India-China Relation: China's Dual Strategy: Eyes on India, Russia, Philippines, and Taiwan

China's escalating global ambitions have once again become a prominent topic of international discussion, while a recent 2025 report from the US Pentagon has shed light on China's dual strategy, wherein it simultaneously engages in talks to de-escalate tensions with countries like India, while covertly reinforcing its territorial claims across various regions. The report specifically highlights China's claims over India's Arunachal Pradesh, a long-standing and significant point of contention between the two Asian giants.

China's Claim on India's Arunachal Pradesh

India and China share an extensive border stretching approximately 3,500 kilometers, and the dispute over Arunachal Pradesh remains one of the most significant and sensitive issues along this frontier. China asserts its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as 'Southern Tibet,' while the international community widely recognizes it as an integral part of India. For Beijing, the issue of Arunachal Pradesh holds similar strategic importance to that of Taiwan or the South China Sea. China's persistent claims over strategically vital areas like Tawang further exacerbate the mistrust and tension between the two nations. Beijing continuously attempts to solidify its presence and claims in this. Region, thereby hindering efforts to maintain peace and stability along the border.

Russia: Old Claims Hidden Behind Friendship

Beyond India, China's territorial ambitions are also said to extend to certain regions. Of Russia, a country often portrayed as a strong partner against Western powers. However, the reality on the ground suggests a more complex dynamic. In 2023, new official maps released by China depicted several Russian cities with Chinese names, sparking a significant controversy, while these cities included crucial port cities like Vladivostok, which are economically and strategically vital for Russia's Far East.

Border Disputes and Historical Assertions

Plus, an island located at the confluence of the Ussuri and Amur rivers was entirely depicted as Chinese territory in China's new map, despite a 2008 treaty that had divided the island between the two nations. Russia and China share a 4,200-kilometer-long border, which witnessed armed clashes in the 1960s. This historical context indicates that border disputes between the two countries aren't new, but rather deeply rooted. China leverages historical narratives to support its claims, asserting that these regions were part of China during the Qing Dynasty approximately 150 years ago, before being ceded to the Russian Empire in the 19th century.

China's Gaze on Siberia

According to various reports, China's attention is also focused on Russia's Siberian regions, particularly Vladivostok and an island in the Amur Oblast, while the American magazine Newsweek claims that China is actively purchasing and long-term leasing agricultural land near the Russian border. Experts suggest that this could be a calculated strategy to strengthen its claims over these territories in the future, while this strategy by China, despite its proclaimed 'friendship' with Russia, underscores its expansionist territorial intentions.

Taiwan: The Most Sensitive Front

China's dispute with the Philippines in the South China Sea is well-known. Pag-asa (Thitu Island) is a small yet strategically significant island belonging to the Philippines, which China has long eyed. In 2016, an international tribunal rejected most of China's claims in the South China Sea, but China refused to acknowledge the ruling. Subsequently, China proceeded to construct artificial islands, establish military structures on them, and Importantly increase its naval presence in the area, leading to a substantial escalation of regional tensions. The Philippines has consistently protested these Chinese activities, but China remains steadfast in its expansionist policies. China's stance on Taiwan is the most stringent and aggressive. In recent years, China has conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, raising fears of a potential conflict in the region. Experts believe that China is determined to bring Taiwan under its control at any cost, even if it requires the use of military force. According to the Pentagon report, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is actively working on several options for the forceful reunification of Taiwan with mainland China, including amphibious assaults, missile strikes, and a blockade of Taiwan.

Military Drills and Potential Attacks

In 2024, China conducted numerous military exercises that simulated attacks. On Taiwan and surrounding areas, as well as targeting US forces. The strike range of these simulated attacks could extend from 1500 to 2000 nautical miles, demonstrating the extensive. Reach of China's military capabilities and its willingness to go to great lengths to assert control over Taiwan. China's increasing pressure and militarization around Taiwan pose a serious challenge to global peace and stability. These regional ambitions of China continue to be a source of concern not only for its immediate neighbors but for the entire world.