India should confront China with a bold policy

China and India are ranged against each other in every respect. India has become  a key US partner and the two militaries have participated in numerous bilateral exercises during the past decade. While China, a all-weather friend of Pakistan and allied with Russia and North Korea claims large chunks of Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, Kashmir and Uttarakhand. China has therefore been opposing and curtailing India’s interests and influence in various international forums. 

The Nuclear Supplier’s group agreed in October 2008 to treat India differently with special exemption in following the stringent guidelines but China has reiterated that it will continue to oppose India’s joining  till a consensus emerges on allowing in countries that have not signed the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. 

India’s bid to join the NSG in June was backed by the US and France  but China, South Africa, New Zealand and Austria opposed it. Despite the clean waiver and special exemption made for India, NSG members including Australia argued that it will not supply nuclear fuel to India unless India signs nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Currently, the NSG has the membership  of 46 nuclear supplier countries including China, Russia and the United States. 

Chinese String of pearls include several major maritime choke points such as the Strait of Mandeb, the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormouz  as well as other strategic centres in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives thus aggressively  encircling India’s position.

As part of this policy, China said it will continue to support Pakistan and block India’s efforts to get the imposition of UN sanctions on the Jaish-e- Mohammad chief Masood Azhar. 

As an extension of its anti-India policy it has recently threatened Magnolias against seeking financial assistance from India. As India provided Mongolia with aid of USD one billion.

To completely damage India-Nepal historical ties, China has completed rail-road connectivity with Nepal to boost cargo trade as a part of Belt and Road (Silk Road ) initiative. India will be better advised to spell its foreign policy towards China in a bold manner.

Article Courtesy : Arti Bali, Senior Journalist & Analyst