China’s Himalayan Hustle: Revisionism Resistance Must be the Order of the Region

This edited volume brings together papers to highlight the challenges and opportunities in mapping China’s Himalayan hustle. It aims to advance key debates about the importance of this region to maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and to defend the liberal international order. The special volume would also be a valuable contribution to the literature on China’s attempts to dominate the Himalayan region and its resources, and will generate new insights into how to integrate this strategically vital region into the Indo-Pacific construct.

Besides the Introduction, this volume has six sections. Section I focuses on the issues arising out of Himalayas as a strategic arena. It looks at China’s revisionism in the Himalayas, in
particular its neighborhood strategy. It also explores Japan’s strategic outlook on China’s Himalayan tactics, as well as the scope of India U.S. cooperation in this Asian sub-region. Section II focuses on the Himalayan factor within China’s ideological framework including Xi’s new security initiatives. Since Xi Jinping became paramount leader of the PRC in 2012, his policies have profound implications for the Himalayan region, which encompasses Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) within the PRC. While over the past few years, global attention has justifiably focused on China’s repression of Uyghurs and other largely Muslim minorities, the Chinese Communist Party has also stepped up its policies of cultural assimilation in Tibet. Tibetan activism has been identified as one of the “five poisons” threatening the CCP rule, and the international relevance of the Tibet issue has presented a particular challenge to the propaganda apparatus. Xi has called for the Chinese propaganda apparatus to innovate in “concepts, content and methods”, to better “tell the China story” to the world.36 Beijing has published 19 white papers on Tibet since 1992, with a goal to present a government sanctioned view of the developments in the region.

Section III examines China’s cultural and religious oppression in Tibet and how China is suppressing Tibetan Buddhism. Given that most religions in China originated from abroad, Xi Jinping has scientifically defined the process by which these religions adapt and become supportive of socialism as ‘sinicization.’ The CCP dream for Tibet is to create socialism with Chinese characteristics. Beijing’s policies aim to control and reshape Tibetan Buddhism by promoting Chinese cultural assimilation and diminishing Tibetan religious practices as well as implementing the broader suppression of Tibetan identity. The chapters discuss how control over Tibet serves the CCP’s goal to restore China’s past imperial boundaries, a response to the Hundred Years of Humiliation and ongoing border disputes with India over contested territories. Without control over Tibet, the CCP fears that hostile external forces may have an opportunity to impinge on the CCP’s China.

Section IV looks at the military angle to China’s activities in the Himalayan region, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s intelligentization and techno-military strategies in the region. It examines how the PLA has been used in an increasingly assertive Chinese strategy to consolidate its claims in the Himalayan region and generally against India’s interests. One chapter details the role of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in China’s military buildup in the Himalayas, focusing on its actions to address the challenges of high-altitude operations. This section gives us an overview of China’s broader military strategy in the region, including its missile capabilities and geopolitical objectives, highlighting the implications for regional security and the ongoing tensions with India.

Section V explores China’s activities in India’s neighborhood. In particular, China’s charm offensive in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan are discussed in the geopolitical context. The chapters look at the trajectory of relations and seek to analyze not only China’s obvious outreach efforts but the extent of influence. Section VI explores the imperative of international “like-minded” collaboration to counter China’s Himalayan strategy, including the European perspective. Importantly, it examines the environmental and ecological dimension of China’s hegemony over Tibet and its wider impact. Increased global awareness and action is required regarding China’s development policies in the Himalayas, encouraging democratic nations to recognize the broader implications of Chinese expansionism and to foster a comprehensive response that includes addressing human rights violations, environ
mental concerns and geopolitical strategies. To add visual context for readers, special maps have been prepared on the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. These include river basins, major dams, mean annual temperature and total annual precipitation. One map depicts Buddhist places of worship across India, Nepal and China. Given the importance of connectivity in infrastructure development across the region, two maps on Asian highways and railways may aid readers in understanding the geographical spreads as well as gaps.