24 BEIJING REVIEW APRIL 20, 2017 http://www.bjreview.com
WORLD
ened. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) comprising infrastructure projects
across Pakistan progressed in 2016 and has
become Pakistanís national priority. Chinese
economic support including investment will
contribute to the development of Pakistan
and stability in the Islamic republic. China
and Pakistan have close cooperation on both
economy and security.
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ship between India and Pakistan has been
strained. Last September, 18 Indian soldiers
were killed by Kashmir militia. India alleges
Pakistan supported the attackers, which
Pakistan denies. In retaliation, India started
to try to diplomatically isolate Pakistan.
This included boycotting the 19th ses-
sion of the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit
which was to have been hosted by Pakistan.
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan, other
members of the SAARC, followed IndiaísUps and Downs
South Asia faces new power equations after geopolitcal changes
By Lin Minwang
The keyword to describe the situation in
South Asia in 2016 is ìchange.î Change
took place in the relationship between
India and Pakistan, which became strained
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ritory both sides lay claim to. There were
also changes in relations between them and
extra-regional powers, including the United
States, Russia and China.
Russia and Pakistan formed closer ties
while India and the United States upgraded
defense cooperation, though the Trump ad-
ministration has yet to unveil a clear foreignpolicy on South Asia. It remains to be seen
whether the region continues to become
polarized in 2017.Major changes
To begin with, India and the United States
signed the India-U.S. logistics defense pact
during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modiís
fourth visit to the United States last year and
India became a U.S. quasi-ally in defense.
There was also rapprochement between
Russia and Pakistan. During Indiaís efforts
to isolate Pakistan diplomatically last year,
Russia and Pakistan held joint military ex-
ercises for the first time. Four years ago,
Russian President Vladimir Putin had stopped
military technical cooperation with Pakistan
for better relations with India. However,
Russia not only restarted arms exports to
Pakistan, but also held military exercises, the
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Sino-Pakistani ties were also strength-,QGLDQVROGLHUVSDWURODURXQGWKHPLOLWDU\EDVHZKLFKZDVDWWDFNHGE\XQLGHQWLĶHGPLOLWLDRQ6HSWHPEHU
XINHUA/AFP
The author is an
associate professor
with Fudan University
and an academic
member of the
Beijing-based Pangoal
Institution