On January 27, foreign minister Natwar Singh dismissed critics who saw India-China relations with the old mindset of "balance of power" theories. Will Nepal's royal coup make him rethink?
On January 27, foreign minister Natwar Singh dismissed critics who saw India-China relations with the old mindset of "balance of power" theories. ...
On January 27, foreign minister Natwar Singh dismissed critics who saw India-China relations with the old mindset of "balance of power" theories. Will Nepal's royal coup make him rethink?
King Gyanendra sacked the democratic government for delaying the dialogue with Maoists. He offered Maoists amnesty if they laid down arms. When Gyanendra became king, this column pointed out: "In the 1970s, he had close links with the Chinese embassy and even patronised the Maoists." The assassination of King Birendra remains an unsolved mystery. Birendra's alleged killer, his son Dipendra, who supposedly "committed suicide", died with a bullet in his back.
On November 4, 2002, this column wrote: "It should not surprise if, after many twists and turns, Nepal evolves into a pro-Maoist and pro-China monarchy." Now, one must await the final picture. If the King fails he will pave the way for Maoists. Or, he could end up making a pincer move with them. Nothing is impossible.
On April 21, 2003, this column wrote: "China's plan to encircle India with its proxies is near completion." Pakistan and Bangladesh have defence links with China. Both favour China's entry into SAARC. Bangladesh had earlier suggested that a defence alliance headed by China would "contain India". Now, sections in India itself urge China's entry into SAARC!
Premier Wen Jiabao is China's pleasant mask. He was a protege of the late Zhao Ziang who, under Deng Xiaoping, was the architect of China's economic reforms. But Zhao was sacked as he supported the Tiananmen Square students. So, who calls the shots in China? Deng appointed Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao to succeed him. Jiang cut short his tenure, reposing confidence in Hu.
The Maoists are affiliated to the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement with its headquarters in Chicago. The leader of the movement is self-exiled in Europe. The movement supports Mao and the Cultural Revolution and strongly criticises Deng and his economic reforms.
The PLA, with its 15,000 commercial firms, might have exploited its economic links with America to profit and subvert US politicians through bribes. But does it support US-led globalisation? pla's plans to make South Asia China's sphere of influence are proceeding apace.
Hours after his coup, King Gyanendra announced he would attend the Dhaka SAARC summit. A cornered India hastily postponed the summit. It was a telling diplomatic defeat.
Natwar Singh ridicules balance of power theories. He should instead recall Pandit Nehru lamenting he had lived "in an artificial world of his own creation".
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)