The majority of commanders felt that while China’s disproportionate economic and military might had had a clear influence on realigning ties in India’s neighbourhood, the Communist country is also becoming more and more viewed as a bulwark against India.
China is increasing
According to papers presented by IPS officers at the recently concluded conference of DGPs and IGPs, China is utilising the gap between India and its neighbours to increase its regional influence. This gap has been caused by China’s growing economic and military might, India’s “big brother” attitude, and problems with the NRC and CAA. The meeting, which was held this month by the Intelligence Bureau, was attended by top police personnel from all around the nation as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Another officer from the south highlighted India’s “big brother” attitude that alienated Nepal, while an IG-rank officer from the northeast flagged the narrative surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), claiming it opened the door for China to enter Bangladesh.
The majority of commanders felt that while China’s disproportionate economic and military might had had a clear influence on realigning ties in India’s neighbourhood, the Communist country is also becoming more and more viewed as a bulwark against India.
During the conference, more than a dozen papers were presented on the subject of “Chinese influence in the neighbourhood and consequences for India.”
One of the journals reported on Chinese influence in Bangladesh and said that China had “targeted all of India’s friendly neighbours” including Nepal and Sri Lanka before turning its attention to Bangladesh.”
The report highlighted CAA’s effects by stating that Dhaka anticipates India to drive all illegal aliens toward Bangladesh under the NRC. Beijing immediately approved 97% of Bangladesh’s exports to China under its duty-free and quota-free programme after the CAA was passed.
According to the report, China has taken the initiative to build an airport in Sylhet, a city in eastern Bangladesh, and a mega smart city close to Dhaka. India is now concerned that China is pressuring Dhaka to hand over lucrative infrastructure and connectivity projects in order to annoy New Delhi.
The publication added that certain leaders of the NSCN-IM, which is in peace talks with the government over the Naga Accord, are reportedly in the China-Myanmar border looking for a resurgence of Chinese backing, underscoring security concerns of these events. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Chinese government sponsored the Mizo and Naga guerrillas.
An IPS officer from the Northeast highlighted in another article the rising proximity of China and Bangladesh to the CAA. “India is on excellent terms with the current leadership (in Bangladesh), but if history is any guide, the Chinese may fuel the ‘anti-India’ feeling that is already there,” says the statement. Indian goodwill may be greatly increased by resolving bilateral irritants like Teesta, CAA, etc., the study added.
The way India has handled its relations with Nepal has generally been criticised. This was attributed to India’s “big brother” mentality by an IPS officer from a southern state.
India needs to view these nations as allies. India must stop behaving in a “big brother” manner, the article stated.According to a later report, India’s relationship with Nepal is perhaps the worst in the region after that with Pakistan.
The majority of studies have proposed quick economic expansion, increased soft power usage, increased awareness of China’s “debt-trap policy” in bilateral ties, and more aid to neighbours, much like India did during the Lankan economic crisis. Papers on Pakistan have either pushed for Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation or for the restoration of SAARC and more people-to-people interaction to compel India’s western neighbour to sit down and negotiate.