China’s hardening stand on the Doklam plateau issue follows the line of its negotiating behaviour followed since the 1950s. The ultimate goal of insisting on the acceptance of Chinese definitions and terms for a negotiation is to establish moral and psychological dominance over an adversary as a necessary corollary to the correct ordering of the negotiation. Classic Chinese texts such as the “Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance” (Zizhi Tongjian) contain several expedients to achieve these goals. Sun Tzu and the “Thirty-Six Stratagems” also provides considerable material. Another one is the tool box first described by its early practitioner, scholar and imperial adviser, Lou Jing.
One hopes that China is aware that this may not fetch it results.
The tough stand adopted by Indian troops on the Doklam plateau and Indonesia’s recent move to rename the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea as the North Natuna are acts of growing resistance by Southeast Asian nations to China’s territorial ambitions. It’s high time that China stops playing mind games in the South Asian region in its quest for a larger geopolitical role in Asia and the Indian Ocean area. Simultaneously, India should also realise that all important decisions related to the tri-services can’t always be taken in the Prime Minister’s Office or the service headquarters. As the issue shows, we do need a full-time Defence Minister.
B. Meenakshi Sundaram,
Chennai
