Policy initiations about and against China has always been the most difficult task for India so far. This concern has been prevailing since the eclipse of British colonial rule in the sub-continent and emergence of India as a sovereign nation and becoming the largest democracy in the world. There are viable reasons behind this, which includes several factors. But the prime reason is certainly difference regarding foreign policy prerogatives of India and China. In fact, in this context India and China virtually exist in two opposite poles; India has been advocating peaceful co-existence for the larger interests of the reason and beyond whereas China forwarding the game plan to expand its influence in the region and beyond.

Actually, Japan conceding defeat in the World War II reshaped the dynamics of regional politics of this continent and provided China the leverage evolving stronger in the changed global order after the World War II, during the Cold War era and more importantly fall of the former USSR. China has emerged strongly and become the strongest exponent of communist ideology. Its inclusion in the elite block of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and attaining larger ratification by a section of international community as one of the important stakeholders in global affairs particularly in the affairs related to South East and Far East Asia were important developments that took place in the bygone era. This proved to be pouring fuel in long-cherished and nurtured Chinese dream to take forward its expansionist strategy.

 

But while discussing India-China relationship, India’s overall policy initiations regarding China need to put into scanner. India’s soft policy and the rhetoric like Chini-Hindi-Bhai-Bhai were utterly wrong policies. Unfortunately, India’s strategic think-tank did not realise this before 1962. China subduing India on the military front in 1962 was not only worst humiliation for India on the military front but this demoralised India and kept on proving oxygen to all anti-India elements against whom India has been fighting relentlessly till date. Tactical nexus between China and Pakistan is nothing but a part of the evil design to sabotage India’s interests. After all, China attaining the exalted status as an important parley of global affairs as one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council can never be a friend of Pakistan. Similarly, China building strategic partnership with the autocratic regime of North Korea and others are against spirit and ideology of the UN Charter. But Beijing always seems adamant to keep relationship with all those nations that can feed its strategic and military agenda. In fact, China having veto power has declined the affairs of UN Security Council into a virtual circus show. Plight is: along with other permanent members of the UN Security Council, rest of the world has been silent spectators of this.

Contrary to its status, China has exposed worst form of irresponsibility repeatedly. Terms like value, ethics, human rights, prosperity, mutual understanding is non-entities in the lexicon of China. Naturally, this has enhanced the process of building partnership between China and non-state actors and an axis has grown up against peace and security of the international community. Is this expected from a nation representing global community in the august platform like the United Nations? So also, China has been playing the game of buying the loyalty of different nations through its investment policy in case of under-developed nations. Economic needs of such nations are the weak nerves that China has been pressing. But in this give-and-take policy the underdeveloped nations become bound to compromise too many. Actually, Chinese policy is never to help anybody. In fact, no nation has become economically independent through Chinese help. What China does is putting into compulsions of such nations. Economic status of Pakistan and other China loyal nations spell it out better. Reality is: state of Pakistan is becoming bad to worse and one of its reasons is Islamabad’s extreme dependence on Beijing. Today’s Pakistan is utterly a failed nation from every parameter and Chinese policy is responsible for this. Pakistan is foolishly relying on China.

 

Along with these, today’s China believes that it has replaced United States and other important platforms of global affairs in terms of strategic dominance. This Chinese phobia has invited new perils in the security fronts. This has evolved against larger security interests of the periphery and beyond. In this context role played by India is worthy. New age India’s policy of replying China in the language that Beijing understands is a practical and tactical approach. Chinese militarily escalation is undoubtedly one of the important developments in the recent years. This not only asks the dragon standing before the mirror but reinitiate policies. Response of brave Indian soldiers against Chinese escalation across the LAC amidst uncongenial atmosphere has not only subdued China but also sent clear message to all. India will no longer allow anybody to break the status quo in her borders. Earlier Pakistan had to swallow bitter pills, now China is experiencing the same.

Since the limited military conflict began between India and China across the border, China has been propagating and misleading all referring to causalities of Indian soldiers. This was a ploy to divert international opinion, make India nervous, and inflict India’s image as emerging power of the continent. China thought this would compel India taking defensive policy and make some compromises considering multi-pronged security challenges coming from China, Pakistan, terror outfits of PoK, Left-winged extremism, buffer States like Nepal and Bhutan, radical outfits of Bangladesh and maritime security threat particularly across the nautical boundary of the Indian Ocean and beyond. However, China seems unaware about the fact that new age India has already done requisite homework regarding all these. New Delhi has reframed country’s strategic agenda, military modernization, expansion of strategic partnership, defence-partnerships with several nations, strong steps for cyber security and other relevant and related affairs. India’s strategic, military and logistic strengths have been ignored by China. Beijing was not ready to change the mindset of 1962 which was the biggest blunder made by Chinese regime this time. But important point is not Chinese perception. China has the liberty to be in utopian dream. If Beijing is not ready to recognise India’s capability, this is the problem of present Chinese regime and its loyal like Pakistan. India does not need to bother about this and think-tank of New Delhi has maintained tactical approach on that which has delivered substantives.

 

But important point is the recent developments took place related to defusing tension between India and China and the strategic-diplomatic significances of all these show China in the back foot. Importantly, the recent talks took place between the two nations are not regular on incremental engagements. Rather, the talks held in an unusual situation. In terms of bilateral engagement between the two nations, these talks are unprecedented that held mostly on India’s term. As per reports published in the media, “Eight months after a fierce border clash at Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, China has officially acknowledged casualties and named four officers and soldiers that it said were killed. Five soldiers, including an officer who was injured, were honoured by the Chinese leadership, reported the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese military, on Friday (February 19). Those killed included Qi Fabao, the regimental commander from the PLA Xinjiang Military Command. India had confirmed the loss of 20 Indian soldiers shortly after the clashes on June 15 – soldiers who were honoured for their bravery with their names installed in memorials. So far, Beijing had never acknowledged Chinese casualties. The admission from China comes days after India’s Northern Army Commander referred to the figure of 45 Chinese casualties reported by Russian news agency TASS on February 10.”

“India and China have concluded the tenth round of military talks, which began yesterday morning after 10 AM and lasted for about 16 hours. The talks come as the two neighbouring countries completed the disengagement process on both the banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh on Friday (February 19). In the fresh round of senior commander level talks, disengagement in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra remained on the agenda. The discussions were held till 2 AM at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC (Line of Actual Control) – the de-facto India-China border – near Chushul on the South Bank of Pangong.– The two countries have been holding diplomatic and military talks for the last nine months after tensions began rising along the high-altitude border in April. The situation escalated when 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the line of duty in a physical clash on June 15 at Galwan Valley in Ladakh. The disengagement of troops of the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from the LAC was reached after sustained negotiations at the military and diplomatic level, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last week. “This agreement was reached after several rounds of sustained negotiations at the military and diplomatic level,” Anurag Srivastava, MEA spokesperson told reporters, adding that the next steps post disengagement has been “clearly spelt out” by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his speech in Parliament.”2

As quoted in the same report, “On February 20, the 10th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting was held on the Chinese side of the Moldo/ Chushul border meeting point. The two sides positively appraised the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area noting that it was a significant step forward that provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the LAC in Western Sector,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. “The two sides agreed to follow the important consensus of their state leaders, continue their communication and dialogue, stabilise and control the situation on the ground, push for a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues in a steady and orderly manner, so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.”

The recent round of talks gives some clear messages to every nation; be within the periphery or beyond. This is loud and clear today that India has reshaped herself as per need of the hour and this is not 1962 or 1965 but 2021. Today’s India is not only an important stakeholder in global affairs but has the ability to steward international opinion. India is well-prepared to reply any sinister design and subdue the offender through force and tactics. This sends a message to Pakistan and approaches of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Message is strong for the entire terror network operating from POK and their efforts sabotaging India’s territorial and security interests. Penetrating into India is not that easy as had been before. India’s border vigilance mechanism is really strong enough in case of borders with Pakistan and China in particular. Now after the recent developments, China will not have that much confidence to take forward the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and others. China replacing India in Afghan affairs will not be easy.

In fact, China is badly exposed this time, real state of China’s strategic and military strength that has created lot of euphoria so far. The credit goes to India’s strategic and military think-tank for creating such an uncongenial atmosphere for China. But apart from exposing China, India’s strategic venture has harnessed larger ground. India has tactically sent the message to all her neighbouring nations. That is futility of depending on China. India has proved that all the SAARC nations, the ASEAN and others can never expect economic development and others remaining in the lap of China. So also, initiatives of India have proved that in the present circumstance it is not China-led Block having potential strategic strength utterly. Rather, QUAD nations comprising India, Japan, US and Australia have evolved as an alternative axis having the potentiality of constructive strategic roadmap for the security and development of this region and large part of Asia-Pacific. Similarly, this has given a wake-up call to President Joe Biden about the cunning nature of China, which will ultimately help in forming larger strategic partnership between the two democratic nations under President Biden. It is true in case of Britain, nations of European Union, African nations and countries of Latin America. The recent developments will compel different nations to give a fresh look to their respective China policies. If this happens, China will have to face massive loss in its foreign trade and more importantly its maritime strategic interests both in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

Thus, India’s assertive policies against China has substantially changed global perception and to some extent trajectory of global community regarding China. This is undoubtedly a big achievement harnessed by India in the strategic front. But the momentum should keep going. India should continue her pressure diplomacy against China and make all efforts to diminish Chinese influence at least within the region. India should remain better prepared as the dragon will definitely try to bounce back. The need of the hour is to keep China on India’s gunpoint as well as fostering effective strategic agenda to counter China on every front. Importantly, Indian strategy is displaying maturity and expected to deliver lots in the dates ahead.

-The writer is an Assam-based Strategic Affairs Expert. The views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda