Introduction
China’s policy towards Jammu and Kashmir has been primarily shaped by its close ties with Pakistan, its strategic competition with India, and its broader regional aspirations.[1] Although Beijing has stood by-and-large cautious by advocating a solution of the dispute peacefully through dialogue and bilateral arrangements, its behavior often is reflective of more fundamental strategies. China’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir dispute has also been reactive to fluctuating geopolitical realities, such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plan, Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control (LAC) tensions, and India’s abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.[2] The Chinese cautious diplomacy has often been characterized by a balancing act: while stating its principled case in favour of peaceful dialogue, it also cushions its own strategic interests. In the past, Beijing’s policy towards Jammu and Kashmir dispute has always been pragmatic in nature rather than ideological. It is further influenced by territorial interests, regional security imperatives, and its bilateral relationship with Pakistan and India. Moreover, China has used its permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to send signals of support for Pakistan’s narrative without committing to decisively defined conclusions, thereby sustaining leverage vis-à-vis India and Pakistan.[3] In doing so, China has carefully refrained from committing itself to any course of action that could fuel tensions or undermine its broader image as a stabilizing force in Asia. This deliberate ambiguity has been a consistent feature of Beijing’s foreign policy.
