The state-run Chinese media today said that India’s ruling BJP’s landslide victory in state Assembly elections has “implications” for the Sino-Indian ties as it could further embolden Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “hard-line attitude” towards countries like China with whom it has disputes.
An op-ed in the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC)-run Global Times said that the state Assembly results indicated that PM Modi was all set for a second term during 2019 parliamentary polls.
The op-ed lauded PM Modi as a “man of action” with a “hard-line attitude” and pointed out that India’s domestic and international polices have undergone change under him.
“Modi recently led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a sweeping electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most-populous state, as well as garnering vigorous support in several other major state elections,” the op-ed said.
“Since Beijing-New Delhi ties have recently entered a subtle and delicate phase, observers soon started to pay close attention to how the bilateral relationship will develop after Modi tightens his grip on power,” it said.
The article further said that on the international arena, Modi changed India’s policy not to offend anyone.
“Modi’s hard-line attitude is embodied in both his domestic policies, such as the ban on high-value currency notes, and in his diplomatic logic,” it said.
“In the international arena, he changed India’s previous attitude of trying never to offend anyone and started to take a clear stance in controversies among other nations to maximise its own interests. He enhanced New Delhi’s ties with China and Moscow and applied to be a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).”
“Yet he also upgraded defence collaboration with the US and Japan, articulated his support for the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific strategy and Washington’s stance on the South China Sea issue,” it said.
“If Modi wins the next election, India’s current firm and tough manner is bound to continue. It will be without question good news for the country’s own development,” it said.
“Nevertheless, it will likely mean more difficulties in making compromises in rows with other countries. Take the border disputes between Beijing and New Delhi. No silver lining has yet emerged and Modi demonstrated his firm stance over the issue by celebrating Diwali, India’s biggest holiday, with soldiers at the Sino-India border,” it said.
(With PTI inputs)
