The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 28th June 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

A China-led trilateral nexus as India’s new challenge

 Why in News? 

 Recently, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh held their first trilateral meeting in Kunming, China. The focus was on strengthening cooperation and exploring deeper engagement between the three nations. This meeting came shortly after a similar trilateral involving China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, aimed at expanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and enhancing regional cooperation. 

•  These China-led trilaterals are emerging at a time when Pakistan's regional significance is diminishing, India is bolstering its ties with Afghanistan, and India's relationship with Bangladesh is experiencing strain. By promoting these trilateral engagements, Beijing seems to be repositioning Pakistan as a key regional player while diverting India's strategic attention towards managing immediate bilateral tensions. 

A war that shaped alignments

Strategic Patterns: The China-Pakistan ‘Plus One’ Doctrine Against India

•  The strategy of China and Pakistan using other South Asian countries to counter India is not a new development. 
•  As early as 1965, Pakistan considered leveraging East Pakistan, China, and Nepal to cut off India’s Siliguri corridor, a vital strategic link. 
•  This strategy appears to be resurfacing, driven by India’s rising confidence in regional and global affairs. 
•  Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks — Uri (2016), Pulwama (2019), and Pahalgam (2025) — have been met with strong Indian retaliation, including surgical strikes and diplomatic offensives. 
•  India has clearly signaled an end to tolerance of nuclear blackmail by Pakistan. 
•  New Delhi has used its diplomatic clout and economic strength to isolate Pakistan, including: 
•  Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty 
•  Halting bilateral trade 
•  Blocking port access 
•  Targeting military installations 
•  These responses have weakened Pakistan’s military confidence and exposed vulnerabilities in Rawalpindi’s security apparatus. 
•  India’s firm response to Chinese incursions in Doklam and Galwan have likely surprised Beijing and altered its calculus. 
•  To counter China, India has deepened strategic ties with like-minded countries (e.g., Quad nations) to contain Chinese aggression. 

China’s Shrinking Influence & Emerging Trilateral Tactics

•  India’s pragmatic regional diplomacy has slowed down China's momentum in South Asia. 
•  In the Maldives, despite initial anti-India rhetoric by President Mohamed Muizzu, China remains cautious, and Muizzu has turned to India for economic stability. 
•  In Nepal, although a BRI framework was signed, funding disagreements have delayed most projects. 
•  In Sri Lanka, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has prioritized relations with India, even visiting Delhi before Beijing, respecting India's strategic redlines. 
•  In Bangladesh, despite diplomatic tensions, India has continued trilateral energy cooperation involving Nepal. 
•  These regional shifts have increased anxiety in Beijing, prompting new trilateral moves involving Afghanistan and Bangladesh. 
•  Prior to regime changes, both Afghanistan (2021) and Bangladesh (2024) supported India’s counter-terror efforts against Pakistan. 
•  With new regimes, Pakistan and China are trying to pull these nations into their strategic sphere. 
•  There is growing concern over India’s direct engagement with the Taliban, which could erode Pakistan’s leverage in Afghanistan. 
•  Pakistan has significantly deepened its security, economic, and political ties with the new government in Bangladesh. 
•  Historically, both Afghanistan and Bangladesh have ties with Pakistan, and may again become breeding grounds for cross-border terrorism. 
•  Backed by Chinese investment and political cover, Pakistan may regain regional relevance, create frictions between India and its neighbors, and keep Delhi preoccupied with terror and border security. 
•  This, in turn, would facilitate Chinese BRI projects and expand Beijing’s influence across South Asia. 

China efforts and setbacks

•  The recent regional developments reaffirm that China, not Pakistan, poses the primary strategic challenge to India. 
•  As both China and Pakistan confront a more assertive India, Beijing sees trilateral arrangements as a means to undermine India’s regional position. 
•  While India seeks regional support to combat terrorism, China’s interference threatens to disrupt these efforts. 
•  South Asian countries will increasingly need to navigate a delicate balance between India’s security concerns and China’s expanding influence. 
•  Beijing’s use of Islamabad to complicate regional dynamics adds further geopolitical strain. 
•  India, in response, must continue to assert its redlines and communicate clearly that any provocations by neighboring states will result in serious economic, military, and political consequences. 

Conclusion

•  The emerging China-led trilaterals, with Pakistan as a conduit, reflect Beijing’s attempt to reshape South Asia’s strategic balance by undermining India’s growing influence. 
•  While India asserts its military strength and diplomatic clout, it must remain vigilant and proactive. 
•  A firm yet pragmatic strategy is essential to deter provocations, safeguard national interests, and sustain its regional leadership in an evolving geopolitical landscape. 

No time to rest

Why is it News?

 India has made progress in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) rankings, showing improvements in important areas like poverty reduction and energy access. However, it still faces challenges in governance-related indicators, such as nutrition, digital inclusion, and institutional strength. This highlights the need for deeper systemic reforms to achieve holistic development. 

Introduction

India's entry into the top 100 of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) is a significant achievement, reflecting its progress since 2016. The SDR, published by the UN-backed Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), evaluates global advancements towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While India shows improvement in areas like poverty reduction and energy access, it continues to face challenges in nutrition, governance, and digital inclusion, indicating the need for deeper systemic reforms.

India’s Ranking in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR)

• India has achieved a significant milestone by entering the Top 100 in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) for the first time since the report was initiated in 2016 by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), an independent UN-backed body.
• In 2016, India ranked 110 out of 157 countries, but by 2025, it improved to 99th out of 167 countries. This improvement is attributed to better data metrics, more granular comparisons, and progress in various areas.
• Despite this progress, India needs to reflect on the reasons for the delayed 11-point rise and identify systemic gaps that require urgent attention.

Progress and Challenges: Overview

Thematic Performance on Key SDGs

SDG 1 – No Poverty

• India has shown positive performance in SDG 1, despite facing data challenges in poverty estimation.
• The lack of official consumption expenditure data since 2018 and the outdated Rangarajan poverty line have made poverty assessments difficult.
• Proxy data indicates a significant reduction in poverty, with estimates suggesting a decline from 22% in 2012 to around 12% in 2023, indicating that poverty has roughly halved during this period.

SDG 2 – Zero Hunger

• SDG 2 remains a persistent area of concern for India, with key indicators showing only marginal improvement.
• The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data reveals slight reductions in stunting and wasting among children, but these improvements are not sufficient to address the underlying nutritional issues.
• Additionally, obesity rates among individuals aged 15-49 years have nearly doubled between 2006 and 2021, particularly in affluent urban areas, highlighting nutritional inequality across different income groups and between rural and urban regions.

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

• India has made significant strides in SDG 7, achieving near-universal household electrification.
• However, challenges remain regarding the quality and duration of power supply, which can vary significantly by region.
• India has also become a global leader in renewable energy, currently ranking 4th worldwide in renewable energy capacity, primarily driven by solar and wind energy.

SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• India has demonstrated strong performance in SDG 9, particularly in the rapid penetration of mobile phones and financial inclusion through UPI-based digital platforms.
• However, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a digital divide, highlighting the stark contrast between urban and rural internet access.
• This digital divide hampers progress in education (SDG 4) and other services that rely on digital connectivity, underscoring the need for improved internet access in rural areas.

SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• India has faced challenges in SDG 16, with governance quality, rule of law, press freedom, and institutional independence lagging behind.
• These indicators have shown stagnation or decline during the Modi administration, highlighting a critical gap in India's holistic development goals.

Conclusion

• India’s achievement of the 99th rank in the Sustainable Development Report is a positive step, but it is not the ultimate objective.
• There is an urgent need to address gaps in nutrition, strengthen institutions, and reduce disparities between rural and urban areas.
• As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches, India must intensify targeted policy actions and enhance data transparency.
• True progress is not merely about improved rankings; it is about ensuring equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development for all citizens.