India is never soft on China but the Narendra Modi administration has tried to avoid jingoism in its current standoff with China. It is sensible because war mongering is counter-productive. At the present moment the country’s limitations are many. Demonetisation has dealt a blow to the economy and the impact of the GST is still hard to assess. In such circumstances, New Delhi cannot afford a military confrontation. The Comptroller and Auditor General has told Parliament that some of India’s military supplies may not last even 40 days in case a full scale war erupts. Modi has of course built a bridge with several foreign heads of state but they are busy protecting their own interests and can hardly have time for India’s concerns.
The Indian Foreign Ministry has said that Indian troops entered into Doklam claimed by China and Bhutan in coordination with the Bhutan government according to a 2007 bilateral agreement. New Delhi fears that by taking control of Doklam, China may create a tri-junction with India and Bhutan, closer to the chicken’s neck which connects north-eastern states with mainland India. It is the Chinese foreign ministry which has been spewing rhetoric. China insists that India must pull its troops out of Doklam as a pre-condition for talks. India merely seeks a return to the status quo ante. Delhi emphasises its commitment to diplomacy in resolving the present conflict. India’s foreign policy is perhaps sometime clouded by a big brotherly aggressive attitude. But this time diplomacy has held sway. The Prime Minister has to resort to behind the scenes diplomacy in dealing with foreign affairs if there are conflicts.