New Delhi, Jun 18: The border clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh broke the brittle quiet – and also the sense of security for anxious Chinese nationals in India who fear a backlash with anti-Chinese sentiment spiralling in the country.
With the high altitude violent face-off in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley spurring hashtags such as “Boycott China” and “Teach Lesson to China” and leading to street protests, the undercurrents of tension were evident.
Wary of being identified, some said they had been reassured by their friends but were still apprehensive for themselves and their families.
"They (Chinese families) don''t want to speak to the media. They are not going out and are worried about their security and well being. Their families are also worried back home," Mohammed Saqib, secretary general of the India China Economic & Cultural Council, told PTI.
He added that his Chinese friends in India been calling him since they heard news about Monday night’s clashes in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed -- the worst military confrontation in five decades -- and expressed concern over growing anti-China sentiments.
A Chinese national from Beijing working in Gurgaon for a Chinese mobile firm initially refused to talk, saying he did not want to speak to the media and later shared his thoughts only on condition of anonymity.
"There is talk of border standoff and tensions, but we know Indians are very warm people and that is why I have told my family that all is fine here and they should not worry," he said.
Another Chinese national working in Gurgaon said he and his family are feeling the stress amid the spiralling conflict between India and China, but many friends have been reassuring him.
"They (Chinese in India) are under a lot of stress naturally. Such a conflict puts a lot of stress as they could bear the brunt and the same applies to Indians in China," B R Deepak, professor at the Centre for Chinese and South East Asian Studies of the Jawaharlal Nehru University said.
He said it was unfortunate that the border standoff derailed the commemorative programmes aimed at strengthening ties at a time the two countries were gearing to celebrate 70 years of establishment of diplomatic ties.
Experts also feel the border clash is likely to have a significant negative impact on the economic and people to people ties.
There are scores of Chinese in India working in various Chinese firms and also those who are studying in universities like JNU.
About 3,000 Chinese people, doing business or studying in big cities in India, were stranded in India at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, and about half of them returned to China before the lockdown began on March 25.
The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi announced on May 25 that they will arrange for flights to take back students, tourists and businesspersons to five Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Guangzhou.
"It will impact the psychology of the Chinese here. There are 2,000 Chinese firms in various sectors in India which are going to be impacted," Deepak said.
Future investments from the Chinese side could also be impacted, he said.
Moreover, as far as people-to-people contacts are concerned, the number of Chinese students choosing India as a preferred destination is likely to go down, Deepak said.
Alka Acharya, another China expert, said there are two kinds of impacts of such an incident -- short term and medium term.
Usually after the initial nationalistic reaction in the short term things tend to normalise in the medium term, but with such a border clash happening for the first time in decades clearly the resonance would be much more in both India and China, said Acharya, professor at the Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, in JNU.
“Due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the economy, whether India can take a hardline in terms of economics towards China, is a tricky question,” she said.
In the immediate context, there may be a dip in economic ties with calls for boycott of Chinese goods and services, Acharya said.
The manner in which this crisis is resolved will affect how ties will be affected in the medium term, she said.
The headlines have added to the anxiety.
A group of ex-armymen gathered near the Chinese embassy to protest the killing of 20 Indian Army personnel in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. And another group of around 10 protesters belonging to the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch protested near the Teen Murti roundabout in Central Delhi.
The anti-China sentiment prevalent among the common public is also finding a reflection in government policy with sources saying the Department of Telecom (DoT) is set to ask state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) not to use Chinese telecom gear in its 4G upgradation.
Trade bodies like CAIT are also calling for a boycott of Chinese products.
And Chinese handset maker Oppo cancelled the livestream launch of its flagship 5G smartphone in the country amid protests.
Monday night’s clashes between the Chinese and Indian troops in Galwan Valley significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two countries.
The casualties on the Chinese side are not yet known. However, government sources, citing an American intelligence report, claimed the total number of soldiers killed and seriously wounded could be 35.
Comments
First of all, Hindu religion is recognized fro AHIMSA non voilant - Which was proven by our Father Of Nation Mahtma Gandhi. Who spent his whole life for the sake of all INDIANS and not or his self benifit. Only because of his daring step and policy all patriot Indians united and fought for the Independnece wiht out any cast adn colour discrepnacy.
The group supported the british behind the screen and with in short perod of our independence assasinated
the mahtma and now talking ablut Hindu religion by regularly holding a lathi is not the sign of HINDU religion. In Hindu religion all are with ONE status adn there is no upper and lower cast. All human created by ONE god. Then how come there is upper cast brhamin. Why these rss terrorists omit cast poison all over India. This fellow bhagawath and his terrorist group as no rght to talk abuot hindu religion. Shortly rss is ONLY the enemy of Hindu and Hindustan.
All must boycot and kick vanish them from our graeat India.
Jai Hind !
The people who worship IDOL will directly go to Hell forever there is no second chance in this..
people must think who created idol first, its a man made item which you cannot bow down.
now in india many babas takes advantage of it, even politician
GOD says clearly there is no image of him, he is supreme and we cant see him bcoz our eye dont have capability.
This ch**iya man talks about patrotism, they are the people who are slave of british when people of real indian fighting for freedom.
patriotism does not comes by ugly mouth, this shoul come from action when it need for our country.
dont ever belive these marons will fight to defend india when it need.
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