O J's Corner : Reflections

Tap Chinese connection

Good news has come from Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee after his visit to China that there would be space for India and China to develop the way they wanted.

For the first time, there have been indications of both the countries establishing defence ties.

As a prelude, there would be joint military exercises between Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Defence and military exchanges would be institutionalised.

The 2.5 million-strong PLA is double the size of Indian forces.

By establishing military rapport and an annual defence dialogue for “a frank exchange of views on all military matters of mutual concern”, the two countries are embarking on confidence building, leaving aside suspicions which had lingered on since the 1962 war.

Now it is old story that NDA’s  Defence Minister George Fernandes had portrayed China as our “potential threat number one”. That comment was made close on the heels of our detonating a nuclear device, inviting heavy objection from world powers.

Pakistan’s special relationship with China is no bar on India to have strategic ties with China.

Another piece of good news is that the border trade between the two countries would resume on June 30 through the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, after a gap of 44 years.

Resumption of trade between the two Asian giants through the Himalayan Pass would cement bilateral relations.

Another area for osmosis between the two peoples is cultural-filmy. People thought Raj Kapoor craze was confined to Russia. But Indian films were a rage in China as well, though the Cultural Revolution had squeezed out the arts from the minds of the people.

Song and dance and music shots are thrillers for them now. With China having 5000 movie halls, there is untapped potential for Indian movies to hang out there.

India and China are great repositories of wealth by way of massive stocks of human beings. Indian workers do not labour for more than the minimum essential duration.

The Chinese counterpart grabs the opportunities and contribute to massive production.

After World War II, which humbled Japan, the people, though few in number compared to China and India, toiled hard for upto 18 hours a day. The industriousness of the people made the country rise from the ashes, Phoenix-like.

That is why wealth got accumulated there.

The US and the UK also derived  wealth in different ways. The US acquired it from mass production in farms and cotton fields using the services of slaves and then growing from this wealth industrially. The first wave had given them enough resources to excel in the second and third wave phases.

The UK, with colonial grip worldwide, amassed wealth over a period of centuries. After leaving the colonies, the country, comprising small islands, could thrive on the spoils.

Development cannot happen in a cash vacuum. The developed nations had got enough resources through plunder.

Tenacity and hard work is the alternative for growth as exemplified by Japan.

China and India have the common resources of human potential. With education picking up, the two countries would soar to new heights.

This best explains the fear of the developed countries about the two Asian giants emerging to occupy the centre space of world affairs in future. So, hang on with the Red Dragon.