In a rare commendation, Global Times, a prominent Beijing-based Chinese media outlet, has published an article praising India’s significant strides in economic development, social governance, and foreign policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This rare acknowledgment of India’s advancements and Prime Minister Modi’s strategic vision by Global Times signifies the growing recognition of India’s burgeoning global influence and the implications of its assertive posture on the international landscape.
The article, written by Zhang Jiadong, the Director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai, highlights India’s remarkable achievements over the past four years. It acknowledges India’s robust economic growth, improvements in urban governance, and a shift in attitude towards international relations, notably with China.
For instance, when discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian representatives previously primarily focused on China’s measures to reduce the trade imbalance. However, they are now placing more emphasis on India’s export potential, as noted by the author.
The article notably commends India’s proactive approach in fostering a ‘Bharat narrative,’ emphasising the nation’s strategic confidence. The author states that, with its rapid economic and social development, India has become more strategically confident and proactive in creating and developing a ‘Bharat narrative.’
“In the political and cultural spheres, India has shifted from emphasising its democratic consensus with the West to highlighting the ‘Indian feature’ of democratic politics. Currently, there is even more emphasis on the Indian origins of democratic politics,” he adds.
This shift, the author asserts, reflects India’s ambition to escape its historical colonial shadow and position itself as a global influencer, both politically and culturally.
Furthermore, the article lauds India’s foreign policy strategy under Prime Minister Modi, highlighting the nation’s multi-alignment approach and the strengthening of ties with major global powers like the US, Japan, and Russia while displaying a nuanced stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The article notes that India’s strategic thinking in foreign policy has undergone another change and is clearly moving toward a great power strategy.
“Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed power, he has advocated for a multi-alignment strategy, promoting India’s relations with the US, Japan, Russia, and other countries and regional organisations,” says Professor Zhang.
The article notes that India has always considered itself a world power. However, it has been less than 10 years since India shifted from multi-balancing to multi-alignment, and now it is rapidly transforming toward a strategy of becoming a pole in the multipolar world.
In conclusion, the author states, “It appears that a transformed, stronger, and more assertive India has become a new geopolitical factor that many countries need to consider.
