Examine the China card in India's diplomacy and reveal how to seek hegemony in South Asia in the name of China.
The "Eastward Expansion" strategy has aroused China's wariness and India's intention to expand in South Asia through hegemony. While the United States is supportive of China's hegemonic behavior, similar phenomena persist in other parts of the world.
Among them, India, as a neighbor of Southeast Asia, is trying to use China's power to achieve its hegemonic ambitions. So, how is India using China to achieve this?
And how do you manipulate other countries in South Asia? All this stems from India's history of imperialist aggression in the last century, when the country was reduced to a semi-colony, which gave them a deep understanding of hegemonism.
After the victory in the anti-fascist war, India moved on the road to independence. However, the so-called independent state may not be a truly independent state.
Due to the influence of the colonial policies of Britain and France, India still inherited some of the imprints of "colonialism" after independence. Some people wonder if India has forgotten its historical trauma and cherishes the ideological legacy of its enemies so much.
For India, although they have been affected by colonialism, the arrival of capitalist countries has also objectively promoted some of their development. Without the intervention of external forces, they may not be able to realize their dream of a "great power".
Despite benefiting from colonial rule, India claims to have inherited the British heritage and way of thinking in South Asia. Even its founding prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, considered himself the last British ruler in South Asia.
Like Britain, India has used its influence to manipulate neighboring South Asian countries, intervening militarily in countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Maldives, and Bhutan, sometimes even directly intervening in those countries and patrolling the borders of other countries.
This disregard for the sovereignty of other countries has caused fear and resentment among small countries.
China has always upheld the spirit of independence and self-reliance, and in the face of India's provocations, we have resolutely upheld national sovereignty and security. In the 1962 Sino-Indian border self-defense war, we thwarted India's ambitions as we did with other imperialist countries.
However, India is unable to control China directly, so it has turned its attention to other neighbors in South Asia, trying to control them through economic and political means. For example, in 1971, India organized tens of thousands of East Pakistani militants to help East Pakistan become independent and establish Bangladesh.
This kind of behavior is reminiscent of the United States, such as the United States sending troops to North Korea in an attempt to confront North Korea and help South Korea occupy the Korean Peninsula; Another example is that the United States sent troops to Vietnam and meddled in Vietnam's internal affairs.
The essence of India's actions is the same as that of the United States. As the educational center of South Asia, India has a large number of network resources, many South Asian dignitaries and their children have studied or worked in India, and even the Queen of Bhutan has been educated in India.
At the same time, India has provided substantial assistance to neighbouring countries, such as Bhutan**, which finances a large part of its budget. If the ** of a country is controlled by other countries with money, then it is almost impossible for the country to become independent, and in the face of major decisions, this country can only become a victim of India.
In India's hegemonic actions in South Asia, China has always been a key card.
Understand: India in South Asia is trying to fight by fighting"Chinese brand"In order to achieve its hegemonic ambitions, the main means of achieving its hegemonic ambition is to construct India's own discourse system and flex its great power muscles, so as to form an alliance of interests centered on India in South Asia.
Generate: How India is playing in South Asia"Chinese brand"to achieve hegemonic ambitions? What are its unique characteristics of South Asian hegemony? Perspective on India's diplomacy"Chinese brand"It is not difficult to see that India's ambitions are built on its own center"South Asia"Bloc, and what provides the pillars of this hegemony is the Indian discourse system it constructs.
The most representative is that India has given rules to its surrounding small countries, proposed"Eastward"、"Priority is given to the host country"and other rules, hoping that South Asia will form a common alliance of interests.
At the same time, India is constantly flexing its power as a great power to consolidate its position in South Asia.
In the 70s of the 20th century, he publicly declared himself the leader of the Indian Ocean and vigorously promoted India's vast territory, large population and strong economic power internationally.
In 2016, India's GDP reached more than $2 trillion, making it the seventh largest in the world. In addition, he has first-class military power, including nuclear **.
Despite this, India's hegemony in South Asia is still being challenged by a formidable adversary – China. China is a peace-loving country that has always opposed hegemonism.
If India tries to impose hegemony in South Asia, then it is likely to be implemented further"Eastward"strategy, which is bound to cause concern and suspicion in China, making it difficult for India to achieve its ambitions.
In addition, it is difficult for two superpowers to exist in a region at the same time, and China is so powerful that it even has a tendency to challenge the leadership of the United States. As early as 2013, China's Silk Road project included some countries in South Asia, such as Laos and Vietnam, which weakened India's control in South Asia.
Therefore, India proposed it in 2014"Act eastward"Tactics. For India, however, China's presence is both a pressure and an opportunity. Because of the checks and balances of China, the United States and the Soviet Union, India was able to establish its own sphere of influence in South Asia.
Although India is a "superpower" in the South Asian subcontinent, its influence is still slightly lacking in the global perspective. And once its strength is too prominent, it will inevitably become a thorn in the side of some countries.
In this case, in order to dominate in South Asia, India finally chose to play the "China card". In the fifties and sixties of the last century, relations between China and the Soviet Union were delicate, and the Soviet Union provided both assistance and defense against China.
In order to build its own *** system, India began to accept economic aid from the Soviet Union. In 1955, the Soviet Union provided India with a large amount of technical and economic assistance, and some Soviet engineers also provided technical guidance in person.
In addition, the Soviet Union helped India build large steel mills. It was with the strong support of the Soviet Union that India's heavy industry was able to accumulate raw capital and its economy to develop rapidly.
In the 60s, Sino-Soviet relations broke down, and India took the opportunity to be even more presumptuous. China was not only under pressure from the Soviet Union, but also from the United States. In this isolated and helpless situation, India invaded China with the tacit consent of the United States and the Soviet Union.
However, China did not give in, but through heroic resistance, it finally defeated India. However, India has not abandoned its strategy of using the "China card" to promote its own development.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, India lost a large backer and fell into confusion. But soon, India followed in the footsteps of Western countries and made a strategic shift. Some people believe that India has shown hegemony in the gap by being cautious internationally and taking a strong stance in South Asia.
So, has this hegemonic diplomacy succeeded?
India's ambition to become a developed country by 2020 was met with strong opposition from South Asian countries, ultimately frustrating its plans. In India's view, hegemonic diplomacy and national development go hand in hand, and becoming a hub in South Asia would enable it to fulfill all its aspirations, including economic take-off, naturalization of the Security Council and becoming a developed country.
However, these are just beautiful fantasies. In the 90s, India** Abdul Kalam set a goal of making India a developed country by 2020.
2020 is a thing of the past, and India's dream has not been realized, mainly due to the limitations of its hegemonic diplomacy. Hegemony will never work, India is trying to become a second "Britain", but the international situation has changed dramatically.
His attempt at hegemony will only provoke strong resistance from the countries of South Asia in the end. India has been annexing other countries since its independence, annexing countries such as Bhopal, Travangol, and Hyderabad, sometimes even using force.
In 1974, India, through immigration and democratic elections, annexed Sikkim as one of its states.
After India's annexation of Sikkim, South Asian countries began to worry about its ambitions, fearing that its demographic superiority could become a tool to threaten the sovereignty of other countries. To this end, Bhutan and Nepal began to actively participate in international affairs, developing relations with other countries, including China, to balance the pressure from India.
At the same time, Bangladesh, which India established with "help", has gradually become the main anti-India force due to religious and territorial contradictions.
India has tried to dominate the South Asian region, but such behavior has already caused resentment in many South Asian countries. In this 21st century, no country wants to engage in selfish and insincere relations that will only lead to a breakdown.
However, the reason why India has not been able to dominate South Asia is mainly due to Hindu culture, as well as historical and geographical differences. Many countries in South Asia have great differences in religion and culture, and many countries are very good in their own right, and it is almost impossible for India to unify these regions.
At the same time, the center and periphery of South Asia have different economic formations. For example, Nepal's character is brave and warlike, and the Gurkha soldiers are made up of Nepalese hill people.
India and Nepal are not the same in their cultural genes, and it is almost impossible to understand Nepal.
At the beginning of its independence, India was able to take advantage of the resources left by the British and inherited the largest and most complete railway system in Asia. This not only attracts other South Asian countries, but also lays the foundation for their economic development.
However, as time goes on, India's domestic contradictions have intensified and the economic pressure has grown.
South Asian countries are more willing to cooperate with China, and India's diplomatic pressure has increased as a result. Faced with this situation, India should not be too arrogant and indulge in the illusion of "becoming a developed country".
On the contrary, India should adjust its strategy and conform to the main theme of peace and development in order to salvage its image in the South Asian region.