China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's South Asia Tour Puts India and Pakistan at Ease

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-08-19 16:48:23 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-19 19:35:44

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China's recent diplomatic efforts in South Asia could help ease India's growing tensions with Pakistan and China, sparking hope for improved relationships among the three nations.

China's state councillor and foreign minister, Wang Yi, concluded his two-day visit to Pakistan on Sunday, March 13, just a day after the 75th anniversary of IndiaChina diplomatic relations, which falls on March 12. Wang's visit is significant because it reflects Beijing's attempts to strengthen its relations with Islamabad, which many in New Delhi consider an evolving threat. Nevertheless, Wang's visit also coincides with several crucial developments that could help ease the growing tensions between India and both Pakistan and China.

Wang's trip to Pakistan occurred as India's foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, was in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit. Jaishankar's visit followed a week after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to New Delhi. These reciprocal visits suggest that India and Sri Lanka are looking to strengthen their maritime relations and security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. It also implies that India is attempting to hedge its strategic bets, considering China's growing influence in Sri Lanka and the broader Indian Ocean region.

The moves come as India, Pakistan, and China are trying to settle their overlapping territorial claims in the Himalayas. These include disputes over the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan, as well as the border area between India and Chinese-controlled Tibet, which have ignited violent conflicts and military standoffs in the past.

During Wang's visit to Pakistan, the two nations signed a five-year plan of cooperation (2021-2025) in which China vowed to provide Pakistan with US$8 billion in loans to boost the country's ailing economy. In exchange, Pakistan endorsed China's multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Though this agreement could help Pakistan tackle some of its economic issues, India might view it as an attempt by China to further strengthen its position in South Asia through its economic influence.

During his visit to Delhi on March 11, Wang stressed the need for both countries to mark the anniversary as a "turning point" in bilateral relations, focusing on collaboration and partnership rather than viewing each other as threats. Wang's statement underscores Beijing's willingness to improve India-China relations, which are currently strained due to political and border tensions.

While Wang's visits to Pakistan and India could contribute to easing tensions between India and Pakistan, they have not yet led to any significant bilateral concessions. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that China's recent diplomatic efforts could help alleviate the tensions between India and Pakistan and transform how these nations interact with each other, ultimately benefiting the entire South Asia region.

Ultimately, only time will tell whether China's recent diplomatic outreach in South Asia will succeed in easing tensions and leading to lasting peace and cooperation in the region. Nevertheless, Wang's recent tour has certainly added a new and intriguing chapter to the dance of great power politics in South Asia.

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