'Throwing China Out of Occupied Areas Difficult,Risk of Escalation High', Says Shyam Saran
- 3 years ago
As relations remain tense between India and China, a few salvos have been fired from the economic gun. Have they been effective? Who may stand to lose in this economic face-off between India and China, and what is the bigger strategic picture here.
Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran and one of the most insightful voices on diplomacy, trade and foreign relations said the assumptions on which India was taking relations with China forward, was that aside from differences, there were areas of convergence and there was good in the common pursuit of those interests.
However, the old framework of Indo- China relations no longer relevant,
Differences between the two nations have now become disputes and the old framework of Indo- China relations are no longer relevant and it will be a difficult exercise because there is an asymmetry of power between the two nations – which is now widening. China has a new perspective where it seems not to care if other nations’ interests do not align with their newfound goals.
Mr Saran said China may not make major territorial gains but throwing them out of occupied areas will be very difficult as the risk of escalation is very high.
On the economic front, he believes India has more at stake in taking on a “trade war” with China and it is a long road to becoming self – sufficient on many areas where India depends on China for raw material and components.
Chinese FDI stands at $163.78 million in 2019-20 from $229 million in the previous fiscal. India’s trade deficit with China fell to $48.66 billion in 2019-20 on account of the decline in imports from the neighbouring country.
He also believed India was still stuck in the tariff regime and that would prove counter-intuitive as a strategy to block China or any other nation.
Mr Saran said it was imperative India reconsider and sign on RCEP, in order to have a voice at the negotiating table. Any missteps at this point on economic strategy would cost us dearly.
He lined out the key focal points for India’s trade and economic policy as; re looking a “strong rupee policy”, recognition that India wants to be part of the global supply chains and drafting a more coherent Import policy.
At this point, Mr Saran said, there were too many contradictions in policy pronouncement.
Like our work? Click here to support The Wire: https://thewire.in/support
The founding premise of The Wire is this: if good journalism is to survive and thrive, it can only do so by being both editorially and financially independent. This means relying principally on contributions from readers and concerned citizens who have no interest other than to sustain a space for quality journalism. As a publication, The Wire will be firmly committed to the public interest and democratic values.
We publish in four different languages!
For English, visit www.thewire.in
for Hindi: http://thewirehindi.com/
for Urdu: http://thewireurdu.com
for Marathi: https://marathi.thewire.in
If you are a young writer or a creator, you can submit articles, essays, photos, poetry – anything that’s straight out of your imagination – to LiveWire, The Wire’s portal for the young, by the young. https://livewire.thewire.in/
You can also follow The Wire’s social media platforms and engage with us.
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheWire/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWireHindi/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWireUrdu/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWireMarathi/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/thewire_in
https://twitter.com/thewirehindi
https://twitter.com/TheWireUrdu
https://twitter.com/TheWireMarathi
https://twitter.com/livewire
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thewirein/
https://www.instagram.com/livewirein/
Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to never miss a video from The Wire!
Former foreign secretary Shyam Saran and one of the most insightful voices on diplomacy, trade and foreign relations said the assumptions on which India was taking relations with China forward, was that aside from differences, there were areas of convergence and there was good in the common pursuit of those interests.
However, the old framework of Indo- China relations no longer relevant,
Differences between the two nations have now become disputes and the old framework of Indo- China relations are no longer relevant and it will be a difficult exercise because there is an asymmetry of power between the two nations – which is now widening. China has a new perspective where it seems not to care if other nations’ interests do not align with their newfound goals.
Mr Saran said China may not make major territorial gains but throwing them out of occupied areas will be very difficult as the risk of escalation is very high.
On the economic front, he believes India has more at stake in taking on a “trade war” with China and it is a long road to becoming self – sufficient on many areas where India depends on China for raw material and components.
Chinese FDI stands at $163.78 million in 2019-20 from $229 million in the previous fiscal. India’s trade deficit with China fell to $48.66 billion in 2019-20 on account of the decline in imports from the neighbouring country.
He also believed India was still stuck in the tariff regime and that would prove counter-intuitive as a strategy to block China or any other nation.
Mr Saran said it was imperative India reconsider and sign on RCEP, in order to have a voice at the negotiating table. Any missteps at this point on economic strategy would cost us dearly.
He lined out the key focal points for India’s trade and economic policy as; re looking a “strong rupee policy”, recognition that India wants to be part of the global supply chains and drafting a more coherent Import policy.
At this point, Mr Saran said, there were too many contradictions in policy pronouncement.
Like our work? Click here to support The Wire: https://thewire.in/support
The founding premise of The Wire is this: if good journalism is to survive and thrive, it can only do so by being both editorially and financially independent. This means relying principally on contributions from readers and concerned citizens who have no interest other than to sustain a space for quality journalism. As a publication, The Wire will be firmly committed to the public interest and democratic values.
We publish in four different languages!
For English, visit www.thewire.in
for Hindi: http://thewirehindi.com/
for Urdu: http://thewireurdu.com
for Marathi: https://marathi.thewire.in
If you are a young writer or a creator, you can submit articles, essays, photos, poetry – anything that’s straight out of your imagination – to LiveWire, The Wire’s portal for the young, by the young. https://livewire.thewire.in/
You can also follow The Wire’s social media platforms and engage with us.
https://www.facebook.com/TheWire/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWireHindi/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWireUrdu/
https://www.facebook.com/TheWireMarathi/
https://twitter.com/thewire_in
https://twitter.com/thewirehindi
https://twitter.com/TheWireUrdu
https://twitter.com/TheWireMarathi
https://twitter.com/livewire
https://www.instagram.com/thewirein/
https://www.instagram.com/livewirein/
Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to never miss a video from The Wire!