Why China is doing all this now

The writer Khushwant Singh was once visiting Hong Kong, close to the heels of the humiliating defeat suffered by India at the hands of the Chinese on the aftermath of their surprise attack on our Eastern front in October, 1962.

As the Sardar on a journalism mission was walking down the street, a fellow Sikh greeted him - "SARDARJEE. DESH SE AYE HO (you have come from our country) ? TUMNE TO NAAK BHADDA DITTA (you cut our nose - meaning you have shamed us)".

He continued - "CHINIYAAN NE TO TUMHARI BH**ND MAARLI (the Chinese have screwed your bottom). KUKKAD KHAANDE JOGE HO (You are now only good at eating chicken - poking fun at the penchant of the Punjabis towards eating chicken. The pun was, you are good for nothing, chicken eating folks, who have forgotten how to fight).

The Sardar of Hong Kong went on further - "I used to boast before my Chinese wife about the great martial tradition of Sikhs. Now she is poking fun at me". Point taken, the Chinese beat us left and right in that war, catching us unware, following the age old military adage, "surprise is the main element of war".

History repeats itself. Fast forward to the year 2020 as they have managed to capture 60 square kilometers as reported on the media. No surprise here. The inscrutable Chinese plan their strategy well in advance and caught us off guard again. We have been caught off guard by the Pakistanis in 1999 too, but unlike the Pakis, Chinese are too tough a customer to deal with. The bottom line - the Chinese screwed our bottom once again.

Whatever the casualties are reported, truth is the first casualty of a war. In spite of the positive spin we try to give this incident on media, social or otherwise - the Chinese did their job, the casualties from their side not withstanding. If the rest of think about the next quarter, Chinese plan for next quarter of the century. After achieving their goal, they're now talking about peace.

Now the million dollar question is why China is doing all these now ? There are 1,489,458,126 theories floating around and not to be left behind let me add a few from my side.

China may be doing this in order to divert attention from their internal crisis. After COVID-19 and a slugginsh economy everything may not be alright in the Middle Kingdom. At this time Xi needs some diversion to save his seat. Drawing analogy to a proverb popular in Odisha, India is like GARIBA MAIPI SABURI SHAALI (The poor woman is perceived as every one's sister-in-law, simply meaning India is taken for granted was a weak nation), the Chinese being no exception. The perception hasn't changed much despite our government courting foreign leaders and doing some aggressive diplomacy.

China also thinks it's time to step into the vacuum left by US as the Superpower is busy fighting COVID-19, Civil unrest and other internal squabbling in an Election year, led by an useless, headless Head of State. America has relinquished its global policeman role to some extent. Long term Corporate greed along with a laid back attitude towards China has only made it worse. China sees an opening and starting to flex its muscles - using its neighbor India as a testing grounds.

In spite of India's recent assertiveness, the border issue with China has been its Achilles Heels. What is China's is China's, ours is negotiable. That's the strategy the dragon seems to be following with its new earned clout due to the growth in economic and militarily power. 

Also, India's current outreach to America as being part of later's strategy to corner China is a common knowledge. The recent bonhomie between Modi and Trump hasn't gone unnoticed to China. Indo - US alliance is certainly a long term need, but right now India can't rely on a mercurial Trump who says something in the morning and contradicts the same in his nighty tweet. China wants to bully India and show its own place, a rebuttal not to get so close to Uncle Sam.

We live in a complicated geo political world, where there is no permanent friend or enemy, but permanent interests thrive. China is jealous of Japan's economic success and India's Nuclear power status. It has outsourced North Korea to checkmate Japan and Pakistan to keep India at bay. But occasionally China acts on his own to keep things straight. It doesn't care much about US at this point to step in for India's help.

At this time the criticism of Modi can wait. All of us must stand united. But as things cool down, we must introspect our lacuna and accountability should be fixed for the loss of 60 square km area to China, chances of getting back is bleak.

China by its stupendous economic growth in last 40 years has developed an enviable clout. America has no clue how to tackle the fuming Dragon. Even the so called Champions of Islam, Saudi Arabia and Iran tolerate China though the Chinese authorities force Muslims to eat pork and drink alcohol in their restive Xinjiang province. America, Russia et all will at best give lip service to India if things escalates into a full scale war more than this skirmish. 

India needs to be very careful in dealing with China. Militarily and economically India is no match and got some catch up to so. We must learn from this Aamir Khan monologue from the iconic movie "3 IDIOTS" - "SUCCESS KE PEECHHE MAT BHAGO. KAVEEL BANO. EK DIN SUCCESS TUMHARE PICHHE BHAGEGI". Transliterated - "Don't chase success. Be capable. One day Success will chase you". China has been capable in last 40 years to be successful. We must earn it.