India has every reason to view the growing Chinese influence across the world with trepidation. In the vain hope of invigorating the spirit of Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai, India continues to tread an impetuous path vis-à-vis its relations with China just as it did in 1962. To not have a repeat of the great ‘Himalayan blunder’, India ought to come off its high horse to have a realistic approach to the problems that beset the tricky ‘frenemyship’.
The manner in which money is being pumped into Sri lanka’s developmental projects dispel doubts over the island nation being anything but a coveted trophy for China. By being oblivious to the economic infrastructural support sought by its ‘strategic partner’ after coming out of a bloody civil war that lasted for nearly 30 years, India has risked losing a long-standing ally.
likewise, assured of a generous support for the Himalayan kingdom’s development endeavours, the construction of a railway linking Kerung and Kathmandu may further tilt Nepal towards China. India also needs to be weary of China-Bangladesh ties which underwent a dramatic transformation from an adversarial relationship to an enduring strategic partnership. By isolating India, it is as if China has facilitated its unhindered movement into the country by aligning itself with erstwhile buddies who are miffed at India for their foreign policies which prevented due recognition of their needs.