I've seen some discussions about China warming up to India. Here are my opinions about it.
I do agree that pursuing peace with India is ultimately a good thing. Wise leaders always strive for peaceful solutions first, and only resorting to conflict last. This latest Sino-India border deal is the responsible thing for Chinese leaders to do, as it reduces tensions on China's Western flank. Despite some compromises, China still did not relinquish it's claims to the disputed areas. However, this deal will not change India's position on China.
Some have argued that China should focus on the real enemy: USA, while India should be put aside, because they are not a threat. I disagree with this view. India is not a threat to China on its own, but not in the context of coordination with the other anti-China forces. India always has that tendency to backstab when it senses vulnerability. Most prominently, during China's 2020 Covid crisis. At that time, India went into self-hype overdrive, and also advanced into Aksai Chin. Prior to that, India and China had apparently mended ties following the 2017 Doklam confrontation. Xi invited Modi to Hangzhou, and Modi invited Xi to Chennai. Things looked cool between the two, but India still went ahead and claimed Aksai Chin as part of Ladakh, and provoked Galwan 2020. Yeah, there is a new border deal between China and India. Yeah Xi and Modi are shaking hands in Kazan right now. But have we seen all of this too before Galwan 2020?
Touch wood, if armed reunification with Taiwan, or a China-PH SCS skirmish breaks out, India could very well assist the US-led anti-China forces. It could assist the US in blocking the Malacca Strait, provide logistical support to the USN in the Indian Ocean, and potentially stir trouble in Xizang and China's Western periphery. Who is gonna argue that India is never gonna do it?
So yes, China should make deals with India, but it cannot be naive about it's nature. You're dealing with a snake. Yes, show to India a friendly face, but also keep a very big stick around. The PLA forces facing India needs to be strong and vigilant. They are gonna be needed to deter a backstabbing, or to punish one.
I do agree that pursuing peace with India is ultimately a good thing. Wise leaders always strive for peaceful solutions first, and only resorting to conflict last. This latest Sino-India border deal is the responsible thing for Chinese leaders to do, as it reduces tensions on China's Western flank. Despite some compromises, China still did not relinquish it's claims to the disputed areas. However, this deal will not change India's position on China.
Some have argued that China should focus on the real enemy: USA, while India should be put aside, because they are not a threat. I disagree with this view. India is not a threat to China on its own, but not in the context of coordination with the other anti-China forces. India always has that tendency to backstab when it senses vulnerability. Most prominently, during China's 2020 Covid crisis. At that time, India went into self-hype overdrive, and also advanced into Aksai Chin. Prior to that, India and China had apparently mended ties following the 2017 Doklam confrontation. Xi invited Modi to Hangzhou, and Modi invited Xi to Chennai. Things looked cool between the two, but India still went ahead and claimed Aksai Chin as part of Ladakh, and provoked Galwan 2020. Yeah, there is a new border deal between China and India. Yeah Xi and Modi are shaking hands in Kazan right now. But have we seen all of this too before Galwan 2020?
Touch wood, if armed reunification with Taiwan, or a China-PH SCS skirmish breaks out, India could very well assist the US-led anti-China forces. It could assist the US in blocking the Malacca Strait, provide logistical support to the USN in the Indian Ocean, and potentially stir trouble in Xizang and China's Western periphery. Who is gonna argue that India is never gonna do it?
So yes, China should make deals with India, but it cannot be naive about it's nature. You're dealing with a snake. Yes, show to India a friendly face, but also keep a very big stick around. The PLA forces facing India needs to be strong and vigilant. They are gonna be needed to deter a backstabbing, or to punish one.
