BEIJING: A Chinese scholar’s remarks about possible small-scale military operation to expel Indian troopsin China’s Doklam region have caused a stir among Indian mediaover the weekend. Experts say India’s reaction over the remarksreflects the country’s lack of self-confidence.Last week, Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of SocialSciences, told the Global Times: “If India refuses to withdraw,China may conduct a small-scale military operation withintwo weeks.”Hu’s statement quickly became headlines in Indian media.Different from previous rhetoric, Indian media included a government statement that stressed dialogue is the onlyway to resolve the conflict.On Aug. 5, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressedhope that the two countries will find a solution through dialogue but did not make clear what he was referring to.Two days before Modi’s statement, Indian External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj was quoted by The Tribune as sayingdiplomatic channels are the only way to resolve the standoff with China and China has been contributing to India’s growing economic might.India’s speculation of China’s possible military operationin Doklam and Indian government’s statements over the standoffall indicate the country’s guilty conscience, Hu pointed out.Meghnad Desai, an India-born UK economist and commentatoron South Asian affairs, predicted that the standoff could soon spiral into an all-out war involving the US, which he said, would support India. He also said India cannot stand up to China without American help and support. Likewise, America cannot stand up to China without Indian help.Being too nervous about a scholar’s comments about a Possible military operation and counting on the speculated aid’ from the U.S. reflect India’s lack of self-confidence,said Long Xingchun, director of the Center of India Studiesat China West Normal University, in an interview with the Global Times.Over the last two weeks, the Indian side has been trying to play down the incident with the aim of finding a bufferzone and a way to save face, because India has been unableto find any suitable argument to defend its stance, Long noted.Meanwhile, as the standoff continues, the Indian governmentis under pressure from both home and abroad. Though India suggests dialogue is the only way to resolve conflict, Chinahas made it very clear that the premise for dialogue is the Indian troop’s withdrawal from the Chinese territoryunconditionally, Hu pointed out.
India cannot stand against Chinese military might without US aid: Experts