Context:There is a divergence in views on both sides; India needs a plan to check Beijing’s strategic objectives and ambitions.
Recent talks between India and China:
The Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral summit: where the defence ministers and foreign ministers of the two countries tried to sort out the matters.
Issues with Indo-China relations
Illusionary Consensus: The Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral summit where the defence ministers and foreign ministers of the two countries failed to bring out tangible outcomes:
The ‘Five Point Consensus’ limited itself to urging the two sides to take guidance from “the consensus of their leaders on developing India-China relations.
The remaining points were con?ned to urging both sides to abide by all existing agreements and protocols on China-India boundary a?airs and maintain peace and tranquillity;
Reiterated the importance of the Special Representative Mechanism to maintain communications;
Calling for the continuance of meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India China Border A?airs (WMCC).
Neither the Joint Statement, (nor the respective notes issued subsequently) specifically or obliquely mentioned a return to “the status quo” or to positions prior to the stando?.
What emerged from the talks, however, fell well short of expectations.
Divergence in views:
China claimed that the Indian side “does not consider relations to be dependent on the settlement of the boundary question”, which is different from the actual Indian view.
This is the business as usual from the Chinese side since ignoring the huge trust deficit that existed between the two countries has long been demonstrated by China.
Contrasting strategic thought: Kautilya vs SunTzu - While restraint and moderation, as well as a balanced attitude to the use of force, are recurring themes in both texts, there are clear divergences when it comes to methodologies to be employed.
For Sun Tzu, strategic positioning is critical to obtain a strategic advantage. All warfare, according to Sun Tzu, is based on deception and deceiving the opponent.
While Kautilya emphasizes the significance of both power and morality, Sun Tzu seeks to subdue the enemy without fighting and resorting to attacking the enemy’s strategy as the best option.
Challenges to managing China’s rise: it is challenging to balance the twin objectives of “managing a more powerful neighbour while ensuring India’s rise”. This is because:
China’s convoluted motives: Developing countries like India cannot keep themselves away from the convoluted Chinese notion of the “Community with a shared future for Mankind”.
China’s intent today is to achieve great power status while ensuring acknowledgement of its status by other countries.
Downsides of confrontational politics: Confrontational Politics aggravates the situation and creates a psychological impact on China’s thinking, pushing itself to secure its self-interest.
Way Forward for India
Reach out to neighbours: and even countries beyond, warning them about falling into the trap of Chinese global ambitions.
Check Chinese exploitation of Vaccine Diplomacy: China’s plans to provide access to China’s coronavirus vaccine to several countries of Asia and Africa.
Prepare militarily: It might well be the case that the current regime in China may be manufacturing crises to play to a domestic audience, in part due to economic compulsions, but India must be on its guard.