China's Specter under Nehru's Reign Returns to Haunt New Delhi, According to Abhijit Bhattacharyya
In the complex tapestry of international relations, few nations share a history as intricate and fraught as India and China. While ancient cultural and trade ties were peaceful and significant, post-1949 tensions have arisen, deeply influencing current relations.
The annexation of Tibet by the Communist Party of China under Mao Zedong in 1950, a move met with silence from India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, marked the beginning of a series of disputes. This historical blunder, as some argue, has set a precedent for China's assertive policies towards India.
The 1962 Sino-Indian War caused a major rupture, and since then, China's tactics towards India have been considered too devious to be overlooked. China's support for Pakistan during various Indo-Pak wars and ongoing border disputes, including the 2017 Doklam standoff and the 2020 Galwan clash, have perpetuated strategic mistrust.
Today, the legacy of these disputes and conflicts shapes a bilateral relationship that is a complex mix of cautious engagement, strategic competition, and economic interdependence. India and China maintain large trade volumes, but India restricts Chinese influence in critical sectors such as technology and infrastructure.
For India, the potential risks and concerns in engaging economically with China include strategic vulnerability, economic espionage, funding and influence, and geopolitical competition embedded in economic ties. These concerns have driven initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat to boost domestic manufacturing and diversify suppliers.
In recent years, there have been numerous border violations and killings of Indian soldiers by China's military. Arunachal Pradesh's chief minister, Pema Khandu, made a notable statement, asserting that his state shares a border with Tibet, not China. This assertion underscores the ongoing disputes over territory.
Moreover, the independent princely state of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India on October 26, 1947 through peaceful means and the legal route. However, China has forcibly captured 42,735 sq km of Jammu and Kashmir's territory, leaving only 106,566 sq km under India's control.
China's attempts to win over India's aviation market towards its Comac C-919 passenger aircraft, despite it not being certified by Western aviation agencies, underscores the geopolitical competition embedded in economic ties.
Recurring failures of ruling classes in India's history have put the country's land and sovereignty at risk. The Communist Party of China and its agencies have been harming India's sovereignty and independence for the past 75 years.
In 2018, India's Cabinet Secretary issued a letter to ban official participation in the Dalai Lama function in New Delhi due to a perceived "Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai" relationship. However, there is a lack of criticism from "China experts" and "Sinologists" regarding China's hostility towards India.
In conclusion, India's historical experience with China's assertive policies and border conflicts has fostered a cautious, strategic approach to economic ties. India prioritizes economic engagement without compromising national security or strategic autonomy, while simultaneously pushing for reduced dependence and enhanced self-reliance.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect the official position of any institution.
The complex relationship between India and China is influenced by past events such as the annexation of Tibet and the 1962 Sino-Indian War, which have resulted in ongoing disputes and conflicts. This historical context shapes current policy-and-legislation related to war-and-conflicts and politics, as India favors cautious engagement with China to maintain national security and strategic autonomy. General-news articles report that India pursues economic interdependence with China while restricting Chinese influence in critical sectors like technology and infrastructure, due to concerns about strategic vulnerability, economic espionage, and geopolitical competition.
