China is exerting pressure on India on a range of fronts. It’s time for India to push back—and to reach out to Taiwan.
Chinaloves to keep the pot boiling with countries it perceives as potential rivals, a fact no more evident than it is with its dealings with India in recent years. China’s recent decision to deny a visa to Indian Lt. General B. S. Jaswal, head of the Northern Command, is therefore just another example of its determination to find new issues to further complicate the already complex web of India-China differences.
The game is being played at multiple levels with Jammu and Kashmir, which is seen by China as an area of ‘international dispute’ in the same way as Arunachal Pradesh. At first glance, it seems a relatively recent diplomatic gambit. But it’s one that was first introduced some years ago, when the planned visit to Ladakh by the People’s Liberation Army Commander of the Lanzhou Military Region that covers Xinjiang (which sits opposite Jammu and Kashmir) was cancelled at the last moment by China on the grounds that Pakistan had protested that the territory is disputed. This move was soon followed by a visa denial to an official from the state on similar grounds, while last year, the Chinese embassy followed up by inventing a new method of giving stapled visas.
This has all come against a backdrop of PLA moves to enhance its road and rail-building work in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with little indication that China sees the area as disputed or recognises that such activities are grossly illegitimate given India’s legal sovereignty.
None of this has gone unnoticed by decision makers in New Delhi. Yet, for the past decade they’ve played down these problems in the expectation that deepening engagement would eventually influence attitudes at the top in China and gradually result in a softening of the Chinese position.
But this hasn’t happened. If political liberals believed that flourishing trade ties (now worth $60 billion) or construction, power and telecom company contracts being signed with a total value of $25 billion to $30 billion would elicit a modicum of moderation on the Chinese side over these critical issues, they will have been hugely disappointed. There has been no moderation on the territorial and other differences that continue to dog the relationship, despite India presenting a united front with China on international trade and environment issues.
And China has a long list of demands. It wants Arunachal to be handed over (or, at the very least, Tawang and a few other areas); it wants India to stop offering sanctuary to the Dalai Lama so his struggle for the rights of the Tibetan people and Tibetan autonomy will be silenced; it wants to retain most of the territory it has forcibly occupied in Ladakh, land that extends well beyond even its official claim line of 1956; it wants Nepal to be neutral; it wants India to shun close ties with the United States; it wants to further open India’s market for its companies…and the list goes on.
Photo Credit: Rajkumar1220
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Binoy
The Chinese Government is exceptionally crude when dealing with border disputes.
They claim Arunachal Pradesh(Vast sections of the state are perceived as south Tibet)
The points to note here are:
1. The people of Arunachal Pradesh voted to be part of India. There is NO FREEDOM STRUGGLE THERE. I really do not understand what the Chinese “claims” on this North Eastern State are based on.
2. Tibet, which has a culture very similar to the N.E. Border areas of India, particularly, Sikkim and Arunachal, is by itself a disputed territory. I Don;t care if the US recognizes it, or the UK does. The point is, AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF TIBETANS WANT FREEDOM FROM CHINA. To me that counts as the only valid argument for the sovereignty of any State.
China has its way. No matter what. Assertiveness is their new found behavioral trait – it usually comes with a realization that they are getting bigger and stronger in the international Arena.
SE962582C
The Indians are the Indians, and the Hindustanis are the Hindustanis.
The Indians are not the Tibetans, the Tibetans are not the Hindustanis.
The Indians and the Hindustanis CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, AND ONLY FOR THEMSELVES ONLY, NOT for the Others, and NOT for the Tibetans.
SE962582C
To quote quote ” … i dont understand what youre trying to say in your fake ga ga language … ” and unquote.
You do not mean “Hinglish” by any chance, do you, Sir?!
Akash
With the Dalai Lama in Tibet, we can speak anytime we want for the rights of Tibetans. FREE TIBET
SE962582C
The Dalai Lama is IN India the Hindustan (The State of the Himachal Pradesh (Dharamsala)), not “IN” Tibet.
nawab
brother tibet not only want freedom,their cultural is connected to us india,they language is written not much different then hindi and other north indian language.when they speak their language and perform prayer it 80% close to sanskrit.and our lord siva`s lives in tibet ( kailas)those chinaman so dumb they do not know what they are talking about.so with all this evedence it is time for india when they attack counter attack and bring tibet,aksi chin and nepal into india.and later chase the dumb pakistani army from azad and make and build azad and j&k peoples life.china is dreaming too much.i hope if china is smart the will take care their troubled south west region or you going to lose.tienaman square won`t happen agsin.
Michael
I definitely agree with you regarding Tibetan and Hindu’s similarities! In fact Tibetan Buddhism us in fact Hinduism masquerading as Buddhism. It’s good that the Dalai Lama lives in India because that’s where he and all the Tibetan fanatics belong. It makes complete sense to relocate all the Tibetan radicals to India where they can enjoy all the freedom and democracy they want. They can even achieve their greatest ambition of establishing a theocratic society.
harry
Johnny B
China is the world’s biggest buyer of japanese product, so yes japanese manufacturing industry will be paralized, and NO, japanese product wont become cheaper beacsuse less people are buying them. also China has way more alternative options than USA, EU is a good one, with China already investing heavily in Greek ports and infrastructure in reletivly cheap price. this only suggest China is finding alternative markets. on the other hand who else would really credit the USA as much as China?
singh
The Western Capitalist system is to blame for china’s emergence and belligerant attitude. Western corporations invested in cheap chinese manufacturing/labour and then sold these products at home in the US and Europe at handsome profits. The chinese further refined it by combining the capitalist system with a communist government control. This enabled them to dramatically grow their economy and they do not play fair at the international trade and monetary level. In the west on the other hand, while goods imported from china are cheaper, the people buying them have lost their jobs to the chinese. They get handouts from their governments to survive day to day and the debt loads of the western countries become higher and higher. It’s a deep downward spiral that the west has put itself into – all due to the greed of corporations.
The west has to put the brakes on the chinese economy by bringing back manufacturing to their countries, or moving it to countries that play fair and can be friends against the chinese in case of war ,limiting imports and protecting their home industries. This should level the playing field with china and bring it down from it’s high flying horse. One world, one economy does not work when countries like china do not play fair. They are already biting the hands that fed them. This needs to be corrected as soon as possible before it is too late. A case of shooting themselves in the foot will become one of shooting themselves in the head for the west.
Daksha Nyshadham
All the western countries in general and US in particular should put 25.00% duty on all the goods coming from China. As Chinese are involved in currency manipulation, and are in advantage over pricing of goods. Once Western Democracies impose the twenty five percent duties on Chinese goods, lot of manufacturing will come back and it will generate lot of income through Custom Duties. This well help in putting a brake on Chinese arrogance. As of now, China as a country is beyond international scrutiny. They do not have any respect for international rules and regulations. Chinese gave Nuclear Bomb and Missiles to Pakistan and Pakistan as a country is heading towards collapse. Chinese wants all the privileges as an emerging superpower and they do not want any responsibilities. World would like to know if and when Pakistan Collapses what is the role and responsibilities of China. In foreign policy, they hide behind Russians. They supplied arms to Sudan. The great emerging super power, the dragon, and all weather friends to Pakistan gave paltry aid of eighteen million dollars for the flood victims of Pakistan. Is it not a right time for China to show big heart in extending humanitarian help to Pakistan. China is more than happy to give Nuclear Bomb technology to Pakistan but shows less inclination in giving Flood aid to Pakistan. In November 26, 2008, Pakistan terrorists attacked Mumbai and Killed 170 Civilians and injured hundreds of people. All the grenades used by the Pakistani Terrorists were made by NORINCO, a known State owned Chinese Company. China is the biggest supplier of arms that includes AK47 Guns and Grenades made by NORINCO. China supplied arms killed 170 people in Mumbai. China should be made accountable for all their actions.
longpole1
I don’t understand why USA should abandon economics of competion and globalization for the sake of India. India has problems of inefficiency and corruption. India needs to solve its own problems. India should have a nationalist representating India’s interest, efficient and honest administration. That will solve India’s all relative problems- balkanisation, unemployment, inflation, poverty, dynasty, poor quality of leadership in politics, arts, media, continuation of reservations based on caste and religion and not on economic needs like western social security requirements, unoriginality compared to India’s size and culture and one hundred other problems.
Daksha
Regarding first couple of sentences I was talking about American economy. We need fair competition. China is involved in unfair competition. The fair competition should be from all the sides. Chinese economy is still a closed economy. They put lot of constraints for western countries to sell goods in their country. They are involved in currency manipulation. They are squeezing western economies in technologies and not letting the western companies to goods in their countries. Chinese are involved in currency valuation. Entire article is about Chinese accountability in international affairs. China gave nuclear bombs and long range missiles to Pakistan and do not feel responsibilities. They want all the privileges as super power and do not fell any responsibilities. What are china’s responsibilities if and when Pakistan Collapses? I am not in a state of denial of Indian flaws. Pakistan is international headache. Islamists may take over the country and nuclear bomb may fall into wrong hands.
Tony
“Islamists may take over the country and nuclear bomb may fall into wrong hands.”…Too late for India because the Hindu fanatics already have nuclear weapons!
Bharateeya
@Daksha : Why do u keep providing the same set of “proofs” for every argument against China….U have given the same 6 sentences and “facts” about China in more than 6-7 posts! Cut the BS man!!
And since when did 18 million dollors become “paltry” aid?? Ever heard of any nation giving that much aid for flood victims?? Your illogical biases can only be interpreted as ignorance, for ignorance breeds irrational fear in man.
SE962582C
To quote quote ” … Jammu and Kashmir as integral parts of India.” and unquote.
I am, I AM, and one is LOST FOR WORDS.
China and the Chinese would do not such and such a thing!
India the Hindustan the Indo-Hindustan-Indian Union, and the Indo-Hindustan-Indians, have long considered and regarded that (think that) they have the so-called “Tibet Card”, which they do not have in the first or 1st place, and now, the “Taiwan the Formosa Card”; the only similarity between the two is the alphabet and the letter “T”, and that is all and that is about it. Think nothing more to it.
To quote quote ” … help matters. Another step India should take is to boost ties with Taiwan and invite a ministerial team for talks on trade and investments. And it … ” and unquote.
Translation:
India the Hindustan, and the Indo-Hindustan-Indians, are poor, POOR, and weak, and need cash and monies to stay off from possible or from potential Governmental and National General Bankruptcies.
Alex
Are you on drugs? You words are making no sense buddy.
SE962582C
Alex the Who?! At least I do and one does have a real, REAL, number, and not, NOT, a fake, not false, name.
It only proves one of my and of one’s point at least for somewhat that India the Hindustan the Indo-Hindustan-Indian Union, and the Indo-Hindustan-Indians, are, ARE, both too poor, TOO POOR, to introduce “Identity Cards”, “Identity Certificates for the Citizenry”, and/or “Non-International Passports”, and
And are also that for the many, if not that for the most, of them they are too poor, TOO POOR, to afford their own Indo-Hindustan-Indian Passports, rather than Xenophobia, laziness or life-style- choices, as in the United States and in North America; or
Or even their own Birth, Adoption, Marriage, Divorce and/or Death Certificates, even with subsidy.
It is GOOD to know where one SITS, and does it not?! A little Reality-Check is healthy!
Binoy
Dude, whatever you’re smoking, you make no sense at all.. Indo-Hindustan-Indian union… whoa whoa !! hold it right there buddy.. i dont understand what youre trying to say in your fake ga ga language. get English lessons.
Vishy
u seriously need to have a reality check and yah also a dose of intelligence
imtz
SE962582C has just taken hasis and found it to be fake..mad at the findings!!!
FREE TIBET!!!
Yogesh Sarkar
India does not need any card and the support offered to Dalai Lama isn’t for political brownie points, it is to help those, who were and are being suffocated under the rule of a communist nation, which thrives on ethnic and religious cleansing and is hell bent on killing the poor peaceful monks, who seek to practice their age old religion and tradition!
Abrar
China does not need any card and the support offered to kashmiris isn’t for political brownie points, it is to help those, who were and are being suffocated under the rule of a Indian occupation, which thrives on ethnic and religious cleansing and is hell bent on killing the poor peaceful kashmiris, who seek to practice their age old religion and tradition!
Yogesh Sarkar
You are forgetting one crucial part of history, the only ethnic/religious cleansing that Kashmir has witnessed, has been perpetrated on the Hindus by terrorists, supported by Pakistan and China!
India isn’t a Hindu State; it’s a democratic country with no state religion and is currently headed by a Prime Minister, who belongs to Sikh community! Every religion in India has same level of freedom, in fact thanks to the pseudo-secular nature of majority of the politicians in India; minorities have much more say and freedom!
The only reason Kashmir is in a state that it is, is due to the fact that Indian Government honored their request for a special status (no Indian from outside Kashmir can buy land there) and gives out special subsidies, which leaves much more time in their hand to indulge in such protests!
As for religion based politics and countries, we all know what the state of Pakistan is.
mark
lol…what r u smoking man?
SE962582C
[To quote quote "Please note, no comments that include abusive or inflammatory remarks aimed at writers or other commenters will be accepted." and unquote.
[Please consider the removal of the comment immediately-above/aforementioned (September 12, 2010 at 6:41 am) for being (personal) abusive at some of the other Writers of the Comments; Thank you.]
Pot is the solution
I’ll have whatever our friend SE here is smoking.
gary
Seriously man..
i was like LMFAO ! China, India, Pak all need to smoke dope like our friend here Mr. SEsomenumbers .. that will solve all problems..
Now, in SE lingo – “China-communisto-union, the india-indo-hindustan and pak-the islamic-pak unions need dope a smoke.. a problem.. solve.. i think”
Hahhahahah
SE962582C
I do usually speak THE QUEEN’S STANDARD ENGLISH LANGUAGE, in actuality and as a matter of fact; Thank you and thank you very much and very much indeed, Sir!
Now, Prey tell me, Sir, My Lord, Your Honour, what is the Term “LMFAO”?! I most certainly, Sir, cannot, CANNOT, possibly find it or locate it in my O.E.D., my DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE from the University of OXFORD.
It is not a, an or one of the Hindi, Marathi, Hinglish or Tamil Term or Terms by any chance, I do not suppose, Sir, My Lord, Your Honour?!
First Advisor
The image of India being any kind of threat or danger to China is not realistic or practical. There is nothing India can do to influence or affect the policies of the Chinese government, or the behavior of the Chinese people. India is a completely impotent, powerless, impoverished non-entity in the world, and it always will be. India can’t even govern its own territory; the idea that it might have any reach outside its borders doesn’t seem connected to reality. There is absolutely no possible future of the world in which India will have any influence on any other nation. That will simply never happen.
Yogesh Sarkar
This is where you are mistaken, Indian leadership might be weak and corrupt, however, our nation as a whole, has progressed in spite of this handicap. Leadership can and will be changed and once we have the focus and the leadership, neither China nor US, will be able to match the economic growth or power.
Remember, this is the nation, which just by the use of its will, threw out a colonial power, which was hell bent on ruling her for eternity.
draghav
I agree with all that you have written above. However as as Indian I would want my country to be able to defend itself in any situation. We should possess credible minimum deterrence against any misadventure by our neighbors. There is no need for India to have reach beyond its borders.
India should upgrade its infrastructure at the border areas including roads, bridges, tunnels and modernize its airfields. What we need are force multipliers to counter Panda’s large numbers.
Vishy
I am an Indian and i agree with you, coz we have blood suckin filthy dirty politicians who will never let India become prosperous.
Nick Nolan
It’s always interesting to see Indian analyses of China and Chinese analyses of India, but it sometimes sad to see how much nationality can prevent objectivity. There is good reason why China is acting like it is. It’s underdog.
For Chinese, the number one priority in their long term military planning is to be able to credibly defend their access to energy resources (without them China would be in it’s knees in short time). Two main threats China faces in this area are USA and India. USA as global power can force China into it’s knees by blockading its oil shipments from Africa and Middle East. India as local power can do the same because it just happens to be in the right position in the map. Chinese string of pearls strategy is not going to be credible for decade or two. In the mean time they are going to be in the mercy of US and India in their access to global resources. Creating good relationships with India and US won’t change this fact. China’s weight in realpolitik stays light as long as China is strategic underdog against US and India.
War game scenario: All out non-nuclear confrontation between India and China. Armies attacking each other in Himalayas, but logistical reasons make it almost impossible to gain more than few walleyes. Neither will make bing incursions into enemy territory. In the meantime, India can drive China into disarray by preventing it’s oil shipments. China has no ability to to the same for any reasonable period of time. India can just sit and wait until China gives up.
Against this background Chinese misbehave is completely logical. Until they have strategically equal standing with India and US, they are going to play rough against India and try find ways to make possible confrontation as damaging as possible. Co-operation with Pakistan is main way to accomplish this.
The comforting fact is that neither India nor China wants this kind of confrontation. Both are competing for resources to keep their economic growth going. As long as both get their share, things should get along.
When China finally catches up with India and US militarily, you can expect less posturing. Big superpowers are never easy to deal with and they always take more than their share, but they can be less aggressive when they feel safe.
First Advisor
This analysis is not rational or reasonable.
Yogesh Sarkar
Right, so China is justified in whatever action it takes, even though, with respect to India, it was the aggressor, rather than a victim!
With substantial amount of Indian Territory already under Chinese control and China pushing to control even more, I do not see any rational in the point of view that what China is doing is to protect its economy, rather than trying to destabilize the entire region and is aiming to forcefully capture the territory of other democratic nations!
Nick Nolan
China has no moral justification for what it is doing. International politics is not about moral, it’s about cold self interest. Superpowers always take more than their share. It’s not just Chinese trait.
The essence for good political analysis is understanding. China feels that it’s weak, so it will act accordingly. India is responding well to Chinese threat. Just keep tight and put enough iron to the borders that Chinese can’t get more of anything. There is no reason to expect that these two big countries would get into war as long as both can show enough strength. There are many rational men on both sides.
Yogesh Sarkar
Then why are you expecting Indians to be objective and liberal in their viewpoints, when it is but expected of China to behave in an arrogant and unfriendly manner?
ED
Hi ‘Nick’,
What part of China do you come from? I’m only asking because the grammatical errors you make in your posts, though fairly minor, indicate you are not the native speaker of English that your online name would otherwise suggest.
Looking forward to your reply.
Akash
Our buddy Nick is another one of these guys
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party
Rubadubadoobag
Be that as it may, his views – that China is an underdog against the English-speaking countries and that their actions are no worse than those of said countries – is quite reasonable. Far more so than most of the Indian views expressed on this forum, in fact (this is implicit from the fact that you are attacking his alleged bias rather than his actual argument).
‘Free Tibet’ indeed. As if any of you care anything about the Tibetan people, rather than trying to take China down a peg.
As to the original piece, it is long on opinion and short on fact. The whole world recognises the ‘One China’ principle on both Tibet and Taiwan so India is not exactly making any major concession there; rather they are trying not to stick out and needlessly antagonise China. Arunchal Pradesh is a legitimately disputed territory so why would you expect China simply to give up its claim? Having said that, control is de facto ownership so China helping Pakistan to build on the part of Kashmir occupied by the latter is perfectly normal; Japan, India herself and a host of other countries all build on disputed territories within their control.
Finally, why would China support India’s claim to a place at the Security Council, given India’s policy of sucking up to Western powers and trying to contain China through defence pacts etc? India has a long history of self-hatred and trying to please its former oppressors, so why would China want to empower yet another would-be Western power? They would probably rather have Japan there, despite their historical enmnity: at least Japan (like Russia etc) has the guts to pursue its own path rather than lick at the feet of the West.
typhoonq
I am Chinese and English is my second language. I suspect you are an Indian origin and your question to Nick is lack of sincererity and try to ridicule his English language. Why would you ask Nick which part of China he came from ? Does it make any difference. Do you know China geography ?
Most Chinese are poor in the English Langauge because we had never been colonised by the British and unlike Indians who always boast that they have the largest English speaking population.
ED, You too, made grammatical mistake in your Text ! According to Grammarly analysis,they found 5 critical writing issues in your Text
(1) Spelling mistake (2) incorrect use of preposition (2) writing style
I am Sorry for my poor English.
george
mkhan should get his head examined. India doesn’t want an inch of your territory. keep it to yourself to bury your dead. thank god that all the pyjamas are on the other side. what a disgrace to be called as our countrymen. you will die fighting one another. shia vs sunnis, mohajir vs punjabi, pathan vs punjabi.
harry says chinese are making green technologies. my foot. I ride on chinese-made “green” buses almost everyday. it is noisy and it is riding like riding a toy horse. at the end of the 30-km drive, i head straight to a massage parlour. compare the ride with japanese made hino, isuzu and mitsubishi buses, which doesn’t make noise like the chinese and the ride pretty comfortable. chinese are good at stealing technologies but they cannot match the japanese and the americans. long way baby. my advise to harry and mkhan: keep licking.