Be friends with Asia instead of US: Chinese daily on India's military supremacy

Beijing: Days after stating that India opposing China’s road construction to woo Washington, Chinese daily state-run daily on Friday said, any attempt by India to gain military supremacy with the support of the US and its allies will further worsen the situation in Asia.

An editorial in Global Times said, "India and its neighbours' best interests are better protected by its thoughts and acts of ‘becoming an integral part of Asia’ rather than becoming an ally of Western countries”.

It further said, “The Belt and Road framework is an instrument for reshaping the world economic order by replacing or ending the colonial paradigm of development into a new one benefiting all nations as partners”.

Pointing out the tendency of the Western World of prolonging the idea of hegemony in a divided world, the Chinese daily further warned that "reactionary nationalism is lifting its head to the surface, in Western countries in particular".

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China's state run media pointed out that the current border dispute between New Delhi and Beijing is occurring at a time when China has undertaken the bold step to revive the ancient Silk Road and maritime trading routes and the powerful nations are trying to upset the progress of the Belt and Road initiative by creating divisions among countries.

"India should tread cautiously in their relations with China in order to prevent any issues along the border that may unleash a fresh gush of suspicion as the initiative of the Belt and Road put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping is not merely a strategic plan of development but it also represents a goal of peace and human progress and which will act as a boon for North India, where several provinces like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are trapped in a state of massive poverty and further extend it to open an immense opportunity for enhancing trade in Southwest China and Central Asia," it said.

"India has the great responsibility, under an 1890 treaty between China and Britain, to de-escalate tension by withdrawing its troops. Any argument that claims a "right" to protect the sovereignty of Bhutan will eventually fail under international law," it added.

It can be argued that Bhutan as an independent nation can settle any issue concerning disputes along its border by dialogue with China, if any such dispute arises. India as an important nation has an obligation to address bilateral issues by peaceful means through negotiation.

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The project is now at a stage of being materialized and the region that covers China, Nepal and India in the Himalaya Mountains are going to benefit the most as it is providing a shared opportunity for cooperation among all.

While the strength of this unbecoming development is not yet unmanageable, it definitely does indicate that something bad is "brewing up." Thus it is important that countries in Asia should forge better relations by working under the Belt and Road initiative to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the prosperity of people.

"The reactionary nationalism represented by "Donald Triumph" is a rejection of the people's need for development that can ensure an inclusive prosperity for all human beings, "it stated.

India's decision to remain outside the Belt and Road framework seems to go against the current of the times, and may deny the entire South Asia the benefit of connectivity with China and the fruits of its economic development. Further, it may severely harm the prospects of Asia emerging as an advocate of the new economic world order.