China is a South Asian country, sharing borders with 14 countries including India. Governed by the Communist Party of China (CPC) since 1949, it has rapidly transformed into a global manufacturing hub and technological leader. Its significance lies in its economic rise in the region and hegemonic influence over smaller countries through loans and the Belt and Road Initiative.
As the epicenter of COVID-19, China faced global scrutiny over its pandemic response. Its strict zero-COVID policy and economic slowdowns have affected global markets, while trade disputes and technological restrictions with the US, EU, and India continue to shape its global relations.
China’s foreign policy is marked by its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), expanding influence through infrastructure projects, and territorial disputes, particularly in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, and along the India-China border. It fought a war with India in 1962 over Aksai Chin, and tensions persist along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), most recent being the Galwan Valley clash in 2020.
The paper gives a comprehensive analysis of the issue, covering most of the aspects, with some speculations/expectations from NSA’s visit.
The aspects of Chinese compulsion of standing up to the larger than life image created by China in general and President Xi Jinping in particular in domestic community and domestic politics, especially in view of forthcoming elections is preventing them to soften up. It needs little more elaboration because China and US may be treating it as a test case of their stand off in South China Sea.
In one of my comments on global times, that any two sided scenerio building exercise will lead to only one conclusion that any land conflict will end into a stalemate, which is damaging for Xi Jinping’s image, hence the best option for China in given circumstances is psychological warfare, together with other modes of building pressure on India, hoping that India may recoil, and it can win the stand off without fighting, in accordance with Sun Tzu’s teachings.
We therefore need to follow Kautilya, by playing it cool but firm in our stand and prevent this incremental encroachment part of Active Defence Strategy of China, ignoring the rhetorics of Global Times for Chinese domestic consumption. We, however need to be prepared for worst case scenario.
Gen Asthana
It was inevitable because of China’s expansionist policy , question was only when ! We overpopulated , castiest society.& corrupt nation never gave thought to prepare our selves to face the challange posed by China ,even after Pakistan having gifted disputed territory of Gilgit & Baltistan to China ! This was clear signal that China has no love lost for India ! Had we taken tough stand against China at that time things wouldn’t have come to this stage !