‘Beijing may suspend its ties with Delhi’ RSS wants a ‘tough and muscular policy’
DALAI’S NE VISIT Experts say both the countries could head for a diplomatic chill and China may use military to show its displeasure RSS IS UNHAPPY WITH BEIJING STALLING INDIA’S MOVE TO IMPOSE A UN CENSURE ON JeM CHIEF MASOOD AZHAR
Relations between India and China seem to be headed for a diplomatic chill over the visit of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, Chinese experts said, with some of them adding that Beijing should use all means including “military” to show its displeasure.
“He was just an issue. After this, he will become a bomb. Using this could make IndiaChina relationship more important but also more dangerous,” Ye Hailin, south Asia expert at the influential Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told HT.
If an incursion by the People’s Liberation Army across the Line of Actual Control that marks the disputed China-India border cannot be ruled out, it is also possible that Beijing suspends bilateral mechanisms as a response – at least temporarily.
China could even try to stir India’s strategic unease by boosting cooperation with India’s neighbours, especially Pakistan – sign new deals and pump in more financial aid.
Experts say the response is likely to be harsh, though the tone and tenor could be dictated by Beijing’s diplomatic goals ahead; the response will be calibrated to ensure that it doesn’t impact the BRICS summit in China in September, which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Chinese foreign ministry has already issued strong statements, saying the visit will “damage” ties with India; more MFA statements and strong state media editorials are likely to be issued too.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of South Tibet and calls Dharamshala-based Dalai Lama a separatist who wants to carve out an independent Tibet within the Chinese mainland.
The Tibetan leader’s visit to the northeastern state, and especially Tawang – around 400 km from Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China – will add to the growing list of problems between the two neighbours .
Hu Shisheng, south Asia expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations said Dalai Lama’s visit could not be viewed as merely being of religious in nature.
“Your minister of state for internal affairs (Kiren Rijiju) will accompany him (Dalai Lama). So, it couldn’t be totally religious. Dalai Lama’s activities cannot only be understood in a religious way. And, we know the visit to the disputed area itself is very politically sensitive issue in China. So, it adds another disturbance to bilateral relations,” he told HT.
India needs a new muscular ‘China Policy,’ covering economic and diplomatic ties, and to amend its existing trade deficit with the neighbour, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) declared at its annual meet in Coimbatore last month, sources said.
BJP’s ideological fount is unhappy with China stalling India’s move to impose a UN ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar, blocking New Delhi’s bid to join the Nuclear Supplier’s Group and pursuing business interests in PakistanOccupied Kashmir.
According to sources, at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the RSS brass decided to push the BJP-led NDA government to recalibrate its ties with China, and assume a more aggressive stance.
“China has over the years not reciprocated India’s friendly overtures and continues to dictate terms. A recent example is the warning it gave on the Dalai Lama’s Arunachal Pradesh visit. There is a need to overhaul India’s China policy,” a senior functionary said.
The RSS wants China to be a critical foreign policy priority for the government, especially since Beijing has not changed its stance on Arunachal Pradesh and also because it continues to invest in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) despite New Delhi’s reservations.
During Chinese President Xi Jingping’s 2014 visit to New Delhi, both sides had agreed to collaborate in 12 areas, which envisaged Beijing investing $20 billion in infrastructure over five years.
The RSS , however, is unhappy with the ‘lopsided’ economic ties India shares with China. The Sangh brass has given its economic wing — Swadesh Jagran Manch (SJM)— the mantle to carry out a year-long drive against Chinese goods.
SJM national convener Ashwani Mahajan told HT that the outfit has flagged concerns about India’s growing dependence on manufactured goods from China. “From rail coaches to toys, from electronic goods to raw material for pharmaceutical, India is relying way too much on China. How will this help initiative help Make in India or Skill India?” he said.