Indo-China Hiccups

Despite the newfound bonhomie between China and India in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war, China is back to its old game of needling India at the slightest opportunity by claiming Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese territory.

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This time it has raked up the issue in a crude, arrogant, undiplomatic and insensitive way subjecting a woman, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, hailing from the state and working in the UK, to an 18-hour ordeal at the Shanghai airport recently. The incident has confirmed the suspicion that China is actually trying to take advantage of the plight of India facing huge, nearly insurmountable tariff barriers put up by the US, while pretending to be willing to make a common cause with India against Trump.

When China unveiled its version of the US H-1B visa for Indian techies and scientists willing to work there after the US’ steep tariff and incredible hike of the H-IB visa, it was feared China would try to arm twist India over border disputes. But, it could not be imagined that China would provoke India so soon. This incident is highly surprising after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s President Xi Jinping during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China only a few weeks ago.