This column, “From the Chinese Press”, features excerpts from English translations/summaries, and headlines, of selected recent articles on India and its neighbouring countries in the Chinese press.
It is presented in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, whose “India in the Chinese Media” project monitors coverage of India (and its neighbouring countries) in five Chinese official/quasi-official newspapers on a daily basis. (Full texts of the translations excerpted, and details of the project, can be seen at their website at www.niasindiainchina.in.)
The translations are of value for the clues they provide to Chinese (ruling Communist Party elite) perceptions of India and the world. The contents of these editorials, opinion pieces etc. published in the Chinese newspapers (in Chinese) are meant for domestic (Chinese) audiences (unlike the commentaries put out in their English language newspapers and media platforms, which are aimed at external audiences). They therefore represent authentic perceptions of the Chinese Communist Party that have been determined to be appropriate for being placed in the public domain, for feeding Chinese public opinion.
The English language media of China, in contrast, contains content that the Party/State organs in China wish to project abroad to global audiences (as their take on contemporary developments). It is not at all the same as what the Chinese people are told in the domestic, Chinese language press. In other words, the projections made through their English language platforms do not represent anything real — they are sheer propaganda that does not deserve to be taken seriously.
Regrettably, however, the English language output of the Chinese media is swallowed in the country as the authentic view and voice of official China, unexamined. What is more, the public discourse on China in India is based entirely on those projections in English, without inclination or diligence to see them for what they are — prime vehicles for propaganda bluff and bluster.
And unmindful, at the same time, of the vulnerability of readings and assessments made within that basic limitation (of being based on English language hand-outs, not on authentic source material in Chinese) to manipulation — to the time-honoured Chinese stratagem of psy-war and mind-control through disinformation (not excluding deception) and diversion of the enemy’s attention in desired directions (away from the true action centres) that is known to be an essential ingredient of Chinese statecraft steeled in ‘the art of war’ by a tradition going back all the way to Sun Tzu.
Such a basic gap in the study of an important neighbour like China is in dire need of correction, obviously.
The “From the Chinese Press’ column is a modest attempt in that direction. Any queries can be addressed to Ambassador Saurabh Kumar, Adjunct Professor, NIAS, who anchors the “India in the Chinese Media” project, at saurabhkumar1610@gmail.com.
July 9th, 2017
Jiefang Daily & PlA Daily
CHINESE EMBASSY ADVISORY FOR CHINESE CITIZENS IN INDIA TO PAY ATTENTION TO SAFETY
Advisory includes “strict compliance with local laws and respect for local religious practices”. Concludes with the gist of the official Chinese stand on the Sikkim stand-off for the benefit of Chinese citizens as follows:
“Recently, Indian border troops trespassed across the already delimited boundary line in the Sikkim sector into Chinese territory and obstructed the normal activities of Chinese border troops in the Donglong area. This incident has lasted more than 20 days. At present, the two armies are in close confrontation and the situation has not eased.”
Jiefang Daily
PAKISTAN, INDIA EXCHANGE FIRE IN KASHMIR, CASUAlTIES ON BOTH SIDES
July 8th, 2017
People’s Daily
IllEGAl TRESPASSING OF BOUNDARY BY INDIAN ARMY TRAMPlED PRINCIPlES OF INTERNATIONAl lAW
… The Indian stance … is an attempt to create new “disputed territory” … with the aim of realizing their “occupation is possession” objective through long-term control (of the area).
The Donglang region is the native territory of China. … China and Bhutan have reached a consensus on this, then why does India not go (back)… IJ … some forces in India … believe that the international situation (has shifted) in favor of India … so the time is ripe for … consolidate(ing) India’s “dominant” position in the South Asian subcontinent.
… If India does not correct its mistake in a timely manner, how will it be able to win the trust of its neighboring countriesIJ
…India should … immediately and unconditionally withdraw its personnel … to its side of the boundary line; this is the correct way to resolve the incident.
PlA Daily
India’s describing the entire Donglang area as the tri-junction is misleading
Jiefang Daily
India has ulterior motive in confusing the picture
Global Times (Chinese)
India shamelessly pretends not to recognize historical treaty
July 7st, 2017
PlA Daily
India violates Chinese territory in name of “protecting Bhutan”
Global Times (Chinese)
Only know of Bollywood in IndiaIJ You’re out of fashion
Vietnam invites India to extract oil for another two years in the disputed area of the South China Sea
Are Chinese warships monitoring major military exercises of US, Japan and India
India trapped in wild imagination of Siliguri Corridor being choked
India stares at footprints of Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean
India’s unreasonable demand calling for China to withdraw its troops rejected
July 6th, 2017
Global Times (Chinese)
Sikkim annexed, Bhutan oppressed; India’s hegemony ought to be ended
Chinese side comes up with new evidence, demands India withdraw its troops
Bhutan, living in the shadow of being annexed by India at any time
India’s control of Bhutan is highly reprehensible
INDIA WARY OF CHINESE SUBMARINES CROSSING THE INDIAN OCEAN
PlA Daily
India should immediately pull back its troops (who made an) illegal intrusion across the border as concrete action to correct mistake