Question

No region exists in a vacuum. It is influenced by outside powers and events no matter how much it may try to insulate itself from non-regional powers. China and the United States remain key players in South Asian politics. Sino-Indian relations have improved significantly in the last ten years, but China's strategic partnership with Pakistan remains a major irritant. The demands of development and globalisation have brought the two Asian giants closer, and their economic ties have multiplied rapidly since 1991.

Study the paragraph given above carefully and answer the following questions:-

i) Which two countries have been referred to as 'outside powers’?

ii) Which are the two Asian giants and why have they been called so?

iii) China's strategic partnership with Pakistan is a major irritant for which country and why?

Answer 1

i) The countries referred to as ‘outside powers’ are China and US.

ii) India and China are called Asian giants because these two countries are the emerging powers of Asia.

iii) China's strategic partnership with Pakistan is a major irritant for India because their good relations pose a big military threat to India.