Chinese string of pearls around India’s neck!

The 25yrs of economic liberalization, coupled with impressive build-up of Infrastructure has propelled Chinese economy into the league of advanced developed nations. The Chinese have consistently developed their urban & trade centers, transport & energy, agriculture & defense infrastructure into world class assets in this period. The peaceful rise of China has already started making its presence felt in high tables of world trade & finances, strategic defense parleys and elsewhere

The India’s rise as a distant fourth largest economy however, has been frustratingly slow & cumbersome. The Chinese have aggressively started building relations with member countries of Indian subcontinent by means of trade, investments & defense supplies. China has already to an extent reduced Indian influence within SAARC itself, and has replaced India as members’ largest neighbor next door. A string of pearls, as Chinese call it!

The Chinese have helped Pakistan on International diplomatic fronts, Strategic defense infrastructure & trade ports. The new pro-China, Maoist Govt in Nepal has slowly reduced Indian influence in Army, Religious shrines, & trade The Chinese companies are part of Roads & Power projects along the Indian border! The pro-India Hasina govt in Bangladesh is some respite. The Myanmar oil fields are now in portfolio of Chinese oil majors. Clandestine shield to Military Govt in international forums over human rights & democracy has aligned Burma towards China. The Sri Lankan army managed to rout LTTE with supply of heavy Military hardware & financial assistance from China, hitherto blocked elsewhere, under Indian influence. The frequent intrusions into the India’ Northern borders & Indian Ocean by Chinese military has strained Indo-China relations. The Chinese have been quite unhesitant in projecting their newly acquired strength on various International fora. Be it submarine gaffe with US warships, blocking Indo-US nuke deal at IAEA, blocking UN sanctions on Pak based terror groups like JuD, to smoothened relations with Japan, Korea & Taiwan and now significant clout in mitigating world recession are all indications of the Rise of China as counter to USA towards a bipolar world!

The yawning Indian ruling establishment is yet to action any thought-thorough coherent imprints on the world canvas. The fractured mandate, non-developmental local politics, absence of leadership & resulting handicapped Central Govt without will & commitment have left India into a crumbling power surrounded by failed states. What India needs is a revolution in space of Energy, Defense, Transport & Agriculture to gain its deserving stature at world high-table.