It is one of the leading human frailties to be proud with power and show it off. It is this false sense of superiority, that has caused devastatating wars in history. Not long back, we had seen Iraqi aggression first on Iran and then on Kuwait. The US intervention changed the military equations so much so that Saddam regime was completely uprooted. In the same fashion, these days we find China, with unprecedented economic turn over, itching to arm- twist the neighbours. However, some important Sinologists are of the opinion that beyond the success on economic front, the country has some other reasons as well for growing belligerent.
A great Chinese thinker of ancient time named Lu tzu, known as an authority on intelligence and war, is even today quoted by many in the country. He said that there should be no war without a definite cause and one should not wage war if victory was not guaranteed. Today when the dragon appears browbeating the strategically located neighbours, it will be interesting to chafe out those purposes.
In the present China, the important political leaders are divided into two camps, each eager to prove the correctness of its line. One section is led by the people who have been benefited by the economic advancement and are enjoying the tasty fruits of opulence. Of course, like in any other country, such people know that they can prosper only if there is peace in the society. So they are dead opposed to the other war mongering group. On the other hand, the old guards of of the 50s and 60s, including military adventurists are determined to follow their policy of war being the best deciders of disputes and establishing the superiority of the the victorious party.
The w ar lovers of the second category have a separate gameplan to settle score with Japan and prove its unchallenged position in the coastal countries of the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The growing Chinese activities around three small and uninhabitated islands causing disputes between China and Japan are intended to subdue the developed Jpan. Similarly, they know that population, size and growthwise only India is capable of offering a stiff opposition. So China has befriended Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldive. These strategic moves are meant to encircle India. For last some years, the Chinese troops have been violating LAC in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. They came, stayed for some hours, wrote slogans on roadside bolders and withdrew simply to keep alive their claim on these areas. On all these occasions, India stood to its stand and no worse development could take place. Since India built three airstrips in north-east Ladakh for its small transport panes, the dragon started fuming. Some 50 Chinese armymen crossed the LAC in Daulat Beg Oldi sector on April 15, pitched a camp and are staying put. In two flag meetings, the Chinese side maintained that they had not entered into Indian area and charged that it was India which had turned aggressive.
In order to protect its territorial integrity, India also despatched equal number of ITBP and Ladakh Scouts personnel who are also camping just at a distance of 500 m. This eye-ball to eye-ball position has every chance of deterioration. Both are the nuclear powers and the resultant catastrophe could be anybody’s guess.
The only good sign is that India has strictly warned its personnel not to open fire first. China as well has not been seen to further aggravate the situation. Secondly, the Indian Foreign Minister, who is going to China on May9, has expressed that these pinpricks will not be allowed by the either party to turn worse. On the other hand, the Chinese Prime Minister is also coming on state visit to India. Earlier, he had a very encouraging talk with Dr. Manmohan Singh in which the Chinese premier appeared to be a lover of peace. The world today is least interested in any war which has chances of global escalation. It is hoped that with diplomatic interactions, both sides will wisely vote for peace.
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