A portal called The Wire on June 17 republished an article titled, “What Would Boycotting Chinese Goods Mean for India?”, in which it claimed that “a strong India-China relationship is important not only for the mutual benefit of the people of India and China, but also for the region and the world.” This article was republished a day after the brutal killing of 20 Indian soldiers by China’s PLA.
The Wire is not alone. What is being seen is that a section of Indian media, who are now appearing to fluctuate from being Pakistan apologists to Chinese apologists, are mounting a concerted campaign to derail India’s fight against the Northern enemy. But again, we are not really surprised. The Logical Indian, Outlook, Indian Express and Business Insider are among the others who seem particularly disappointed with calls to boycott Chinese products, which have been gathering immense steam in India.
Outlook published an article titled, “Boycott China’ Unrealistic: India Can Only Cut 30% Chinese Imports.”
The Logical Indian carried a story titled, “Boycott Chinese Products’? Here Is Why It Will Not Be Easy “
Business Insider India too wasn’t far behind, and said, “The boycott of China’s products will be easier said than done – smartphones, ACs and cars may become more expensive.”
The Indian Express, in an article titled, “Explained: Why banning trade with China will hurt India more” tried to appear more matured and sensible in its arguments, by suggesting that India having a trade deficit with China is not necessarily a bad thing (agree with them on this one). However, that’s the end of it. That’s where the supposed ‘outlier’ nature of The Indian Express, compared to other sheepish media outlets, comes to a stall, as in the article, subsequently, the author ends up arguing how the boycott of Chinese products will barely hurt China, while the costs upon India of the same will be many.
Is it a mere coincidence that multiple media outlets within India are toeing the line of Chinese state media entities, like Global Times, who are also by the way, disgruntled by the fact that there are increasing calls of boycotting Chinese products in India and minimalizing India’s dependency on the sham of a dragon? We think not.
The Indian government’s ploy in using the border clash to shift attention from domestic public discontent to fire up anti-China nationalism is unlikely to dent Chinese firms’ operations in the Indian market. https://t.co/2Bw4Jzi5fd pic.twitter.com/Xs1akYPFgz
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 18, 2020
GT Voice: Rising Indian nationalism will harm business ties https://t.co/Qomt6beVzC pic.twitter.com/ldzVzwi7hn
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 18, 2020
Having read the ‘arguments’ put forward by all these media portals and outlets, an individual consensus can roughly be drawn, as it becomes evident that they are all working cohesively, presumably under one given script, handed out to them by powers which lesser mortals like us will not be in the know of. Almost all their articles are hinged upon India’s trade deficit with China, and a lack of alternate manufacturing or supply entities, who can substitute the sudden cessation of incoming Chinese products into India.
Here’s why their arguments are problematic. First, they seem to suggest nationalistic jingoism to be the primary reason behind large swathes of Indian populace calling for a boycott of Chinese products. While arguing in this fashion, they also seem to suggest that nationalism is clouding the judgement of Indians, who are not aware of the various intricacies and technicalities of Indo-China trade. What they forget, however, is the Indian market’s tremendous potential, which is waiting to be tapped into. They might be eternal pessimists and individuals wary of taking risks, however, they have no right to underestimate the Indian manufacturers, who rest assured, will step up to the task of adjusting to the new demands of Indian citizens.
The lack of Indian manufacturing of those products, which China exports into the country, is another yardstick these Chinese apologists use to undermine Indian manufacturers. They also seem to collectively suggest that a blanket ban on all Chinese products is just around the corner. As much as they’d like to see the ruin of Indian economy, I hate to break it to a section of Indian media: policy decisions are not taken on the streets, certainly not by those burning photos and effigies of Xi Jinping, or those destroying Chinese television sets. Policy decisions in the context of Sino-India trade will be taken by the government. And the government is definitely not going to impose a complete ban on Chinese imports just yet. This will definitely be a phased process, beginning with the slapping of increased tariffs on Chinese imports. We will step up Indian manufacturing capacities of those products which we import from China, while also simultaneously rejecting the paper dragon’s substandard products. Will it be an absolute joyride for India and Indians? No. But we will take the hits as they come along.
In the long term, the idea is to reduce India’s dependency on Chinese products drastically, and manufacture them back here, the benefits of which in the near future, will be manifold. For media outlets and part-time economic analysts of a section of Indian media to suggest that there is about to be a complete cessation of economic ties with China is a statement on themselves, rather, for the absolute clowns they make out of themselves while assuming that India will stop trading with China in entirety, without ramping up its own production capabilities and capacities. Rest assured, Indian markets are well equipped to adapt to changes in demand, and although the bumps along the way cannot be completely written off, it is not impossible for India to produce locally what it is currently importing from China.
