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Op-ED JANUARY 21, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

India’s dilemma:

China, Xi, Putin and Ukraine

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

n the Indian Ocean region, Chi- against Ukraine would complicate
na has resumed its big diplomat- India’s efforts to maintain a delicate
Iic outreach enterprise in India’s balance between its partnerships
neighborhood, after almost two with the US, Europe, and Russia.
years of being isolated due to the Delhi could try its posture, post the
Covid-19 pandemic. China brings Russian annexation of Crimea, of
the same force, the same over- neither openly criticizing nor endors-
whelming largesse (albeit followed ing Russian actions. However, its si-
by debt), and the same promise of lence will be seen as an endorsement.
diplomatic maneuvering space to -- Tanvi Madan, The Indian Express
large and small countries in the re-
gion, particularly in India’s neigh- oIL AND WAr
borhood.
But a bigger threat loom over nder a peace agreement
Sri Lanka, of economic insolvency. reached by Ukraine, Russia
Sri Lanka is deep in the suds, largely Uand the Organization for Se-
due to a tragic combination of poor curity and Cooperation in Europe
policies and economic mismanage- (OSCE), with the participation of
ment and huge external debt mainly representatives of Donetsk and Lu-
to China, racked up recklessly over hansk regions, all sides laid down
the years. China owns almost $3.5 US President Joe Biden opens a virtual summit with the Chinese President Xi Jinping from arms starting midnight of 21 July
billion of Sri Lanka’s $35-billion White House in November 2021 (ANI Photo/ White House) 2019; they ceased all firing, forward
of external debt. That’s huge. As movements and reconnaissance ac-
one official explained, it’s not the world, is comparatively recent in or- of the communist parties. tivities, and undertook not to place
quantum of the debt, but the servic- igin and dates to the rise and rise of -- Swapan Dasgupta, The Telegraph heavy weapons near populated areas.
ing conditions that are onerous. It Xi from 2012. Soon, this agreement was thrown
wasn’t long ago that Sri Lanka had into the dustbin.
to give an equity stake to China in NeW DeLHI’S oPTIoNS Frantic diplomacy followed to
Hambantota Port after they failed An important facet of the original avert a war. Russia, justifiably threat-
ussian military action against
to repay debt. Cold War was the espionage busi- Ukraine would also impede ened, ever since the breakup of the
-- Indrani Bagchi, The Times of India Soviet Union, by the military encir-
ness that was so vividly captured RDelhi’s suggested approach clement of its borders by US-led
for stalling Sino-Russian ties or fuel-
CoLD WAr GAMeS in the novels of, among others, ling friction between them — that the NATO, is demanding a pull-back of
NATO troops from its former re-
t was not surprising that Chi- John le Carré. Apart from gleaning West, particularly the US, stabilize publics and a legal guarantee that
relations with Russia. For this rea-
na’s all-powerful president, Xi top-secret information, particular- Ukraine and Georgia will never
IJinping, devoted his online ad- ly related to atomic research and son, Delhi welcomed last summer’s join NATO, in spite of the promises
Biden-Putin meeting — it would also
dress to the World Economic Fo- made to them.
rum to attacking the new Cold War military deployment, the intelli- help if two of India’s key partners Meanwhile, oil-rich Russia will
mentality that is impeding his coun- gence agencies on both sides fo- were not at loggerheads. But another prolong the conflict as long as it can.
Russian invasion of Ukraine would
try’s geostrategic ambitions. After put paid to any near-term prospect The rising tensions raise concerns
nearly three decades, when China’s cussed on securing influence and of a rapprochement between the over oil supply and jack up prices. At
spectacular rise was greeted with a developing either sleeper cells or West and Russia. Some critics already $87 a barrel, oil prices are at their
combination of awe and admiration, highest since October 2014, benefit-
the mood has changed to concern. active networks. argue that Vladimir Putin saw Joe ing Russia.
Biden’s outreach as a sign of weak-
Some of the anxieties, predictably, Identifying potential assets, ness to exploit. German and French The world has an appetite for oil,
stem from the West losing its un- nurturing them with patience and, efforts have received similar criticism. not war.
challenged economic dominance to -- Akhil Bakshi, The Quint
China — a fear that is most appar- finally, using them to further strate- And Japanese attempts have already
been stymied by the Russian military
gic objectives were key elements of
ent in the United States of Ameri- the spy game. The two-volume Mi- build-up on the disputed Kuril Is- Every week, we look at what the top
ca. However, the transformation of commentators in the Indian media are
anxiety into a Cold War, reminiscent trokhin archive, gleaned from KGB lands, and the Sino-Russian military talking about and bring to you a slice
exercises.
records, records the scale and the
of the post-War US-Soviet tension extent of Soviet penetration outside Further, Russian military action of their opinions and comments
that cast its shadow on the whole
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