IN FOCUS
By Avishka Ashok

Review of “The Long Game: How the Chinese negotiate with India” by Vijay Gokhale

The book, The Long Game: How the Chinese negotiate with India, is written by Vijay Gokhale. He is a retired diplomat and served earlier as the Ambassador of India to China during 2016-17.

The book is a great read for researchers who specialize in Chinese studies and more specifically India’s relations with China. The language is easy to understand and the timeline makes it easy for the reader to understand the changing geopolitical environment.

The book provides an insight into the Chinese way of dealing with India related to international affairs and global politics. It also portrays a clear change in how India deals with China. The reader will observe the evident shift from the naïve “lay-all-cards-on-the-table” approach to a more witty, calculated and cautious approach when dealing with China.

The author has picked six incidents since India’s independence that presented an opportunity for Indian and Chinese diplomats to interact and predict the future of Sino-Indian relations. These six issues formed the early relations between the countries and continue to impact the future of the relationship. Through this method, Gokhale offers a few suggestions for Indian diplomats and advises on what can change in the Indian style of diplomacy, especially in its diplomatic relations with China.

The six issues picked by the author are:
1. India’s recognition of China in 1949 and the decision to break ties with the Republic of China/ Taiwan.
2. The recognition of Tibet as a part of China and the provisions for trade between India and Tibet.
3. Recognition of India as a nuclear power and withstanding the sanctions placed due to the tests.
4. Recognition of Sikkim as an Indian state in April 2005.
5. The 123 Nuclear Deal and China’s response to India’s nuclear capabilities.
6. India’s repeated efforts in listing Masood Azhar as a terrorist in the UNSC 1267 sanctions list.

According to the author, China’s policy towards India was always well thought-out and was planned shrewdly by the Chinese leaders and the supporting organizations of the Communist Party of China. In the present times, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People’s Liberation Army, the Ministry of State Security, the United Front Work Department, the International Department of the Communist Party, the State Council Information Office, the Chinese think tanks and the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party work in close cooperation and are controlled by President Xi Jinping to efficiently negotiate with India and the world. The eight bodies assist the President in carefully understanding the ground realities, the sentiment of the people, the team of negotiators, and the opposing party’s core objectives. Gokhale says, “Their preparation is meticulous and deception is common. The style of negotiation changes depending not merely on the adversary, but also on the timing, environment and objective. They are capable of displaying warmth, indifference and hostility in the space of a single session in pursuit of their objectives.”

India on the other hand, learnt from its experiences and from its costly mistakes. The author blames India’s lack of experience in diplomacy and naivety in dealing with countries for the political losses incurred by the country in the 1950s. However, the book demonstrates the gradual shift within Indian diplomats in understanding China’s strategies and negotiation tactics.

Through the six events, Gokhale explains China’s pre-negotiation procedure, the Chinese negotiator’s tactics, the varied approaches of Chinese negotiation and the post-negotiation strategies. The reader will be able to draw parallels between the book and the current Corps Commander talks that have been scheduled for another “earliest date.” The book also enables the reader to understand the current Indian diplomats’ actions when dealing with China.

References:
Vijay Gokhale, “The Long Game: How the Chinese negotiate with India,” Penguin Random House, July 2021.

IN BRIEF
By Keerthana Nambiar and Dincy Adlakha

INTERNAL
Fifth session of the 13th NPC: Officials stress on grain production 
On 7 March, the officials attending the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress stressed on ensuring food security and energy conservation. President Xi Jinping also held a conference with the political advisors from the agricultural and welfare and social security sector and emphasized the importance of providing a stable supply of food for the people. An official from the National Development and Reform Commission also reiterated the country’s commitment to continue the uninterrupted production of grains such as rice and wheat. The government is also planning to increase the production of other products such as soybeans and oil. (“Chinese officials vow to ensure food, energy security amid external uncertainties,” Global Times, 07 March 2022)

COVID-19: China records highest daily tally in two years
On 7 March, Global Times reported that for the first time in two years, China recorded its highest number of cases per day after the figure reached 526. There have been various sporadic outbreaks in Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Chinese health experts observed that the Omicron variant was proving to be challenging. However, the authorities now believe that China’s “ZERO-COVID” strategy requires more improvement and must be worked on to prevent future outbreaks. Shenzhen city also issued new rules for people entering the city from Hong Kong, insisting a nucleic acid test by the 33 institutes that have been approved by the provincial and HKSAR government. (“China enters new stage of COVID battle amid 2-year high daily tally,” Global Times, 7 March 2022)

Military development: President Xi asserts on strengthening military laws
On 7 March, China’s President Xi Jinping announced that China must strengthen its military laws when interacting with other countries. Xi said: “China should make more comprehensive the body of military laws and regulations that involve foreign countries, so as to better protect national interests through the use of law.” He elaborated that the government must adhere to absolute leadership over the military and develop it with Chinese characteristics. (“Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen laws that regulate military engagements with other nations,” South China Morning Post, 8 March 2022)

REGIONAL
Indo-Pacific: China’s Foreign Minister accuses the US of creating NATO-like military alliances
On 7 March, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on military alliances forming in the Indo-Pacific. Wang accused the US playing “bloc politics” and aversion of the region creating a military version of the NATO alliance.  He said: “ The real purpose of the 'Indo-Pacific Strategy' is to try to create an Indo-Pacific version of NATO. It maintains the US-led hegemonic system, impacts the ASEAN-centred regional cooperation structure, and damages overall and long-term interests.” the minister further added that these “exclusive clubs” will disrupt the regional peace and stability. (“Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi blasts US for playing 'bloc politics' in the region,” The Straits Times, 7 March 2022)

Japan urges China to be more transparent in the defence spending
On 8 March, Japan’s top government spokesperson Kirokazu Matsuno expressed concerns over the aggressive actions by China in the Indo-Pacific region. He said: “there should be more transparency in China’s defence spending and policy as well as military power, given that its expenditure has been increasing at a high rate and for an extended period.”  This is in response to China’s increase in defence spending in 2022 by 7.1 per cent. (“Japan airs strong concern about China's military buildup,” Japan Today, 8 March 2022)

Cambodia: Prime Minister inaugurated China-funded hospital 
On 7 March, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian inaugurated the Cambodia-China Friendship Tboung Khmum Hospital in the Tboung Khmum province, Cambodia. The hospital is funded by China and is capable of treating and admitting 300 patients in the five-floored building. The hospital is also equipped with all modern technology and necessary facilities for check-ups, treatment and surgery and is aimed at improving the health care facilities in the country. (“Chinese-aided landmark hospital inaugurated in eastern Cambodia,” Xinhua Net, 7 March 2022)

Taiwan: China claims Taiwan and Ukraine are not similar issues
On 7 March, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi addressed the annual press conference during the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress and said that Taiwan has always been a part of China and is not similar to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. The Chinese and Taiwanese governments both agree that the situation in the Taiwan strait is different from that of Eastern Europe. Wang Yi referred to the issue as a domestic matter. He said: “We have seen that some people emphasize the principle of sovereignty on the Ukraine issue, but continue to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Taiwan issue. This is a naked double standard.” Taiwan believes that since it shares no land border with China, it does not have a similar situation to Ukraine. (“China says ‘double standard’ to conflate Taiwan, Ukraine issues,” The Asahi Shimbun, 8 March 2022)

INTERNATIONAL
Russia-Ukraine: Chinese firms remain silent about their operations in Russia
On 8 March, Korea Times published a report on Chinese companies' stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As many Western companies such as Apple, Nike, Netflix, H&M discontinued their businesses in Russia over the sanctions, Chinese firms remain largely silent about their operations in Russia. DiDi Chuxung faced heavy criticism from Chinese social media when they announced that it would pull out of Russia. The Chinese people show a great deal of support to Russia’s “special military operation.” (“Chinese brands stay put in Russia for now despite Western exodus,” The Korea Times, 8 March 2022)