Ahead of Modi’s visit to Beijing, a Chinese state newspaper accuses Indians of ‘inferiority’

[Tresbon]

The Washington Post
By Adam Taylor May 12 at 6:06 PM Follow @mradamtaylor

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in New Delhi in September 2014. (Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images
Just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Beijing, a state newspaper in China has published a damning op-ed that caustically criticized the Indian leader and the Indian people on the whole. Indian readers have not failed to notice.

The article, written by Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, was published in the Global Times on Tuesday. In the article, Hu argues that Modi has been "playing little tricks" to boost his prestige and apply pressure to Beijing.

The article then went on to lament the poor state of Sino-Indian relations before laying the blame at the feet of Indian citizens and their media.

"Due to the Indian elites' blind arrogance and confidence in their democracy, and the inferiority of its ordinary people, very few Indians are able to treat Sino-Indian relations accurately, objectively and rationally," Hu wrote. "Worse, some Indian media have been irresponsibly exaggerating the conflicts between the two sides, adding fuel to the hostility among the public."

Hu also warned that Modi should not visit the disputed border region disputed by India and China, and advised the Indian government to stop supporting the Dalai Lama.

The aforementioned Indian media has not failed to notice the report, with headlines in a number of publications noting the more damning aspects of the op-ed. "It cannot be assumed that this savagely critical opinion is universally held in the corridors of power in Beijing," Sutirtho Patranobis of the Hindustan Times noted, "but the texture and timing of the write-up does throw light on how India and Modi are looked at, at least among some in the strategic circles in China."

On Twitter, many Indian users were similarly concerned.

Haven't seen a shriller article. Haven't seen an article where trolls/commentators made more sense and demanded less Can Modi’s visit upgrade Sino-Indian ties? - Global Times

— Maneesh Phatak (@maneeshphatak) May 12, 2015



Chinese state daily: 1) Indians are inferior 2) Modi shouldn't visit Arunachal Pradesh. Can Modi’s visit upgrade Sino-Indian ties? - Global Times All this during Modi visit.

— OfficeOfChelsea (@sreemoytalukdar) May 12, 2015



The Global Times is often perceived as a mouthpiece for the more hardline elements in China's Communist Party, and it's op-eds are well-known for firing insults abroad (last year one writer called Australia a nation "roamed by rascals and outlaws from Europe").

This latest op-ed article, which come just two days before Modi is due to arrive, may seem especially ill-timed – both sides appear prepped for a friendly visit, with the social media-savvy Indian prime minister even launching a Sina Weibo account to talk to average Chinese Web users. But the Global Times also has a reputation for running hardline articles around bilateral meetings. And despite the high hopes for the visit, vast tensions remain between Beijing and New Delhi.

Ahead of Modi’s visit to Beijing, a Chinese state newspaper accuses Indians of ‘inferiority’ - The Washington Post

 

[Tractor]

Indian media have been irresponsibly exaggerating the conflicts between the two sides, adding fuel to the hostility among the public.
And Chinese media should do the same for Indian Army occupying Chinese territory which a practical truth.

 

[naveen mishra]

agree indian media ..quite loud and dramatic ......i hate times group specially

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

The article is bang on abt indian mecia n inferiority complexes indians have.

 

[ito]

Anyway...who cares what Global Times write, however, this clearly shows the fear Chinese establishment have about rising India.

The point is India is pursuing its self interest. And it is in India's self interest to have strategic relations with Japan and US. And also it is like saying Chinese president not to visit Xinjang when Chinese say Indian PM not to visit Arunachal Pradesh.

 

[Bang Galore]

I'm glad that this article was written. We have plenty of muddle headedness which appears time to time about India-china relations. Always good to know what the other side thinks, especially when they are willing to put it in articles like this.

The article itself is devoid of anything of importance but the underlying mentality isn't.

 

[ito]

I'm glad that this article was written. We have plenty of muddle headedness which appears time to time about India-china relations. Always good to know what the other side thinks, especially when they are willing to put it in articles like this.

The article itself is devoid of anything of importance but the underlying mentality isn't.

But one thing for sure, Chinese don't know the art of diplomacy. It is like killing before anything is even conceived.

For Chinese, diplomacy means either buy influence or if it cannot buy influence arm twist the other party.

 

[scorpionx]

The writers comment on Indian arrogance of democracy and the inferiority of the common pleb does not deserve much serious attention because it is laughable and ridiculous that the lecture came from the strangest source. But the writer's comment about Arunachal in fact has a serious connotation. The Chinese are quite aware of the fact that the 'threat' of not visiting disputed Arunachal does not really have any serious taker in the North Block. Historically they have the least interest in the reason. But given India's recent concern about the economic corridor through Kashmir, it was a clear message not to interfere in that domain. The hint is 'you keep what you have, let us keep what belongs to us now.'

 

[Tshering22]

Hu argues that Modi has been "playing little tricks" to boost his prestige and apply pressure to Beijing.

So a state visit to China and attempting to communicate better with the youth of neighbouring countries is 'little tricks'?

That's a weird foreign policy followed.

 

[nair]

I agree with author on Indian media....... Rest of his article should be put in where it belong to.... "Dustbin"

 

[ito]

Yes, India is scary. Especially for women.



For Indian, diplomacy is bragging and empty rhetoric, which makes people believe that you can almost never take them seriously.

On the other, the world knows China delivers what it says it will deliver.

Your inefficiency is second to none, sadly.

So, let's stop making generalizations and revealing our personal feelings as if they represented the ultimate truth.



Talking about backward population, I wonder where the majority of malnourished underclass Indians feel about themselves. Do they have the chance to know what the world has achieved outside the information provided by the regime and elitist media?

Now please, I am not interested in retarded posts. Could you please stop quoting me

 

[Nityam]

I'm glad that this article was written. We have plenty of muddle headedness which appears time to time about India-china relations. Always good to know what the other side thinks, especially when they are willing to put it in articles like this.

The article itself is devoid of anything of importance but the underlying mentality isn't.

You hit the Nail. But the article was not published by accident. Its classic chinese "strategy" ...... now expect a few incursions and a few more articles on similar lines.

 

[Tshering22]

Hu also warned that Modi should not visit the disputed border region disputed by India and China, and advised the Indian government to stop supporting the Dalai Lama.

Dalai Lama is a spiritual Buddhist guru who guides our people towards a better life. I don't think this guy has any rights to tell us what we do inside our country. We will visit wherever we want whenever we want.

Funny this is what the writer has learnt from a great teacher like Confucius who would be appalled at this guy.

"Due to the Indian elites' blind arrogance and confidence in their democracy, and the inferiority of its ordinary people, very few Indians are able to treat Sino-Indian relations accurately, objectively and rationally," Hu wrote. "Worse, some Indian media have been irresponsibly exaggerating the conflicts between the two sides, adding fuel to the hostility among the public."

Inferiority? You're the one who's judging a simple state visit, sonny.

 

[Nityam]

But one thing for sure, Chinese don't know the art of diplomacy. It is like killing before anything is even conceived.

For Chinese, diplomacy means either buy influence or if it cannot buy influence arm twist the other party.

They don't. Which is why their best friends are Pakistan and North Korea.

That should tell you everything you need to know.

 

[punit]

so we are accused of being inferior to chinese by chinese ! hmmm