Round The
World
New Delhi, 23 November 2017
Rising
Asian Power
INDIA TO OUTDO CHINA!
By Dr DK Giri
(Prof. International Politics, JMI)
India’s rise as a
formidable Asian Power was confirmed around ASEAN and East Asian Summits held
last week. Major countries engaged in the region reckon and back India as a
potential countervailing force to China’s aggressive and expansionist policies
in the region. The only impediment to India’s march is its domestic
determinants such as the economy and social harmony. The economy has to grow at
least at 8 per cent for a decade or so to meet her commitments at home and the
objectives abroad. Because it is only the economic might of China India should
be wary of.
India is unique in
Asia in many respects: in political democracy, the only one in Asia that has
sustained for 70 years since its independence in 1947; in social pluralism, it
is the most diverse country in the world, with 22 official languages, 6 major
religions, hundreds of castes, it holds together without falling apart unlike
the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia, the so-called developed countries; and in
civilisational resilience, it has a 6000-year-old
civilisation that has withstood several invasions, yet survived and thrived with its indigenous attributes.
In economy, India’s
growth has not been as meteoric as that of China, it has been unaffected by the
vagaries of the world economy, been reformed democratically, and is steadily
growing. India can also pride itself in producing a massive technical human
resource which is contributing to the knowledge economy of the world.
Undoubtedly, India
faces the most difficult external challenges from Pakistan and China, says
former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal. But, I have difficulty in accepting his
argument that Islamabad has been the spoilsport in India’s engagement in Asia. He
argues Pakistan has blocked the integration process in SAARC to stem India’s
growing clout in the region. It has bled India by abating cross-border
terrorism in Kashmir, and has used nuclear blackmail to thwart India.
Pakistan’s open and loud admission of its continued aggression on India is
centred on Kashmir. Pakistan would not put the sword back in the sheath until
Kashmir imbroglio is resolved.
India needs to
address Kashmir issue with a defter diplomacy. For instance, why not India put
entire Kashmir--both PoK, and the part in India-on its agenda, and decide if it
should remain in India, or jointly be administered with Pakistan. That way,
both India and Pakistan would remain partners, or tied as friends around
Kashmir. Or alternatively, Pakistan and India settle for their respective
possessions of parts of Kashmir, and sign another peace agreement like the one
at Shimla, and, not ever stir the hornet’s nest any amore.
Third, New Delhi and
Islamabad, should keep Kashmir aside for a while, Islamabad stops supporting
terrorism in India, helps revive the SAARC process, build closer co-operation
leading to eventual integration in various sectors, and then address the Kashmir
issue. One perceptive observer said to me in a seminar on Kashmir in University
of Hull, UK, “India will not cede an inch of Kashmir even after a bloody war, but
Kashmir can be handled in an integrated framework under SAARC, where
territorial affinities become less relevant to the growth and development in
South Asia”.
Whatever may be a
possible scenario ‘New Delhi has to resolve the Kashmir controversy to silence
Pakistan forever and resume the bilateral relations in a healthier and
friendlier setting. At any rate, New Delhi should be sending positive vibes to
Islamabad treating it as a potential friend.
Admittedly, China is
the real worry for India. It is run by an authoritarian Communist Party, has
built a gigantic economy by exploiting its cheap human resource. Beijing
perceives India to be a competitor in Asia. It is buying off India’s friendly neighbours
with project finances. Of late, it is propping up Pakistan to contain India
strategically. China is the only country in the world that is making
territorial claims on all the countries it borders. It is making ‘fantastic’
claims on Indian territory.
Ludicrously, it objects
to India’s current president visiting Arunachal Pradesh, one of India’s 29
states. It supports Pakistan on terrorism; blocks India’s entry into UN
Security Council as a permanent member, although all other permanent members
agree to it, and denies access to Nuclear Supply Group. Beijing, ungratefully,
forgets that Jawaharlal Nehru generously suggested China’s permanent membership
in UNSC.
India has to
seriously and strategically counter China’s designs in Asia. New Delhi has
smartly drawn closer to Japan, another country aggrieved and hurt by China’s
geo-politics. India-Japan partnership across the Globe-- Asia and Africa --
would checkmate China’s moves. The ‘Quad’ conceived and nurtured by Japan,
comprising India, Japan, US, and Australia is the perfect instrument to stop
China on its tracks.
During the latest
ASEAN, and East Asia Summits India’s position in Asian stage was acknowledged
by most countries. The nomenclatural change of Asia-Pacific into Indo-Pacific
includes India into the equation, acknowledging India’s role, being vital to
Asia’s security.
So far, New Delhi has
done remarkably well, shifting away from a non-aligned position to stitching
strategic alliances with Japan, US, Israel, ASEAN and East-Asian countries.
India can become an Asian Power, more effective and acceptable than China by
being a model of politics and development, at home and abroad. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi can no longer ignore the symbiotic link between domestic and
foreign policies.
In the current
globalised world, the efficacy of a country’s foreign policy is the function of
the success in politics and economy at home and vice-e-versa: It seems the
mandarins in South Block under the able leadership of NaMo are yet to learn
this fundamental truth of foreign affairs. They will do well to recall the
advice by the author of realpolitik, Professor Hans J.Morgenthau, who said,
“India cannot promote its laudable foreign policy objectives due to her chronic
and widespread poverty”. To be sure, much water has flown down river Yamuna
since, but not enough to propel India to the world stage. How is China flexing
its muscle, if not for its economic might?
Obviously, NAMO is
enjoying his new found status in the world. He is perceived to be one of the effective
global leaders. Will he be able to retain this image, at least in Asian
context, if he fails to shore up the economy and maintain the social
equilibrium? In addition to addressing the domestic challenges, the prospects
of India emerging as the Asian power also depend upon how India develops its
relations with in neighbours. Modi made a sound start by inviting the heads of
the neighbouring countries to his swearing – in ceremony in 2014. Also, he made
his first foreign visit as Prime Minister to Bhutan. But China has
surreptitiously slipped into India’s neighbourhood. New Delhi seems to have
conceded, in advertently or otherwise, some space to China in her
neighbourhood.
Modi’s visit to Nepal
invited euphoric response, but our subsequent policies like supporting the
Madhesi movement provoked anti-India feelings. Nepal as been the most trusted
friend of India, but now courts China, supposedly to tap into its surplus
money. Similar is the story with other neighbours. Being the largest country,
India overawes its smaller neighbours. It must be sensitive to comparative geo-politics,
and embark on positive engagement in the South-Asia region. That will be the
hallmark of a big power. – INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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