Taking on the Dragon

China’s expansion in South China Sea has riled many nations which have come together to form groupings such as Quad and a future Indo-Pacific one. The recently concluded Malabar Exercise was also part of this strategy

- Praful Bakshi

IT is indeed an undeniable strategic fact that any military weakness of a country will be exploited by its neighbour sooner or later, in the form of economic impediments created, or occupation of geographical territories. This statement was realised by India more than once in its dealings with China.

The recent tension on the Ladakh front is an apt example of this. Hence, we realise now to our utter discomfort that from 1959, China is in possession of close to 42,000 sqkm of our land and is in a serious quest to grab huge territory in Arunachal and more in Galwan, Daulat Beg Oldie and other places.

The world community, supported by the US, has taken the matter very seriously and a large number of powerful countries have vehemently objected to these Chinese bullying tactics and sent in their warships.

The one redeeming feature in the history of our border skirmishes with China is that for the first time, it has tasted the aggressive side of our military in Ladakh and felt the need to come to the negotiating table, asking its ally Pakistan to do the same.

However, in spite of this, China continues to play its game of aggression in the South China Sea and the world is watching tensely as, like Nazi Germany, it continues its expansion. Serious objections have been raised by Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei to China’s extra-territorial occupational activities. It is not only posing hindrances in sea trade routes of the countries in South China Sea, but creating its own artificial islands, claiming exclusive territorial rights over them, right from Spratly Islands to the Maldives.