Sino-Indian Rapprochement and The Sino-Pakistan Relationship in Early 21st Century

Abstract

China's 'all weather' relationship with Pakistan, an adversary of India in South Asia has been impinging on the Sino-Indian Rapprochement. It is essential to make a critical analysis of the Pakistani factor in Sino-Indian relationship because international system is profoundly permeated by the linkage phenomena and the relations between any two States are never determined by their bilateral relations exclusively. Sino-Indian relations can be better understood only within the broad framework of these national-international relations. The Sino-Pakistani security and strategic nexus have remained a central issue in India-China relations ever since Beijing and Islamabad signed a historic border agreement in March 1963. The signing of the border agreement in 1963 and also the opening of the Karakoram Highway in February 1971, led to the foundation of a lasting relationship between the two. It continues to persist even to this day and has continued to grow stronger by day. This research study tries to analyse if the efforts made for Sino-Indian Rapprochement has in any loosed the bonds of relationship between China and Pakistan or it has no effect virtually on their relationship.