Media houses have been quite busy lately - thanks to our leaders, politicians and elections. The last few days – not very comforting - have kept journalists busy for different reasons. In the midst of the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s business and friendly trip to India, the Chinese army crossed the Line of Actual control (LAC) once again. The timing of this incursion was very odd, and uncomfortable for the government and people of India. While top leaders from both countries were shaking hands, gifting presents to each other & signing economic pacts, the Chinese army was busy making inroads into the LAC. Debates on this on television have already started and will continue for many days to come. Our politicians will take credits, blame others and justify their stands. It may very well be true that the unfinished demarcation of the boundary is one reason for these ‘incursions’. But the big question remains: why could China not wait for a few more days, if it believes that it has to regularly show its aggression at the LAC. After all, things had been quiet many times in the past. Had China really wanted to be a friend and a trusted partner with India, it would have certainly avoided this situation. Unless these incursions are part of its game plan.
If we try to read China’s strategy over time, it seems that China finds incursions as the easiest way to ‘contain’ India. As long as these incursions keep happening and the boundary matter remains unresolved, India can be kept occupied and at bay. Probably that is why, when it comes to China, India needs to think beyond the boundary issue. This does not imply that India to sit idle, but probably new waters need to be tested. India has been trying to ‘counter’ China by befriending China’s neighbours or by building a port in Chabahar, Iran. Beyond this, could we maybe learn something from the Chinese, because we do face many similar problems and challenges – and opportunities? To do that we don’t have to go very far back in history. We have to just see what Jinping has done in recent weeks - something that Indian media has not really bothered to give coverage to. Before coming to India, Jinping has visited 3 ‘important’ countries – as part of China’s long-term vision. Two of those countries – Sri Lanka and Maldives - are India’s neighbours, while the third is Tajikistan. And in all these countries he has focused on only 3 things - trade, trade and trade. In Tajikistan a China-Central Asia pipeline & thermal power plant was inaugurated (it was funded by China). The pipeline, expected to be operational by 2016, will help China meet its gas needs. In Maldives, Jinping signed 9 pacts, which included the expansion of the main international airport. It is interesting that China won this project after it was snatched from India’s GMR. Similarly, China is investing in power and construction projects in Sri Lanka. It is also actively pitching for and planning to revive the old silk road/route, to facilitate trade. This would provide multi-faceted advantages to China, including control in and around the Indian Ocean. India needs to learn fast, and stop being so predictable. If we don’t do something different, Jinping’s next visit will be no different - history will kind of repeat itself (as it has since 1962).
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