With border peace as a bargaining chip, India is "beating the drums of war" and trying to force China to make concessions on strategic corridors and economic trade?
In the international geopolitical environment in recent years, China-India relations are undoubtedly the most striking link. Especially when it comes to direct economic and strategic interests, the relationship is complex and challenging.
(Illustration: China has repeatedly called on India to resume direct flights between China and India after more than four years of hiatus)
Some time ago, in order to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation, China repeatedly issued requests to India to resume direct flights between the two countries, which has attracted the attention of all parties. However, the Indian government does not seem to have paid enough attention to this.
Not only that, but the Indian side has even made peace and tranquility on the Sino-Indian border a precondition for the full resumption of direct flights between the two countries, which has not been officially confirmed, but it is not difficult to see from the recent behavior of the Modi government that it has taken a tough stance on Sino-Indian relations.
Further, the Modi government has also taken a series of draconian measures against Chinese companies operating in India, including heavy fines and forced equity sales. This has undoubtedly exacerbated tensions between the two countries and has become an obstacle to the further development of bilateral relations.
Indian media reported that the Modi government hinted that as long as China made concessions on the border issue, the economic and trade contradictions between China and India could be eased.
This undoubtedly sends a clear message to China: India wants to use the border peace as a bargaining chip. But such a strategy is absolutely unacceptable for China.
(Illustration: The Teesta River is Bangladesh's "River of Life", and India wants to win the river renovation order before China)
Therefore, India has taken aim at China and announced that it is ready to take the strategic corridor first to "help" its neighbors protect the river. What the hell is going on?
During the recent visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, the two countries signed 10 cooperation agreements/memoranda of understanding and announced more than 10 initiatives.
Of particular note, the Indian side said that India is ready to send a technical team to renovate the Teesta River in Bangladesh.
The strategic value of the Teesta cannot be overlooked.
Not only is it the "river of life" of Bangladesh, vital to the country's industry and agriculture, but it also has a central place in water politics throughout the South Asian region. The river's upper reaches are located in China, crossing India into Bangladesh, and this geographical location makes the Teesta a focal point of close intertwining between several countries.
Over the past few decades, India and Bangladesh have had a number of disputes over the water rights of the Teesta River.
India is building dams in the upper reaches of rivers in order to control the amount of water, which has a direct impact on the water benefits of Bangladesh downstream. The dispute was exacerbated by extreme conditions during periods of floods and droughts.
Seeing this, Bangladesh wanted to negotiate with India, but progress was slow. In desperation, Bangladesh has sought cooperation with China to improve the situation, and the two sides plan to jointly develop the Teesta River.
(Illustration: Bangladesh spent a lot of money to build a 1,500-meter girder bridge over the Teesta River, and India is unwilling to reach cooperation between China and Bangladesh)
However, the proposal of the Sino-Bangladesh cooperation plan has undoubtedly touched India's sensitive nerves and made India feel that its influence in South Asia may be weakened as a result. Therefore, taking into account multiple factors, India does not want China and Bangladesh to cooperate.
Against this backdrop, India has intensified its efforts to ensure its leading position in regional water resources management.
According to the Financial Express, Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra first stressed the importance of shared water resources to Bangladesh before offering to evaluate the restoration project through a technical team.
However, the Bangladeshi side does not seem to be fully buying it. According to the Telegraph, Bangladeshi sources noted that India did not mention a specific plan to share the Teesta River in the discussion.
In fact, judging from India's series of measures, it is very clear what the purpose behind it is. First, India wants to strengthen its strategic partnership with Bangladesh and strengthen its control over the Teesta River through its participation in the Teesta River Conservation and Management Project, and second, it is an attempt to counterbalance China's growing influence in South Asia.
As experts quoted by the Global Times put it, the issue of water resources on the Teesta River appears to be a bilateral dispute between India and Bangladesh, but India's intentions seem to be not limited to controlling the water resources of the Teesta River, but also has a strategic calculation to curb the expansion of China's influence in South Asia.