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Understanding the Chinese mind:
Context
- Post the stand-off between India and China over the Doklam plateau,the two sides agreed to step back and disengage, thus avoiding a confrontation.
What is left unclear?
- The Indian side has pulled back its personnel and equipment to the Indian side of the boundary, while China has agreed to make ‘necessary adjustments and deployment’ on its part.
- It is unclear, however, whether China will patrol the region, which it claims to have been doing earlier. Road construction will not continue for the present.
India’s reason
- India’s actions in Doklam are easy to detect, viz. going to the help of a treaty partner in its time of need, a decision which incidentally has security ramifications for India.
China’s reason
- China’s reasons are more complex and complicated but, nevertheless, cannot be easily wished away.
Current situation
- China and India have a kind of competitive coexistence.
- While professing friendship, both sides have mutual suspicion for each other at times prompting several degrees of alienation.
- Both countries remain wary of each other’s intentions and actions.
China shaping its policies
- The BRICS summit and the 19th Party Congress both have high priority for China today.
- China is trying to reshape the regional and international order, and is keen to fine-tune its ‘Great Power diplomacy’.
- It, hence, needs to be seen as preferring peace over conflict.
- It is well-positioned to achieve this if it maintains its present course.
- Any interruption, by indulging in a conflict with nations small or big, would not only damage but derail the levels of progress that are essential to achieve this objective.
