Rise Of India
| Date :28-Jun-2020 |
By ANSHUMAN BHARGAVA :
“Arguably, China’s main contender is India and all its strategies are drawn keeping in view India’s foreign policy and its growth trajectory. Greater the scare, more violent are the gestures and overtures as distress rises.”
“China’s expansionist policies are well known and for long it has been trying to extend its influence by crafty trade deals or diplomatic one-upmanship in far off countries like Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Taipei, North Korea, and Iran.”
IN THE backdrop of the India-China standoff, it is clear to mention that no one can dare to stare at India with a crooked eye. It may also be mentioned that Maoism and terrorism had declined in India due to the hawkish courage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government. The authority and decisiveness with which the present Government has acted on its promises certainly show a radical departure from earlier Governments which believed in the policy of appeasement and dithered from taking stringent action that could disturb the status quo.
The rise of India as a strong power in the last six years has raised the hackles of countries inimical to our interests and hence the heightened activity from countries like China, Nepal, and Pakistan is understandable. China cannot see itself sidelined or trounced by a rising superpower and it will naturally try to do all it can to stall India’s progress in economy or diplomacy. By engaging India in niggling skirmishes and squabbles, it tries to divert its resources and attention and thus deflect the process of growth. It also bullies countries like Pakistan and Nepal to surrender to its sovereignty so that these territories can be nurtured and used as bases from where China can mount its strategic offensives.
China’s expansionist policies are well known and for long it has been trying to extend its influence by crafty trade deals or diplomatic one-upmanship in far off countries like Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Taipei, North Korea, and Iran. Arguably, its main contender is India and all its strategies are drawn keeping in view India’s foreign policy and its growth trajectory. Greater the scare, the more violent are the gestures and overtures as distress rises. That is one major reason why China is frequently rearing its head and playing up the border issue, knowing well that all the gimmicks will come to naught. Neither India is going to give it an inch of its land, nor is there any merit in China’s claims that even deserves a consideration. The ploy is to disturb India and keep it engaged on issues of insignificance so that the more important tasks are delayed or get neglected.
China is aware of Prime Minister Modi’s caliber and delivery tactics and hence it can never go over the board in its anti-India rant. Modi neither minces words nor hesitates to strike if necessary. Additionally, China shares a healthy trade relationship with India, which it will not want to ruin at any cost. India is an emerging market with huge potential for investment and China’s fortunes depend largely on how well India receives its products and technology.
The souring of diplomatic relations will affect its exports and thus its economy can be hit. On the other hand, Modi has also forged very strong relationships with the US as a counterforce to snub China and the Indo-US strategic tie-up poses a serious challenge before it, restricting much of its maneuvering space. These restrictions and impediments chain and weaken China and its frustration is visible. Its plans to control the seas of South Asia have faltered in the face of strong opposition from the US, Japan, India, and other countries. It’s One Road One Belt initiative has also run into troubled waters and progress is tardy. China desperately needs more markets and greater control over affairs in the region to sustain its population and economy. And it is continuously scouting around for the weak links it can latch on to. However, India is cautious and prepared and the Prime Minister is completely aware of the developments on the border.
Our arsenals are ready for any kind of exigency and it is very unlikely that China can go ahead with any misadventure, given India’s current military, economic and diplomatic position. Over the last six years, the Government has aggressively bolstered its defence mechanism with the latest arms and types of equipment that are capable of thwarting any kind of assault. Acquisitions from foreign countries were expedited and files pending for years were cleared rapidly so that we don’t languish. The world now reckons India’s military capability and the diplomatic heft India has today can be attributed to its military and economic prowess. It is a change in the Government’s defence strategies again that has resulted in the decline of Maoism and terrorism.
They now know that the Government can be unsparing of any evil designs and the days of mindless appeasement are gone. The Government calls the spade a spade and doesn’t turn back on its promises, be it an abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir or paying back Pakistan in its own coin. These indications have a ripple effect on the geopolitical mapping, both inside the country and beyond, and adversaries align their warpath to suit the temperament of the Government, softening or intensifying their stand accordingly. A weak Government invites easy invectives while a strong Government allays fears. Here is where real success is counted and the present NDA-II dispensation has been exactly on its mark. India is today seen in a new light of hope, energy, and adventure – something that had gone missing in the last decade. India’s tremendous talent and potential were getting undermined and sidelined due to a lack of proper publicity and coverage. Today they are before the world and people are sitting up and taking stock— India has arrived. We need to support the Government through our honest effort and involvement and take India to new heights of development because, in the end, the captain is only as good as his team. If we Indians don’t unite and think big, no one can take us forward. We have all the right coordinates in place to grow and shine, and this is the time to make a big splash in the global discourse through our excellence. If we want to defeat our enemies, the best way is to do so by virtue of our talent. If we are economically, spiritually, mentally, physically, and scientifically powerful, we won’t need to use our guns for bloodshed. By the way, our strength will be enough to diminish our adversaries. That’s where our collective focus should be – to explore and use our inherent strengths for the best of the nation. Other things will automatically fall in place. Throughout history, it has been proved that it is the character of the people that is the ultimate hallmark of a nation’s greatness. It is from within we people that great leaders are born, it is from within us that great ideas are generated that move the world.