Following is an excerpt from the “Ask? AND THE EXPERTS ANSWER” opinion column of Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 2.
Q: Does the belief that China follows the policy of containment of India on ideological and political fronts hold water? Are recent reports about China gaining the capability to mobilise its troops on the Indian borders within a matter of days a matter of concern?–PREETI VARMA, Dhanbad
G. PARTHASARATHY, Strategic affairs expert: Yes, its true that China does have a consistent policy to contain India politically, economically, ideologically and of course militarily. To further its designs China takes refuge in supply of nuclear weapons, its design and technology to Pakistan. It is also involved in supplying and abetting the development of missiles systems of Pakistan. Moreover, China is developing various bases in the Indian Ocean to establish naval superiority and encircle us in the seas as well. China receives adequate help from Pakistan in its sinister designs. In fact Pakistan has already agreed to provide the Gwadar Port along the Baluchistan coast to China to establish a military base, and in return China is providing help in developing the port. Even in the Bay of Bengal it has been developing various communication and monitoring facilities. Massive supply of weapons to Myanmar is also being carried out which has made the Junta sympathetic to the Chinese regime and hostile to India.
Our nuclear programme is also under constant attack from China. Using the UN to its advantage it has been creating obstacles in our nuclear weapons programme and insists that India sign the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In fact, if India needs to counter the Chinese threat she should do away with her lackadaisical approach and adopt a more aggressive attitude of engagement with eastern nations like Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan. More economic and political engagement with Japan and Vietnam would work as a deterrent to China’s advances. I would advocate an aggressive engagement with Vietnam to the extent of of providing arms and ammunition and missiles to them. We should strengthen our diplomatic linkages with Taiwan as well.
