India China Relations: The Game of Wei Qi

Wei Qi, is the world`s oldest and perhaps the most Complicated Board Game, which now goes by the name of 'GO'. Played on a 19*19 grid with 361 pieces, the Chinese name roughly translates to "The Encirclement Game". The basic aim of this game is Territorial Acquisition by slowly encircling certain areas of the board and make your move to remove your opponents pieces, one by one by outflanking his 'Liberties', basically cutting off, one piece at a time. The game is the reflection of Chinese Strategy, Culture & Operational Tactics and coupled with Deception, flexibility & sudden unpredictable moves, the Chinese play out the game in the field of geopolitics, especially so with its rising neighbor India.

The Chinese are literally playing out the Game with India at multiple fronts by first, keeping the Border Conflict Open, to make moves and cause embarrassment to the Indians as per will, at a time of their choosing with a very convenient interpretation of LAC, by making Pakistan, India`s eternal enemy its all weather friend that Includes the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through Indian territory, illegally ceded to china on which a highway is being constructed which will give china access to the Gwadar Port. China has also its eyes on the India Ocean and in a bid to encircle India, it has developed the "String of pearls" around Indian assets, mostly Masquerading as Commercial activities. the Psychological Operations (Psy Ops) are now a constant. In spite of all the Economic Cooperation and growing together for decades, the mistrust is definitely there and India must be ready as per the Parabellum paradigm of  'Si vis Pacem, Para bellum"  which translates to " If you want Peace, you should prepare for War".

India China Land Border Dispute
The India China Border dispute is a very Complex matter and has many dimensions to it, including ones which involve our erstwhile Imperial Rulers, the British India. Tibet was a buffer state between the two Imperial countries of Britain & Russia, and both Britain & Russia had many Business interests and had imposed many Unequal treaties on the Chinese by force during their Imperial Era. there was never a clear demarcated area between British India & china because of the presence of Tibet. The Shimla agreement in 1914, was supposed to be a tripartite agreement between British India, China & Tibet where Indo Tibet Border was accepted at McMahon Line & British India allowed China Suzerainty over Tibet( 
Tibet.

Cut to Post Independence, India became a free Nation and was making strides as the Global level leading efforts like Non-Alignment Movement in a post War Ideologically divided World, but the capture of Tibet by China changed everything. China Unilaterally started construction of a road into Aksai Chin, still India continued the Policy of accepting Chinese Suzerainty over Tibet and even promoted China into World League by a seat in UNSC. China, with its expansionist mindset and deception, attacked India unilaterally in 1962 while sweet talking India about Panchsheel & 'Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai' all this time. It was a damning blow to the psyche of the New Nation, however India recovered and more than gave a Bloody Nose in future Skirmishes with the Chinese. However today, we have a LAC, where both countries have differing perceptions and China Slyly keeps making attempts to encroach our land in the name of perception, the Current Conflict in Galwan Valley & Pangong Tso are along the same lines. It is an Interesting development that China has Unfinished business with only 2 countries as far as land boundaries are concerned, India & Bhutan. It has also fermented new trouble in India Nepal Border through its Economic & new diplomatic channels opened up due to the New Communist led coalition Government. This mode of Salami Slicing, making nimble attempts all the times to keep the enemy of the balance & confused is a part of the Wei Qi strategy.

Pearl of Strings & Economic Colonialism

India has Ocean on both it Sides & has developed a Very Capable & Multi faceted Navy over time taking part responsibly in Freedom of Navigation exercises & Anti Piracy missions on the High seas. China, which was a laggard has made tremendous improvement in the past Decade and a half and eyes the Indian Ocean & the South China Sea to bolster its Hegemonic aspirations. In that Very chain, China has made a very calculated & steady move to encircle India in the Indian Ocean & beyond with strategic bases at Gwadar Port, Pakistan, Hambanthota port in srilanka, Chittagong Port in Bangladesh, sittwe port in Myanmar and assets in Maldives & other smaller Islands & Maritime nations. The Interesting game is it all started as a Commercial activity and almost all fell in dept Traps leading to allow Chinese making subsequent strategic Moves. Each and every case falls under the strategic deceptive game of indulging countries in Debt Trap Diplomacy. it is not limited to Asia. china is playing the same game in even Europe with countries like Czech Republic & Serbia and at a much larger scale in Africa. we need to fight this as well.

Way Ahead 

1. Boycott of Chinese goods is a knee Jerk Reaction and not the panacea to all problems. we must do 'Atm Chintan' how we can reverse the skewed trade ratio with China, primarily by focused approach on Manufacturing . It requires constant national Will & monk Like dedication, Japan is someone we can learn from and collaborate.

2. We must Focus also not be the benign Benevolent Elephant whose Tail can be played with. China has its own set of problems, Many returned territories like Hong Kong & Macau who have tasted Democracy earlier and are now being stifled by China. Autonomous territories like Tibet & Xinjiang which have been conquered by force and millions are being indoctrinated in the name of re education. The CCP has now descended into Autocracy with the Xi Jinping Power Consolidation and people are dissenting more than before especially after the strict measures post COVID19. we need to take nuanced steps to condemn non democratic efforts of china especially on Taiwan which is a separate country now and see the fragmented Chinese in the same light as they see us.  

3. Pakistan is doing China`s bidding on Cyber Space as far as India is Concerned. India Needs to ensure we devote our equally or more aptly armed resources into the use of nation which we almost see being expended domestically, on a daily basis. News matters and we must be seen in a correct light proportionate to our might.

4.We need to increase Cooperation with Like Minded Countries on Bilateral & Multilateral Forums like Quad, on Indo Pacific Issues and the Proposed D10. we must play a more active role in ASEAN, most of the members are victim of china`s aggression in South china Sea. Africa & Eastern Europe are important theaters where we must increase our presence significantly both Diplomatically & Economically.

5. We must Collaborate with Russia, especially on developing our Naval Might with Collaborations like 'Brahmos' in the Submarine front. Add another Aircraft Carrier to meet the Challenges and Responsibilities in Multiple Oceans & fronts. While Rafale is a good addition, we need a upgraded fleet to challenge China & pakistan Simultaneously, lastly Army Modernization and equipping them with Weapons & accessories, a modern and brave army like our deserves needs to be done ASAP.

To paraphrase what a famous Military Historian had said " It is generally true, the armed forces are a extension of the Society, Military Victory/decline is often National Ascent/ decline reflected in the Violence of battle"

It is time we recognize the Tactics of the Chinese on the board and beat them at their game. No Knee Jerk reactions but sustained National Will and Periodic Introspection will Definitely take us through. Jai Hind !!

  

Rising China & the World: The Story of the Ten Suns

China is the one of the Oldest Civilizations in the world, which flourished under several Dynasties controlling varying proportions of landmasses at different times. In fact, at one point it was known as the middle kingdom, believing itself to have been at the Center of the Earth surrounded by Barbarians. Cut to the 21st century, under the policies of the Communist leadership, under the Leadership of Mao at the helm who after initial steps towards stabilizing the new Regime took pragmatic steps under Deng Xiaoping to develop the economy, and without any doubt, People's Republic of China (PRC) has come up as a world power in all spheres.

 Coming, to the mythological story. there were 10 suns according to mythology in china who resided in a Mulberry Tree and took turns to grace the Sky, one day all the suns appeared together in the sky & the 'Lord Archer', Hou Yi the immortal slayer of mystical beasts shot down all suns except One. The current Chinese world view is something on those lines, it wants to be the Only sun shining, in the World order by its Economic, Political & Military might. while the world is slowly accepting a new world order of Multiple Power centers based on constructive Participation rather than conflict among the powers, overtly and covertly China harbors ambitions to become the World Leader. We shall Touch Upon all the major components briefly.

The Ocean

China has based its power doctrine on the basis of  'Century of Humiliation' theory based on alleged 'Unequal Treaties' forced on it by Imperial  Powers including UK, USA, European Powers & Imperial Japan right from 'Treaty of Nanking' which concluded the 1st Opium War & forced china to cede 'Hong Kong' among many concessions to the 'Shimla Convention' on Tibet and the now in news 'McMahon Line' with British India. Trumping up nationalism on this premise PRC has invested heavily in its Military and is a Nuclear power and is now ramping up its Navy as well to be a true 'blue water navy'with multiple Aircraft Carriers. 

Coming to the Major expression of China's military Power, it is the South China Sea based on an Imaginary '9 Dash Line' marked in red above, which blatantly allows china to bully majority of the ASEAN countries and claim the whole of China Sea. In a Clear violation of UNCLOS  which is the UN norm for Law of the Sea, which defines the Exclusive Economic Zone till 200 nautical miles from last parcel of land. China has also engaged in armed conflict with Vietnam over Paracel and spartly Islands claiming every island, atoll in it. In mischief reef, originally claimed by the Philippines, it has constructed a Artificial island with air defense and holds on to it despite Philippines winning the Arbitration on South China Sea in the International Court based on UNCLOS . its latest act of aggression being sinking a Vietnamese vessel. The Plain logic behind its ambitions is to control the South China Sea through which 1/3rd of trade volume of the world passes annually worth 3 billion $ apart from the large reserves of oil & gas present under the sea. In one Theater it has engaged Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei & Indonesia all in the conflict solely on basis of its naval might.
            Apart from South China Sea, it has made strategic Investments in Ports & Island infrastructure in and around the Indian Zone of Influence like gwadar port in Pakistan which will link to the proposed China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Hambantota port in Srilanka and assets in Bangladesh, Myanmar & Maldives with a now well known doctrine known as 'Pearl of Strings' to surround India.

Land Disputes

Surprisingly for Its large Number of neighbors, China has an active Non finalized land boundary with only India & Bhutan. The Sino Indian Border dispute is a result of the Armed invasion of Tibet which acted as a buffer between Russian & British Empires during the Imperial era and India and PRC post independence which changed overnight after 1950 which led to the 1962 war which left a deep scar in the Psyche of the Young nation. Things have however been better and no bullets have been exchanged since 1967. however with the Economic Ascent of India and its rise in military might & confidence after successful wars of 1965, 1971 and 1999 fought against Pakistan, china has always tried its best to keep India on its toes. its all weather friendship with Pakistan which it goes to great lengths to maintain, at the cost of India and the Border Skirmishes along the LAC. The Doklam Stand off on the Bhutanese Soil was one such Instance where India looked the Dragon in the eye and the situation deescalated after 73 days, while the 2020 skirmishes along Pangong So & Galwan Valley is an instance in progress which we will deal in another article. The Idea is china is not prepared to let the Dragon dance with the Elephant in tandem. it wants to be the Lone sun in the Asian Century, as they call it.

The Economic Pied Piper

China has also leveraged its Soft power with Economic Loans, Lines of Credit & Infrastructural Deals with countries primarily in Africa. The Initiatives likes Belt & Road Initiative under which China plans to connect Asia with Africa & Europe via Road & Maritime networks along 6 corridors is one such initiative. apart from the CPEC which reactivates the Karakorum road. The truth is Pakistan is in a one sided Skewed Trade equation with China and is surrendering even strategic Independence due to the fact. the CPEC construction is being undertaken is also marred by reports of rampant Corruption.
                                                                            in Africa as we speak, Angola, Zambia, Sudan & Republic of Congo are seeking relief in loans to fight the COVID19 pandemic but are now trapped in Debt Trap Diplomacy. focusing specifically on Angola, which has 43 billion $ worth of Debt to china from the total 143 billion $ in Africa, it pays through oil by exporting almost 2/3rd of its production obviously on favorable terms. today, due to dropped oil prices, Angola is caught between fighting the Pandemic effectively and preventing itself from getting into a debt trap. China claims to be the Savior of Africa Investing heavily in its future when all other world powers are looking Inwards, but it is just another form of Economic Colonialism.


In its now Public Global fight against USA with a intention to play a hegemonic role in the New World Order, China is holding back no punches. with expertise in Cyber warfare and Psy Ops even on platforms like twitter which is banned for public in PRC, it will only challenge the existing Powers and try to dominate all other Rising powers along with Weak States. we must turn to one of the Chinese Leaders for Advice :

The time has come now for all affected Countries to Unite, Just like they did in WHO to demand a impartial probe into the origin of the COVID19 virus in Wuhan. The ASEAN countries should unite to protect Sovereign Rights in the South China Sea. India should engage in more strategic Partnerships like the Quad+ and proposed D10 and likewise to stand up to the Rising China State which believes in shooting down all Suns in its Quest to be the Lone Sun around which all the Countries Revolve.