It would seem that Xi Jinping is punishing generals who have challenged his assertion of control over the PLA, and is using the anti-corruption drive to good effect to purge the military of those opposing him. These differences became manifest during his visit to India when an incident in Chumar in the Ladakh sector was provoked by the PLA. Xi was visibly embarrassed by this and it showed. Since his return from Delhi he has been moving vigorously to tackle dissidence. The first to go was the PLA chief Gen. Xu Cuihai, who is now under arrest facing charges of corruption. Xi also appointed a favorite as the head of the PLA Disciplinary Committee. By and large, Indias China observers have misread the Chumar incident and the earlier Depsang incident as typical of Chinese chicanery. This is the easy analysis and is easily made by our official China experts whose knowledge about that country is gleaned from western sources. I believe that Prime Minister Modi should follow up on his opening with China and make possible major Chinese investments in our infrastructure sectors. Today, only China has the ability to invest sovereign funds in long gestation projects like Railways, Roads and Ports, and Power. India needs atleast a trillion dollars of investment to modernize its economy. And major Chinese investments in India are the best way to assure ourselves their good behavior.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 17:09:51 +0000