A report has come from America’s Defense Department Pentagon regarding China. It has been claimed that China is trying to put obstacles in the way of expanding the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi. In this report released on Tuesday (December 23, 2025), emphasis has also been laid on China’s military cooperation with Pakistan and the rapid increase in nuclear weapons.

How is China wooing India?

The Pentagon report also reiterated China’s territorial claims on Arunachal Pradesh, describing the Indian state as part of Beijing’s declared ‘core interests’. According to the report, China’s inclination towards India is driven by broader strategic concerns, especially Washington’s growing engagement with New Delhi. It says that Beijing is trying to prevent deeper relations between India and America by taking advantage of the reduced tension on LAC.

For the past several years, America has been looking at India as a balance to China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Pentagon document shows that Beijing hopes that diplomatic relations with India may prevent the alliance from strengthening.

Relations deteriorated after Galwan clash

In the year 2020, relations between India and China deteriorated rapidly after the violent clash in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, in which 20 Indian soldiers were martyred. Beijing had claimed martyrdom of four of its soldiers. After this deadlock, both sides held several rounds of talks at military, diplomatic and political levels. Despite this, areas like Demchok and Depsang remained unresolved.

The report said that in October last year, India and China had announced patrolling arrangements on the LAC, which resulted in the withdrawal of troops in eastern Ladakh. The development paved the way for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. This was the first formal conversation between PM Modi and Xi Jinping after the clashes of 2020. The same meeting included peace on the LAC between the two countries, resumption of direct flights and visa services.

However, it has also been made clear in the report that India is completely alert about Beijing’s intentions. He is skeptical about China’s actions and intentions. It further says that due to mutual distrust and many problems between the two countries, their relations are limited.

What is there in the report regarding Arunachal Pradesh?

The report also draws attention to China’s broader territorial claims, especially its stance on Arunachal Pradesh. According to the US Defense Department, Beijing has further expanded the scope of its ‘core interests’ to include sovereignty claims over Taiwan, Arunachal Pradesh, almost the entire South China Sea and the Senkaku Islands amid territorial disputes.

China calls Arunachal Pradesh ‘Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet’, a claim India strongly rejects and believes the state is an integral part of the country.

The document states that China considers three ‘core interests’ essential for national revitalization and there can be no compromise on them. 1- Maintaining control of the Chinese Communist Party, 2- Advancing economic development and 3- Protecting and expanding territorial claims.

China’s stance regarding Taiwan in the report

The Pentagon report also assesses China’s attitude towards Taiwan, saying that Beijing considers force, if necessary, necessary for unification for national revitalization. However, it also says that Chinese leaders are ‘uncertain about the readiness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to successfully occupy Taiwan in the face of US intervention.’

China is making Pakistan a strategic weapon against India

China has a compulsion to maintain good relations with India. If he spoils relations with India, he will have to suffer the consequences. This is the reason why it is using Pakistan as a strategic weapon against India. The report says that this is why China is providing Pakistan with advanced military equipment, including frigates, fighter aircraft and armed drones.

By May 2025, China had delivered 20 of the 36 J-10C multirole fighter jets to Pakistan. Strike-capable Kaihong and Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were also given.

US defense assessments suggest that China and Pakistan are working together to put pressure on India through ‘grey zone operations’, using pressure tactics to avoid open conflict. American intelligence sources have described Islamabad as China’s ‘pressure valve’ against India.

Nuclear weapons increased rapidly in China

The Pentagon report also focuses on China’s rapidly increasing nuclear weapons. The Pentagon estimates that Beijing is adding about 100 nuclear weapons every year and by the end of 2024 its stockpile will exceed 600.

It is estimated that by 2030, China will have about 1,000 nuclear weapons, which can be deployed in missiles, submarines and bombers. The report concludes that China’s historic military buildup has increased America’s tension and reshaped the regional security balance.

When India launched Operation Sindoor against the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Pakistan’s weapons fell short. Although the outcome of this conflict was ceasefire, Pakistan suffered a major defeat. Now after 7 months, a shocking report from the Pentagon has come out. It has been revealed that India fought not only with Pakistan but also with China, because China had helped Pakistan on its backhand.

China helped Pakistan in three big ways

China adopted a ‘grey-zone’ strategy, in which Pakistan kept fighting from the front and China kept pressurizing India from behind through intelligence, cyber attacks, information and diplomatic means. This is a new model, where China was trying to weaken India through Pakistan without directly getting involved in the war.

• Intelligence Support: China provided real-time monitoring of India to Pakistan through its satellite coverage and electronic surveillance, which enabled Pakistan to do better targeting and operational coordination.
• Information Warfare: China ran online campaigns in which India’s allegations were blurred, Delhi’s claims were questioned and Pakistan’s narrative was spread internationally.
• Cyber ​​Activity and Diplomatic Maneuvering: Cyber ​​attacks and diplomatic methods prevented the conflict from escalating, but maintained pressure on India.

To help Pakistan, China did not field the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) directly, but helped from behind, so that it could easily deny to the world that it was not involved in it.

Why did China adopt a new war strategy?

According to the Pentagon report, China considers India as its main strategic challenge. Uses Pakistan as a ‘pressure valve’ so that India cannot increase defense cooperation with America and remains always busy. China considered Operation Sindoor a test case of its ‘grey-zone’ strategy, where cyber, economic coercion, information warfare and proxy destabilization come first.

China had made a big move against India

The report said that the disengagement agreement between India and China on LAC in October 2024 was also temporary, so that India does not come closer to America. Experts believe that this disclosure is a new challenge for India. Now India will have to be prepared not only for the threat from Pakistan but also for the joint ‘hybrid’ threat from China and Pakistan.

What happened in Operation Sindoor?

Operation Sindoor was a 4-day conflict that lasted from 7 May 2025 to 10 May 2025. On April 22, 2025, 26 civilians were killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, after which India launched missile and air strikes on 9 terrorist targets in Pakistan. India said it was to target terrorist infrastructure, while Pakistan called it an attack on civilian areas. There were air and missile attacks from both sides in the conflict, but India had taken a decisive lead.

The US Defense Department (Pentagon) has claimed in its annual report that China is trying to deploy its army closer to India. Preparations are being made to build bases for China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in four neighboring countries of India. These four countries are Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, where additional military facilities or logistics bases will be built. This will increase the strength of water, land and air forces. The army’s reach over long distances will increase and sea routes will be safe.

China trying to increase army around India

According to the Pentagon report, China already operates its only foreign military base in Djibouti and has gained access to Ream Naval Base in Cambodia. Now it is working on a plan to build such bases in about a dozen countries around the world, which include India’s neighbors. The report said that these facilities will help the PLA to extend and maintain its naval, air force and ground forces.

What is happening in India’s neighboring countries?

• Pakistan: Gwadar naval base is already being built in collaboration with China. China has given a deal for 35 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan. Hangar class submarines, warships and other jets like 5th generation FC-31 fighter jet, J-10 fighter jets have been offered. Joint manufacturing of JF-17 fighter jets is also going on.
• Bangladesh: China is considering building a military base here. Bangladesh is showing interest in purchasing J-10C fighter jets. Pakistan had used them against India’s Rafale. China has given VT-5 light tanks, two Ming class submarines and two warships 2024 to Bangladesh. Military relations with China were strong since the time of Sheikh Hasina, which continues in the Yunus government also.
• Sri Lanka and Myanmar: There are plans to build general military facilities or logistics bases, which will help in increasing the strength of PLA.

What is China worried about?

The report also says that China’s biggest concern is the Malacca Strait, where there is a threat of siege from the US and Indian navies. China is also concerned about the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the sea routes of Africa-Middle East. Apart from this, discussions are also being held on making bech in countries like Angola, Cuba, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Thailand, UAE and Vanuatu.

What impact will China’s actions have on India?

Pentagon says that China is countering the growing friendship between India and America by strengthening military ties with Pakistan. However, after the Modi-Xi Jinping meetings, steps like reducing tension on LAC and starting visa services have also been taken. But China is including Arunachal Pradesh in its ‘core interest’.

This report shows that America is constantly keeping an eye on China’s growing military power and global reach. China has not yet given any direct response to this report. Experts believe that these facilities are part of China’s ‘String of Pearls’ strategy, which is an attempt to create a siege around India.