What are the major threats which China perceives from India? Explain
China perceives several key threats from India, driven by historical grievances, territorial disputes, geopolitical competition, and strategic considerations.
Some of the major threats that China perceives from India include:
- Territorial Disputes: The longstanding territorial disputes between China and India, particularly over the border regions of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, pose a significant threat to bilateral relations. The unresolved border issues have led to periodic tensions, military standoffs, and border incursions, creating instability along the disputed border areas and straining diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- Geopolitical Competition: China views India as a regional competitor and emerging global power, with growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. As India strengthens its strategic partnerships with countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and Vietnam, China perceives a threat to its own regional interests and sphere of influence. The geopolitical competition between China and India extends to areas such as maritime security, trade routes, and geopolitical alignments, contributing to strategic mistrust and rivalry between the two countries.
- Strategic Encirclement: China is concerned about India’s increasing engagement with other regional powers, particularly in the context of the “Quad” alliance comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. China perceives these partnerships as attempts to contain its rise and undermine its regional influence. India’s participation in multilateral initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific strategy and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is viewed with suspicion by China, which sees it as part of a broader strategy to encircle and constrain China’s power projection capabilities.
- Security Cooperation with Tibet and Taiwan: China is wary of India’s historical and cultural ties with Tibet and Taiwan, as well as its support for the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Dalai Lama. China perceives India’s security cooperation with Tibet and Taiwan as a potential threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly in light of India’s hosting of Tibetan refugees and its military presence along the Indo-Tibetan border. India’s willingness to engage with Taiwan in areas such as trade, investment, and cultural exchanges also raises concerns in Beijing, leading to diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
- Maritime Disputes: China is wary of India’s growing maritime capabilities and its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region. China perceives India’s maritime presence, naval modernization, and strategic partnerships with Indian Ocean littoral states as potential threats to its maritime interests and energy security. The development of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a strategic outpost and its participation in naval exercises and maritime patrols in the Indo-Pacific region are viewed with suspicion by China, which seeks to safeguard its own maritime interests and maintain control over critical sea lanes of communication.
Overall, China perceives India as a multifaceted threat, encompassing territorial disputes, geopolitical competition, strategic encirclement, security cooperation with Tibet and Taiwan, and maritime disputes. Managing these tensions and building constructive bilateral relations remains a key challenge for both countries, with implications for regional stability and global security.