The Indian propensity to pretend a ‘tough’ stance in response to a crisis and then pull back is not only against Pakistan. It is even more pronounced in the case of China. In 2010, the Chinese government denied a visa to an Army Commander who was leading a defence delegation to participate in an exchange programme. The resulting suspension of such ties lasted for only a year and it was business as usual after some vague assurances by the Chinese government. Soon after that, the Chinese government refused a visa to a Group Captain of the Indian Air Force because he belonged to Arunachal Pradesh. However, the delegation still went ahead without the Group Captain thereby implicitly conceding the legitimacy of Chinese objections! Hence, the message to our neighbours is loud and clear. Far from responding effectively to the affront, India lacks the will to even draw an inviolable red line. We routinely blind-side intrusions across the frontiers with the unconvincing justification that ‘perceptions of the alignment of the international border differ’. The consequences are plain to see – India is the most terrorised nation, according to a US State Department report. Not that India lacks the experience of effective response. In 1986, Chinese troops crossed the Thagla Ridge and occupied it. The then Chief of Army Staff, General K Sundarji immediately ordered the airlifting of troops and occupation of a parallel position at Sumdorong Chu, taking the Chinese completely by surprise. According to Shyam Saran, immediately thereafter, the offensive and overbearing tone of Chinese diplomats mellowed to polite and civilised. indiandefencereview/news/coherence-and-resolve-in-foreign-policy/
Posted on: Fri, 23 Aug 2013 06:09:53 +0000
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