Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 5

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday rejected the “so-called reforms” announced by the Government of India for the Agriculture sector, as yet another brazen attempt to erode and destabilise the country’s federal structure, and warned that it could pave the way for disbanding the MSP regime as well as the foodgrain procurement regime, triggering unrest among the state’s farmers.

On illegal sale of liquor during the lockdown period, the CM said an SIT has been set up to probe the entire matter related to illegal smuggling of liquor from distilleries. The involvement of excise officials and the kingpins in the smuggling of liquor without paying the government fee would be probed.

Read more: Experts question timing of agricultural reforms

Cabinet approves amendment to Essential Commodities Act

Left parties pitch for rescinding of Ordinances related to farm sector

Cabinet approves big farm reforms

Strongly opposing the Centre’s move to suppress the rights of the states, as enshrined under the Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister said: “Punjab would fight any steps on the part of the Government of India to weaken the federal structure of the country through such direct and detrimental interference in the well-established agriculture produce marketing system of the state”.

Such a measure, he warned, shall severely and adversely impact the food security of the nation, which Punjab’s hard-working and selfless farmers have sustained ever since the green revolution.

Pointing out that the federal structure of India envisages well-defined roles and responsibilities for the Centre and the states, Captain Amarinder said that under the Constitutional framework, Agriculture is a State Subject, and the Union Government has no powers to make any legislation to deal with the dynamics of agricultural production, marketing and processing.

These are state matters, which individual states are best placed to handle and manage, he said, describing the

“Farming Produce, Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020” as a highly ill-conceived move on the part of the central government.

Asserting that the move would damage Punjab, the Chief Minister said during a video press conference that the Centre’s habit of taking sudden decisions and forcing them on states, without taking their views into account, was violative of the very federal framework of the state.

In a statement, the Chief Minister further said that such actions of the Union Government during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis can have serious economic, social and law and order consequences. The farmers will not gain but will suffer at the hands of traders due to the legislative change, he said. He further pointed out that the Centre had not even created any dispute redressal mechanism, and had not consulted the state governments, which would be left to handle the consequences of this hasty action.

Terming the legislation as a cruel joke on the farming community, whose interests have been continuously ignored by the NDA-led central government, the Chief Minister said that far from ushering in an era of much-needed reforms in Agriculture, the announcements are a clear and concerted design to undermine the systems and processes that are holding the sector together.

Citing the well-oiled agriculture produce marketing system in Punjab, the Chief Minister said it had served the state well, standing the test of time, for 60 years. The state has in place a well- developed state-of-the-art infrastructure, both for open marketing of produce and its seamless transportation from the farm gates to mandis and godowns.

At present, the entire trade of agriculture produce is carried out within the notified markets/mandi yards through a system licensed under, “The Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 (APMC Act),” which allows farmers to bring their produce to the Mandis, where buying/ selling of the produce is conducted in a transparent manner and payment to the farmers is ensured, the Chief Minister pointed out.

Further, he said, the State Government has already made necessary amendments to the Punjab APMC Act to provide for setting up of regulated Mandis even in the Private Sector for specific produces.

In fact, he said, sale/purchase worth about Rs. 80000 crore is transacted annually in Punjab’s Market Yards, which effectively support 65% of the State’s population that is dependent on agriculture and agro produce.

As such, there is no further need of a Central Law to interfere with already the existing well-established marketing system in Punjab, asserted Captain Amarinder, warning that any move to interfere with this well-entrenched system has the potential for triggering unrest in the State as it will badly hit farmers, especially small and marginal farmers.

Jayadeva Ranade

President, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy

The annual plenary meetings (May 21-28) of China’s top political advisers who comprise the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) — China’s version of a parliament — in Beijing are important events that give an insight into China’s economic situation, plans for the coming year and the thinking of its leadership. Commonly called the ‘Big Two’, the list of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) delegates attending the event and their discussions yields clues as to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership’s areas of emphasis in the military. The recently concluded 13th session of the 13th NPC and third session of the 13th CPPCC have been no different.

As per practice, President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and commander-in-chief of the PLA, met the PLA deputies, and told them that ‘the world is an increasingly dangerous place’ and ‘the epidemic has brought a profound impact on the global landscape and on China’s security and development as well.’ He ordered the military to ‘think about worst-case scenarios, scale up training and battle preparedness, promptly and effectively deal with all sorts of complex situations and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.’ The hike in defence budget by the lowest increment in recent years of only 6.6 per cent to $178.2 billion, elicited some negative comments. Hong Kong-based retired officer of the PLA Second Artillery, now renamed the PLA Rocket Force, and prolific commentator on China’s state-owned TV and media, Song Zhongping, said: ‘China is facing national security threats, including those taking place very nearby to China and in non-traditional security fields. Compared to these threats, China’s military expenditure was far from enough’. Global Times quoted unnamed military experts as saying, ‘In the post-pandemic period, China faces more military threats from other countries, mainly the US. With Taiwan secessionists becoming more and more rampant, reunification by force with the island of Taiwan is always on the table, adding that in this situation, increasing the defence budget must not stop’. With this as backdrop, Xi Jinping told PLA officers not to take the money for granted and that ‘every penny must be well spent to produce maximum results’. He also asked them to accelerate research and development of Covid-19 drugs and vaccines.

Interesting was that through the entire week’s deliberations of the CPPCC and NPC, none of the delegates was reported by China’s official media as having made any reference to the tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Xi Jinping did not refer to it. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, at his press conference on the sidelines of the NPC meeting on May 24, also made no mention of the tensions. The solitary reference to India was by Song Zhongping, who told Global Times (May 22) that ‘people should ask first, which countries are threatening China’s national security in the first place? They should ask the US, they should ask India, and some other neighbouring countries and regions.’

The other surprise development was the announcement on May 21 that 17 deputies to the NPC had been asked to resign. Among them were four senior PLA officers who were ordered to resign, including as NPC deputies, due to ‘serious violations of discipline and law’. Investigations of the four had started late last year and the list of PLA deputies to the NPC, which was finalised on May 10, omitted their names. Corruption, which is often listed as one of the charges, was not mentioned, suggesting that possibly doubts about their political reliability or factionalism could have been the factors for their dismissal.

The PLA officers are Lt Gen Rao Kaixun, the former Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the PLA Strategic Support Force (SSF); Maj Gen Meng Zhongkang, former Political Commissar of the Jiangsu Military District; Maj Gen Xu Xianghua, the former Deputy Commander of the Army in the Western Theatre Command; and Maj Gen Ye Qing, the former Political Commissar of the Hainan Military Region.

At least two of them were decorated officers with good records. Lt Gen Rao Kuixun was an officer on the fast, upward mobile track and had received rapid promotions. He was appointed commander of a Group Army at the age of 48, becoming the youngest Group Army commander at that time. He was honoured as an ‘excellent commanding officer of the PLA army’ in 2008. He was also the first Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the newly formed PLA Strategic Support Force (SSF).

Maj Gen Meng Zhongkang studied at the X’ian Politics College and trained at the Shijiazhuang Army Command College, Nanjing Political College Shanghai Branch, and graduated from the National Defence University. When he resigned from service, he was Political Commissar of the Jiangsu Military Region. He was awarded ‘third-class merit’ five times.

The unexpected dismissal of the four Generals further confirms that Xi Jinping continues to closely monitor the PLA and the party for any signs of factionalism or wavering in political reliability. More importantly, announcing the dismissal of the two decorated senior officers on the eve of the NPC would have sent a chill through the PLA officer cadre, thereby enabling Xi Jinping to further tighten his grip on the PLA.

India formally applied in May 2016, and have the backing of majority of group’s members, but its entry is being blocked by China

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 4

Amidst the continuing stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) has rushed to raise the newly sanctioned Command at Chandigarh that will control all ITBP formations in the western theatre.

An officer of the rank of Inspector General (IG) at the force headquarters in New Delhi has been transferred to Command Headquarters Chandigarh with immediate effect “in public interest” to head the command, sources said.

He will officiate as the Additional Director General (ADG) till the posting of a regular officer, according to orders issued by the ITBP Director General SS Deswal on June 3, sources said. This would be in addition to his present duties at New Delhi.

Following a cadre review that was approved by the Cabinet in October 2019, two new commands, one based at Chandigarh and the other at Guwahati for the eastern theatre, are to be raised. These are to be headed by officers of the rank of ADG, equivalent to a lieutenant general in the Army. “An imperative need has been felt to make these headquarters functional immediately,” Deswal’s orders state.

All ITBP ‘frontiers’ located in the eastern and western theatres would now report to their respective command headquarters. At present, the force is divided into five frontiers that report directly to Force Headquarters, along with other training, logistic and administrative establishments, through an ADG based in New Delhi. The geographical responsibility of each frontier is generally aligned with the stretch of the border shared by respective states with China.

Western Command will control the Dehradun-based Northern Frontier comprising Shimla, Dehradun and Bareilly sectors and the North-West Frontier, recently moved from Chandigarh to Leh that comprises Srinagar and Ladakh sectors. Eastern Command will control the Northern Frontier and the North-eastern Frontier. The Bhopal-based Central frontier along with the ITBP’s specialist battalions and some other establishments would be under the command of the ADG at Force Headquarters.

ITBP, mandated for the peacetime management of the border with China, has 56 service battalions and four specialist battalions, out of which 32 are deployed in border guarding duties, 11 in internal security and eight in anti-Naxal operations.

The need to create commands in the ITBP was felt to streamline command, control and coordination over field formations in view of the force expansion due to new battalions being raised, increasing commitments and raising border volatility. This necessitated the creation of new posts that included two ADGs, 10 IGs (equivalent to Major General), 10 Deputy Inspector General (equivalent to Brigadier) and 13 posts of Commandant (equivalent to Colonel), in addition to more posts at lower levels.

While the Director General of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs is an officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS), other higher level posts are tenable by a mix of IPS and cadre officers. Till now, cadre officers could only reach up to the level of IG, but the cadre review opened doors to the level of ADG and also created more vacancies for them at other ranks.

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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 4

India and Australia signed a joint declaration to enhance bilateral partnership on Thursday, which was accompanied by the parallel conclusion of bilateral defence arrangements.

At their first-ever virtual summit, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Scott Morrison decided to elevate the bilateral Strategic Partnership concluded in 2009 to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

The expanded Australia-India cooperation on maritime safety and security will be marked by building stronger links between coast guards and civil maritime agencies and by developing deeper navy-to-navy engagement. It will be under-girded by an agreement to share logistics, giving the armed forces of both countries easier access to each other’s military bases. India already has one such agreement with the US and is planning to sign another with Japan. The pact will widen the arc of operations for India, specially its maritime surveillance planes – the Boeing P8I- whose close variant is also used by Australia. This would mean, that a surveillance plane, if flying in the far east, dopes not need to rely on just US bases for refuel/ spare parts.

To propel this security relationship further, the Foreign and Defence Ministers will meet in a ‘2+2’ format to discuss strategic issues at least once every two years.

The Modi-Morrison interaction provided a glimpse of the extended relationship with Asian countries, including trilaterals with Japan and Indonesia, respectively, seven-country consultations on Covid with Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam and a quadrilateral with the US. Both countries are among the four invited by the US President to the next G-7 summit.

The security side pushed into the background a vital agreement to cooperate on rare mineral exports to India, which officials had earlier said would be instrumental in reducing the dependence on China as well as position India for 21st century technologies.

Australia did not raise upfront its expectations of India signing the RCEP agreement that would have given its dairy sector, under pressure from China, an alternate outlet.

Joint declaration

India and Australia have common concerns regarding the strategic, security and environmental challenges in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain

The Chinese Army is learnt to have deployed around 2,500 troops in Pangong Tso

Beijing, June 5

China on Friday said that it is committed to properly resolve the “relevant issue” with India ahead of the key talks between senior Indian and Chinese military officials on Saturday to end the border standoff.

Both the sides are expected to deliberate on specific proposals to end the month-long bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh during the first extensive talks between the Indian and Chinese military on Saturday, led by lieutenant generals from both the armies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here that “at the moment the situation in the boundary region between China and India is overall stable and controllable”.

“We have full-fledged border-related mechanisms, and we maintain close communications though military and diplomatic channels,” he said when asked about reports that Indian and Chinese military officials are due to hold talks on Saturday.

“We are committed to properly resolve the relevant issue,” Geng said.

The general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, Lt Gen Harinder Singh, is expected to represent India at the talks which is scheduled to be held at one of the border meeting points, the official sources in New Delhi said.

The Indian side is expected to present specific proposals at the talks to de-escalate tension in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and Demchok—the three areas in eastern Ladakh where the two sides have been on a bitter standoff for the last one month, the sources said.

It is not immediately known what will be the proposals that the Indian military will take to the negotiating table but it is understood that it will insist on return to status quo in all the areas.

The two sides have already held at least 10 rounds of negotiations between local commanders as well as major general-rank officials of the two armies but the talks did not yield any positive result, they said.

It is learnt that two sides are also engaged in diplomatic talks to find a solution to the face-off which is turning out to be the most serious military standoff between the two armies after the Doklam episode of 2017.

After the standoff began early last month, the Indian military leadership decided that Indian troops will adopt a firm approach dealing with the aggressive posturing by the Chinese troops in all disputed areas of Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie.

The Chinese Army is learnt to have deployed around 2,500 troops in Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley besides gradually enhancing temporary infrastructure and weaponry.

India has also been bolstering its presence by sending additional troops and artillery guns, the sources said.

The trigger for the face-off was China’s stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley.

The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in the Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. PTI

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ਪਿੰਡ ਫੱਤੋ ਚੱਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੱਜ ਫਰੀ ਰਾਸ਼ਨ ਵੰਡਿਆ ਜੀ ਓ ਜੀ ਟੀਮ ਅਤੇ ਡੀਪੋ ਹੋਲਡਰ ਦੀ ਹਾਜਰੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਨਕ -3005 ਕਿਲੋ ਗ੍ਰਾਮ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਹ -180 ਕਿਲੋ ਗ੍ਰਾਮ . … . . ਰਾਸ਼ਨ ਕਾਰਡ – 61 ਜਿਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਸ਼ਨ ਵੰਡਿਆ ਤਰੀਕ 03/06/2020

 Free Ration( Wheat & Dal) being issued in village Ghiala to beneficiaries in presence of Sarpanch, Ward Members & GOG Lt Bachitar Singh.

DISTRIBUTION OF FREE RATION,MNGREGA WORKS,ROAD BUILDINGS

GOG are distributing Free Ration to the Blue card holders, Anganbadi workers , poor mothers and small children

Mid Day meal dry ration to school children now as ration was kept for students due to closer of School.

Construction of Roads , Ponds, walls have commenced under supervision of GOG

THE MOTIVATORS OF GOG 

Lt Gen TS Shergill ,Senior Vice chairman GOG 

and Brig Prahald ,Distt Head Pathankot 

ਸਰਕਾਰੀ ਹਾਈ ਸਕੂਲ ਲਹਿਰੂਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਡ ਡੇਅ ਮੀਲ ਦਾ ਸੁੱਖਾ ਰਾਸ਼ਨ ਛੇਵੀਂ ਜਮਾਤ ਤੋਂ ਅੱਠਵੀਂ ਕਲਾਸ ਦੇ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਦਰਾਂ ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ ਤੱਕ 28ਬਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ 81ਕਿਲੋ 900ਗਰਾਮ ਮਿਡ ਡੇ ਮੀਲ ਇਨਚਾਰਜ ਮੋਨਿਕਾ ਮੈਡਮ ਅਤੇ ਜੀ ਉ ਜੀ ਟੀਮ ਦੇ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਲਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਾਮ ਲਾਲ ਦੀ ਮੌਜੂਦਗੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੰਡਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ।

evelopment Works under MNGREGA During new Lockdown policy

Some of on going activities beings performed by GoG 

गांव bassa में भूमि विभाग की तरफ से 50 फिट लंबी दीवार दी जा रही है जिसमें लेबर मनरेगा की है आज जिओ जी टीम शाहपुर कंडी ने चेक किया तो वहां पर 8 मजदूर काम पर मिले और काम सही हो रहा है इसी के साथ bassa गांव में ही एक तलाव को साफ किया जा रहा है उसमें 7 मजदूर लगे हुए थे यह काम भी मनरेगा का ही चल रहा है यह काम भी ठीक-ठाक हो रहा है

The Road construction work

Bhopinder Singh3 Jun 2020 10:48 PM The Armed Forces must continuously evolve, equip and train as per changes in the modern security landscape and technological advancements. In a deeply tradition-bound institution, any change to the traditional norms faces resistance and it is only natural that the Services are instinctively reluctant to let go of things ‘as they were’, as part of the cherished regimentation and folklore. In the profession of soldering it is important to remember that traditions are not vanity, as they play a significant role in galvanising and inspiring the spirit of a combat unit. Symbols of the past can only be ‘sheathed’ with due dignity, honour and may live for time immemorial, in spirit. So, the Khukri (traditional knife) may be of limited utility in modern warfare, but to imagine a ceremonial uniform of a Gorkha soldier without one is borderline-blasphemous as it is an emotional, physical and psychological piece of identity that bestows incalculable pride and symbolism for a Gorkha warrior. Also Read – Revitalising local self-governance One unmistakable symbol of universal soldering and the business of war for aeons has been the horse. Horse ridden warfare can be traced back to 4,000 BC and even India’s epic scripture, Gita, is incomplete without the definitive image of Krishna on a horse-drawn chariot guiding Arjun on the battlefield. Later, the furious advances of Genghis Khan, Hannibal, Alexander and the stories of marauding Cossack riders or the legend of Maharana Pratap would all be incomplete without their horses — thus ingratiating the horse as a subliminal part of soldering ethos, for millennia. Modern history documents the swaggering Indian cavalry composition of the lancers from Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad States as the ‘last great cavalry charge’, that shook the Turkish-German defences in the town of Haifa. But post-WW1, with the advent of weaponry like machine guns, tanks etc., the days of the horse-mounted cavalry were limited. The wistfulness of the horse in military consciousness notwithstanding, the dynamics of the battleground were changing and the roles for the horses were shrinking to reconnaissance, transportation in inaccessible areas and ceremonial duties. Old die-hards reluctantly gave-in to what they described as ‘sheep-like rush towards mechanisation’ but the writing was on the wall and to think otherwise was only romantic. The soul of the horse survived and many illustrious cavalry regiments of the Indian Army wear that pride in their name i.e., Poona Horse, Deccan Horse, Central Indian Horse, etc. This essentially left the senior-most regiment in the order of precedence, Presidents Bodyguards (PBG) or earlier Viceroy General’s Bodyguards as the sole horse cavalry regiment. However, given their restricted and specific protocol duties, a new regiment with the amalgamation of various ‘State Forces’ into one mounted cavalry came into being in 1954, the ’61 Cavalry’. The role of this regiment was essentially ceremonial and training but with a limited mandate to do patrolling and reconnaissance in exigencies. This fine regiment added much glory to itself, the Armed Forces and to the nation by giving a long list of equestrian accomplishments. Leading the Republic Day parade after the PBG accompanies the President to the Rajpath, the sight of mounted 61-Cavalry contingent evoked much awe, glamour and grandeur to the proceedings. Also Read – Staying steadfast In the calling of Armed Forces, the power of symbolism can never be overstated as they have a clear functional purpose. The regimental bands, buglers, flags, hackles, lanyard and suchlike accoutrements and intangibles, often give purpose to a combatant to go ‘beyond the call of duty’. The imagery of the horse is one such symbolism in the long list of martial traditions. In the American tradition, the poignant picture of a rider-less horse symbolises a rider’s last journey, with boots facing backwards in the stirrups to suggest the fallen warrior having one last look at his loved ones. The famous ‘Black Jack’ who served as the riderless horse for General Douglas MacArthur, Lyndon Johnson and over 1,000 fallen combatants was paid tribute by Richard Nixon, “Citizens in mourning felt dignity and purpose conveyed, a simpler yet deeper tribute to the memory of those heroic ‘riders’ who have given so much for our nation”. But importantly, battle practicality and cost-cuts necessitated that the ceremonial role of the horse had to be reduced drastically, without losing its emotive significance. Also Read – Building ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ 61-Cavalry too has reached that point that it has to dismount from its steed, as it were. It is an emotional ask, but perhaps unavoidable. Though, could a standing army of one million not sustain a symbol of glory like the mounted 61-Cavalry? But what is disconcerting is the pace at which the Armed Forces are letting go of their ‘ways’, without any reciprocal addition to their wherewithal or considerations. The dilution of traditions with Bollywood songs in beating the retreat, opening the cantonment gates, pruning the marching contingents to even rechristening golf courses as ‘Training Areas’ is the sort of apologetic and ‘political-kosherism’, that has crept in. The reduction of the military fingerprints on the national policy framework, beyond getting requisitioned into civilian or policing work is unprecedented. The policy mandarins on security matters have a surfeit of representation from the so-called intelligence agencies, bureaucracy, political classes and the ‘olive greens’ are not materially represented in the security policy realm. The enthusiasm to be visible in civilian domains and partaking civilian activities is not similarly afforded where it matters i.e., getting the Armed Forces their share of tangible and intangibles. It is only in the backdrop of this unending diminishment, that the ‘dismounting’ of the 61-Cavalry emerges as a matter of continuing concern, as it becomes yet another act of internal cost-cutting, without the parallel optics of any additional benefit or allaying of institutional concerns. A deeper introspection of the long list of recent changes in traditions, rectitude and commitments needs to be undertaken for assessing long-term impact. The spirit of the horse may still survive in 61-Cavalry, as it has in other armoured regiments but the moot question is how many more cuts? The writer is the former Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands & Puducherry. Views expressed are personal

http://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/revitalising-local-self-governance-409875?infinitescroll=1

A mature China, that does not resort to 1962 tactics, this time replacing Khrushchev with Trump, nor is bent upon provoking nationalist sentiments back home to ward off leadership challenges, would help roll back the situation.

Wolf Warrior diplomacy is a phrase popular in China nowadays. Aggression is the panacea for both domestic and international challenges, Xi appears to think. (Illustration: C R Sasikumar)

“Yi pai hu yan,” sneered the Chinese foreign minister when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the regime in China was comparable to that of the Soviet Union — “a communist, tyrannical regime”, but the Chinese people “are a great people”. The Chinese phrase is generally derogatory and can be interpreted mildly to mean “a bunch of nonsense”.

Making a distinction between the people and the regime in China is a favourite pastime for many in the US. Mike Pottinger, the US Deputy National Security Advisor, addressed the Miller Centre of the University of Virginia recently. Speaking in fluent Mandarin, Pottinger recalled the student protests at the Tiananmen Square a hundred years ago on May 4, 1919, that had led to the Chinese leadership refusing to sign the Treaty of Versailles. “Weren’t they a broadside against the Confucian power structure that enforced conformity over free thought? Wasn’t the goal to achieve citizen-centric government in China, and not replace one regime-centric model with another one? The world will wait for the Chinese people to furnish the answers,” he told the students, ostensibly suggesting that the spirit of the May Fourth Movement would return in China.

One should not be surprised when Chinese leaders sneer at such suggestions. Those suggestions betray a general lack of understanding about China. Francis Fukuyama, in an article in Foreign Policy, traces the authoritarian history of China in the last two millennia and aptly concludes that the so-called revolution, if any, will come not from the bottom, meaning the people, but from the top — the ruling oligarchy.

China is a great civilisation. Yet, under the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), it is a nation driven more by history. China could be understood only by understanding Mao Zedong’s Long Revolution from 1911 to 1949. British historian Eric Hobsbawm had described 20th century as a “short century” spanning from the start of the World War I in 1914 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Chinese scholars further shorten it by describing it as the “Short century of the Long Revolution”. And the message of that revolution is the domination of the state.

Opinion | As China intrudes across LAC, India must be alert to a larger strategic shift

Revolutions came to China, but from the top. The Cultural Revolution was imposed on hapless Chinese people by Mao and his Gang of Four. Top leaders including Deng Xiaoping were sent away to the countryside, so was a young Xi Jinping. Later revolutions were led by these two Cultural Revolution veterans. However, the two drew opposite inspirations from it.

Deng came to power in 1979 and became a major reformer. His “four modernisations” led China to become a “socialist state with market economy”. He laid the foundations for the modern-day economic power of China. It may be worthwhile to recall that when Deng began his reforms, China’s GDP was at $191 billion while India’s was $186 billion. Four decades later, China is five times bigger. It was a revolution engineered at the top.

But the same Deng showed utmost cruelty towards the student protesters at the Tiananmen Square in 1989. June 4 was the day when the PLA, under Deng’s orders, had ruthlessly crushed the student protests for a more open political system. A less known fact is that behind this brutal repression was a brewing leadership struggle within the CPC. Deng had called for political reforms for the effective implementation of his economic reforms. Two central committee leaders, Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang, who were made the general secretaries of the CPC successively, were at the forefront of drafting the political reform programme. But when student protests broke out first in 1987 and then the famous Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, the two leaders were purged by Deng. Hu died in 1989 and Zhao was put under house arrest after being removed as the general secretary in 1989.

Popular revolutions are not tolerated in CPC-led China. But top-down revolutions do happen. The latest revolution to export Chinese influence far into the world began with the rise of Xi Jinping in 2013. His rise as the supreme leader was followed by the insertion of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a New Era” into the CPC constitution. Its main thrust is twofold: Making China a nation with pioneering global influence and building a world-class military force.

Opinion | China’s war on India: Xi is playing for high stakes for another major plank in Chinese nationalism

The greatest challenge to Xi’s thought came in 2020 in the form of the pandemic. Internal discord seems to have been suppressed. But external pressures, especially from the US, continue. Faced with such situations in the past, China had reacted in a way that Sun Tzu would describe as “the highest form of warfare is to attack the strategy itself; the next, to attack the alliances”. When the Sino-Soviet relations deteriorated after 1956, leading to Mao calling Nikita Khrushchev a revisionist, China had used war with India, a perceived Soviet ally, in 1962 to convey to the Soviets its military superiority.

Besieged with multiple problems — Hong Kong, Taiwan and the US externally and economic and pandemic challenge internally — Xi seems to be returning to Mao’s Red Book. In the famous Chinese movie Wolf Warrior II, the protagonist, Leng Feng, a retired Chinese army commando, is seen rescuing people from a civil-war torn African country under the heel of an American mercenary. In the final scene, the fictional hero holds the Chinese flag aloft, while the awestruck enemy backs off seeing the flag. Wolf Warrior diplomacy is a phrase popular in China nowadays. Aggression is the panacea for both domestic and international challenges, Xi appears to think.

This historical China is what we confront on the borders and in diplomatic circles. India has matured its border management and diplomatic manoeuvres over the last few years. “Proactive diplomacy together with strong ground posturing” is its new mantra. From Doklam in 2017 to Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso in 2020, India has been consistent. A mature China, that does not resort to 1962 tactics, this time replacing Khrushchev with Trump, nor is bent upon provoking nationalist sentiments back home to ward off leadership challenges, would help roll back the situation.

Opinion | Delhi is unlikely to opt for an escalation with China that affects its economy

This article first appeared in the print edition on June 4, 2020 under the title ‘Wolf Warrior Diplomacy’.

The writer is national general secretary, BJP, and director, India Foundation