The China's imperialistic approach reflects on the Taiwan election result and the all diplomatic statements with Maldives. While Chinese propaganda media accuses India of "hegemonic mentality in South Asia", Beijing's comments after anti-China Lai Ching-te won the Taiwan election with a 40 per cent vote in spite of mainland machinations reveals an imperial Middle-Kingdom mindset of the Xi Jinping regime.
The electoral victory of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in a three-cornered contest is definitely a set back of sorts for China as the Communist regime might have to reconsider its 2026-2027 military plans to annex democratic Taiwan. As China's founding father Mao Zedong was seen to give respect, Deng Xiaoping gave economic empowerment, paramount leader sees himself as a unifier of the Middle Kingdom. The one man who will translate "One China Policy" into reality.
China's stated resolve to capture Taiwan come what may despite the democratically held election in the island nation and its support to uphold national sovereignty as well as opposing external interferences (read India) for a pro-Beijing Mohammed Muizzu regime in Maldives reveals the coercive diplomatic mindset by the Xi Jinping regime.
The statement said: " China firmly supports the Maldives in defending its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity….firmly opposes exterior interference into the internal affairs of Maldives.The Maldives is committed to the one-China principle……and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory….supports all efforts made by China to achieve national unification." Just a standard text for Middle-Kingdom's diplomacy with all tributary states.
While it is for Taiwan's backers in the West to come to terms with his ambiguity over the "One China Policy" and assist Taipei against Beijing's unilateral coercion, Beijing clearly drops all pretension with India, as was evident from the joint statement issued after President Muizzu's four-day visit to Beijing. The statement is clearly aimed against Indian interests in Maldives and totally in support of China against Taiwan with Male virtually acting as a tributary state to Middle Kingdom.
Considering China playing anti-India games overtly in the Indo-Pacific and at multilateral institutions, it is time that the Modi regime also upped its counter to the challenge from the northern neighbor and its proxies in the Indian sub-continent. That its economic support to Sri Lanka in its hour of economic crisis clearly has paid dividends with Colombo ready for inter-grid connectivity, oil pipeline and land connectivity with the Indian mainland via the axis linking Rameswaram-TalaiMannar.
But India cannot, and in fact has very little room to be complacent or reactive in her foreign policy, especially on issues that relates to its immediate neighborhood. China, in this regard, has been aggressively expanding her influence and presence in the region often at the expense of India's interests and security. China has forged strategic and economic relationships with the likes of Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, and the Maldives, dishing out loans, investments, infrastructure, and military help.
India needs to be on the front foot and pragmatic if it wants to check China's encirclement of India and for saving its own interests. India requires more diplomatic and cultural interaction with the neighbours of Sri Lanka to offer them an alternative to China's debt-trap diplomacy and to accentuate advantages accruing from geography, democracy, and congruent values. India should also enhance the cooperation in defence and security though with such countries like the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and play the leaders' role to shape the regional order of the Indo-Pacific.
India has too much at stake in the stability and prosperity of its neighbourhood to let China dictate terms of engagement. India needs to assert its role as a responsible and reliable partner, a net provider of security and development in the region. India should prove its identity to the neighbourhood as not hegemonistic, but as a friend and leader, who would respect the sovereignty and aspirations of the neighbours, who could also stand up against the bullying and coerciveness of China. –(IVNTV)