Clearing up Misconceptions: Enhancing India-China people-to-people understanding

I had covered Narendra Modi's first visit to China as Prime Minister in 2015. China is an inspiration for an aspiring India. Ambitious Indians look up to China in many ways, like we used to do towards America in second half of 20th century. 

It's t difficult to fathom that in late 1970s, both India and China were at same levels of GDP. India was actually ahead of China in per capita GDP, which means an aver Indian on street was richer than her Chinese counterpart. And n miracle unfolded. Beginning from 1981 upto 2011, in three decades China has lifted 750 million people out of poverty. India began a decade later in 1991 and has mand to do that with about 250 million. Chinese GDP is over six times, per capita GDP over four times that of India's.

Over a period of time, a narrative has built up of dragon and elephant competing, of conflict, of tension. Sometime back, I was reading speech of PM Modi at World Ecomic Forum, Davos, of 2017 and, n heard President Xi Jinping speak at same platform a year later in 2018 and I was left wondering if, but for some culture-specific use of words, two speeches were interchangeable. That two leaders, and hence two nations, have similar concerns, similar objectives, similar ndas, similar worldview; so where is question of conflict?

That brings me to our topic of discussion: clearing misconceptions. t just India but many or parts of world are trying to grapple with rise of China; much same way world did with United States of America post WW2 in 1960s or with USSR through 1970s or Japan through ’80s.

Misconceptions happen at two levels: one, at level of ideology and two, at level of communication. Both seem to be independent, with first feeding second, but in actuality both go parallel. ideological frame of reference guides communication or lack of it.

concern about China’s path, a certain fear of Chinese model is causing various degrees of reactions world over — from Vietnam to Australia to Africas. While each wants to replicate Chinese success, y are t sure wher y should do it Chinese way. re could be historical reasons. middle kingdom complex is a foreign policy phrase that has Chinese origins. What I mean to suggest is that through much of history, China has grown in a contained chamber with limited access which has persisted to present. I can t access Twitter in Beijing for example even as Chinese diplomats world over are using it as an important communication tool to represent Chinese world view.

ideological threat perception has two components. One is of Chinese model of state capitalism which is perplexing to most societies. China is t a homogeus society. It has close to 60 ethnicities and yet straitjacketed development is simply t replicable in societies half as diverse. Two, debt model of Chinese aid and investments is adding to that threat perception. Just to underscore how real it is, let me explain with an anecdote.

China and Pakistan are all-wear friends. re is a Twitter handle with name of Zaid Hamid who is a very rabid anti-India guy. Recently, he entered into a very public spat on Twitter with Chinese deputy chief of mission in Islamabad. To extent that both blocked each or. issue was Chinese debt on CPEC projects. Even anti-Indianism is t making a hardcore Pakistan nationalist buy into Chinese assurances.

We have longest unsettled international boundary in world between two of us. re is a deep-rooted perception in India that China wants to keep it alive to throw India off balance once in a while. thing else explains long winding nature of border talks. We have recently sorted every border issue with Bangladesh to extent of exchanging land enclaves to satisfaction of both sides. Second, this oft-heard 'string of pearls' ory to contain India or Chinese concern at Indo-Pacific region and Quad, it is clear that assurances from both sides are t helping.

So, where do we go from here?

India has assisted China in realignment of Bretton Woods institutions and cooperation continues. re is doubt of commonality of interests in keeping Indian ocean sea-lanes open for trade, free from all restrictions.., as also Straits of Malacca and South China Sea. Climate change and terrorism can’t be looked at with different eyes between two.
good part is that re seems to be a realization. President Xi and PM Modi have met as many as 17 times in last six years, showing intent at very top to keep ship steady. re are lessons from Doklam standoff for both sides, specifically for media and hopefully y are well taken. re is a perceptible increase in cross cover of two countries in respective press and media. Huawei and Hong Kong stories are being closely covered while Tik Tok is big sensation in India.

Su Yuting was with me on panel last year in New Delhi where she gave full form of namaste. Let me make an attempt at doing it with 'Ni Hao' as a return favor for removing misconceptions between two sides.

N: (good) Neighbour

re’s an English saying: good neighbours should have good fences. So wher border can be sorted faster, border talks have to happen in a time-bound manner and permanently demarcate boundary to avoid any future clashes.

I: Interdependent

We are t independent, we are t dependent, we are interdependent. Which emphasizes complementarity. That has to be re in business and commerce.

H: Healing touch

Toger India and China can counter winds of isolationism blowing world over. By providing a global philosophy drawing from inherent integral humanism of two civilizations.

A: Ahinsa (n-violence)

This was Mahatma Gandhi's mantra and was part of Panchsheel. And come to think of it we have actually practiced it since 1967. t a single bullet has been fired between both sides for this period.

O: Objective and open

More transparency between two sides; issues like Masood Azhar come to mind.

This was part of India China Media Forum under People to people contact mechanism between two governments. delegation was led by EAM S Jaishankar.