BEIJING – It is widely believed that the political crisis in Maldives hasbeen precipitated by India’s interference in its neighbor’s internalaffairs. As political upheaval broke out in the Indian Ocean archipelagonation, New Delhi was quick to respond. “It is imperative for all organs ofthe government of Maldives to respect and abide by the order of the apexcourt,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.
India deems South Asia as its sphere of influence and becomes concernedwhen neighboring countries draw closer to other states. Last month, IndianArmy Chief General Bipin Rawat said to deal with China’s influence,countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka orAfghanistan “have to be kept on board, and I think we have to put inwholehearted effort to ensure we continue to support them.”
India maintains its grip over Bhutan’s foreign policy and defense affairs.Bhutan’s foreign policy still needs “advice” from India and an Indianmilitary training team is permanently based in western Bhutan.
India intervenes in its neighbors diplomatically and militarily. In 1971,it initiated the third Indo-Pakistani war as a result of which EastPakistan disintegrated and became an independent country, Bangladesh. In1975, India turned the Kingdom of Sikkim into its province through areferendum on abolishing the monarchy. India sent troops to Sri Lanka in1987 to suppress the ethnic militant group – the Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam (LTTE) – and helped end an armed riot in Maldives in 1988.
New Delhi creates a brouhaha when smaller countries in South Asia getincreasingly aware of their sovereignty and push back against India. Toprotect their interests, these countries try to get rid of India’s controland develop strong relations with China and other countries outside theregion.
Lately, India has come to believe that its hegemony in South Asia has beenimmensely challenged. First, the Maldives government signed a free tradeagreement with China and announced it will join the Belt and Roadlink>initiative.Second, Nepal started to use internet service provided by China, endingIndia’s decades-long monopoly. What’s more, Nepal has shown strong supportfor the development of a passage connecting China to South Asia.
Despite India’s generous aids to small South Asian countries, itsinterference in their internal affairs has caused aversion from thesecountries. For instance, India’s intervention in Sri Lanka’s civil war in1987 invited revenge from the LTTE and resulted in the assassination offormer Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
When I worked in Nepal, I always saw a number of Nepalese demonstratingoutside the Indian embassy in Kathmandu against India’s intervention inNepal politics. Although the Indian Ambassador to Nepal is heavilyprotected when he leaves the embassy, he still encounters angry protesters.
Radically different from India is China’s approach. Beijing advocates allcountries, big and small, are equal. Beijing hopes South Asian countriescan maintain their stability and independence and hopes to help themdevelop their economy and improve people’s livelihood jointly with NewDelhi. This has been widely welcomed in the region.
India is confronted with a series of tricky domestic problems and is in thecross hairs of many terror groups. I suggest that the country concentratefirst on its internal affairs and seriously consider giving up the mind-setto forge a “Greater India.” – Global Times