This paper is focussed on the Sino-India relations with reference to two
factors: US-India alliance and Sino-Pakistan cooperation. It also argues
that the China and India have experienced stresses and strains in their
relationship mainly due to their border disputes. Sino-India relations have
gone through different phases; from border clash in 1962 to rapprochement
in 1980s to a wider economic cooperation in the contemporary era with
more focus on trade rather than political and strategic differences.
However, China’s military assistance for Pakistan and Sino-Pak
cooperation on defence and strategic issues forces India to maintain
strategic and security policy priorities in its relations with China.
Similarly, China has been spotlighting and observing carefully ‘India-US
civilian nuclear cooperation’ in the context of possible regional threats for
China. Pakistan and China friendship and US-India ties have great impact
on the way China and India interact with each other. This is clearly
reflected in their policies and perceptions.
