New Delhi: The India and China armies have been locked in a military stand-off since early May with soldiers on both sides engaging in scuffles on several occasions. The dispute has arisen over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Pangong lake.
We asked reader’s: Does India-China border tension show PM Modi’s diplomacy with President Xi has gone waste?
This is what some of them had to say:
‘India must become Atmanirbhar because it can’t trust China’
History says China doesn’t want to settle LAC because they believe expanding its territories will help them in becoming a global power. But Modi can’t be blamed as the Prime Minister had taken the initiative to enhance diplomacy with China. But China wants to become the global power, so it is trying to ruin India and US’s close friendship.
At the same time, Covid-19 happened, which turned the world’s attention towards China. With the future world moving towards technology and renewable energy, India should continue to move towards US as it can’t trust China, and become ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) to tackle China, which is the only way forward for time being — Abhishek Savanth, Belagavi (Karnataka). Twitter handle: @iam_abhishek125.
‘An overreaction to say diplomacy has gone to waste’
Claiming that PM Modi’s diplomacy with President Xi has gone waste would be an overreaction as engagement is the only way to disengage from the recent standoff at the LAC. But the current move by China should once again remind us to be wary of Chinese bearhug. The long term solution on disputed borders can be found only through diplomacy at all levels possible. It is also not possible to ignore China as not only is it our neighbour, but also a major power shaping the geopolitical arenas in the modern world. So we can sum up our future policy towards China in three words: ‘Engage with caution’ — Shubham Pandey, Lucknow. Twitter handle: @shubhpandey174.
‘Diplomacy is working, we just need to wait for the issue to cool down’
The India-China border issue has been persistent since 1962. What could be a better time for President Xi to open the front on Ladakh when the entire world is struggling with the coronavirus? If the diplomatic channel had gone wrong, then battle front would be the only option left. The current situation and dialogues is a sign that diplomatic channels are working. Though India is well aware of the unpredictable nature of China, it must have armed deployment along the border. Sooner or later, the LAC issue will be resolved as India has the best strategic position in the world. Any misadventure of China will force India to turn to the US. Then India will be more vocal on Hong Kong, Taiwan and South China Sea. It will be detrimental for China to turn India into foe. So we must wait as this border will take time to cool down — Arundhati Mishra, Ghaziabad. Twitter handle: @MISHRAArundhati
‘Modi’s ‘hug diplomacy’ has failed’
Yes, Prime Minister Modi’s much hyped hug-diplomacy has failed us miserably today, as is evident by the stand-off at the border. The fact that ministers and office-bearers of the government are shying away from facing questions of the press as well as the Opposition on the issue of the Chinese incursion bears testament to how embarrassing this has turned out to be for India. Modi’s misfiring principles of diplomacy need to be re-calibrated immediately to ensure that there are no further embarrassments, given the predicament we are in with regards to Nepal as well — Ritwik Tyagi, Navi Mumbai. Twitter handle: @Ritwik_T.
‘India has indirectly gained from Modi’s diplomatic efforts’
China became a superpower after the year 2000. Their socialist-capitalism has worked wonders for its economy. With such a superpower in the neighbourhood, no country, let alone India, can afford it to be an enemy. While the direct effects of PM Modi’s diplomacy with Xi might seem wasted, there are a lot of indirect benefits India gained because of it. India has always had an image of a friendly nation to all (even to Pakistan in a diplomatic sense) and a non-aligned nation. Gaining the trust of countries takes time and effort, and that is exactly the effort PM Modi put in during his first stint as PM, traveling and meeting with various dignitaries and offering a friendly hand to all, even China. This strengthened India’s image as a modern and cordial country, whose PM wanted to promote economic ties benefiting both India and the rest of the world. Such foreign diplomacy helps countries during times of need, as seen at WHO and UN where India’s stance is becoming increasingly powerful. Because of this ideology, the abrogation of Article 370 received support from most countries in the world, even though it does not bode well for China or Pakistan or their CPEC project. That is where PM Modi’s Xi diplomacy has helped India.
Look at it the other way, if PM Modi had not tried to offer a friendly hand to China, President Xi could’ve made PM Modi look aggressive and used that to create an image of an aggressive India. This would have led to a very different reception to abrogation of 370 on the world stage. This would’ve had a negative impact on not only the northernmost borders of India but also India’s border with China in Arunachal Pradesh. China then could’ve easily waltzed in, (albeit with some resistance from Indian armed forces), but India could not have been so aggressive about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Aksai Chin and Ladakh.
Keep your friends close and your enemy closer. In this situation, this has worked in favour of India till now as China cannot be very aggressive about the Ladakh border with India, which it could’ve been if PM Modi’s Xi diplomacy was absent — Ravin Mankad, Mumbai. Twitter handle: @MankadRavin.
‘India didn’t read the signs early enough’
The abrupt scrapping of Article 370 followed and splitting J&K into union territories coupled with divisive and unjust domestic policies diminished India’s image internationally. This and the refusal to read the signs of border crisis early on, and also the fact that we have an unaddressed whopping $80 billion trade deficit with China shows lack of diplomatic will and power. Yes, our diplomacy has gone to waste! — Sagar Bhatia, Kanpur. Twitter handle: @realSagarBhatia
‘China has been and continues to be difficult’
The India-China border tension shows that recent efforts have failed to contain China’s aggression at Indian borders. However, this doesn’t mean PM Modi’s diplomatic efforts were wasted, but simply reflects that China has been, and continues to be, difficult to deal with — from Nehru to Modi to any leader in the world. Modi’s strategy with China has been much in line with previous governments, just slightly more assertive and pro-alliance. However, this is inconsequential for China. More important for India is to maintain cordial relations with South-Asian neighbours and contain internal conflicts, especially in border areas. — Aakanksha Melkani, East Lansing, USA. Twitter handle: @a_melkani
‘Maybe it’s we need a new policy’
It certainly didn’t go to waste. It didn’t go to waste even in the 1962 Sino-Indian war. But does China listen to diplomacy?
China has an evergreen policy to aggressively undercut India while maintaining the facade that “All is well” on the surface. India has always undermined and followed up on its inside politics. China has a history of deteriorating relationships and policies and India adheres to its non-alignment strategy that works to maintain toxic bilateral relations over disputes.
Any simple and infrastructural activity on one side of the dispute can spook the other to rush in from their own controlled territory. India, if not China, should get on the frontline with its centric approach to solve 70 years of border dispute after the current standoff. India and China are likely to have several advantages, including many airbases in range, troops and camps. Due to uneven situations, a ceasefire violation may happen and cost a soldier’s life.
Geopolitics certainly matter but there should be a way for superpowers to stay next to each other without being in constant Cold War.
If old policies are not enough to maintain the relationship, then maybe, we need a new foreign policy — Kishan Mishra, Delhi. Twitter handle: BeyondEclipses
‘India follows appeasement policy, China follows economic engagement policy’
Absolutely. Diplomacy with President Xi has gone to waste. India follows the appeasement policy towards China to weaken China’s ties with Pakistan and to avert the danger of a two-front war with China and Pakistan. In 2014, India hosted the Chinese President and the meeting was declared successful on the economic front, but at the same time, PLA troops invaded southern Ladakh’s Chumar Valley and didn’t withdraw until India agreed to demolish local defensive fortification and this was the beginning of a policy of appeasement. For its part, China follows an economic engagement with containment by frequent military standoff at the disputed border — Ramendra Mishra, Bhopal. Twitter handle: @ramendra1212.
‘Modi govt’s show diplomacy helped the ruling party in India’
How the Chinese president was welcomed by the Indian government during his recent visit to India in October 2019 and their response hinted that there was no major problem between the two countries. But the recent standoff shows exactly opposite trends and indicates that the problem persists like it has always, and in fact, is worsening.
So it does raise questions on how effective the ‘personal diplomacy’ of the Narendra Modi government is. We have already witnessed it during Modi-Nawaz meet in 2015, between Trump and Modi, and with various other top leaders of the world. The main focus of such diplomacy is to present Mr Modi as an outstanding and popular world leader.
While it is yet to show any fruitful and out-of-the box result externally, this show of diplomacy has undoubtedly done marvellous work for the ruling party in reaping political benefits internally — Kapil Rana, Saharanpur.
Yes we must be careful with China, because they cannot be trusted. They are good so long as others live under them.
We must be firm also with China. No surrender at all. But the boundary disputes must be settled with mutual respect, which China does not want. They have lined up PAK and Neepal against us. May do the same with Bangladesh also. Because China does not want to see India progress and become a super power. We must avoid depending on China too much. We must learn how to self sufficient.
Through friendly diplomacy India/PM Modi tried to engage and settle our all disputes with Pak/,China/Neepal/ Bangladesh our immediate neighbours But it nutshell all these showed fruitless. It is not Modi’s problem, he well tried to settle issues with dignity. One cannot trust China at all. It is evident from what we see/ watch all around by China.
After 2000 China started opening with the rest of the world . Soon it started having standoffs with Japan over Senkaku island, Vietnam over drilling for oil, India for unmarked border, Taiwan , etc . Now with USA on trade. It had decades long stand off with Russia on border issue. So current standoff really doesnot say anything about Indian diplomacy or Modi’s deplomacy. It only shows desire of China to assert itself. How long China can go will be seen when its BRI starts getting opposition.
Learn a lesson from your western neighbours. Don’t fight someone else’s war. India is a great country, don’t destroy it. China will always be your neighbour, that is something you cannot change.