On June 2 and 3, 2022, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University held the 40th Security and Strategy Seminar titled “The Landscape and Hotspot Issues in the Asia-Pacific Region (South Asia).” Moderated by CISS Senior Fellow Zhou Bo, the event convened more than a dozen scholars from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Institute of International Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, and Guancha.cn, as well as CISS academic members and fellows.

Amid rapid changes in the international order, the accelerated rollout of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy is having a significant impact on South Asia, leading to a “rivalry between two main camps” in the region, panelists believe. For India, it has taken on a pro-US strategic posture as it works towards the “de-Chinaization” of its economic strategy. For Pakistan, despite its strategic importance due to its geographical location and national power, there is limited room for it to adjust its foreign policy. For all the efforts of other South Asian countries to strike a balance among the great powers, the escalating geopolitical tug of war may still lead to increased pressure for them to take sides. On the other hand, the Russia-Ukraine crisis is believed to have a limited impact on the overall landscape in South Asia, though it can divert the West’s attention from the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and its future and help India enjoy greater blessings of its policies.

For China to navigate the current landscape in South Asia, panelists suggested that it should identify its regional policy priorities and conduct more in-depth research into the national situations and policies of countries in the region, so as to press ahead together with them based on mutual understanding.