Temporary peace in Doklam

From the sketchy available news reports of the recent trip of national security adviser Ajit Doval to Beijing to attend the meeting of NSAs of Brics countries to prepare for the summit of the grouping in September, it appears that the belligerence of the Chinese side in the context of the six-week long Doklam military standoff with India has been put away, even if temporarily.

The intemperate mass circulation paper of the Chinese Communist Party, Global Times, whose war-mongering tone in dealing with India’s strategic concerns regarding road-building by the Chinese Army in Bhutan’s territory prepared Indians to be ready for the imminence of possible conflict, held back on its inflammatory ways.

Mr Doval did interact bilaterally with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, though details are not yet out. Chinese President Xi Jinping also interacted with the assembled NSAs as a group and spoke of their contribution in enhancing “mutual trust and cooperation”. The Indian NSA later said some “vital” issues were discussed in this interaction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the Brics summit and high-level visits to China are being anticipated in official circles. These appear to be positive signs, while the resolution of the military standoff is awaited.

Since drum-beating media outfits like Global Times were allowed a free run to go at India, some concern appears to be surfacing in China that unrestrained ultra-nationalistic coverage of the Doklam standoff is becoming a domestic issue in China just months before the 19th Congress of the ruling Communist Party. Beijing may seek to neutralise the hawkish stance by highlighting economic cooperation amongst the Brics bloc.