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Opinion
China faces a tough balancing act with India and Pakistan
Beijing must juggle regional stability, global trade tensions and its standing as a responsible major power
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Wenran Jiang, the founding director of the China Institute and Mactaggart Research Chair Emeritus at the University of Alberta, is an adviser at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy.
India and Pakistan have agreed a truce after trading accusations over cross-border strikes and civilian casualties, but the risk of resumed escalation looms, with consequences extending far beyond the subcontinent.
Although US President Donald Trump is claiming credit for the ceasefire in this volatile theatre of conflict, China’s restrained and nuanced diplomacy reflects a strategic calculus rooted in regional stability, economic imperatives and global power dynamics. While the Chinese public cheers for Pakistan’s tactical gains, Beijing prioritises de-escalation over opportunism, recognising that a prolonged conflict threatens South Asia’s and China’s geopolitical and economic interests.
The immediate danger lies in a historically rooted collision between the two nuclear-armed rivals. The latest military exchange included artillery fire and air strikes. Pakistan said it downed five Indian warplanes, including three advanced French-made Rafale fighter jets, with its Chinese-made J-10C fighters. If the account is accurate, it underscores the regional race for military modernisation, with China’s J-10C fighters and PL-15 missiles representing Pakistan’s growing capabilities.
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