Kolkata, Feb 3 (IANS): Stating that the Doklam standoff was not a one-off incident, former National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan on Friday said the relationship between India and China is likely to worsen in future.

He said China's attempt to strangle India by befriending its neighbours including Pakistan, would shift the balance of power in the region to India's disadvantage.

"China's taking over of Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, Gwadar port in Pakistan and setting up of a naval base in Djibouti in Africa and its intent to increase such presence will only lead to worsening of relations between the two Asian giants," Narayanan said at the international symposium on Indo-China relations here.

"Doklam was not a one-off incident. China's nibbling tactics would continue in future. They will bring it back again and again. I won't say there will be war but there will be constant conflict," the former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief said.

He said China has now shifted its focus to the east from Ladakh and it is resorting to different means including economic blackmail to have control over the relatively smaller neighbouring countries of India like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Terming Pakistan as the "main kingpin" in China's design to influence the region, he said such hostility between the two Asian super powers might lead to unexpected circumstances.

"Finding common ground will not be easy, the differences may lead to unexpected consequences," he added.