Playing smart with the dragon
Why India needs to be careful with China
Imagine playing a video game where one of the players keeps secretly teaming up with others to block your moves. That's kind of what happened recently in a meeting of defence ministers from some Asian countries (called the SCO). China and Pakistan didn't want to mention a terrorist attack in India (Pahalgam), but were trying to blame India for things in Kashmir and Balochistan. India said no, and the plan was stopped.
This kind of trick isn't new – China often supports Pakistan in ways that go against India's interests. So, while India and China are trying to be friendly again, we must be super careful. China doesn't just use its government – it can use its companies and people to push its goals. For example, three giant machines from China meant for India's bullet train are stuck at a Chinese port. Also, while China is selling fertilizers (like urea) to other countries, it's still holding back from selling to India.
So what should India do? Two things:
Make our own stuff
– India must build more of its own important tech and reduce dependence on China. The government has started this with medicines and should do more, including in electronics. India can even work with Taiwan on new tech.
Make smart deals
– India should quickly finish a trade deal with the US. That would give us more power when dealing with China.
In short, India needs to think smart, stay strong, and be ready for every move. Like in a game, the goal is to win – but wisely!
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