Modi mustn't repeat Nehru's mistake; should pull back troops: Chinese daily

Beijing: Urging Modi government to not to make the same mistake that Nehru government did by assuming China won’t strike a war during 1962, Chinese media on Tuesday warned India that ‘keep ignoring China’s warnings, war is inevitable’.

In 1962, India had made constant provocations at the China-India border and then, the Nehru government believed Beijing won’t strike a war as it was already undergoing domestic turmoil and natural disasters, a Chinese state-run media, Global Times said in an editorial.

The daily extended its advised to Indian government and said, "Not to be as naïve as the Nehru government which underestimated the Chinese government to safeguard China's territorial integrity despite the country being occupied with other issues."

Global times, which is known for its hoarse stance on India and it’s policies, also reasoned that 1962, had also seen Cold War between US and Russia, however, in this regard, "Beijing and Washington were engaged in hostility and China's relations with the Soviet Union had begun to chill”.

The daily said, if India is still reluctant to withdraw its troops from the alleged Chinese territory then “the outcome of the standoff between Chinese and Indian troops in the Doklam area is fixed’, adding that “China has not resorted to a war because it hopes New Delhi can make a rational choice rather than daring”.

Chinese daily also said, “As the risk of war is rising, Indian public opinion has become clear that Indian troops cannot defeat the Chinese People's Liberation Army.”

However, while addressing the Parliament, the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said, "War is never the solution to a dispute. Wisdom is to resolve issues diplomatically. We're not only negotiating over Doklam, but discussing bilateral relations with China as well. This is the only solution.”

The editorial reiterates that “Of course China doesn't want to risk a war and hopes that peace could return along China-India border. But if Indian troops continue to linger on Chinese soil, it will be quite another matter”.

The daily said, “If Indians think China may not strike a war due to strategic concerns and US will take India’s side, which may exert psychological pressure on China, then they are wrong as New Delhi must understand the nature of the Sino-US rivalry and the meaning of strategic containment.”

The editorial on Global Times also pointed out that China won’t be deterred, 'if India thinks Washington can influence the situation along the China-India border simply by issuing a pro-India statement or sending warships to the Indian Ocean'.

As the Sikkim standoff has entered in its third month in August, the daily said, “If Modi government continues to ignore the warning coming from a situation spiraling out of control, countermeasures from China will be unavoidable”.

It further added that “If New Delhi really keeps faith that China will not take military action under any circumstances, and then its analysis is not based on the principles of international politics and military science”.

The end for the Sikkim standoff is not seen on cards as China is in complete denial for dialogue over the border issues unless India withdraws troop from the region which Beijing claims to be its territory.

The spat worsened when China tried to build a road at the strategically important Chicken’s Neck area, also called as Doklam, which interestingly falls under disputed tri-junction land between India-Bhutan-China.