India–China rivalry, China–Pakistan quasi-alliance, terrorism, and asymmetric balancing

Abstract

ABSTRACT China has recurrently delayed, blocked, and/or stopped attempts by India (and other countries) to designate Pakistani citizens as terrorists under the UN Security Council 1267 Committee rules by placing “technical hold” or employing its veto. Question arises “why does China shield Pakistan on terrorism and block India’s attempts to designate Pakistani citizens as terrorists?” Employing asymmetric alliance in conjunction with quasi-alliance as the analytical framework, the article argues that China’s motives are explained by the India–China rivalry resulting in a quasi-alliance between China and Pakistan against their common enemy India. The China-Pakistan quasi-alliance is geared toward balancing and containing India. India’s rise poses a challenge to China’s ambitions of being the pre-dominant power in Asia. An important characteristic of this quasi-alliance is China’s support to Pakistan’s policy of asymmetric balancing against India by employing a plethora of terrorist organizations to target India and Indian interests abroad. Non-state actors fostered by Pakistan provide China with a low-cost option to ensure that India is wary of its western neighbor and its political, military, and diplomatic energies are fixed on Pakistan. This prevents India from focusing its resources toward China, prevents India’s rise and its ability to challenge China in Asia and beyond.