China is a South Asian country, sharing borders with 14 countries including India. Its significance lies in its rise in the region and hegemonic influence over smaller countries through loans and the Belt and Road Initiative. China and India have fought a major war in the 60s and have disputes over the Aksai Chin and LAC, and tensions over the Indo-Pacific.
“Spaces not bases” is a remark that is meant to assuage or downplay China’s encirclement in the Indian Ocean. Does India have spaces that are actively being turned into bases? What are we doing to convert islands to maritime bases? China’s policy is clear: turn up the temperature very gradually until they reach their goals unnoticed.