As the world watches Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, it is very important to take a closer look at his recent visits of China, Mongolia and South Korea. There is lot of content in the media about Modi’s frequent foreign visits. Some are in awe and the usual naysayers critical of such frequent visits. This article’s main focus will be about engaging China and whether it is “ModiFied” YET or are things routine as usual?

For India, engaging any country (including regular irritant Pakistan) in the entire world is not very difficult as the outcomes are predictable irrespective of positives or negatives. Except China that is!

All bilateral visits related to China need to be looked at much closer for intricate details. A usual bilateral meeting is all about mutual political interests and economic cooperation. In all the bilateral engagements since the Modi government took office, a common element is about investments into India and the Make in India initiative. There have been multi-billion dollar MOUs signed on expected lines.

The important factors that need a keen watch are how these bilateral engagements may shape the geo-political map of the world; one that could impact future generations to come. On rare occasions these moves when fully materialized can alter nations and core fundamentals that define them.

When Modi visited a slew of western nations including The United States and erstwhile pre-cold war western allies such as Australia, Japan, France, Germany and Canada; it was about breaking India’s nuclear isolation. The details are outlined here: https://www.myind.net/breaking-out-isolation-indias-modi-fied-foreign-policy

In the midst of the above visits, came another set of visits to islands nations such as Fiji, Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. All these visits were preceded by a State visit to India by Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping.

The Concept and Ideals of a Vishwaguru

As India emerges into an economic power with a well-equipped and motivated military, it is important to understand how India envisions wielding this power around the world. With a large coastline and border extending from the Arabian Sea in the West to Central Asia, Russia, and China in the north, Malacca Straits in the South East and the vast Indian Ocean in the South, India is at the crossroads of global trade. 

The minute a topic about super powers is discussed, the debate veers around purported domination of the world by one or the other usual contenders. It is true because the world has seen such blatant power projection at various times whether it is in the two world wars or during the cold war. Even today the theme of a super power is rife with such real time examples of power projection.

When India embarks on engaging China, one has to note that China also belongs to the same league of nations that want to project power and take center stage at the high table. Most of the Asian nations including economic powerhouses such as Japan and South Korea feel suffocated at this display of Chinese might. Before going deep into the topic of engaging China, let us see how India wants to wield its power moving forward. Does it also want to behave similar to contemporary superpowers or ex-superpowers? It is important to note that the Vishwaguru concept outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this context. In his articulations that started even before he became Prime Minister, this vision is outlined clearly. India does not envision to become a super power that coerces the world for selfish material needs. It champions the cause of Vasudhika kutumbham treating the world as a single family. It visualizes itself as a guide (guru) whenever and wherever required or needed. What that translates to is that India will use its soft power via its civilizational and cultural values as a guiding principle for other nations. Though this is not a new concept but it was never articulated as a diplomatic tool and did not get primary space before Prime Minister Modi.

If one thinks from the Chinese standpoint, it is no match to India when it comes to civilizational and historic spread of its religions. All of Asia is firmly linked to India on a civilizational and cultural thread whether one goes to Mauritius, Cambodia or Japan. This is an open and shut case of India’s dominance.

The look east policy that Late Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao ushered and later expanded by Atal Bihari Vajpayee is also similar but not exactly the same. Moreover, at that time it was more of economic cooperation than geopolitical in nature.

At the end of PVNR and ABV regimes, foreign policy with respect to China had slightly drifted from principled independence in foreign relations to one that espoused the diktats of United States. This apart from the disastrous engagement of China under Jawaharlal Nehru wherein India not only lost territory but even gave Cocoa islands to Myanmar (Burma) which in turn allowed China to establish a listening post!! The drift of the past decade enabled China to surround India via a “string of pearls” in the Indian Ocean rim.

ModiFied engagement of the Dragon

The first and foremost thing that Modi brought back is independence in foreign policy.  In addition, it is a realization that engaging China is a long term thing and results are not expected in the near future. It is a repair of statecraft with a mix of improving and expanding relations with various countries in Asia especially in the Indian Ocean rim. Modi has realized his dual tasks of weaning out the nations from Chinese strategic influences while expanding rapidly via India’s look east policy. On the lines of well-articulated vishwa guru concept, project Mausam is initiated. On the back of growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian ocean region, which India considers its area of supremacy, Modi administration have introduced Project Mausam, which is believed to rival the Chinese Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative. Mausam which means weather or season in many South and Southeast Asian languages is highlighted because of its profound role in cultural exchanges in region as in ancient time maritime trade used to depend on seasonal monsoon winds. The project which is still in the evolving phase is being worked on with the Cultural Ministry, will focus on the ancient trade and cultural linkages and emphasize on future maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region stretching from Southeast Asia to East Africa with the central location of India, from where the ocean derived its name.

In the similar pursuit India also changed its Look east policy to that of an aggressive Act East Asia policy. The entire aspect of Modified Asian policy is of utilization of civilization and culture as diplomacy when it comes to East Asia. The most important element is Modi’s visit to Mongolia. He is the first Prime Minster of India to make a state visit. While it looks like a simple bilateral visit, the tone is very clear that both countries want to extend the historical and cultural ties further. The reading of experts is that India has made its baby steps of engaging region around China.

In addition to all the ground work, for the first time Indian Prime Minister did some plain talk when he was in China. During his address to students at the university, Prime Minister Modi said, "We must try to settle the boundary question quickly a shadow of uncertainty always hangs over the sensitive areas of the border region, because neither side knows where the Line of Actual Control is. That is why I have proposed resuming the process of clarifying it. We should think of creative solutions to issues that have become irritants from visa policies to trans-border Rivers. We must ensure that our relationships with other countries do not become a source of concern for each other" This was a reminder to the Chinese leadership to not go too far with its collusion with Pakistan to checkmate India. He added for good measure that “neither of us can be contained”.

Conclusion

While several multi front engagements of Asian countries started, the real engagement of China and getting results is still tricky. However first baby steps in the right direction are taken. It is important to understand that India does not see confrontation with China by taking western nations help as a good diplomacy or posture. India sees that world peace is possible if China is pulled into Civilizational linkage of past. India under Modi embarked on a mission to bring China to Asian century as a friend of Asian nations as opposed to its current coercive posture. It is not an easy task to bring senses to one who is on top of the world in the present geo political world.