INDIA’S CHINA STRATEGY

INDIA HAS HAD A REACTIVE CHINA POLICY. IT IS TIME TO REVISE THIS AND HAVE A PRO-ACTIVE CHINA POLICY WHICH PUTS BEIJING ON THE DEFENSIVE

- DK Giri

China has apparently threatened to curtail the flow of Brahmaputra water to India.

This is in retaliation to New Delhi suspending the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. It may be Islamabad's bluff to garner international support against India's recent military action. Whatever may be the provocation for Beijing to take this drastic action, New Delhi must give a strong reaction. In fact, China needs no excuse to work against the interest of India.

Beijing's belligerence against New Delhi is no secret. It has been doing so ever since it acquired Tibet by hoodwinking Jawaharlal Nehru. Giving away Tibet conceded the advantage to China in geopolitical and security terms. Tibet was created by the British Colonial administration as a buffer state between India and China. Nehru did not secure any reciprocal obligations for letting Tibet go to China. The river Brahmaputra originates from Tibet. However, Chinese threat on Brahmaputra may not inflict a fatal blow to India.