South Asia is one of the regions where China pursues a grand strategy by building close associations with various nations. Beijing has long supplied loans and arms to countries situated in India’s hinterland, China’s military activities and support to Pakistan are perceived by India as major threats to its security interests. China’s arms sales to India’s smaller neighbours do not pose a direct threat to India’s regional dominance; however, with the emergence of new political forces, Bangladesh may pose a new challenge. This paper briefly surveys China’s arms supply to South Asian countries and also examines India’s strategic efforts to manage and contain China’s potential threats and pressure on New Delhi.
