Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong message during his Independence Day speech, China has come out with a rather cautious reaction.
“China is ready to work with India to enhance mutual trust and properly manage difference,” the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday. It added, “The right path ahead for the two countries is to respect each other.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Jhao Lijian was reacting to PM Modi’s Independence Day speech. “From LoC (Line of Control) to LAC (Line of Actual Control), anyone who casts an eye on the sovereignty of the country, the armed forces have responded in the language they understand,” Modi had said in his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
“India’s integrity is supreme for us. What we can do, what our soldiers can do — everyone saw that in Ladakh,” Modi said, referring to the 15-16 June border clash in the Galwan Valley.
After this, diplomatic observers in different parts of the world were expecting that the Dragon would breathe fire. But MEA officials were thinking otherwise. They were of the view that the PM has given a very strong and much-needed message to China and Pakistan, following which both the neighbours will have “sleepless nights”. China’s reaction has come on the lines expected by Indian officials.
What pressed panic button in both the countries was the backing that came from no less a country than the US. The Democratic Party hopeful for presidential elections, Joe Biden, offered his full support to India against any threat from China and Pakistan. Biden’s support came close on heels of PM Modi raising “LoC to LAC” pitch.
These developments took the wind out of China’s sails, which has now reflected in the reaction of Beijing’s foreign ministry. Beijing has toned down its rhetoric and has signalled its intent to have a positive approach to irritants in the ties between India and China. However, it is yet to show its apparent change of heart on the de facto border in Ladakh where PLA troops are in over a month-long standoff with Indian Army soldiers.
Sources in New Delhi believe that PM Modi’s “bitter pills are going to sweeten China more and more, which will be seen on the ground in days to come”. “The Dragon is definitely under pressure,” said an official.
The terse message from the top political leadership of India ruffled the feathers of China and Pakistan. Leaderships in both the nations must be keeping their fingers crossed to see what the next course of action is going to be by India. China and Pakistan were analysing the PM’s speech and the global developments coming in its train.
When asked to comment on PM Modi’s speech, Zhao Lijian said: “We have noted Prime Minister Modi’s speech. We are close neighbours, we are all emerging countries with over one billion people.”
Sources say that Chinese diplomats and strategic observers close to the Xi Jinping government are analysing PM Modi’s remarks made during the I-Day speech.
“The sound development of bilateral ties not only serves the interest of the two peoples but also stability, peace, prosperity of the region and the whole world. The right path for the two sides is to respect and support each other as this serves our long-term interests,” Zhao said at the regular ministry briefing.
“China stands ready to work with India to enhance our political mutual trust, properly manage our differences, step-up practical cooperation and safeguard the long-term development of bilateral ties,” he added.