Publication

This report examines the changing relationships of smaller South Asian (SSA) countries with China, and related implications for US security interests in the region. Key insights include 1) that the SSA countries maintain various levels of interaction with China, ranging from Bhutan’s absence of formal diplomatic relations to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s established military and economic ties; 2) despite China’s arms sales to SSA nations, Beijing’s military ties in the region have remained limited, mainly due India; 3) given US concerns about what Chinese loans to SSA countries mean for regional security dynamics, Washington should address the development challenges facing these nations, and more.