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Modi's 'ruthless' neighbours: Will US come to rescue India in case of war with China?

By NS Venkataraman*
There are still six months left in the year 2020 and it is difficult to predict as to how the India-China confrontation would turn during this period. It is crystal clear that India has no territorial ambition and has no desire to be involved in military confrontation with neighbouring countries, in the absence of provocation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s primary interest and focus appears to be to ensure steady economic and industrial growth in the country and poverty alleviation programme. While he is taking several steps towards this end, they are, however, still in the work in progress stage. Indeed, Modi needs peaceful time to implement his economic and welfare programme.
Therefore, India would strive its level best to avoid military confrontation with neighbouring countries. But, it appears that China has other ideas. Chinese dictator Xi JinPing has declared himself as the life President of China and perhaps, his greed is that China should dominate the world under his leadership and he should emerge as undisputed global leader in his life time.
The ambition of Xi JinPing is not in anyway different from that of Hitler, which resulted in World War II. Hitler convinced himself that he cannot dominate Europe and rest of the World without subjugating Britain and therefore, his ultimate target was to militarily target Britain and bring it under his total control.
Similarly, Xi JinPing, obviously, is of the view that without subjugating India, he cannot dominate Asia and rest of the world. Therefore, the primary target of Xi JinPing now is India and China has not left anybody in doubt about this.
The only counter force against the ambitious and greedy plan of China today could be the USA which has the military strength to combat China, if required. However, USA considerably remains weakened now due to Covid-19, the racial confrontation and above all the forthcoming US Presidential election, with section of media and opposition party in USA leaving no stone unturned to discredit President Trump in the eyes of the public and weaken his authority.
With USA considerably remaining weak and confused and the economy of the European countries as well as Japan and South Korea considerably shattered, China seems to be under the impression that no country is in position to challenge it’s ambitious plans, at the present time, to dominate the world. The thought process of Xi JinPing is similar to that of Hitler during the days immediately preceding World War II.
India has hard battle ahead. Modi is being forced to reassess his strategy towards China, has no alternative but to view it as No 1 enemy
While the domination target of China is global, its immediate target is likely to be India and it appears that it has worked out it’s plans meticulously and cynically. China has North Korea, Nepal and Pakistan firmly in it’s pocket and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are being showered with loan and friendly trade terms to ensure that they would not even comment about China’s aggression against India, if and when it would take place.
Further, it appears and one tends to suspect that China has already prepared certain group in India to denigrate Modi, weaken his popularity and talk and act indirectly in a way that would help China’s cause. Obviously, India has hard battle ahead and Modi is now being forced to rapidly reassess his strategies in tackling China, and has no alternative other than viewing China as number one enemy of India.
Considering the present “favourable global conditions”, China is unlikely to lose any time in implementing it’s global expansionist policies. Apart from occupying large portion of Indian territory at present, China claims that Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh should be part of China. One need not be surprised, even if China would add more areas in India as belonging to China.
China is likely to do it’s level best to provoke India by sending Chinese troops for incursion into Indian territory and asking it’s satellite country Pakistan to increase it’s terrorist activities in Kashmir. Nepal. which appears to be increasingly looking like another satellite country of China, may also be asked to raise it’s voice against India to create an atmosphere of confrontation.
It is quite likely that after provoking India to use it’s military force to resist Chinese and Pakistani forces, Chinese forces would enter Pakistan as well as Nepal to attack India, leaving India to face military conflict in more than one zone. Modi has the task of facing such ominous situation from the ruthless neighbours and it remains to be seen as to what extent USA can come to the aid of India, in case of war with China, due to its domestic confusion.
With North Korea threatening to attack South Korea, and China all the time threatening to invade Taiwan, US will have it’s hands full in protecting the interests of South Korea and Taiwan.
All said and done, the next six months of 2020 are likely to be tough with India and rest of the world becoming a victim of China’s expansionist policies.
As of now, while the world is gradually realizing the potential threat from China , little coordinated strategies have been worked out , given the Covid crisis and weak economy facing Europe and several other countries.
---
*Trustee, Nandini Voice for The Deprived, Chennai

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