Russia and India should not get stuck in the US democracy trap

Beijing – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi appealed ‘India should not get stuck in the democracy trap laid out by the United States, along with Russia and China.’ This appeal made by the Chinese Foreign Minister during the tripartite IRC meeting of India, Russia and China, becomes noteworthy. The United States has organised the ‘Democracy Summit’ and has invited more than 100 countries. Countries like Russia and China, not having a democratic system, have been excluded. But, by inviting Taiwan for the summit, the United States has increased the pressure on China. The apprehension becomes clear from the appeal made by the Chinese Foreign Minister.

China has intensified its military actions against Taiwan. Chinese fighter jets are repeatedly breaching the Taiwanese airspace and China is threatening that it may launch an attack on Taiwan at any time. Moreover, China is also threatening the United States and the other western countries standing behind Taiwan. China is warning and threatening the countries establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan that they will have to pay the price for their actions. Reactions are being received on the international level regarding these unrestrained Chinese activities. The Biden administration, infamous for its pro-China stand, also has to take cognisance of these actions.

Against this background, US President Joe Biden has organised the Democracy Summit and this conference of the democratic countries will be held on 9th and 10th of December. More than 100 countries have been invited to the conference. Some organisations will also be included in the conference. Criticism has started emanating from Russia and China that this a step initiated by the United States against both these countries, as they do not have democratic systems. The United States has added to the Chinese restlessness by especially inviting Taiwan for the conference.

Chinese government media have showered criticism over the United States and have claimed that the United States will not derive any benefit from this. But it is becoming clear that China is feeling immense pressure from this conference. Chinese Foreign Minister criticised that this conference organised by the United States is only to create a divide. While speaking during the virtual conference of IRC, meaning India, Russia and China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that there is a possibility of creating a divide in the world, which will only have detrimental effects.

Therefore, the Chinese Foreign Minister expressed an expectation that Russia, India and China should not get caught in the democracy trap laid out by the United States. The Chinese Foreign Minister also presented a proposal that China is willing to increase cooperation with India and Russia, going against this conference. Wang Yi also presented a five-point plan for the proposed cooperation. This includes cooperating on building a multi-pillared world, working for the countries’ legitimate rights, vaccine research and production cooperation, and some other issues.

On the one hand, China is challenging India with its inciting actions on the Line of Actual Control and on the other hand, it is speaking the language of cooperation. India has not given any reaction regarding the Democracy Summit on the official level. But there is a dense possibility of Indian participation in the summit as a responsible democratic country.