![]() This “resurgent India” required more than a rap on the knuckles. India’s growing confidence in its official and unofficial engagements with the Chinese officialdom, coupled with accelerated infrastructure development in the border areas, are viewed as contrary to Beijing’s interests. Also, India’s pro-activeness in asking for an equitable and inclusive global and regional order is seen as being against China. Our resolute political leadership and a growing economy, despite the COVID-induced slowdown, are seen as an affront. India, on the other hand, has become the proverbial thorn in China’s side. Recent events in Hong Kong, the South China Sea (SCS) and in India’s neighbourhood, the blatant disregard for human rights in subduing the Uighurs and the censorship of the COVID-19 toll in China reflect its confidence, arrogance and belligerence. Opinion | Growing power differential is what lies behind China’s assertion in Ladakh The resolution to the current conflict has to be to revert to the earlier recognised positions, irrespective of the retaliatory means that we need to take. Let us not forget that our firm resolve to protect our national interests with matching military capabilities has contributed to our enhanced global stature. The way we handle the ongoing, complex situation with China will set the foundation of future relations. The sub-optimal discussions on the TRP-driven channels adversely influence international opinion-makers and provide fuel for anti-India rhetoric. Irresponsible insinuations or utterances and premature chest-thumping are exploited by inimical elements - in this case, the Chinese propaganda machinery - as part of their information war. There is a need for media platforms, active participants and public personalities to be conscious of this. Therefore, the body language and debates in the public domain have to be nuanced, mature and reflect the national resolve. The resoluteness of intent must be supported by overt and covert actions, indicating that India will not hesitate to take the extreme step of fighting for its territory and sovereignty. The signalling should be explicit in pinning the blame on them, as they have instigated all the physical clashes and the unfolding drama over the last 40 days. Our approach should be firm and unambiguous. The timing of these intrusions and the other concurrent events in the neighbouring countries have undoubtedly been according to a plan. A section of people seems to have forgotten that China only respects firmness in words and actions and does nothing on “the spur of the moment”. It perturbs me to see the debates in the mainstream media. 3 Manipur riots: The chilling methods in the madness.2 Wrestlers’ protest: The icons on the mat, now offer a new kind of inspiration.1 Ponniyin Selvan 2 plagiarism row: A R Rahman should acknowledge the artist.The use of iron rods and wooden staves, wrapped with barbed wire, attests to this. It was pre-planned and with the connivance of China’s senior leadership. The brutal assault did not happen during the “face-off”, when emotions can run high, but post rapprochement. To think that this incident was spontaneous is naïve. The contours of de-escalation, based on a phased withdrawal of troops to their respective predetermined ground positions, were decided on June 6 during the corps commanders-level talks. The unprovoked attack by the Chinese border troops on Indian soldiers, after confirming the implementation of the de-escalation plan by the Chinese in Galwan valley, is unpardonable. Its gamble at bullying failed against a well-trained army. As greater clarity emerged about the events on the night of June 15-16, the utter disregard of soldierly ethics in the conduct of the PLA added to the ignominy of the incident. A satellite image taken over Galwan Valley in Ladakh, India, parts of which are contested with China, June 16, 2020, in this handout obtained from Planet Labs Inc.
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