Editor,
The editorial titled ‘Beijing’s debt trap diplomacy’ (AT, 16 November, 2023) rightly points out, “The hostility along the Indo-China boundary and constant attempts by the Chinese PLA to enter Indian territory further validate India’s need to stand up against the Chinese plan.” Indeed, our China policy requires serious reexamination. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that India could not engage in conflict with China because of China’s larger economy when commenting on Chinese intrusion across the line of actual control. This reasoning falls short. Many countries with smaller economies compared to their neighbors’ have successfully maintained their territorial sovereignty. India should employ its diplomatic resources and economic means to prevent Chinese intrusion. It’s regrettable that India’s trade deficit with China crossed USD 100 billion mark for the first time, despite Chinese attacks on our borders. The trade deficit for India reached USD 101.02 billion in 2022, surpassing the 2021 figure of USD 69.38 billion. This needs immediate attention instead of merely sporadically banning Chinese apps, while China continues to maintain a considerable trade surplus with our country.
Sujit De,
Kolkata