TAMING THE DRAGON

China has recently overtaken Japan as the world’s second biggest economy of the world. At five trillion dollars plus it is almost four times the size of the Indian economy ($1.25 trillion), and increasing at a higher rate 9.5%, compared to 8.5% of India. In an ideal world this should be a welcome step, considering the fact that after several centuries of humiliating poverty and colonized living, Asia is remerging as the growth engine of the world. But, the opaqueness of the Beijing administration in all aspects of governance, and the arbitrary manner in which it's treating its counterparts in the world, has led several countries to question the real intentions of the Chinese Dragon.


On the one hand China is approaching India with friendly gestures and holding regular bilateral talks on several boundaries and trade related issues, even on the multilateral forums like W.T.O and climate summits, both countries are working in tandem with each other. But, when it comes to Arunachal Pradesh and giving tacit support to Pakistan, China rarely leaves a chance to humiliate India. One wonders the reasons of China’s Arunachal obsession, and the equally naïve and clichéd reaction from New Delhi that “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India”.


By saying this, India looks rather apologetic, as if holding something which is not hers. On the other hand, China is knocking at the Arunachal Pradesh, practicing what it preaches, and working on bringing its rail link right up to Nyangtri, located on the border with Arunachal Pradesh. 
"The building of the railway to this area is significant because of two reasons: China has unveiled plans to construct there the world's largest dam which will be more than twice bigger than Three Gorges Dam, now the world's largest dam, and also because it will strengthen China's rapid military deployment capability in the eastern (Arunachal) sector," said strategic affairs analyst Brahma Chellaney.


Instead of defending which is integral, India should attack China where it hurts the most. When China can claim Arunachal as its own part, one wonders what led India to accept Tibet as a part of China. Why can’t India be more forthright in its vision when it comes to defending its strategic interests?


A power like China can’t be cajoled by dangling the baits of bilateral trade relations; it can only be tamed through an equally impressive show of military might and a bold and clear approach when it comes to foreign policies. For the uninitiated it’s a fact that china has settled all its border disputes with Russia. One wonders why?
http://www.chinaembassy.org.in/eng/zgbd/t198465.htm