Abhijit Bhattacharyya | Delhi-Beijing diplomatic puzzle grows by the day

What kind of diplomatic game is being played by Communist Party of China overlord Xi Jinping, the inheritor of Mao Zedong’s “core leader” mantle in Beijing, as he offers mixed signals to New Delhi in the wake of the PLA’s unprovoked violation of India’s sovereignty over three years ago, and its continued forced-occupation of parts of eastern Ladakh? Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks have been held between Indian and Chinese representatives over past 36 months, and while there have been pullbacks in some sectors, large tracts of India’s land remain under the PLA’s control.

What is the role and responsibility of a professional army? According to Black’s Law Dictionary, an “army” is a “substantial body of individuals armed for combat”, while a “regular army” is a “permanent military establishment, maintained during both war and peace”. An army, thus, is there to fight for its country with weapons when called upon to do so.

Diplomacy, on the other hand, is the “art and practice of conducting negotiations between national governments”. John G. Stoessinger, in The Might of Nations: World Politics in Our Time, says diplomacy is the “conduct of international relations” and that “so long as national interest dictates avoidance of war, diplomacy works on behalf of peace”.

Given this, if the “national interest” of both China and India “dictates the avoidance of war,” why is Beijing-Delhi bilateral diplomacy not “working on behalf of peace”? Why is everything being swept under the carpet? Given the psyche and behaviour of the CPC-controlled PLA during and after May-June 2020, there is little to believe that Dragon’s troops will leave the territory they have grabbed and on which they are now entrenched, unless they are forced to.

On top of this, Beijing’s ministers, officials and diplomats are constantly arm-twisting Delhi to simply “forget” CPC’s illegal occupation of Ladakh’s soil and carry on with business, trade and commerce and allow it free access to India’s markets. They claim one-way profit by China’s companies, and their cheating and fraud, are in the “mutual interest” of both countries.

The CPC’s aversion to negotiation and diplomacy thus is crystal clear.

After 19 futile rounds of bilateral Ladakh talks between three-star generals, the Chinese side “demoted” the exercise to two-star “general talk”, which held a marathon four-day (optics) meeting, to no avail. Why does the PLA meet Indian generals since it has no interest in any resolution?

Has Xi’s China diplomacy become a farce, which is reflected in the behaviour of newly-returned foreign minister Wang Yi, who takes cover behind the epaulettes of PLA soldiers? Why is the CPC-PLA duo so aggressive? Do they mistake New Delhi to be like their vassal state next door in Islamabad?

Indeed, Mr Xi’s remarks on the sidelines of the recent Johannesburg Brics summit, after Mr Modi directly brought up the Ladakh border violation issue, appears ominous and dire for India. Mark the words: “Improving India-China relations serve common interests and is conducive to peace and stability…” and that the “two sides should bear in mind overall bilateral relations to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border regions”.

Who will maintain border tranquility: the two armies? By fighting or by discussing? Why have two armies been deployed to find a way, and not professional diplomats at conference table? Can armies define the border and demarcate it? If so, the legacy of diplomatic history, international relations and law come under a very big question mark. Will 2023 see a new role for professional soldiers in tense border regions to redefine bilateral diplomacy? Can the Dragon implement Sun Tzu’s Art of War, and subdue foes without even fighting? The strategy could be to penetrate the enemy camp and ensure fatal internal sabotage through espionage.

While dealing with Dragon, Delhi urgently needs to re-learn its lessons, acquired over past 74 years, and re-calibrate approach, otherwise wisdom may dawn too late. A few Chinese words will do for this necessary action: “One who confronts his enemy for many years… to struggle for victory”, and “remains ignorant of enemy’s situation, is completely devoid of humanity”. The CPC focuses on “total war” mode -- which goes beyond the enemy’s border; it penetrates, covering all sectors of enemy’s industry, commerce, polity, education, finance, foreign trade and media.

The unchecked, unobtrusive entry of the CPC’s Red Guards into India’s border establishment will be ruinous.

The CPC-PLA had made a deep advance penetration into Indian garrisons to garner sensitive information prior to its 1962 invasion of India. One can refresh one’s memory on how to tackle the Dragon by reading the magnificent manuscript of Brig. Jon P. Dalvi’s Himalayan Blunder.

The Sun Tzu-following CPC-controlled PLA calls it “foreknowledge”, by cultivating and employing “enemy’s country people”, “turning them around” through “lavish bribes”.

It’s also urgently necessary to deal firmly with the PLA’s rampaging swarm of Chinese-origin criminals operating within India. Two nations today -- India and the US -- top the CPC’s hitlist targeting democracies.

Remember what foreign minister Wang Yi told visiting centenarian US foreign affairs legend Henry Kissinger, who had spearheaded America’s “opening” to China in the 1970s: “It’s impossible to contain China”. The implication: “It’s Beijing’s turn to contain all. China’s time has come”.

Delhi always remains a thorn in the CPC’s eyes, due to its firm refusal to play ball with Xi Jinping’s signature projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, RCEP and various others. The Dragon also remains in awe of the great sub-Himalayan geography’s all-embracing composite culture and traditions, notwithstanding its fault-lines and fissures.

Things, however, have now changed for the worse. Criminals from China are deep within India: criminal Woo Uyanbe, for one, proved super-cunning and was able to dodge past at least two Indian states, one in north and another in west, duping 1,200 Indian citizens of Rs 1,400 crores, with insider help. He’s one of many. The Indian Army at the border may be less badly hit than ordinary citizens being looted right in their homes and workplaces.

Xi Jinping and his merry men have no interest in going back to the status quo ante of March 2020. That is why Mr Xi stuck to his guns on the Brics summit’s sidelines. The Chinese foreign ministry’s statement released by Xinhua made that amply clear.

In this situation, will Mr Xi attend India-hosted G-20 summit in New Delhi on September 8-10? It’s a big question. Xi Jinping and his CPC-PLA brigade would like nothing better than to embarrass India on the global stage. With US President Joe Biden and other Western leaders in attendance, Mr Xi would much prefer to hog the limelight alone on Indian soil to rub things in!