Problem is not with Hindu nationalism, but with Chinese expansionism
The red dragon is firing irresponsible and provocative statements on the Sikkim standoff again and again. The newest in the series came out with the headline “Hindu nationalism risks pushing India into war with China” in the state-backed Global Times on July 19, 2017.
The article, which was crafted in a threatening mode, takes on PM Narendra Modi and Hindu nationalism without any legitimacy, and blames India’s rising nationalist feelings for the present tumultuous situation at the border.
Anti-China sentiments are rising in India with an upsurge of nationalism, states China. It’s a statement China released to cover up its sins of expansionism and errors of political strategy in dealing with India.
The problem is with China’s colonial mindset and their aggressive military desires, not with Indian nationalism.
The weeks-long confrontation on the shared border between China, India and Bhutan is orchestrated and executed by China. India’s stand was clear in the statement issued by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in the Upper House.
“Over the years, China has been trying to get closer and closer to where the tri-junction point ends. It has done things like repair roads, re-tar them and things like that,” the minister said.
Issues with China have nothing to do with India’s Hindu nationalism. Nor was it the result of India’s failed diplomacy. China is accusing Modi for acting tough on it and Pakistan as directed by the so-called religious fundamentalists here.
Pakistan has been waging a bloody failed-war on India since 1947 through multiple modes. China is mentoring it now in all possible ways by taking the country as a little brother. But India has no right to defend. That’s what China thinks!
The Chinese have selective amnesia on diplomatic developments in post-Modi India. Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to India in September 2014 was the result of Modi’s openness to China. Then most of the foreign policy experts were of the opinion that Modi’s diplomacy with a personal touch would change India’s equations with China in an unprecedented way. Then what happened?
India did nothing wrong. But China did. Look at this statement from a former US diplomat amid the Sikkim standoff. “China needs to acknowledge that India is a force to be reckoned with and countries in the region are unsettled by Beijing's behaviour,” former US assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told PTI.
India has shown no hesitance to increase trade with China, but they have no interest in supporting India when it comes to crucial matters. Even after Modi’s call for a more constructive friendship, China decided to provide immunity to the epicentre of anti-India terrorism Pakistan, engaged in blocking India’s bid to the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) and gave a good certificate to Maulana Masood Azhar, the architect of many terror strikes in India and the leader of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.
More than that, China played tricks with the One Belt One Road initiative. “Despite China's goodwill in inviting India to join the Belt and Road initiative (BRI), India insists on interpreting the project as part of China's strategic containment and encirclement of it,” the article in Global Times points out.
What’s this so-called goodwill of China? It’s the hidden agenda of the Communist state. The most important element of BRI is the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Along with expanding its tentacles in developing countries, the dragon has plans to end India’s claim on PoK.
The last point in the Global Times piece is about their concern about India’s minorities. “The Modi government can do nothing if religious nationalism becomes extreme, as shown in its failure to curb violent incidents against Muslims since he came to power in 2014,” it noted. Does India need the mentoring of a nation which treats religions in a ruthless manner?
The crackdown on dissent, activism, religion and civil society by the Chinese government has only a few parallels in the world. The death of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo in Chinese custody is the latest example in this bloody crackdown.
Let the Chinese government first think about creating an ecosystem for its own people where they can enjoy the freedom to live without fear.