Why China Is The Greater Long-Term Threat To India

For decades, India's national security lens has been focused squarely on Pakistan, its historical rival with whom it has fought multiple wars and continues to spar over Kashmir.

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But a growing body of analysis suggests that this narrow focus may be increasingly outdated. The real long-term threat, experts now warn, lies not in Islamabad—but in Beijing. China is expanding its influence across South Asia through economic, military, and political alliances, using countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka as proxies.

This indirect but deepening involvement is allowing China to challenge Indian interests without overt confrontation. The threat from China is more strategic, systemic, and long-term—and it demands a more nuanced response.

CHINA'S HIDDEN HAND IN SOUTH ASIA

India's growing global stature—through its tech sector, space program, and partnerships with nations like the U.S., Japan, and Australia under the Quad—has not gone unnoticed by China. As the two countries compete for leadership in Asia, Beijing is developing a multi-pronged approach to keep India under strategic pressure.