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The recent announcements of the QUAD and AUKUS alliances by the United States and its allies have raised concerns in China about a potential encirclement strategy aimed at containing its rise. While the QUAD alliance, which includes the United States, Japan, India, and Australia, was established in 2007 to promote regional security and economic cooperation, the recent AUKUS agreement between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia to share nuclear submarine technology has added a new dimension to the strategic landscape in the Indo-Pacific.
China has reacted strongly to these developments, with state media and officials criticizing the alliances as a Cold War-style containment strategy aimed at undermining China’s rise. In response, China has sought to strengthen its strategic partnerships with countries like Russia and Pakistan and has increased its military presence in the South China Sea. However, there is a range of other options available to China as it seeks to respond to these challenges.
he writer is working as a Research Officer at CISS AJK. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.