Beijing-led trilaterals

The Beijing-led trilaterals are aimed at challenging India’s long-term interests

 Why in news ?

Last week, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh held their first trilateral meeting in Kunming, China.

 The discussions focused on furthering cooperation and exploring the possibilities of deeper engagement.

 This meeting closely follows another trilateral meeting between China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan .

held in May, with the aim of extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and increasing cooperation. 

India's relationship with neighbouring Country 

These trilaterals, led by China, come at a time of Pakistan’s little relevance to the region,

 India’s increasing relations with Afghanistan, and New Delhi’s deteriorating ties with Bangladesh.

 The use of trilaterals underscores China’s fresh attempts at making Pakistan a stakeholder in the region and keeping New Delhi preoccupied with immediate concerns.

A war that shaped alignments

The 1962 war

between India and China has largely shaped regional alignments and geopolitics. 

Why china choose pakistan?

Following the war, China found Pakistan to be an ally that could keep India engaged with immediate threats and 

limit it from challenging Beijing’s interests, security, and status. 

For pakistan china is 

On the other hand, Pakistan deemed China to be a country that would unquestionably offer economic and military assistance to support its aggression against India. 

To date, Pakistan is highly dependent on China for 

• assistance, 
• 
  
• investments and 
• 
  
• infrastructure development. 

1 Loan from china

In fact, by the end of 2024, Pakistan had a loan of over $29 billion from China. 

2 Arms imports 

It is estimated that over 80% of Pakistan’s arms imports are from China. 

3 Support AT UN 

In addition, China has also shielded Pakistan-backed terrorists at the United Nations Security Council and other multilateral platforms.

This camaraderie was largely visible during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025. 

China termed India’s retaliation to the Pakistan-sponsored attack in Pahalgam as “regrettable” and urged a political solution and dialogue. 

It backed Pakistan’s stance of initiating an investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.

 The latest escalation also saw Pakistan deploying various Chinese-made 

• hardware and weapons that ranged from surveillance 
• 
  
• radars, 
• drones, 
• missiles, 
• guidance systems, 
• and fighter jets. 

Meetings with china after war 

In the immediate aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister met his Chinese counterpart to reaffirm its “iron-clad friendship.”

 The trilateral with Afghanistan and other countries likely emerged from this meeting.

The resurfacing of an idea

Not new strategy 

This idea of China and Pakistan using plus one against India is not a new phenomenon. 

Even in 1965, Pakistan flirted with the idea of using East Pakistan, China and Nepal to cut off India from its strategic Siliguri corridor. 

Counter attack to Pakistan

Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks in Uri (2016), Pulwama (2019), and Pahalgam have seen India retaliate in a befitting manner. 

It has shown that India will no longer tolerate Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail. 

India has also used its diplomatic clout and growing economy to isolate Pakistan.

 India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, halting trade, restricting port access, and targeting military installations — 

India — has damaged Pakistan military’s operational capacities and confidence, highlighting Rawalpindi’s limitations and weaknesses.

counter attack to china 

New Delhi has also increased close cooperation with like-minded countries to limit Chinese aggressions.

In the Maldives

Beijing appears reluctant to trust President Mohamed Muizzu and the country’s economy, despite his initial anti-India rhetoric.

 Mr. Muizzu has now turned to India to keep the country’s economy afloat. In 

Nepal

 despite signing the framework for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, 

major differences in funding remain unresolved and the progress of projects has been slow.

 In Sri Lanka

Despite ideological and historical differences with Delhi, he visited India before China.

 Bangladesh

despite differences, India has not hindered the trilateral energy cooperation with Nepal.

This is the main reason for china 

These increasing anxieties are likely to have motivated China to push for trilaterals with Afghanistan and Bangladesh. 

Before their respective regime changes in 2021 and 2024, both countries were staunch supporters of India’s fight against both Pakistan and its state-sponsored terrorism. 

With the change in regimes, however, Pakistan and China have attempted to draw both countries closer to their orbit. .

पाकिस्तान ने क्या किया ?

 At the same time, Pakistan has increased security, economic and political engagements with the new government in Bangladesh.

Historically, both Bangladesh and Afghanistan have enjoyed close ties with Pakistan and provide a fertile ground for cross-border terrorism. 

पाकिस्तान को फायदा नुक़सान 

Pakistan’s influence, supported by China and its economic clout, could thus create new terror and security-related challenges. 

China efforts and setbacks

The developments in the region demonstrate, once again, that China, and not Pakistan, is India’s biggest challenge. 

With both Pakistan and China confronting a confident India, China sees an opportunity to challenge India through the trilateral nexus. 

At a time when India is seeking support from South Asian countries to fight terrorism, Chinese efforts will create new setbacks. 

South Asian countries will thus have to learn to balance between India and China, as Beijing uses Islamabad to create new complexities in the region.

 On its part, Delhi will have to continue to express redlines and convey the point that any misadventures by its neighbours could have severe economic, military, and political costs.

Source the hindu