the region.
The
he ongoing border dispute between China and India has fueled a power struggle in the Indian Ocean, with both countries vying for regional influence. The dispute between the two countries has been ongoing for several years, resulting in deadly clashes along their undemarcated 3,488km (2,167-mile) border. While the two sides are managing the issue through a series of military talks, tensions remain high.
In this context, China’s announcement of plans to boost naval ties with Pakistan will surely make India uneasy. While the move is not expected to affect India’s border dispute with China directly, it is likely to increase China’s presence in the Indian Ocean, which could be seen as a challenge to India’s regional ambitions.
According to Long Xingchun, president of the Chengdu Institute of World Affairs, a think tank in China’s Sichuan province, naval cooperation between China and Pakistan will not likely lead to military confrontation with India. However, India has historically opposed any country seeking military cooperation with Pakistan and is expected to express dissatisfaction and opposition after Beijing enhances naval cooperation with Pakistan.
China and Pakistan have a long-standing and strong relationship, with Pakistan being an important partner in China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese President Xi Jinping has previously described the two countries as “good friends, good partners, and good brothers.” Amid global changes and instability in recent years, the two countries have supported each other and forged ahead, demonstrating an ironclad friendship.
However, India has been working to counter China’s influence in the region through its “Neighborhood First” policy, which aims to build strong ties with India’s neighbors. The country has been actively increasing its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and recently deployed its first nuclear-powered submarine to the region. The INS Arihant is expected to boost India’s naval capabilities in the region significantly.
Despite these efforts, analysts say that India may struggle to contain China’s influence in the region. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has already seen the country invest heavily in infrastructure projects in Pakistan and other neighboring countries, which has helped to strengthen its position in the region and given it a significant economic and strategic foothold.
Moreover, China has been actively working to build stronger ties with other regional countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. These efforts have helped to expand China’s influence in the region further and given it a greater ability to shape regional politics.
In conclusion, while China’s plans to boost naval ties with Pakistan are not expected to lead to a military confrontation with India, they will likely increase tensions between the two countries. As China and India seek to expand their influence in the region, the ongoing power struggle will likely continue. India will need to find new ways to counter China’s economic and strategic influence, particularly in the Belt and Road Initiative context.
Read More: