There were lot of peripheral talks with evasive statements both ways in our negotiations with China over the past some decades. Although, we were able to ward off military confrontations but the pin-prick incursions continued. These have kept our nation at the receiving end and the trading has been on a weaker wicket. That resulted in deficit trade and balance that favoured China. Their dumping of plastics, and plastic toys including some found toxic and harmful for children, very fragile low cost house hold items flooded Indian markets; that had adverse impact on our own cottage, small and medium scale industries. These are few adverse pressures to quote.
The recent visit by the Chinese president Xi Jinping has been more revealing behind the ‘iron curtain’ of the secretive system of Chinese internal governance. Xi is considered as a strong head of nation, often compared with Mao tse Tung and Deng. He is also heads the Central Military Command (CPC) in his country and has a military background. Few things, that came to fore recently defy the earlier belief of a total political supremacy in that country.
The partial immediate withdrawal by Chinese troops in Chumar area during Xi’s visit after the talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their re-appearance the very next morning is an indicator. The directions to PLA to abide by and adhere to Presidents commands on one hand and instructions to them to prepare for a ‘regional war’ on the other are yet stronger indications of all not being well internally within China and in what is simmering in the India-China relations. The growing conflict of interests in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea only add to these dimensions. In the backdrop of Hindi-Chini bhai bhai history of past and Chinese persistence on the ‘border dispute’, repeated incursions, her stapled visa regime, her objection to Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, her denial of visa to Northern Army Commander are all factors that can neither be forgotten, overlooked or put under carpet. Political, strategical and military cautions are therefore essential. Strategy is based on adversary’s capabilities and not intensions-that can change overnight.