China Policy – Confusing or Confused?

Never mind if the government is following a good China policy or a bad China policy. The question is does it have any China policy. Recently government ministers including the PM conveyed to the media their concern about China’s current policies reflected by its military buildup, its role in Kashmir and Arunachal, and its maritime strategy. The Prime Minister said: “China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and we have to reflect on this reality.” So, how is the government addressing this worry?

Is the UPA government following a carefully crafted policy to confuse its foreign competitors, or is it dreadfully confused itself? Has the PM’s writ ceased to run, or is he giving a long rope to his ministers to outwit our foreign competitors? Is the PM deceiving the world, or is he deceiving himself? Someone should enlighten the public.

Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath is in Beijing. He encouraged Chinese firms to step up investments in India’s road projects. He elaborated that there was no concern about Chinese investment in the roadways in the Northeast which is troubled by insurgencies and in J&K. If the government doesn’t mind Chinese workers in our part of Kashmir one wonders why it bothers about Chinese workers in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region?

At the same time the cap put on importing unskilled Chinese labour to work on China aided projects in India has been lifted. Forget the security aspect which had impelled placing the cap in the first place. India can now be flooded by unskilled Chinese workers in the Indian market. That does not worry the government which doubtless believes that there is no unemployment among India’s unskilled workers.

To facilitate China’s eventual over lordship of India HRD Minister Kapil Sibal is working out modalities for a training programme to be monitored by his Chinese counterpart Yuan Guiren to develop an army of Indian teachers well versed in Mandarin who might impart the language to Indian school children. “The best way to introduce China in India is to introduce its language at the primary level so that our kids develop interest and knowledge of China…I told Yuan…I cannot do that unless… I collaborate with you,” the Minister said. Existing facilities to teach Indian regional languages to children in schools apparently are so good that they do not require any attention from the HRD Ministry.

Is the UPA government following a carefully crafted policy to confuse its foreign competitors, or is it dreadfully confused itself? Has the PM’s writ ceased to run, or is he giving a long rope to his ministers to outwit our foreign competitors? Is the PM deceiving the world, or is he deceiving himself? Someone should enlighten the public.

16-Sep-2010

More by : Dr. Rajinder Puri

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