The following are annotated headlines (English translations) of selected India related articles in five Chinese official newspapers of the last few days, in continuation of the column of July 10, 2017...
The contents of these editorials, opinion pieces etc. (published 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 abroad). They therefore represent authentic perceptions of the ruling Communist Party elite that have been determined to be appropriate for being placed in the public domain, for feeding Chinese public opinion. And are of value for the clues they provide to official China’s thinking about India and the world. In contrast, the projections made in the English language platforms of China do not represent anything authentic; they are nothing but propaganda bluff and bluster that do not deserve to be taken seriously.
Regrettably, however, it is these that are taken as the authentic view and voice of official China in the country. This makes the Indian discourse on China vulnerable to the time-honoured Chinese stratagem of psy-war and mind-control. Disinformation (not excluding deception) and diversion of the enemy’s attention in desired directions (away from the true action centres) are known to be essential ingredients of Chinese statecraft, steeled as it has been in the art of “prevailing in a conflict with another state” by a tradition, going back all the way to Sun Tzu, that regards war as representing the “natural and inevitable condition of humankind”. This column, featured in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, is aimed at remedying that gap. Queries can be addressed to the anchor of NIAS’ “India in the Chinese Media” project (www.niasindiainchina.in), Ambassador Saurabh Kumar, Adjunct Professor, NIAS at saurabhkumar1610@gmail.com.
July 13th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
CHINA TESTS ARTIllERY ROCKETS CAPABlE OF REACHING NEW DElHI IJ
INDIA’S RIGHT WING FANNING THE FlAMES OF ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT
Tax reform results in Indian Airlines grounding half its aircraft fleet
India lost 7 million girls in ten years
Microsoft font becomes the evidence of Pakistani Prime Minister’s scandal
People’s Daily (Chinese)
FOCUS ON CAPACITY COOPERATION TO SEEK COMMON DEVElOPMENT
July 12th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
“CANNOT lET DIFFERENCES TURN INTO DISPUTES”
Goal of Modi’s reform is to raise India’s national economic potential
Initial experience of tax reform in India: a little expensive
Vegetarian meals on India airlines to reduce costs
July 11, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Tax on sanitary napkins leads to protests in India
Who applauds Mumbai School Principals for boycott of Chinese stationery
Entering NSG, India seeks to bypass “Chinese wall”
“Royal treatment” for visiting Myanmar Army C-in-C
People’s Daily (Chinese) & PlA Daily (Chinese)
PAKISTAN SUMMONS INDIAN DIPlOMAT AGAIN OVER FIRING
July 10th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
CHINA CAN PlAY MANY MORE CARDS THAN INDIA
An uncharacteristically unrestrained article (and, for that reason, revelatory of the psyche). Excerpts:
...China must give India the necessary warning, to keep it sober ... The friction in the Donglang area this time is entirely India’s doing, making trouble out of nothing. So China must definitely not make any concessions and make India draw a hard lesson….
DOES INDIA WANT TO USE THE TIBET CARD AT A SENSITIVE MOMENTIJ
Concludes with an unabashed mention of the “J&K and Northeastern cards” in the hands of China due to “the objective existence of separatist forces” there, warning that it had refrained from using them hitherto.
42 YEARS AFTER ANNEXATION, HOW lOYAl SIKKIM IS TO INDIA
Concludes with a quote of a Beijing University researcher that has no basis in the contents of the article, revealing its wishful intent:
“I am in contact with the people, I think Sikkim people have a complex psychology. To some extent, they feel that the Chinese people are more cordial. Some people give
me the following feeling: I wish to embrace you, but I am currently incapable of doing that”.
Mountain Division to boost Indian gall on the border
US, Japan and India Joint maritime exercise aims at hunting Chinese submarines
India wants to help the Philippines fight militants
People’s Daily (Chinese)
Pakistani President Hussein meets Wan Gang
Guangming Daily (Chinese)
Cultural week on China’s intangible cultural heritage kicked off in Pakistan