‘No military options, Xi Jinping must face PM Modi,’ Chinese defence analyst makes a clear suggestion

The Indo-China border standoff is anything but over, and many in China are realising that India has them by the collar this time. Of course, being the authoritarian and tyrannical regime that the CCP is, not many muster the courage to say the same aloud. Yet, Victor Gao, Chair Professor at Soochow University and famously known as the translator of Deng Xiaoping, the late leader of China, told India Today TV that he is convinced by the fact that only personal political intervention by Xi Jinping and PM Modi can help defuse escalated border tensions in Eastern Ladakh.

Victor Gao, who is considered an eminent Chinese analyst said that he has no doubts about the fact that only personal diplomacy by Xi Jinping and PM Modi will help calm tempers on both sides. “Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping will soon pick up the phone and talk to each other because if we let only the military deal with each other on the frontlines, then we probably would have more problems. When you have two leaders of both countries, who really care about the interests of their people and who care about peace and development, then you have a better way, a better handle to the situation,” Gao told Geeta Mohan of India Today. He also admiringly spoke of PM Modi, and said, “I had once seen Prime Minister Modi in Malaysia and I respect leadership and depth of knowledge and his care about Indian people as well as world peace and development.”

What Victor Gao meant by the same was that Xi Jinping would soon dial up PM Modi and try to personally deescalate the soaring tensions between the two nuclear powers. It is a no-brainer to even suggest that PM Modi would call the Chinese Premier, especially after the killing of 20 Indian soldiers at the hands of the PLA. If at all personal diplomacy between the two leaders is undertaken, it would be initiated by Xi Jinping, and not Narendra Modi.

For a Chinese analyst to even suggest personal diplomacy between the two leaders to calm the situation tells us about the magnanimity of Indian Army fear which has been registered across the LAC. China is an egoistical nation, thinking of itself as a major superpower which cannot be defeated by India. Yet, the Indian Army’s ferocious cross-border action on 15^th June has changed the dynamics of bilateral relations between the two nations. Not only have we displayed our intent to hit back when challenged but have also busted rumours of Chinese military superiority over India.

Xi Jinping is a silent killer. He is also, literally, a silent man. Hardly anyone remembers the man speaking, and not many are even aware of the man’s voice. Yet, he is the supreme leader of China. His minions of course, use aggressive language from time to time, yet, Xi Jinping has never even been heard. He never comments on trending issues, or for that matter, even on important strategic subjects. For such a man to resort to personal diplomacy with PM Modi would be a testimony to the spot which India has put the paper dragon in. China is in desperate need of good relations with India, something which is unlikely to happen under PM Modi’s rule.

Earlier, Huang Guozhi, senior editor of Modern Weaponry magazine and an eminent strategic analyst, himself said, “At present, the world’s largest and experienced country with plateau and mountain troops is neither the US, Russia, nor any European powerhouse, but India.” He also remarked that the Indian mountain force, comprising of 200,000 troops and 12 divisions, was the largest mountain force of the world.

The same Victor Gao, who was optimistic, and even suggestive of Xi Jinping calling PM Modi, in a video which is now doing the rounds of social media is heard saying that China has limited patience for India, and that if India refuses to back off from Chinese territory (read Galwan Valley), then war would be imminent. The man also warns of a Chinese invasion in Indian controlled Kashmir.

What caused this sudden anti-India outburst? After having spilled the beans of Chinese desperation to deescalate matters with India, is the man trying to redeem himself for being too truthful while speaking to an Indian media network? Did he touch a sensitive nerve of Xi Jinping, by openly indicating that talks between the Chinese Premier and PM Modi were around the corner? If so, India indeed has China by the jugular this time.