Headlines (translated into English) of selected India related articles in five leading official newspapers in China since the last column of August 8, 2017 are listed below. Full texts/summaries of selected items (headlines given in block capitals) available at www.niasindiainchina.in.
This column is an attempt to remedy a basic gap in the Indian discourse on China, namely its the erroneous, near total reliance on the English language platforms of China (which represent nothing but mere propaganda bluff and bluster). It is featured in collaboration with the “India in the Chinese Media” project (www.niasindiainchina.in) of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. Queries can be addressed to Ambassador Saurabh Kumar, the anchor of the project, at saurabhkumar1610@gmail.com.
The sheer volume — of editorials in particular (ten in all in the Chinese edition of Global Times since the first in end-June) — is striking in itself, accentuated by the stridency of the tone of the contents. This is attributable, of course, to the Doklam stand-off which has riled the Chinese leadership no end (perhaps because of embarrassment vis-a-vis its own public at a time of heightened politicking on the eve of the quinquennial Party Congress, due in November).
But the quantum of attention given to India is high at all times, reflecting high interest in how India is doing. So it is that there is appetite for noting a fair amount of other news/developments in/about India not directly related to Doklam, or matters military, even at the present juncture in Sino-Indian relations, when war clouds are said to be hovering. But, of course, even these may well be aimed at the same end. India’s neighbours, in contrast (including Pakistan) get no such attention even in the best of times, except for occasional news items on visits of leaders or signing of documents.
A comparison of the coverage in the English platforms with that in the domestic Chinese press is instructive, both piece to piece and in their overall trends.
August 13th, 2017 PlA Daily (Chinese)
Death of 30 children in Indian hospital possibly because of interruption of oxygen supplies
August 12th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
THE lOGIC AND PARADOX OF INDIA
(A most interesting must read for its distinctively Chinese take on the ‘peculiarities’ of India that, unlike most of the other items these days, post-Doklam, is not polemical)
EDITORIAl: BHUTAN’S NEUTRAl STANCE UNBEARABlE FOR INDIA
(English version the day before reveals interesting differences)
India forced Bhutan to air its opinion on (the belonging of) Doklam
Senior Chinese and Indian officials visit Nepal one after another
August 11th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
INDIAN AIRS AND RAVINGS ABOUT “DEFEATING CHINA”
INDIA MISTAKEN TO REGARD CHINA AS ITS ENEMY
Editorial: Having elevated Dalai to (status of) a deity, India is left with no card in hand
(English version the day before reveals interesting and notable differences)
Southern foothills of Himalayas not India’s private house
Rare (depiction of) good Chinese person in Indian movies
Indian politician accuses women of going out late at night
India bids farewell to the typewriter era
August 10th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
EDITORIAl: INDIAN ARMY HAD BETTER STOP IMAGINING IT CAN HAGGlE WITH PlA
(English version the day before reveals interesting and notable differences)
“Eagles” around Modi in the China-India confrontation
(On the key actors on the Indian political stage in relation to Doklam)
(Indian) political troupe, as also politician’s theatre
(An item essentially on Defence Minister Arun Jaitley)
China-India boundary, “PlA promise to withdraw 100 meters” is absolute nonsense
Chiang Kai-shek’s 1942 visit to India was disappointing
Two lakh join street protests in Mumbai
August 10th, 2017 PlA Daily (Chinese)
ONlY BY RIDDING ITSElF OF ITS “DEMONS” WIll INDIA BE ABlE TO TAKE THE RIGHT PATH
August 9th, 2017 Global Times (Chinese)
NEPAl: NEUTRAl ATTITUDE ON DISPUTES BETWEEN CHINA AND INDIA
INTERPRETING THE CHINA-INDIA CONFRONTATION THROUGH SUN TZU’S “ART OF WAR”
INDIA “ROBOT CHARIOT” CAPABlE OF SWEEP MINING, SURVEIllANCE, PATROllING
Must remain alert to Indian military’s offshore plans
Indian media boast Indian fighter planes can defeat PlA Air Force in Tibet
Indian police couple fired for faking photos of their climbing Everest
August 9th, 2017 Global Times (English)
China, India home to most optimistic citizens: IPSOS report