The following are headlines (translated into English) of selected India related articles in five leading official newspapers in China since the last column of July 26, 2017. (Full texts of the translations available at www.niasindiainchina.in). The contents of these 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). These commentaries 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 at the current juncture, when India-China relations seem to be at a nadir. In contrast, the projections made in the English language platforms of China do not represent anything authentic; they are mere 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 psychological warfare 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 is a step towards remedying that gap. It is featured in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru, who sponsor the “India in the Chinese Media” project (www.niasindiainchina.in). Queries can be addressed to Ambassador Saurabh Kumar, the anchor of the project, at saurabhkumar1610@gmail.com.
August 9th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Interpreting the China-India confrontation through Sun Tzu’s “Art of War”
Must remain alert to Indian military’s offshore plans
Indian media boast Indian fighter planes can defeat PlA Air Force in Tibet
INDIA “ROBOT CHARIOT” CAPABlE OF SWEEP MINING, SURVEIllANCE, PATROllING
NEPAl: NEUTRAl ATTITUDE ON DISPUTES BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA
August 8th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
EDITORIAl: CHINA WON’T ATTACK INDIA IS THE MANTRA INDIANS CHANT CONFIDENTlY
(English version day before titled “India misjudges China’s hope for peace” with interesting differences between the two)
WHISTlING IN THE DARK, INDIA IS CONVINCED THAT CHINA DOES NOT WANT TO FIGHT
1975, India tore mask” and annexed Sikkim
Boycotting Chinese goods will put India at risk
August 7th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
China will probably take action in two weeks, India tense
Ridiculous for Indian media to suggest that Indian military is superior to China’s
August 7th, 2017 PlA Daily (Chinese)
Not an inch of territory bequeathed by our ancestors can be lost
August 5th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Modi Government should not commit the sin of provoking a war between China and India
China delivers a tough warning to India
August 5th, 2017 PlA Daily (Chinese)
Do not underestimate China’s determination to defend its territorial sovereignty
August 4th, 2017 People’s Daily (Chinese)
Exposing the truth about India Army’s illegal trespass across the boundary
August 4th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
US media: America must not fuel China-India dispute
India resentful of Chinese power: Withdraw troops if you really value peace
“Ghost shaves” causes panic amongst Indian women
August 4th, 2017 PlA Daily, People’s Daily (Chinese)
Illegal trespass across boundary by Indian army irresponsible and reckless
August 4th, 2017 Jiefang Daily (Chinese)
Benevolence cannot mean disregard of principles, restraint cannot be without a bottom line
Indian army’s illegal trespass across the boundary definitely not for peace
August 3rd, 2017 People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, PlA Daily (Chinese)
Facts and China’s position on trespass into Chinese territory by Indian border troops in Sikkim sector of China-India boundary
August 3rd, 2017 PlA Daily (Chinese)
China’s territorial sovereignty inviolable
August 3rd, 2017 Jiefang Daily (Chinese)
India should withdraw its cross-border troops immediately and unconditionally
August 3rd, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
INDIAN MEDIA CONCERNED ABOUT CHINA’S DOCUMENT ON BOUNDARY TRESPASS OF INDIAN TROOPS
Qing Dynasty forced to delineate “Tibet Sikkim boundary”
August 2nd, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Is the largest Chinese investment project in India blockedIJ
INDIA WARY OF CHINESE DIPlOMATS’ FREQUENT VISITS TO BHUTAN
DISSATISFIED WITH MAINlAND CHINA’S WITHDRAWAl FROM MATHS OlYMPIAD, INDIA PERMITS TAIWAN PlAYERS TO RAISE “NATIONAl FlAG”
August 1st, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
INDIAN MEDIA PAINTS ITSElF INTO A CORNER IN DISCUSSING BOUNDARY CONFRONTATION
July 31st, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Bhutan scholar: China respects Bhutan more than India
July 29th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
INDIA WIll lOSE MISERABlY IN A CHINA-INDIA CONFlICT
July 28th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
EDITORIAl: “INDIA TODAY” lEADS THE WHOlE OF INDIA IN DREAM OF SPlITTING CHINA
(English version the day before titled “India Today draws a pipe dream for New Delhi” with interesting differences between the two)
India waiting anxiously for results of senior officials’ visit to China
July 27th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Difficult for 200 million Indian “untouchables” to shake off “caste system”
Price of tomatoes skyrockets in India, armed guards to protect tomatoes against robbery
July 26th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
Sikkimese more worried about landslides than confrontation
(Chinese Foreign Minister) Wang Yi: Indian army should conscientiously withdraw its troops
WITHDRAWING ITS TROOPS SINCERElY IS THE ONlY CORRECT CHOICE FOR INDIA