• Identifying the nature of the threat posed by China is important to formulate a response. This article discusses the plan of action on the diplomatic, strategic and economic front to deal with Chinese aggression.

Economic angle of China’s expansionism

• The Chinese growth model needed to find subservient emerging markets.
• In these markets, China can park huge debts and make investments to keep feeding China’s high growth rates.
• Friendly foreign debt-investment markets were needed to compensate for over-investment at home.
• The Belt and Road Initiative was rolled out as a meeting point for China’s geo-strategic and geo-economic interests.
• China has expanded its global footprint by signing on about 100 countries to the BRI.
• China has made aggressive moves on most of its non-submissive neighbours in the South China Sea.
• China has also made moves against its traditional rivals like Japan and Taiwan to independent-minded nations like South Korea and Australia.
• China sees itself as a global power whose time has come.

India needs to play clearer role

• Rise of China is shaking up global alignments and shaping new world order.
• The Trump administration is increasingly being criticised for not providing global leadership.
• India could afford to be largely non-aligned during the 20th century Cold War.
• Our size and economic momentum necessitate that we play a clearer role in the Cold War’s 21st-century sequel.
• India’s foreign policy has lacked a clear vision about China.
• India has been deepening our strategic relationship with the US but without wanting to alarm China.

India’s relation with neighbours

• India’s relations with other neighbouring nations have also become a cause of concern.
• Pakistan has practically become a minion state for the Chinese – the $62-billion CPEC is a case in the point.
• Nepal is no longer on our list of all-weather friends.
• Chinese influence is growing in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — both signatories to the BRI.
• And just last week, Beijing, sent another appallingly stern message to our loyal friend, Bhutan, by making ridiculous territorial claims.

What should be India’s plan of action

• Dealing with China will require conviction and exercising a range of military, diplomatic and economic options.
• One forum we need to build on and provide leadership to is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
•  India should now propose the expansion of the Quad’s scope with a possible exploration of a collective defence architecture like NATO.
• The membership of the Quad should be expanded to include Vietnam, South Korea, New Zealand, and Malaysia.
• On the economic front, India must welcome the US proposal to expand G7 to include India, Russia, Australia and South Korea without China as a member.
• Next area of focus should be strengthening ties with our neighbourhood.
• Effort must be made to regain the relationship with Russia.

Conclusion

China must be made to choose: Is it willing to push the equally proud, equally numerous, equally historical and glorious civilisation to the south in this long-term direction for a few square kilometres of territory and a round of chest-thumping?

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