Due to India’s growing global stature, China has suffered a huge setback in its efforts to become the modern-day East India company which has resulted in China complaining like a grumbling old aunt. After the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, India has seen its importance increase manifold on global forums by making its diplomacy so sharp that any system seems incomplete without India. China’s frustration with this is evident from the articles in its propaganda mouthpieces. Last week, the Global Times published an article where it lamented how India was changing the attitude towards multilateral mechanisms for its global ambitions.
The Global Times wrote, “On one hand, New Delhi hopes to become a major force in the changing international order. On the other hand, its multilateral diplomacy has become northwestern and xenophobic. India is less interested in multilateral mechanisms where China plays a leading role. “
China claims that wherever the dragon is present, India is no longer increasing its presence there. This means that China is now troubled by the growing importance of India and the importance of multilateral mechanisms without India has decreased. However, China has forgotten how it has been opposing India’s entry into the NSG and has also used its veto in the UN against India.
The Global Times further wrote, “There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that India is changing its identity. India wants to play a leading role. On a multilateral platform, New Delhi is gradually abandoning its policies of balanced diplomacy. “
It added, “To strengthen its position as a leading power, New Delhi does not want China to play a significant role in any multilateral system. India wants to disrupt China’s agenda in multilateral mechanisms by making excuses that China cannot represent the interests of developing countries.”
The Global Times cites the example that, “Obviously, India wants to prevent the rise of China in the multilateral system.” In BRICS and SCO, India rarely tries to promote internal unity but tries to eliminate their importance from within. “
Expressing their collective disappointment, the propaganda outlet wrote that, “India also withdraws from deals where it cannot play a major role. For example, the Modi administration withdrew from the RCEP. Also, India wants to be the leader of developing countries.”
The outlet further claimed that India was planning a “small-scale multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the Indian Ocean.”
With this article, it is a clear sign of acceptance from the ruling Chinese Communist Party that India is in a position of “geographical advantage” in the Indian Ocean.
In the past few years, India has intensified its efforts for several smaller multilateral forums case in point being QUAD and IORA. Under the group of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, New Delhi has been able to benefit more and more countries by urging them to join India-led initiatives. In fact, with the Indo Pacific initiative, India is connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the US, and as Foreign Minister, Dr S Jaishankar said, “Indo Pacific is not a forecast for tomorrow but Yesterday is the reality. ” Today, the Indian Foreign Policy has become so strong, that even China is beginning to realise this and through its mouthpieces has started accepting India’s strong position as Xi Jinping helplessly acts as a mere bystander.