Stronger Xi will bring foreign policy challenges for India

BEIJING: One aspect of the Communist Party of China’s congress that is certain is that at the end of it on October 24, President Xi Jinping will emerge a stronger leader - his powers consolidated, his men in key positions in decision-making bodies of the ruling party.

What does a stronger, more assertive Xi mean for India?

Less than two months ago, troops of the two countries had to untangle themselves from a military standoff at Doklam that lasted more than 70 days.

The face-off ended with India withdrawing its troops from the Doklam or Donglang region claimed by Bhutan and China stopping work on a road, but somehow, it seemed that Beijing’s retreat was strategic.

On Wednesday, however, Xi spoke of a softer strategy towards neighbours. He spoke about deepening “relations with (China’s) neighbours in accordance with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership”.

It’s fairly certain China’s neighbourhood will remain an important foreign policy priority for Xi and his new team.

Experts and diplomats, however, believe an assertive and rising China – though not a new phenomenon – will raise new challenges for India.

“Naturally a more and more proactive and assertive China, which is shaping its periphery, which has leadership ambitions in the region and beyond, will bring more challenges (for India),” said AK Kantha, the former Indian envoy to China who served during 2014-16.

Beijing is prepared to achieve its interests and disregard competing claims, said an academic who didn’t wish to be named.

India will have to be ready to tackle a country on the rise and one of the most powerful Chinese leaders in decades, said Victor Shih, associate professor at the school of global policy and strategy at the University of California in San Diego. HTC