Indian Observer: The Real Battle of Delhi and Beijing for South Asia Ahead

Photo by Indian Ministry of Defense

The Indian press published an article by the columnist Harsha Wee Pant, who says that "the real battle of Delhi and Beijing for South Asia is ahead." Wee Pant notes that the opinion about China's unattainable advantage over India is too exaggerated.

The author points out that there can be no doubt about the growth of the PRC's influence in South Asia, but this influence can and must be resisted.

From the article:

It became clear that the states in South Asia and the wider Indian Ocean region could not stand aside from the temptation of Chinese political and economic power, like the rest of the world.

At the same time, the observer believes that India can get better conditions in the current situation, while remaining at the center of the South Asian economy.

Harsh Vi Pant points out that already today some countries in the region “see Chinese expansion” and are trying to resist it. In particular, it talks about the events in Afghanistan, where a network of Chinese intelligence agents was recently exposed.

The Indian author also cites Nepal as an example, where, as he believes, the Chinese policy "is failing." In this country, the parliament was dissolved, where the pro-Chinese parties were in charge. According to Harsha Wee Pant, the Chinese importunity led to the fact that the Nepal premier decided to hold new elections and noted that "Nepal will choose its own path of further development."

An Indian author in his material calls Beijing's One Belt - One Road project "vain", noting that without India, this "political overtoned" economic program will fail.

Harsh Vi Pal:

Beijing today is trying with all its might to discredit India (...) But India has already made it possible for small countries affected by Chinese aggression to foresee the possibility that submission to China is by no means the only option.

The Indian observer believes that it is time for the Indian side to leave the "constant lamentations" about the growth of China's power and reorient itself to the awareness of the forthcoming protracted struggle with Beijing for South Asia in various fields.

Comments

[Victor_B]

the opinion of China's unattainable advantage over India is too exaggerated.

God forbid they grapple in an adult way ...

[bessmertniy]

It seems that China understands that time in this region is not working for it, and in order to maintain its leadership, it will have to increase military pressure on India. And in this regard, India will continue to move closer to the United States politically.

[Uncle lee]

some countries in the region "see Chinese expansion" and try to resist it

China is already there, where India did not have time ... So they were concerned about Chinese expansion ...

[Doccor18]

Quote: bessmertniy

It seems that China understands that time in this region is not working for it, and in order to maintain its leadership ...

It seems that everything is exactly the opposite ... Time is inexorable towards India itself, and the further, the gap (both quantitative and qualitative) only increases. Every year China is only settling more firmly in the Indian Ocean basin. A base in Djibouti, ports in Gwadar and Hambantota, a real prospect for the emergence of similar points in the Maldives and on the east coast of Africa. In the coming decades, the loops of the "military pearl necklace" will squeeze India so tightly that it will be difficult to breathe ...
And what about India? The purchase of a base patrol in the United States, the construction of aircraft carriers (but at times slower than in China, even despite significant foreign technical support), the projects of the 15A destroyers have become so heavy, expensive and few in number that it is even inconvenient to compare them with the Chinese program. And if not for the technical support of Russia, then India to this day remained without a nuclear submarine. But even here China is one step ahead ...

[ccsr]

Quote: Victor_B

God forbid they grapple in an adult way ...

They will not clash in a military sense, but will clash in the financial sphere as soon as India overtakes China in population, and the expansion of the Indians into neighboring countries begins. I think that India will repeat the same path that China has followed since the seventies, but perhaps everything will happen faster for them thanks to modern means of production and international cooperation.
Although the caste nature of India is indeed a serious brake on the development of the country, it is at the same time an incentive for the expansion of Indians to other countries. In Moscow, they are not so rare, and they can be seen not only in the markets, but also in offices.

[Alex823]

The same will not work. A big systemic crisis of capitalism is unfolding in the world. Because in capitalism, practically everything, everyone and will affect, as far as it will depend on the policy of power, reason and decisiveness of the people and luck.

[V1er]

I wonder if Asia can unite into an Asian NATO and confront China, Japan and the United States? If it is an independent organization, then I am all for one more player that is beneficial to Russia. If the US is the main one there, then another sword of Damocles. If China unites Asia and takes it under its wing, an Asian empire awaits us.

[bessmertniy]

Asia is too diverse to seriously unite. In the past, the Americans had already created Asian military blocs, but they somehow faded away.

[V1er]

Why are there so many minuses that I wrote bad?

[Magic archer]

I will express my humble opinion. While in India, caste division against China has no chances. The country is drowning in poverty, and in such a way that we have never dreamed of even in nightmares. And China has already turned into a financial monster and is pumping up muscles at a tremendous speed.

[mitroha]

I agree. But on the other hand, a beggar has nothing to lose, it is not a problem to recruit him into the army for small money.
This is clearly seen in the example of all kinds of groups in Syria, Afghanistan, etc.
But a little more prosperous Chinese, especially from the southeast and south, cannot be dragged into the war, I think.

[bessmertniy]

Both the poor and the wealthy want to live. So, if they grapple, then it will not seem a little. So they constantly have one conflict after another.

[Magic archer]

They want to live. But in the army, practically all leadership positions are Sikhs. And in general, from the lower castes, even soldiers are not taken. Plus, let's take into account the fact that the country has an extremely low level of education. And this is the maximum that can be given to this warrior, this is a machine gun and that makes sense from such a warrior only as cannon fodder. ... So the Indians have no chance. So I absolutely disagree with the entered opinion

[FIR FIR]

If the US does not help India, it has no chance of winning.

[Magic archer]

And there is no need to drag anyone. Technical excellence permits. The Chinese army is now much stronger in most models. And in some it is generations ahead. And the example of Syria and others is slightly out of place. Because there will be a clash of nuclear powers. And for a second, the same nuclear forces of China are again perfect

[antivirus]

bankers will decide everything - we don't need such hockey - we need an Indian to balance against the strengthening of Chinese finances and the Swiss dwarfs will say a weighty word, as their president "asked" the GDP in 2014.

[Gunther]

Quote: Magic Archer

...But in the army, practically in all leading positions of the Sikhs.

and this is a plus, in my opinion, of the Indian army, further, in contrast to compulsory conscription in china, in india, there is a contract system, and 160-200 million professionally trained military men are ready to join the ranks when mobilized.
Regarding the varna system, I agree, but the ruling camarilla in Russia has a completely opposite opinion on this, judging by the laws adopted, such as the allocation of journalists, civil servants, and that is, the life of a journalist is assessed higher, for example, a janitor.
yes, the military budget of the Indians, if I am not mistaken, is comparable to ours.

[Lara Croft]

Quote: V1er

I wonder if Asia can unite into an Asian NATO and confront China, Japan and the United States? If it is an independent organization, then I am all for one more player that is beneficial to Russia. If the US is the main one there, then another sword of Damocles. If China unites Asia and takes it under its wing, an Asian empire awaits us.

This is impossible, because in almost all APR countries, the main trading partner is either the PRC or the United States ..., and the United States at the same time, is the main trading partner of the PRC ...

[Ros 56]

And you can't live calmly, you must definitely have your Я to stick out?

[Poetry]

If only there were no "red buttons".

[Ross xnumx]

An Indian observer believes that it is time for the Indian side to get away from the "constant lamentations" about the growth of China's power

You can count anything you want, only China is more and more confident in creating weapons and weapons systems by doing it on its own, unlike India, which still cannot choose partners worthy of the Indian budget for its branches of the armed forces.
It was in ancient times that Indian elephants were a terrifying weapon, which, however, did not frighten Alexander the Great:

In front of the Pora front was a line of war elephants. In the Battle of Hydasp, the Greeks first encountered such a massive use of these powerful animals, which can be called a kind of "tanks" of the ancient world. The horses of the Greeks were afraid of elephants, therefore, infantry units were thrown into the attack on them. Their excellent fighting ability and decided the outcome of the battle. Those elephants, whose drivers were killed, became uncontrollable, others were wounded and trampled their own warriors in a frenzy. In the end, the enemy was completely defeated and put to flight. Por himself, all wounded, was taken prisoner.

Today, China is unlikely to start advancing (in which case) on Indian territory, but it is unlikely that the disputed lands and the promotion of Chinese goods to the countries of Southeast Asia will yield.
And on one thing I will definitely agree:

Quote: Victor_B

God forbid they grapple in an adult way ...

[Hello from Baku]

The Indians have no chance from the word at all, except for China, they also have graters with Pakistan.

[antivirus]

what will prevent the Indians, with their losses of 100-200 million hours, to destroy 300 million Pakistan?

[ccsr]

Quote: antivirus

what will prevent the Indians, with their losses of 100-200 million hours, to destroy 300 million Pakistan?

Why should they do this if they can economically crush this country? And the market for the Indians will also be considerable.

[ccsr]

Quote: Greetings from Baku

Hindus have no chance from the word at all,

You probably don't know how the whole world laughed at the Chinese in the 60s and 70s of the last century, when they only wore quilted jackets and service jackets and they experimented with the economy. Now the whole world is not laughing ...
The same will work with the Indians, only India now has a better starting position than China at that time.

[Gunther]

Quote: Magic Archer

..... The country is drowning in poverty, and in such a way that we have never dreamed of even in nightmares. And China has already turned into a financial monster and is pumping up muscles at a tremendous speed.

I will also express my humble opinion - Yemen is also drowning in poverty, and the Saudis are drowning in luxury and the military-technical suction from the United States, and what, the Saudi despotism was able to win?
reasoning of this kind reminds me of the reasoning of the state hivis in the USSR in the late 80s - they say they will pay "decent" salaries to bureaucrats, and there will be no bribes, and the players will soar as eagles