Chinese propagandist media accuses India of having “hegemonic mentality” in South Asia, Beijing’s assertive responses after pro sovereignty, anti-China Lai Ching-te won the Taiwan election with a 40 per cent vote in Taiwan election despite of mainland China propgenda exposes an imperial Middle-Kingdom view of the Xi Jinping regime.
The electoral victory of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in a three- way fight is undoubtedly a setback for China as the dictorial Communist regime to potentially reassess its 2026-2027 military plans to annex democratic Taiwan. Just as , how China’s founding father Mao Zedong was perceived to command to respect, Deng Xiaoping gave economic empowerment, paramount leader Xi Jinping sees himself as a unifier of the Middle Kingdom. The individual tasked will translate dreamisit “One China Policy” into reality , will face significant challenge
China’s farm determination conquer Taiwan despite the democratic election in the island nation and its endorsement in upholding national sovereignty and opposing external interference (with specific reference of India) in favour of pro-Beijing Mohammed Muizzu regime in Maldives exposes the coercive diplomatic tactics of the Xi Jinping regime.
The statement read: “ China firmly supports the Maldives in upholding its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity….firmly opposes external interference in the internal affairs of Maldives….The Maldives is committed to the one-China principle……and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory….supports all efforts made by China to achieve national unification.” This is a standard text for Middle-Kingdom’s diplomacy with all tributary states.
However it is up to Taiwan’s supporters in the West to come to terms with its ambiguity over the “One China Policy” and assist Taipei against Beijing’s unilateral coercion, Beijing has unmistakably abdorned all pretences with India as is evident from the joint statement issued after President Muizzu’s four-day visit to Beijing. The statement is explicitly directed against Indian interests in the Maldives and stuanchly support China over Taiwan, portraying Male virtually a tributary state of the Middle Kingdom.
With China openly playing anti-India maneuvers in the Indo-Pacific and at multilateral institutions, it is imperative for Modi govt to upped its counter to the challenge from the northern neighbour and its proxies in the Indian sub-continent. The economic assistance to Sri Lanka during its hour of economic crisis clearly has paid dividends with Colombo ready to have inter-grid connectivity, oil pipeline and land connectivity with the Indian mainland via the Rameswaram-TalaiMannar axis.
On December 22, Sri Lanka informed India via diplomatic channels that it would not permit any surveillance-scientific research vessels to dock in Indian Ocean in 2024, a snub to China. Sri Lanka has agreed to a ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanturai port in the north of the Island nation. It has also agreed to flights between Chennai and Jaffna.
While it is clear that the Muizzu regime in Maldives will permit access to Chinese spy ships to dock, explore the Indian Ocean seabed for future submarine activity, India will have to counter the challenge with the support of allies like Mauritius and Mozambique. But due to High geographical distances between China and Maldives and the current capabilities of the PLA Navy, a natural disaster-prone Male will soon recognise just as Nepal that only India has the capacity&capabilities and provide assistance in the worst-case scenario.