India PM says China wants foothold in South Asia

[ao333]

India must be prepared for a newly-assertive China that wants a foothold in South Asia, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, in a rare open criticism of the Asia giant competing for regional resources and geopolitical clout.

"China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and we have to reflect on this reality," Singh was quoted as saying by The Times of India on Tuesday. "We have to be aware of this."

"There is a new assertiveness among the Chinese. it is difficult to tell which way it will go. So it's important to be prepared."

The newspaper also quoted Singh as saying that China could use India's "soft underbelly" of Kashmir and Pakistan "to keep India in low level equilibrium."

An official at the prime minister's office, on condition of anonymity, said the newspaper quotes were correct.

The comments follow repeated diplomatic sparring between the two Asian powers over the last two years. This tension has heightened in the last month.

While trade has grown 30-fold since 2000, the tension highlights how economic ties alone may not be enough to resolve the two countries growing friction over their disputed borders and role as emerging global powers.

Last month, India criticized China's denial of a visa to an Indian army general who had operated in Kashmir and then New Delhi later said it was worried by China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.

India PM says China wants foothold in South Asia | Reuters

I do not understand why India's head of state would pull its citizens into this cycle of hatred by openly asking them to "be wary of the Chinese" when the issue at hand is clearly geopolitical -- something of the government's responsibility...

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

I do not understand why India's head of state would openly tell its citizens to "be wary of the Chinese" when the issue at hand is clearly geopolitical -- something of the government's responsibility...

being a relatively open society we have a right to be aware of all current threats and threat perceptions ......

judging by the recent denial of a visa to the Indian general....and the subsequent media furore....its good that they are stating facts instead of wishful bonhomie....

 

[muse]

I don't understand this statement of the Indian Premier, China already has the very best of relationship with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Lanka - Why does it need a foot hold, when it has a chair and lounger on all sides of India?

 

[SekrutYakhni]

I don't understand this statement of the Indian Premier, China already has the very best of relationship with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Lanka - Why does it need a foot hold, when it has a chair and lounger on all sides of India?

To push her master to help her. Create hype--

 

[true_indian]

^^^^ Because India is not subservient to China like other countries in the region are. We are competitors in the same region. We are determined to at least give it a tough competition be it in trade or geopolitics.

Also, do you really think China would care about these small countries other than to undermine India? If you do, then you are really ignorant of present day politics. Please don't take a nationalistic stand but think before answering it.

 

[Spring Onion]

^
Also, do you really think China would care about these small countries other than to undermine India? If you do, then you are really ignorant of present day politics. Please don't take a nationalistic stand but think before answering it.

China is much ahead of INDIA. So much ahead that US is trying to undermine China by feeding India.

So only those are tried to be undermine who are ahead of you in something not the other way round

 

[Desi Sher]

China is much ahead of INDIA. So much ahead that US is trying to undermine China by feeding India.

So only those are tried to be undermine who are ahead of you in something not the other way round

Poor Journalism Indeed, China is Ahead, agreed, but not much from India, that we are next to them in almost everything, and USA has Been Trying to pit India against China but India has never bowed to US Hegemony..... USA wants an ally in Asia, but choosing India is Unwise and Impractical

 

[somebozo]

Well CHina is not building its influening by millitarlily terrorising countries but by contributing to development and trade. Indians are most welcome to do so but if they cant compete dollar to dollar then blaming Chinese is not an easy way out either.. my suggestionn to MMS.

Cut some military budget and invest 20-30 billion in rebuilding lives.
The core intrest of China is in central asia for energy security than south asia.

 

[Desi Sher]

Well CHina is not building its influening by millitarlily terrorising countries but by contributing to development and trade. Indians are most welcome to do so but if they cant compete dollar to dollar then blaming Chinese is not an easy way out either.. my suggestionn to MMS.

Cut some military budget and invest 20-30 billion in rebuilding lives.
The core intrest of China is in central asia for energy security than south asia.

You should be the first one to be talking to us like this, Just Imagine if we can spend 25 million $ on relief for those who are considering us as Enemies, Then You yourself can Imagine we are pitching $ with $ .... and Again No country prefers to cut the Military Budget if it Increases On its On with the Given limited percentage of GDP

 

[Hafizzz]

I don't understand this statement of the Indian Premier, China already has the very best of relationship with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Lanka - Why does it need a foot hold, when it has a chair and lounger on all sides of India?

Actually the Indian Premier wants to keep his job so he bashes China to rally support from the majority of Indians whom are anti-China so that he could continue to keep his job.

 

[RAHUL INDIAN]

whatever he said is right.

 

[footmarks]

Actually the Indian Premier wants to keep his job so he bashes China to rally support from the majority of Indians whom are anti-China so that he could continue to keep his job.

AFAIK, General elections are still some years away and there is no threat to his position. You must understand, in India, democratically chosen govt is not overthrown by military generals. And regarding majority of Indians being anti-China, I assure you, even if it is true (which apparantly is not the case), it will be because the cheap chinese mobole phones that they have bought have stopped working within months of buying, not because of any diplomatic moves made by the Chinese govt.

Get your facts right. Indians are not anti-china, we are anti- "anti-Indians" though.

 

[somebozo]

You should be the first one to be talking to us like this, Just Imagine if we can spend 25 million $ on relief for those who are considering us as Enemies, Then You yourself can Imagine we are pitching $ with $ .... and Again No country prefers to cut the Military Budget if it Increases On its On with the Given limited percentage of GDP

Whats is soo much pride attached with aid??? Remember Pakistan also opened its wartime reserves for India after tunsami. Going to such extents for someone we consider an "enemy" is a feat of its own! We have common sense not to brag about suffering of "average joe" who works day and night to make ends meet and will not benefit in anyway by war rehotric. The Indians are chanting aid aid everywhere which is yet to be accecpted and materialise.

Had it not been for Zardari trust me no GOP will accecpt this aid.

@footmarks

Chinese are damaging their own trade confidence by dumping cheap products..China government should take stern actions sooner or later.

 

[challenger]

AFAIK, General elections are still some years away and there is no threat to his position. You must understand, in India, democratically chosen govt is not overthrown by military generals. And regarding majority of Indians being anti-China, I assure you, even if it is true (which apparantly is not the case), it will be because the cheap chinese mobole phones that they have bought have stopped working within months of buying, not because of any diplomatic moves made by the Chinese govt.

Get your facts right. Indians are not anti-china, we are anti- "anti-Indians" though.

The more sugar you add, the sweeter the tea becomes. Why don't they buy expensive goods? Do they have money?

If you buy cheaper goods, you should not expect quality. And cheaper goods are made in every country.

 

[taimoorlang]

You should be the first one to be talking to us like this, Just Imagine if we can spend 25 million $ on relief for those who are considering us as Enemies, Then You yourself can Imagine we are pitching $ with $ .... and Again No country prefers to cut the Military Budget if it Increases On its On with the Given limited percentage of GDP

typical closed off mentality. Pakistan didn't ask india to donate. pakistan only accepted indian donations because obama said so.

its very frustrating to see indians using argumentum ad nauseam for everything, been taught to use invincible ignorance (search google invincible ignorance) when it comes to discussing something using intelligent reasoning such as true democracy for Kashmir, which is widely and categorically ignored because if properly applied, it would fall in favour of Pakistan. And everyone knows that (besides the ignorant who choose to ignore this obvious fact-in-the-face).