Caution’s the word

 

‘CAUTION’ should be the key word to define the efforts to make bilateral relations healthier between India and China -- an inference stemming from the statement of Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar following his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Mr. Wang Yi in Beijing. The purpose of the meeting on wide-ranging issues was aimed at achieving higher bilateral synergy between the two Asian powers, and Dr. S. Jaishankar highlighted the need to de-escalate the Himalayan military positioning of the two countries. In fact, he suggested that differences should not become disputes and competition should not get converted into conflict. It is necessary to note that certain positivism appears to prevail between India and China, no matter the tensions that persist between them. In spite of the Chinese habit of playing blow-hot-blow-cold games with India all along, it must be stated that India’s tit-for-tat response to Beijing’s diplomatic hooliganism has always proved effective.

 

Though India never took aggressive steps, it nevertheless did not shy away from offering a stiff response to the Chinese overtures in every manner possible. The biggest discomfiture of China is that India has evolved a very well-premeditated foreign policy approach against the Chinese misadventures. On countless occasions, the Chinese have found it difficult to outwit the Indians. Dr. S. Jaishankar’s assertion about the nature of bilateralism between New Delhi and Beijing points to India’s upper-hand on most issues. It indicates that India is a caller of shots and not just a responder all the time.

 

The diplomatic engagement, thus, between India and China has become rather hectic, so to say, over time. Even when the Chinese troops tried to be smart in Galwan, Indian military leadership proved smarter and occupied quite a large area in eastern Ladakh surprising the Chinese no end. That pro-active move by the Indian military commanders showed to the Chinese that they were up against a side that knows its strengths well. Similar responses have also come from India on most bilateral issues, giving the Chinese a clear idea of New Delhi’s assertiveness as regards India’s relations with China. In the past sixty-plus years since the 1962 conflict, China has realised that the Indian reverses back then were only temporary and stemmed from an immature handling of the bilateral relations. But, as Beijing realised, India learned its ropes quickly and started the tit-for-tat policy that has served New Delhi well over time. Dr. Jaishankar’s assertion following the meeting at Beijing points to that maturity of the Indian approach. Even when India knows the off-and-on mischief the Chinese indulge in every now and then, which was also visible in the Chinese actions -- sly or otherwise -- during the recent Operation Sindoor, it has not allowed itself to be overwhelmed by Beijing’s street-smartness.

 

For each of the Chinese overtures, India has a well-planned counter that is often known to succeed rather than not. New Delhi, of course, knows that Beijing is no ‘friend’. Yet, it keeps extending a hand of friendship and cooperation to Beijing -- quite knowingly. Dr. S. Jaishankar’s assertion at the end of the recent Beijing meet shows the depth and strength of the Indian approach. ‘Let’s play the game. Let’s keep talking of de-escalation, but not budge from military positions if the Chinese are unwilling to cooperate.’ So, even if India does not push the differences to become disputes, it nevertheless does not mind going full distance to confront China at every step of the way. What the world is now witnessing by way of Indian diplomacy is possibly the finest version of the craft of international realpolitik -- masterminded by India. That craft shows that India knows the importance of ‘caution’ as a key word, but also knows when to throw it to the winds.