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OPINION JANUARY 06, 2023 | The Indian Eye 15

The Indian Express contend-
ed that Xi’s third term has nothing
new to offer except for greater po-
litical controls at home and further
privileging of state against market.
It went on to warn that Xi Jinping’s
unchecked power will inevitably lead
to political hubris and costly policy
blunders.
The Indian media’s discussion of
China’s domestic issues in the con-
text of Xi’s third term is noteworthy
for two reasons. It conveyed to the
readers that contrary to the narrative
that Xi Jinping’s leadership will de-
liver national rejuvenation to China,
it has landed the country in a ‘mess’
in reality.
Secondly, it also tried to under-
line to its readers the weakening of
Chinese political system (apparent
in Xi’s unopposed centralisation of
power) which in the long-run could
render China more unstable and
fragmented.
Security challenge for India
Along with rapid military mod-
ernisation, Xi’s third term will be Xi’s centralisation of power constituted the dominant theme in the newspaper editorials (File photo)
marked with more assertive stance
on foreign policy issues. This in it- editorial coverage of the 20th CPC
self constitutes a major security Congress, three policy suggestions
challenge for New Delhi as India emerge. First, in order to understand
will encounter a more belligerent the future foreign policy trajectory of
China. For instance, The Telegraph the Chinese state, it is necessary that
warned that India and other coun- India closely follows China’s domestic
tries having a territorial dispute with developments. This is because Beijing
China will need to watch out as Xi often engineers tension outside to
Jinping in his third term could feel divert public attention from domes-
mandated to take bolder decisions tic issues. Second, India should also
on foreign policy issues. keep up the momentum of modern-
Pointing towards the urgent izing military infrastructure along the
need of achieving jointness of three disputed border to be able to counter
services under the supervision of Chinese pressure and expansionism.
Chief of Defense Staff, The Tribune Finally, besides developing strategic
contended that People’s Liberation ties with major powers, New Delhi
Army (PLA)’s modernisation over- should also work to modernize its do-
drive makes it incumbent on Indian mestic defense industry. This will not
armed forces to raise their battle People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s modernisation overdrive makes it incumbent on Indian only help New Delhi to gradually re-
preparedness. armed forces to raise their battle preparedness (File photo) duce dependence on arms export but
Further, The Times of India will also greatly amplify the military’s
and the Hindustan Times urged the production is a good idea whose Conclusion capability to manage security chal-
government to adopt a comprehen- time has come’. The Indian national media ex- lenges from China.
sive strategy to tackle the ‘bristling Although both differed in con- hibited a very negative assessment
dragon’.14 They urged New Delhi to tent, they demonstrated editorial of the 20th CPC Congress and more Mayuri Banerjee is Research Analyst at
‘steel itself’ and redouble efforts to emphasis on strengthening India’s importantly of Xi Jinping’s third term. Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense
boost domestic economic strength, military power vis-à-vis China while Some of the prominent causes of this Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
remain socially cohesive, upgrade upgrading India’s defense manufac- negative evaluation could be China’s Views expressed are of the author and
defense preparedness and cement turing sector as a long-term strategy refusal to restore the pre-June 2020 do not necessarily reflect the views of
strategic partnership with like-mind- against China. status quo along the disputed border, the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
ed countries. While the sense of suspicion its hostility towards India’s deepening Government of India.
In this context, The Indian and threat perception is in tandem ties with the US, Beijing’s repeated
Express’s response is noteworthy. with Indian media’s previous ap- blocking of India’s effort to blacklist This is an abridged version of the
It published two editorials on the proach towards China, a notable Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups article which first appeared in the
same day titled ‘Delhi will have to point was that it did not foresee bet- and individuals and increasing ag- Comments section of the website (www.
work harder, a lot faster to blunt the terment of relations or possibility of gressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
challenge from Xi’s China to India’s close economic cooperation in the region. for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
interests’ and ‘Indigenizing defense near future. Considering the national media’s Delhi on December 25, 2022

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