Conflict with China doesn't help India (Article Sample)

Conflict with China doesn't help India China.org.cn, August 21, 2017 Prussian General and strategist Carl von Clausewitz, in his book "Vom Kriege," writes that "war is the continuation of policy by other means." This approach led the world into the two most devastating wars in recorded human history resulting in millions of deaths. Later on, world leaders renounced this approach in order to prevent a repeat of such enormous destruction. However, some states are still pursuing this policy, believing in the display of power, creating conflicts and trying to assume supremacy wherever and whenever they can. In South Asia, India has been one such state believing in war as a continuation of national policy. Since the very beginning, with Western encouragement, it has sought to play the role of regional policeman. This has been evident from India's behavior in dealing with its smaller neighbors. If Pakistan had not acquired nuclear weapons, it also might have had to live under the Indian thumb just as Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Its interference in the internal affairs of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh are evident to all. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has failed to deliver anything because of being overshadowed by India. More recently, India has started another dangerous game, involving China. It's been more than two months since, despite Chinese warnings, India has shown itself too stubborn to move its troops from the Donglong (Doklam) region in the Himalayas. The problem with the Indian military establishment is that it believes a display of power will surely enable it to overpower other countries in the region. However, Indian strategists have to update themselves on strategic developments around the world. With the advent of nuclear weapons, there can be no power struggle between nations anymore. Nuclear weapons have made the idea of strategic superiority obsolete. So, what objective is India pursuing? In an historical context, before India invaded China in 1962, the bilateral relations between the two countries were most cordial and Beijing treated New Delhi as a reliable partner. Yet, India betrayed China and launched a war. It was the same with the German invasion of Russia in WWII despite there being a treaty of friendship between the two countries. In every case, the result was the aggressor receiving a humiliating defeat. Despite many efforts to show India in the role of nice guy, issuing political statements about diplomatic solutions for local problems, an issue has been created by India obstructing China from constructing a road on its sovereign territory There is no denying India is a big country. India's military might, population, geography and resources make it an important country in the region. However, strategic comparisons between India and China reveal the former is far behind in personnel, firepower and technology than China. Also in terms of national power, there is huge gap between the two countries. Even Indians themselves think it inadvisable to provoke any conflict with China. India has been backed by the U.S. to try and create a tough time for China. However, such meddling can be a destructive for New Delhi. It is common wisdom that you can change your friends but you cannot change your neighbors. As has been shown by every country before being part of any international development (just as India is a puppet in American hands as part of the conspiracy against China), one has to think of its own national inter...