India’s Proximity Archives

South Asia

In Beijing on January 4, China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar presided over the seventh round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Wang Yi used the occasion to criticise the United States’ actions in Venezuela, stating that no country should assume the role of ‘global police’. Mr. Dar did not comment on China’s statement but did mention Pakistan’s support for China’s view on multilateralism. Both countries have agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges and interactions at all levels and to intensify strategic communication and action coordination, thereby promoting the development of the CPEC. Concurrently, the Pakistan Navy is conducting a Pakistan-China Joint Oceanographic research cruise in the Northern Indian Ocean.

Southeast Asia

Thai forces accused their Cambodian counterparts on January 6 of violating the 10-day-old truce by firing mortar rounds into Ubon Ratchathani province, with one soldier wounded by shrapnel and evacuated for medical treatment. In a later statement, however, the Thai military said the Cambodian side had contacted them to explain “there was no intention to fire into Thai territory”, adding that “the incident was caused by an operational error by Cambodian personnel”.

East Asia

On January 5, President Xi Jinping met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and discussed China-ROK relations. Xi emphasised the importance of the two countries' relationship and remarked that as friends and neighbours, the two countries should engage more closely with one another. The Chinese president also noted that China’s policy towards the ROK has focused on continuity, stability, and shared progress and stressed that both sides should carry this approach forward to effectively navigate a transforming and turbulent world order. This would require enhancing mutual trust, respecting each other’s chosen development paths, accommodating each other’s core interests and major concerns, and remaining committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation. Acknowledging the longstanding and critical nature of the bilateral relationship, President Lee indicated South Korea’s intent to sustain the momentum of early diplomacy in the new year to facilitate the recovery of China–ROK relations by seeking common ground and setting aside differences, while also deepening the ROK–China strategic cooperative partnership.  There was no joint statement.

West Asia

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited the United Arab Emirates on January 5 and 6. He met the UAE’s Land Forces Commander, Major General Yousef Maayouf Saeed Al Hallami and discussed enhancing military engagement, training convergence, and deepening overall defence cooperation between India and UAE. In his remarks at UAE's National Defence College, Gen. Dwivedi discussed the evolving global security landscape and the nature of conflict, emphasising the importance of technology in modern warfare.

Central Asia

In a January 5 interview with the Turkistan newspaper, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined the key outcomes of 2025 and set priorities for the year ahead, stressing that Kazakhstan has entered a new stage of modernisation marked by irreversible reforms, economic resilience, and an accelerated push toward digital transformation. During his interview, Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan’s geographic position obliges the country to pursue a balanced, independent, and principled foreign policy, including active participation in shaping global discussions. However, he stressed that he has “no desire whatsoever to act as a mediator in international disputes”. Tokayev described transit and logistics as a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s long-term strategy, emphasizing the country’s unique position at the crossroads of major continental routes.

 Indian Ocean Region

The Maritime Security Centre for the Indian Ocean (MSCIO) confirmed that armed groups carried out an attack on a Chinese fishing vessel named Liao Dong Yu 578, operating in waters off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. The incident occurred on the New Year, January 1, 2026, but it has not yet been confirmed whether the armed groups took control of the vessel or its crew. Liao Dong Yu 578 is a vessel with a previous history of piracy incidents. Reports indicate that the ship was earlier hijacked by pirates off the coast of Puntland in November 2024 and was released in January 2025 after a ransom estimated at nearly $2 million was paid.