And surrounding India by buying off Indian Ocean countries is par for the course.
Interesting that opposition leaders decry the Chinese “debt trap” as poisonous.
Go is a Japanese game moreso than Chinese.
Japanese also play Shogi which is a form of Chess. Key difference is you get to drop captured pieces back on the board for your own use.
The Chinese have a few variety of Chess - most of which are unique in have a ‘river’ in the middle preventing certain pieces from traversing directly.
BUT - remember that most historians believe that Chess arose in India. There is a lot going on here and both sides are very focused on whatever this middle game is that is developing. I was surprised to see that a China/India conflict was not one of the high potentials for war this year listed in an article here earlier in the day.
I consider Chinas partnership with Pakistan as a pincer move on India and they will likely see it as the same.
The other long moves by China over the past 10-15 years in Latin America and Africa show they are playing a very long game. We’ve basically sat on our duffs and done nothing to counter it the past 20+ years under Clinton/Obama and Bush (though with the wars in the ME he could possibly be excused).