Triangular relationship is a unique relation among three nations which is exclusive of the mutual relationship between any two nations of the three. According to Adelman (2001), the nations involved in triangle must have significant regional influence and any shift in the position by any nation can alter this balance of power. This essay talks about two such triangles in the wider Asia-Pacific region. The objective of this essay is to understand the interaction between the three sides and how it determines the balance of power in the region.
One such triangle exists between China, India and Pakistan. There is a mutual mistrust between India and China since the brief border war between the two nations in 1962. India and Pakistan share a more acrimonious relationship as they have fought four wars since they became independent in 1948. The relationship between China and Pakistan has been friendly for a long part of their histories. The triangular relationship exists here as they have significant military influence on the region and any shift in the position by any country impacts the regional stability.
The triangle has shades of stabilizing and competing relationships. All the three nations have border conflicts and possess nuclear arsenal. While India and China compete for regional influence with their economic and military prowess, Pakistan has had a containing influence on the ambitions of China and India. For long, China was the lone super power in the Asian region. However a few events like testing of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan and rise of India as an economic superpower in the last decade has resulted in a shift in balance of power in the region. China seeks to control the rising influence of India in the region and it has resulted in an economic and military largesse to Pakistan. This has boosted Pakistan’s economy and as it recorded the fastest growth in its history in the past five years. However, there are also instances of diversion of funds for terrorists activities aimed at India which has hurt regional stability. Pakistan, an ally of US, has worked on developing close ties with Beijing which shares an indifferent relationship with US. Concerned with this growing alliance, India has made efforts to improve trade relationships with China. The recent exchange of visits by head of the states of both sides was a step in this direction. China is keen on this relationship too as it sees a growing Indian market for its companies. Moreover, it is also concerned with the rising instability of Pakistan due to extremist influence. This shows that this triangle has shades of competing and stabilizing factors. The threat of extremist elements, growing markets and the historical tensions in the region have played a critical part in the dynamics of relationship among the three nations.
Another triangle which has emerged in the region is Iran, Pakistan and India. All the three nations have significant influence on regional peace. This triangle has patterns of containment. Iran and India have shared peaceful relations in the past. There is a talk of India-Iran gas pipeline which is yet to materialize as it has to pass through Pakistan. While both Pakistan and Iran are Muslim countries, they share an indifferent relationship mainly because of policy differences. Pakistan has long been a US ally while Iran is acrimonious about the US. The US policy of invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan is a major contentious issue between these two Islamic nations. Pakistan has openly supported the US invasion to counter extremist influence, much to the chagrin of Iran. India has remained mum on the issue to avoid antagonizing the US or harming their relationship with Iran. This closeness between Iran and India has annoyed Pakistan and it wants to engage China to reduce this friendship. China has engaged Iran to counter the edge of US in the region as it has its own interests in Iran’s natural resources for energy security. Beijing and Tehran have signed $100 bn accord in which Iran will supply oil and gas to China (Athanasiadis, 2005). This concerned India as it repeatedly points out the rise of Taliban in Pakistan and the destabilizing influence it has on the region. India has taken efforts to stabilize their relationships with China which has complicated the matters even further and upset Pakistan. This shows that the different sides of triangle behave in a manner which is completely independent of their normal bilateral relationships.
An analysis of these two sets of triangle in the Asia-Pacific region busts the myth that effective relationships can only exist between two sides. In reality, three parties can display a completely unique relationship which can influence the balance of power in the region.
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