India and France signed 14 pacts ranging from defense to nuclear energy,including the construction of a nuclear power plant on March 10, afterextensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and FrenchPresident EmmanuelMacron link> during thelatter’s recent four-day visit to India.
Apparently, it is a normal official visit by a head of state to India.However some Indian and Western media outlets hyped up that the deals andthe two leaders’ pronouncements are targeted at China. Under a new deal,India and France will open their naval bases to each other’s warships – amove some media outlets believe is meant “to undermine China’s territorialambitions.” Macron said, “The Indian Ocean, like the Pacific Ocean, cannotbecome a place of hegemony.” This was interpreted as “an apparent referenceto China.” However, none pointed out how the words were aimed at China andwhat threat China posed to France and India.
Macron’s remarks could target the US or India as Washington flexes itsmuscle in the Pacific Ocean while New Delhi seeks hegemony in the IndianOcean.
Macron told India Today magazine in an interview published on its website,”Your historical partner in Europe was the UK. I want France to become thenew reference partner of the 21st century.” Going by this view, did Macrontarget the UK?
The “China threat” theory and “to confront China” are usually highlightedby some Indian media outlets. Whenever there are bilateral visits byleaders, these outlets comment against China. However, the Chinese medianever carries such views. It reveals Indian media outlets’ lack ofconfidence in their country and their misinterpretation of internationalrelations, exaggerating Sino-Indian tensions and presenting a distortedpicture of the relationship between China and France.
Strategically, France is not likely to help India confront China. Relationsbetween France and China have global significance as both are permanentmembers of the UN Security Council. The scale of their trade, investmentand communication dwarfs that between France and India. China and Francealso share similar stances on many global issues, like future internationalorder, climate change and trade.
France and India are closer in ideology, which has not been the main factorin relations between countries anymore. France has not taken concrete stepsto endorse India’s demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.What’s more, China and France are not geopolitical competitors and specificbilateral differences cannot affect their comprehensive strategicpartnership. Therefore, there is no need for France to join hands withIndia to confront China.
Due to China’s increasing trade with Africa, the Middle East and Europe,the Indian Ocean has become a vital navigation channel for Chinese shipsand ensuring freedom of navigation in the waters serves China’s interests.The Indian Ocean faces nontraditional security threats such as pirates,terrorism and natural disasters and its stability cannot be guaranteed byChina, the US, France or India alone. It needs cooperation of major powersand surrounding countries. Escorting operations and presence of the Chinesenavy in the Indian Ocean not only protect Beijing’s interests, but alsooffer public security to the whole world, without threatening any country’ssafety.
The Indian Ocean is not an ocean belonging to India, the US or France, butought to be a “free and open” sea. If any country wants to do anythingvicious, the surrounding countries will protest and China can also dealwith it.