Claim over Arunachal Pradesh is one of the “core interests” of China, said a Pentagon report, recently submitted to the US Congress. It mentioned that Beijing’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan as well as the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh are all parts of its national strategy, reported Indian Express. This also include China’s territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the strategically important Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea
The report, which covered China’s ‘great rejuvenation’ plans, highlighted how the Asian mammoth is getting closer to Pakistan to further its aims and increase its territorial might in the region. Analysing military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China in 2025, the report flagged China may seek to capitalise on reduced tension along the LAC to stabilise bilateral relations and prevent the deepening of the India-Us ties.
What are China’s core interests?
The report details the ‘core interests’ that Beijing is working upon steadily. The top leadership in China, it stated, has extended the ambit of their ‘core interests’, adding to it Taiwan and China’s sovereignty claims amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The report mentioned these ‘core interests’ are defined as issues central to China’s national rejuvenation by 2049, achieving which is the country’s National Strategy, the Indian Express stated.
India-China ties post LAC stand-off
Noting the India-China disengagement agreement since October 2024 along the LAC post 2020 stand-off post of the meeting between Chinese President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, the report said China mulls to capitalise it.
“Continued mutual distrust and other irritants almost certainly limit the bilateral relationship,” the report added. One of the motives of China, the report added, is to prevent deepening of ties between India and the US.
India has, on multiple occasions, stated New Delhi will not deal with all its might against any approach that eyes to trouble the territorial integrity of the country. China’s PLA has maintained a strong presence in areas that are a concern for India, the report added.