IS MEDIA FRENZY FOMENTING ANTI -CHINA STANCE WARRANTED?

Indo Chinese Standoff.    It has been a couple of month since the Daulat Beg Oldie incursions in the icy heights of the Ladakh region which triggered a brouhaha in the national news media and social network sites on the Chinese hard stance. One particular newspaper even reported that there were ‘over four hundred incursions’ in 2012 of which ninety per cent occurred in the Ladakh region. Many reports further went on to disclose that over 50 Chinese soldiers intruded into the Indian territory of Chumar in Ladakh on July 16 staking their claim over the area. The Chummar region has been the epicentre of media attention with two helicopters violating Indian air space on July 11 followed by PLA troops intruded into Indian Territory and taking away an Indian surveillance camera on June 17.

Resolution with a Sour Taste.    This flurry of military incursion was probably the first time since the 1986 Sumdorong Chu incident that the China has tried to openly flex its military ambitions. A bout of diplomatic initiatives and multiple flag meetings between local military commanders is yet to cool off the media heat created in April. As Indian Polity looks into strategic options in the aftermath of this year’s Chinese Power play, passions have been running high among the public and media alike, with many proclaiming a retaliatory action for such incidents in the future. 

Strategic Awakening.       In an uneasy way, the Chinese have given a jolt to the slumbering Indian masses and polity to now look beyond the cacophony of myopic preoccupations and attend to strategic priorities with the urgency it deserves. The landing of the newly procured show stealer, the C-130J Super Hercules at Daulat Beg Oldie at a height of 16614 feet was just one of many such nibbling actions by the Indian diplomacy to project that the nation was not cowed by such threats to its integrity by China’s muscular policy toward India.

In The Wake.          The aftermath of an ill-timed and seemingly uncalled for Chinese provocation is sure to linger for some time in Indian perceptions about its neighbor to the north. It is fair to say that the resolution of the DBO standoff after a marathon of diplomatic initiatives has come at an immense political cost to the steady progression of India-China relations which had been on an upswing for nearly a decade.

Outstanding issues.        It is pertinent to note that India is the only country which is yet to resolve its border differences with its Chinese counterparts. Other issues which have stuck out as sore thumb in bilateral cooperation are the three gorges dam and other hydro electric projects along the Bhramaputra along with the Chinese infrastructure development in Pak occupied Kashmir. Further the Tibet issue and the Chinese string of pearls stratagem and military stance in the South China Sea have put the Indian policy makers on icy grounds with no reliable strategic counter strokes. 

Growing Mutual Cooperation.    However, on the other side of the coin, both sides have been steadily making considerable progress on boundary negotiations and have increased the area of understanding between them through regular Border Personnel Meetings and other mechanisms. India and China have also witnessed increased bilateral cooperation by leaps and bounds in many areas relating to global economic and strategic alliances, counter-terrorism, anti piracy, policy planning and security, apart from increased trade with China emerging as India's largest trading partner in 2008. The stupendous growth in India and China's global diplomatic and economic sway has also increased the relevance of their bilateral relationship.

In fact things have never looked this bright between both sides since the 1962 debacle, with joint military Exercises and cooperation and Chinese support for India joining the UNSC and other global alliances. India vying for membership from an observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, are all indicators that China desires a great power status much more than fomenting external foes in the Asian Sub region. 

Indian Media Vs Chinese Media.          In a bid to outdo their competitors in the info wars on the Chinese issue after the Depsang incident, the media has been abuzz with analysis and dissections of all such previous incidents with their ire directed towards the Chinese and the Government alike. The Indian media houses and publications have made haste in trumpeting the malicious intentions behind these offensive activities in the LAC, contrary to the government’s official posture on the issue, thereby creating diplomatic uneasiness and political encumbrance.

On one plane where the Indian Media has been delving repeatedly on Chinese incursions and offensive activities to upgrade ratings and satisfy the information appetite of the public, the Chinese media seems to be striking a balance and looking at the bilateral issue more sanely. An excerpt from a Chinese media publication lucidly shadows the media frenzy to the south of the Mc Mohan line.

“… staking claims to its borders is of crucial significance to China and peace and stability along the border are also vital to India. Current peace and status quo is not bestowed by India alone. China should firmly maintain its friendly policy toward India. However, this doesn’t mean that China will ignore provocations.”

                                                            - Communist Party-run Global Times.

In the modern scenario the influence of media can be a game changer in moulding mass perceptions and as such is unwarranted in raking issues inimical to national interests. The relation that India shares with China has very fragile contours and needs to be nurtured keeping the capability and interest of the country in mind. 

It is an open secret that many of china’s infrastructural development projects especially in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), recent military and PLA’s doctrinal shift have been India centric. The same can be said to be true of the Indian stance with the activation of air fields and allied infrastructure along the LAC and the raising of a mountain strike corps poised for a two front threat. 

Notwithstanding, the trend in Chinese political philosophy seeks to limit American influence in India and further to build on friendly external environment to nurture its economic and Great Power status ambitions. Good cordial relations with India, seems the only rational path for an emerging China in the global arena and any pin pricks at such a juncture can only cause imbalances in the region. It is thus imperative that the issue of indo China relations be handled more objectively and away from the media glare lest it prejudice mass perceptions and obligate Indian diplomacy to pursue options not in the interests of the nation.