World War 3: Expert say China-India tensions may rise if Pakistan intervenes

China and India have been at odds for a very long time, especially with their ongoing conflict at the country’s borders and territories. However, an expert says that tensions between the two countries may escalate even further if Pakistan also joins in the fray, raising concerns about a possible World War 3 breaking out.

Express reports The Asia Program’s Deputy Director Michael Kegelman shared that Pakistan’s potential intervention could make the conflict between China and India even worse. Mr. Kegelman reasoned that Pakistan may try and take advantage of the conflict, knowing that India would become very preoccupied with China’s provocation. He also noted that the fact that Pakistan and China are strengthening relations as allies would pose a problem for India.

“I think Pakistan is the key player here as they are a bitter rival of India. Pakistan is a close ally of China and they have been firmly behind China in everything that has happened here,” said Kegelman. He also noted that as India is being taunted by China in the communist nation’s efforts to show off the strength of its military forces, Pakistan may try and engage, doing the same to India in its borders.

Nevertheless, India may be forced to resort to severe measures if Pakistan also engages with them.

It is not just with India that China appears to have tensions with, as its soured relations with the United States have also forced Washington to intervene with the communist nation’s attempts to seize control over parts of Asia, especially Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea. According to Philippines’ foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, Washington’s presence in Asia is necessary especially at this time.

Locsin explained that it is in the Philippines’ best interests that the US to have military presence in the continent, noting that the US and the Philippines are known to be longtime allies. Washington has recently deployed a warship in the Taiwan Strait, following a US carrier group’s exercises in the South China Sea.

Washington has always rejected China’s territorial claims on the highly-disputed South China Sea, and has regularly deployed warships to assert its power.