New Delhi [India], December 24 (ANI): Former diplomat KP Fabian on Wednesday observed that China’s view of Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territorial outlook linked to Tibet reflects a long-standing expansionist approach, even as India continues efforts to maintain workable relations with Beijing in areas such as trade and investment.
In an interview with ANI, Fabian referred to a recent Pentagon assessment on China and Arunachal Pradesh, saying, “The Pentagon is right in the sense that China sees Arunachal Pradesh, you know, as one of the five fingers of Tibet. You know, the other fingers.”
Placing this perceChiang Kai-shek governmentption in a historical context, Fabian said such thinking was not new. “Now, this was the view of also. In other words, we in India have recognised, but we should keep in mind, China has an expansionist policy. You know, China doesn’t respect the territorial integrity of India,” he said.
At the same time, Fabian underlined that India has continued to pursue a pragmatic approach towards China despite these concerns. “But having said that, it is necessary for India to maintain, to the extent feasible, normal relations with China, especially in the field of trade, investment, and all that. Which India is doing,” he said.
Commenting on the broader implications of the Pentagon’s observations, Fabian said the assessment did not fundamentally change India’s understanding of China. “So, I don’t think the Pentagon is telling us anything which we did not know,” he said, while noting that India would still take cognisance of the fact that such views had been formally articulated.
He also referred to the Pentagon’s suggestion that China seeks to obstruct closer ties between India and the United States. “But we do take note of the fact that the Pentagon has said it. And if you read it carefully, it says that China is preventing India from strengthening its relations with the United States,” Fabian said.
Dismissing the effectiveness of any such attempt, he added, “Well, let me put it this way. China may or may not be preventing, but China cannot prevent, even if it tries. So it doesn’t matter.”
Fabian’s remarks come against the backdrop of a Pentagon report submitted to the US Congress, which flagged China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh as part of its stated “core interests”. The report situates this claim within Beijing’s broader national strategy aimed at achieving the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” by 2049.
According to the report, China’s leadership has expanded the scope of its “core interests” to include Taiwan, sovereignty claims and maritime disputes in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese officials have described the unification of China and contested territories, particularly Taiwan, as a “natural requirement” for national rejuvenation.
The document further outlines that under this strategic vision, a rejuvenated China would operate at a new global level and field a “world-class” military capable of “fight and win” operations, while “resolutely safeguarding” sovereignty, security and development interests.
It identifies three “core interests” that Beijing considers non-negotiable: the control of the Chinese Communist Party, the promotion of China’s economic development, and the defence and expansion of China’s sovereignty and territorial claims.
The report notes that the CCP remains highly sensitive to perceived threats to its rule, whether internal or external, including criticism that it is failing to defend Chinese interests. As a result, unfriendly political voices in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as political leadership in Taiwan, are labelled as separatist elements influenced by so-called “external forces”.
On India-China relations, the report highlights developments along the Line of Actual Control, noting that in October 2024 Indian leadership announced an agreement with China to disengage from remaining standoff sites, shortly before a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
It adds that the Xi-PM Modi meeting marked the start of monthly high-level engagements, during which both sides discussed border management and possible next steps, including direct flights, visa facilitation and exchanges of academics and journalists.
The assessment says China is seeking to use reduced tensions along the LAC to stabilise bilateral relations and prevent a deepening of US-India ties. At the same time, it notes that India is likely to remain sceptical of China’s actions and intentions, with continued mutual distrust expected to limit the overall relationship.