Outwardly a champion of democracy and freedom, Kissinger may have cracked the Chinese regime open but deceit and perfidy marked his engagement with New Delhi
Vijay Gokhale writes: Jiang Zemin led China through a tumultuous time, exercised power with a light touch. The contrast with the current one-man leadership is stark for Chinese people.
Xi Jinping is putting in place ideological, constitutional and coercive instruments that will keep him in power for the foreseeable future. India will have to deal with him from a long-term perspective
Vijay Gokhale writes: The Chinese Communist Party’s centenary is a timely reminder of the need to go beyond the focus on the PLA in the context of the boundary question and China’s foreign policy in South Asia
Beyond the optics, the Trump Americans, who are the new political base, will still shape American policy irrespective of who the president is. “America First” is here to stay.
Xi Jinping intends to be the Leader of the “Second Hundred” just as Mao Zedong is regarded as the Leader of the “First Hundred”. This means the world will be dealing with President Xi Jinping for some time. It is, therefore, important to get a proper measure of the person.
China should re-consider its position and view the Indo-Pacific idea as an instrument for advancing common interests, and not make it a source of conflict or tension.
This will need coordination between our national security agencies, the navy, and the government departments responsible for the marine environment and disaster management, but also collaboration with like-minded countries who share our concerns.
It is not China's sea, Indians have sailed its water for centuries. Delhi has stakes in commerce, peace and security in Indo-Pacific, it must now play the long game.
