Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal
What strategies are being adopted by China to grab control over resources, the market of most countries, and make them “Economic Slaves”? What fears most nations to not speak against Wuhan Corona Virus?
China’s game plan to become a global superpower hastily has costs heavily to the world, especially developing nations. China is using the vilest tactics to expand its territory, capturing the global market with a debt trap policy, using Naxalism and terrorism to create unrest in countries that it perceives as a challenge, then Biological War, human rights violation and so on.
What strategies are being adopted by China to grab control over resources, the market of most countries, and make them “Economic Slaves”? What fears most nations to not speak against Wuhan Corona Virus? How many Muslim countries are vocal about the atrocities done to Uyghurs Muslims by the Chinese government?
Debt trap policy concocted with intends to get benefited on three fronts:
1. Economic
2. Political
3. Military base at strategic locations
Let me put some stories which highlight how china is misusing its money and muscle power.
A recent study by an international agency about the 100 contracts signed by the 24 countries clearly showed that the purpose is to lend heavy loans with lower interest rates, which the countries cannot pay back. Then take control of their resources, market, infrastructure and strategic locations to build military bases to counter nations not supporting their ideology of opportunism, expansionist attitude and deceitful economic superpower dream.
Tajikistan: Debt trap country China has grabbed over 1158 sq. km. and digging out natural resources like minerals, gold, silver and empowering itself.
Laos: 25 years contract with China against a loan. Chinese companies have taken control of their national grid, exporting power and earning huge amounts of money by grabbing their market.
Montenegro: China lent 800 million dollars for the construction of a highway that is impossible to repay. The reason for this high funding is that the highway is a direct gateway to Europe.
Angola: Crude oil reserves are now under China’s control, leading to more damage to Angolans economy.
China is laying many efforts to counter India by using Indian neighbours. Srilanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives and Bangladesh, these countries are already in a trap. We can very well comprehend Pakistan as a natural ally of China.
Srilanka: Hambantota port is given on lease for 99 years to China against non-repayment of the loan. In addition, 15000 acres of land were given to Chinese companies. It is a strategic location against India, and it has a commercial angle as well.
Pakistan: We cannot expect anything good from Pakistan. Pakistan is on the verge of collapsing socially and economically owing to its anti-India policies, supporting terrorism and religious extremism. They have become slaves to China. Slowly, China is taking control of their important locations, ports, resources and making them follow orders.
Maldives: One more country under a debt trap on the verge of collapsing to China’s hefty contract.
So, what is India doing to counter China’s misadventure and tactics?
The current central government is in no mood to bow down to the pressure tactics frolicked by China. Many initiatives have already been taken to counter China, and powerful mechanisms are being developed in defence forces, trade, international diplomacy, technological advancements are on the cards.
The biggest international diplomacy is “QUAD” (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). India, the USA, Japan and Australia stalwartly joined hands together, and this new way of diplomacy has taken china on a backseat. China will think 100 times before any misadventure because it will cause more damage to China economically and militarily.
Defence forces capabilities are upgraded on the ground level with better infrastructure and facilities, and technologically advanced arms and ammunition have been inducted. Many more will be added in the coming years.
PM Modi gave a masterstroke by declaring and initiating actions on Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self Reliant India) in May 2020. This initiative has given a big push to the government’s vision to achieve a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2025, though it will be delayed because of the corona pandemic.
Why is the Atmanirbharat initiative significant for India’s growth & how it will change India’s position in the global market?
Our import/export ratio with China is in favour of China in a big way. India has a pool of talent in every sector, and a big pool of youth is unemployed. Still, we are giving out major business opportunities to China, which can be done in India with the available knowledge, skills and technology. Incremental innovation is the key to compete with china globally.
India is almost importing 55 per cent of furniture, 72% of toys, pharmaceutical raw material, a huge amount of electrical and electronics appliances, incense sticks, idols, rubber tyres; the list is long.
The reversal has begun with the self-reliant India initiative. We already see the effects of this initiative, and it will create a big impact on the domestic market and the global market in the near future. We not only will be fulfilling domestic needs but will also capture the global market in many sectors. We have already started snatching investment/ companies from china, and it will further increase as we evolve with ease of doing business, better infrastructure, skilled manpower in every sector, research and development, educational reforms.
Few developments under Atmanirbhar Bharat:
• Electronic component and instrument manufacturing are on the top agenda. The plan is to produce mobile phones worth Rupees 10.5 lakh crore in the coming five years. 65% will be exported.
• Manufacturing of integrated circuits (IC chips); the first plant will be operational in 2 years.
• Import banned for TV sets, rubber tyres and few more items. Indigenous products are promoted.
• Toy industry and furniture industry are provided with the necessary support. We will become a net exporter in the coming years. To promote the toy industry of India, the country's first national toy fair was digitally launched in February 2021.
• Ease of doing business is enticing well day by day, attracting FDI.
• Few companies have already shifted from China or are in the process of shifting to India. Though it is challenging, we are making necessary changes in policies to make it a reality.
• The largest fund in the country worth ₹21,000 crores (US$2.9 billion) was set up by the IIT Alumni Council to support the mission towards self-reliance
• Coir Udyami Yojana aims to develop the coir-related industry’s sustainable development
• India's own 'Made in India' 5G network was announced in July 2020 by Reliance Jio.
• India will be self-reliant in fertiliser production by 2023.
• In August 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the Defence Ministry is "now ready for a big push to Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative" by imposing an "import embargo on 101 items" in a staged manner over five years.
• The research, development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccinations in India was connected to Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• As a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package, many government decisions have taken place, such as changing the definition of MSMEs, boosting scope for private participation in many sectors, increasing FDI in the defence sector, and the vision has found support in many sectors such as the solar manufacturing sector.
• "Brain drain to brain gain", and had the aim of engaging India's diaspora. To this effect, new organisations such as IN–SPACe will help in "preventing India’s Space talent Brain Drain".
The more” Make in India” commodities we purchase and promote, the more we are strengthening our country economically and globally.
The writer is an author, speaker, educationist, counsellor, and electrical engineer.
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