China-India conflict has potential to retard 21st Century as Asian Century

    The recent China-India conflict in the midst of pandemic Corona has confused many strategic thinkers as well as common people like us about its timing, need and its overall effect on the India-China relations and the  World order.

    The way Chinese economy has grown in last four decades was unthinkable and it put China as the number two economy in absolute dollar terms but on the basis of purchasing power parity it already surpassed USA to become number one. And not only economic , militarily also China has advanced very rapidly. 

    The economic prosperity has helped China in reducing its poverty in record time and also raising the living condition of its citizens almost comparable to middle income countries. The World envy the growth and power of China and in return China seek to be treated as world power by rest of the world. Both are right in their perception, those who are envying China is also being threatened by the sheer power of  growing communist China and Chinese perception is that world owes acknowledgement of its rapid progress. The war of perception was on for quite some time but it got out in open after the complexity in reporting Corona by China. And then the LOC stand off with India.

    India is also on track of  unprecedented economic growth since 1991 but slower than China due to many reasons. But it is on course to be economically world no 3 in next 3-4 years. This is indicating that China -India has lot to complement and learn from each other.

    One thing is sure that this LOC stand off with India has structurally changed the status quo of India with China. This act of China during this pandemic has flared up the Indian sentiment against China and also tested  the patience of Indian government . India is now not going to be docile with China after this incident. Government has already initiated several action to reduce economic dependency on China and in a year or two it will hurt both countries.

Is China missing the big picture and unnecessarily provoked/undermine India and changed the status quo at LOC, which now become unfavorable to China ?

    This China -India conflict has interested USA and its allies and first time they all condemned China and supported India. It was unthinkable. The World is talking of quad ( USA, India,Japan, Australia) to counter China. The talk is underway to include India and other emerging countries in G-7 and name it to D-10 ( democratic 10). One side it seems the conflict between democratic world and Communist/autocratic world. Like Nazi Germany and allied forces. Post world war II after the collapse of USSR , China replaces USSR but with a different twist in relation to USA. It was USA who supported communist China since 1973 with cheap resources, technology and lot of favoritism  and being a partner in unprecedented growth of China. The unprecedented growth of China has now frightened its maker/supporter. But now it also signifies that 21st century is going to be  the century of Asia.

    This is true and Asian Century is not possible with China only , but with a close cooperation with other Asian giants and in that case India as a power house is just below China. To make this century truly Asian, India and China seeks close cooperation like a competitor with same vision and there is no place for enmity and conflict .

    The decoupling of Indian economy with China has started after LOC stand off and this is going to hurt both countries and the failure to make this century Asian will only benefit  USA and Europe. The conflict between India and China will not benefit Asia but those economies of the world which are slowing down.

    And if China and India plays there card well and negotiate amicably all pain points quickly then this will prove to be turning point to herald the new Asian century. There is lot India and China can learn from each other. Most importantly,India needs to learn technique of resource mobilization with speed and scale,meeting time lines, long term planning , delivery etc from China. Likewise China needs to learn resilience, criticism, and power of society in its openness.

Both countries need to adapt to new normal post corona  and stop precipitating the LOC and other issues to long enmity. China also needs to behave and tone down its rhetoric as responsible super power ,shed the arrogance and convince the world  that it is not expansionist . If not then in long term China will be a big looser.

It is the perfect time for both countries to write new future global story for Asia and the world.

It is estimated that by 2040 Asia will represent 40 % of global consumption and 52 % of GDP.  The data is crystal clear and indicating that Asia has already on the scene  and on its way to seek the lost Asian glory. 

I am sure that China and India together has the potential to reshape and redefine the global order and the top leadership of both countries are much aware than all of us. Let not the minor pain points and sentiments of country men shadows the larger picture for the emergence of Asian century . It will not only benefit the entire world but more particularly 300 crore people of China and India.