Beware of treacherous China - EAM Jaishankar's message to Indian O

Dhaka: External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India S. Jaishankar has participated in the sixth ‘Indian Ocean Conference’ that has begun in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. While speaking on this occasion, Jaishankar attacked China without directly citing names; he said nations disregard legal obligations or violate long-standing agreements and immensely damage trust and confidence. He further warned that such countries who do not think of the wider interest by working on narrow tactics do a lot of damage. Also, without naming China, Jaishankar has given the countries in the Indian Ocean region to be wary of China’s debt. Thus, India’s Foreign Minister’s warning to beware of treacherous China becomes noteworthy.

In the recently held SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) meeting, the Defence Minister and Foreign Minister of India sternly warned China about border issues. They had also warned China that if relations with India were to be improved, the army must first be withdrawn from the border. Though China avoided an aggressive stance on it, the Chinese Foreign Minister visited Pakistan after the SCO meeting in India. Through this, there have been claims that China has warned India and also seems to have delivered a message to India that its stance on LAC will not change. After this, while addressing the ‘Indian Ocean Conference’ in Dhaka, India’s EAM lashed out at China again.

Moreover, without directly citing names, Jaishankar said countries that do not commit to bilateral agreements cause a huge blow to mutual trust. Also, Jaishankar slammed the misconduct of nations that act without respecting international norms, leading to an alarming situation. Not only this, but Jaishankar also warned countries to be wary of China, which was looting their resources and natural resources by trapping them in debt. The EAM of India, at this time, said that opaque and impractical debt has to become troublesome today or tomorrow.

Due to the non-recovery of loans given to Sri Lanka at high-interest rates, China has occupied Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port for 99 years. With other South Asian countries also unable to repay Chinese loans, there have been reports that China was preparing to take over their natural resources and strategically important locations. In such a situation, the warning of India’s Foreign Minister becomes significant.

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