With this background, it should not come as any kind of a surprise that the Chinese would infringe on US airspace with a surveillance balloon, as was found earlier this month. According to the US, China’s balloon surveillance operation intruded into the airspace of over 40 countries across 5 continents, most likely including India as well.
Source: Aajtak.in
The Chinese are increasingly considering themselves potential rivals for the Americans’ position as the world’s preeminent power and feel that they must utilise all available tools to highlight this issue. Furthermore, the Chinese are always the ones to express outrage first, regardless of whether they are dealing with a larger or a lesser country, such as the US or India.
China criticised the US for violating international law by shooting down the balloon, and its defence ministry rejected an offer from the US for a phone call between the two defence ministers in light of the US side’s irresponsible and seriously wrong.practice, which had failed to create a proper atmosphere for dialogue and exchange between the two militaries.
Source: WION
The Chinese strategy has always been to take the offensive in language and narrative to put the other side on the back foot. In contrast, New Delhi has primarily used anodyne language in its remarks to and with the Chinese, despite the seriousness of the provocations. Keep in mind that there have also been a number of joint announcements between the two militaries.
The one time India managed to surprise China with the Kailash range manoeuvre in August 2020, the Chinese were compelled to start the withdrawal process a few months later. That ought to alert New Delhi, but it hasn’t yet realised the need of seizing the initiative from the Chinese by a forceful retort or its own provocations. Whatever its strategy, the Indian government must always communicate with clarity and credibility, both when signalling to the Chinese and when communicating with its own people.
Comment down below.
