In his letter written to Nehru on 07 November 1950, Sardar Patel wrote. “My own feeling is that unless we assure our supplies of arms, ammunition and armour, we would be making our defence position perpetually weak and we would not be able to stand up to the double threat of difficulties both from the West and North-West and North and North-East.” What perspicious words and what a perception! Alas, Nehru did not take heed of this long term strategic perspective and advice. Ever since 1947, Indian foreign policy record has been dismal. It has taken the line of individual personalities, political parties and their interests and not the supreme national interests that keep on changing in conformity with the dynamic geo-political and geo-strategic situations and developments.
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It is sad that India does not have a National Strategy document. Unless we define our National Strategy, how can we define National Aims, Objectives, Goals, Perspectives and the National Security Strategy? When we do not have a National Security Strategy, how can the Army, the Navy and the Air Force define their respective strategies and perspective plans. Obviously, the heads of the services devise their own strategies – mostly based on individual perceptions and personalities. There are some Raksha Mantri Directives available but these are piecemeal and do not encompass elements of National Strategy. This results in knee jerk reactions (mostly unwanted) to international developments ending up in ‘foot in mouth disease ‘ which is not only embarrassing but damaging as well. It is high time that India formulates a National Strategy document and based on which, various organs of the centre and states should function keeping the perspective plans in constant view. Ofcourse mid-way corrections are needed since no permanent friendship exists between nation-states .There are only permanent interests that vary from time to time.
India must understand that the long record of India – China history contributes directly towards the present hostility between the two countries. Tension keeps on sprouting up owing to the dogged and bizarre Chinese ethno-centric behaviourial pattern or the ‘sino-centrism’ of the Middle Kingdom. Are not 46 years enough to solve the Sino-Indian border dispute? China has settled her border disputes with all her neighbours except India. They have been selective in their approach to solving border disputes. It is a strategy of double standards but how does it matter to them! They are in no hurry. They have the cake in Aksai Chin and they are eating it too! Further, they have claimed almost entire Arunachal Pradesh and Barahoti in Uttarakhand. With Aksai Chin and Shaksgham Valley with China and Northern Areas and POK with Pakistan – all illegally possessed, the northern head of India has become triangular. What is India doing about it?
It is unfortunate that the three Chiefs have not been included as permanent Members of the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS).They are called only if their need is felt.
A democratic and growing India must show assertive approach and not accept Chinese tantrums. Treaties, traditions, usages, rules, customs and historical facts need to be taken cognizance of, but China too has to take note of International Law and provisions of well established norms that dictate relations between nation- states. India can no longer afford to be soft. Both India and China are growing powers in Asia, and while China’s diplomacy and assertiveness is displayed from the position of strength (since they hold vast stretch of Indian territory), India too must match with moral, diplomatic and military ascendency in selected areas.
While we know that the Sino-Indian dispute is linked with questions embracing ideology and balance of power, the dispute is not capable of solution by itself. Any sincere endeavour to solve the boundary problem would mean creation of an environment of mutual trust and near ideal conditions between both countries which is not possible presently. Chinese actions very often smack of hostility and lack of sincerity towards India. India is not in a position presently to grant any major concession to China and for that matter Pakistan. Sino-Indian border dispute has invited enough polemics in the past and will continue to do so in future. This multi dimensional and hydra-headed problem will linger on and there appears no light at the end of the tunnel. With increasing Sino-Pak nexus, these are no hope of solving the Sino-Indian dispute in the near future.
A democratic and growing India must show assertive approach and not accept Chinese tantrums.
As earlier said, the Chinese ethno-centricity overrides the International Law in so far it affects its interests. China’s mindset dictates that her role is dependent upon political considerations unlike India and other countries of the world. Even China’s judicial system serves its political activities and is brought to bear on all political tasks and movements. China subscribes to the view that the International Law is scoped within the state’s foreign policy. This attitude of China is very clear in context of the boundary problem. We have been underestimating Chinese sensitivity British origin of the border, and over the asylum given to Dalai Lama. Let us not forget that China’s nuclear deal with Pakistan was signed in the same year when Deng Xiaoping was shaking Rajiv Gandhi’s hand. Let’s also not forget that during President R Venkatraman’s visit to Beijing, China conducted its nuclear test, let us also not overlook the growing Sino-Pak nexus. As Chanakya said: “Watch thy neighbour’ and ‘my enemy’s enemy is my best friend‘. Let’s not forget that very recently China tried to create hurdles in the 123 Agreement with the USA and has now promised to give two atomic reactors to Pakistan. Various diplomatic embarrassments to India have been caused in the past by China. Let us also not forget that China is outstripping India in economic growth and considers India as a rival on all fronts. Let us also not forget that China took India on the complacent path stating that she is carrying out her modernization plans and in its garb continues to improve her defence potential and border infrastructure opposite Indian Border.
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