China-India tensions hinder Xi’s global order ambitions.
China Condemns Indian Military Officials’ Visit to Taiwan
China has issued a strong condemnation of retired Indian military officials over their recent visit to Taiwan, further escalating the ongoing disputes between the two countries. This clash complicates Beijing’s plans to undermine the United States and its allies.
“China firmly opposes all forms of official interaction between the Taiwan authorities and countries having diplomatic relations with China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Thursday. “This is our consistent and clear position. We hope the country concerned will abide by the one-China principle, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from having any form of military and security cooperation with Taiwan.”
Flaring Tensions and Curious Delays
The protest from China comes after a curious delay. The event in question took place on August 8th, when the three retired military officials attended a security forum hosted by the Taiwanese foreign ministry. This incident coincides with reports that Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping will not attend the G20 Summit hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi next week. This decision follows their meeting in South Africa on the sidelines of a BRICS summit, which was seen as a crucial part of Xi’s attempt to establish an alternative world order led by China.
“From Xi Jinping’s perspective, it’s all about cost-benefit analysis,” observed Andrew Scobell, an expert in Chinese foreign relations from the U.S. Institute of Peace. “He sees more potential downside [than] upside. And it’s not going to be as friendly. It’s not going to be a friendly crowd, the way it was at the BRICS.”
Even the meeting between Xi and Modi during the BRICS summit ended on a sour note, with both governments engaging in a public dispute about who requested the conversation.
India’s Mistrust and Growing Influence
The ongoing border dispute between China and India, dating back to a war in 1962, has led to multiple clashes between their forces in recent years. This includes a violent clash in 2020 that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers, further deepening India’s mistrust of its Chinese Communist neighbor.
India not only holds significant economic power among developing countries as part of BRICS but also plays a crucial role as a member of the Quad, alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia.
“I think organizations like BRICS are becoming more of a friction point between India and China than a binding agent,” said Jeff Smith from the Heritage Foundation. “I think they’re increasingly seeing India as a pro-U.S. spoiler that is undermining progress.”
Aloofness and Consequences
Chinese officials have further provoked Modi’s team by publishing a map that reaffirms their claim to territory that India considers its own. Meanwhile, Indian media outlets have highlighted satellite imagery suggesting that Chinese forces are fortifying their positions along the disputed border.
“This is a major initiative under Xi Jinping,” noted Scobell. “To go back to another reason for [Xi skipping the G-20 summit] is Xi probably feels like he said his piece to his Indian counterpart, and . . . there’s no nothing more to be gained from going to India at this point.”
However, this aloofness may come at a cost. “In the process, they’re snubbing one of the key countries that would have to be a part of that anti-US new world order,” said Smith. “So, they may be trying to fuel this alternative to the old order, but I think that’s going to be a difficult enterprise when there’s so little unity among the countries that they’re trying to court. And when they’re clearly at odds with India over some of these key things.”
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