- The Indian Union Government, the security establishment, and for that matter, common citizens are quite aware of how Machiavellian Chinese authorities will become while furthering their interests. The Chinese authority’s brazenly aggressive, belligerent, adventurous, devil-may-care attitude, and blatant disregard for the globally established world order are on full display over the past few years. Despite every nation worth standing condemning these acts of one-upmanship, Beijing appears completely unfazed relentlessly pressing ahead with its dubious agenda. Yes, several like-minded countries have formed alliances as part of their geopolitical and geostrategic policies to checkmate the growing belligerence of China. Revival of the Quad is one such move.
PC: AFP, Beijing
- Further, the Indian establishment is aware of how China’s belligerence resulted in the Galwan valley skirmish as also military buildup along the eastern Ladakh region of the line of actual control. Despite several rounds of military and diplomatic talks, nothing concrete has emerged vis-à-vis reducing troop presence and reduction in tension. Against this backdrop, China’s ambassador to India mentioning that the border situation is switching to normalized management and control and that bilateral ties have shown positive momentum this year sounds hollow. The statement is far from the truth and contrasts with the fact that the troop disengagement process in eastern Ladakh remains incomplete.
- Additionally, Beijing also continues to block UN sanctions against Pakistan-based terrorists. Since March when the Chinese foreign minister visited India, Beijing has been making subtle overtures to New Delhi to resume bilateral relations as if nothing transpired. There are two possible reasons for this. First, the Chinese are now confident that they have achieved their near-term objectives along the LAC with most of the disengagement buffer zones coming up on the Indian side of the boundary and the PLA further bolstering its infrastructure on its side. The second reason relates to China feeling pressured by the US in East Asia and is therefore looking to keep India relatively neutral. Make no mistake this is an old Chinese tactic known to us.
PC: YOICHI FUNABASHI
- Beijing will talk about cooperation with New Delhi whenever it is in a tight spot strategically but will revert to an aggressive posture when the pressure eases. Thus, India should stick to its position that there can be no normalization until China drops its aggressive behavior. Further, New Delhi should keep up the pressure by teaming up with Washington to counter Beijing’s growing influence among the Pacific Island nations. Therefore, it makes imminent sense for the Indian administration to not only boost our defence infrastructure along the LAC but also closely work with the US in the Pacific Islands to keep up the pressure on China. No need to espouse an accommodative posture towards China anymore. That’s the only way to counter Beijing.
