BJP’s victory in Assembly polls not good for Beijing, says Chinese media

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral victory in the state elections in India indicates more difficulties in making compromises with New Delhi on international matters, said an article in China’s state-owned tabloid The Global Times.

The Global Times in an opinionated piece said India’s current firm and tough manner is bound to continue if Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins the next election.

“Modi’s hard-line attitude is embodied in both his domestic policies, such as the ban on high-value currency notes, and in his diplomatic logic. In the international arena, he changed India’s previous attitude of trying never to offend anyone and started to take a clear stance in controversies among other nations to maximise its own interests,” said the article.

However, the article stated that hard-liners also have powerful strength in coming to an agreement with others once they make up their mind, given their executive ability and high efficiency.

“We can still be optimistic in resolving our divergences, including border disputes, with New Delhi during Modi’s term as long as both sides are willing,” the article read.

The article said that Prime Minister Modi had enhanced New Delhi’s ties with China and Moscow besides applying to be a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Noting that no silver lining has yet emerged between Beijing and New Delhi, the article said that Prime Minister Modi demonstrated his firm stance over the issue by celebrating Diwali, India’s biggest holiday, with soldiers at the Sino-Indian border.

“Modi was elected for his pursuit of development. His latest triumph also stems from his firm stance on development as well as efforts to carry out economic reform and attract foreign investment. Even though some actions failed to deliver good results, still, he proved that he is a man of action, rather than a politician with only slogans,” the article said.

The article said it is an opportunity for China to give more consideration over how to make breakthroughs in Beijing-New Delhi relations with a hard-line Indian government.

China and India have differences on various issues including the McMahon Line.

The McMahon Line was part of the 1914 Simla Convention between British India and Tibet, an agreement rejected by China.

Sovereignty over two large and various smaller separated pieces of territory have been contested between China and India.

The westernmost, Aksai Chin, is claimed by India as part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and region of Ladakh but is controlled and administered as part of the Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang.

The other large disputed territory, the easternmost, lies south of the McMahon Line.

It was formerly referred to as the North East Frontier Agency and is now called Arunachal Pradesh.

Besides, India is also unhappy with China over blocking its proposal to put Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar on the list of designated terrorist of the UN.

China is also objecting to India’s bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), saying only countries that have signed a global arms control pact – the NPT – will be allowed entry.

However, India refuses to sign the pact because it would mean shutting down the country’s nuclear defence programme.

(Source : business-standard.com)

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