China’s change of heart over Masood Azhar is beingconsidered as a trophy for Modi. Little worrisome to Pakistan that seems tohave lost a face with all-weather friend. And, more heart-breaking forKashmiris who, I presume, have wrong perception that China’s great wall wasonly built to safeguard Kashmir against its aggressors. In fact, China hasnever supported Kashmir movement neither has ever spoken about human rightsviolations for the last three decades.
In the backdrop of the break-up of super powers and theaftermath of 9/11 attacks on US, China has tactfully achieved the centre stagein political landscape, though its focus has been its economic development. Theabsence of strong international leadership paved the way for China to occupyspace and influence everywhere it reached. The world from East to West orAfrica to Asia now seems running on their own, like a rudderless boat that hasno clue where to dock. However, few countries have taken a policeman’s rolerather than leadership in the current messy situation.
While dealing with the West, China has always playeddiplomatically. When it comes to Muslim world it follows the West, more in linewith the US policy. That is why it doesn’t surprise anyone when Western mediaplays mute spectator to the miseries of Uighurs in Northern China who have beensuffering the constant persecution and annihilation since decades, worse thanwhat Tibetans have gone through. They are forcibly made to accept the fate ofsubjugation with no right to religion or education etc.
Apparently, China seems very close to Pakistan, but itsleadership always weighs options where and when to hit it to keep its economicand political interests safe in the US and European markets. China is toofacing an economic survival factor. The more China has grown its markets in thedeveloped countries, the more vulnerable its position has become and the moreit has adopted the compromising attitudes. Masood Azhar has become one of thecompromises in the present context which Pakistan might have tacitly expressedto go ahead with. Pakistan faces tremendous pressure from Washington at thebehest of India.
According to political Pundits, “if Azhar’s listing has madetrade tariff talks with Trump administration tough, why would China give up onits economic status. India cannot hitChina directly which has been proved in Docklam recently, it has succeeded inframing a policy of “indirect hit” with the support of US. India’s war is nowbeing played well by Trump who in return might have got assurance from Modi forraising defence trade to 18 million dollars in this year”.
Politically, Pakistan stands isolated, but nobody can ignoreits strong strategic position in the region that gives China an edge to keepIndia within its limits. So, diplomatic or forcible bonhomie with Pakistan, ithas worked well with both countries. Even, Pakistan, which happens to championthe Muslim cause everywhere, has hardly spoken on Uighur issue in China.
Since Mao Zedong,Chinese have targeted its economic industrialization in the country andabroad. Pakistan has becomestrategically a very important piece in jigsaw puzzle in its economic expansionfrom East to West that has been benefitting in creating business infrastructureto strategic nuclear assets and huge job market in the country. Though, manybelieve China can become a replica of East India company in Pakistan. Chinesehuge investment has also opened door for super connectivity andentrepreneurship projects across the globe.
Currently, China possesses a huge influence on South Asiancountries to the very disliking of India. The country has deep penetration intothose pockets which are week, underdeveloped and mostly in turmoil. Due to thisfactor, India has started looking further towards the East like Japan etc.
India has not accepted one road one belt policy of Chinawhich goes as far as the remotest part of Africa where mining to constructionto manufacturing projects are being done with Chinese investment and policiesfor which India will need decades to match.
In the week economic scenario, China has virtually achievedhegemony over global markets. If China sneezes, the markets get crumbled likeit used earlier with the US economy. Butat the same time china cannot afford to lose any bit of its foreign investmentor projects.
The trade talks between US and China are not going well.There looms a threat of tariff increase on Chinese goods. That would result inheavy burden on its merchandise with a long-term implication on market hegemonyfrom US to Europe and South East Asia where eighty percent goods aretransported from China.
The resolution ofblacklisting Azhar was made like a Damocles’ sword, having a strong backing ofUS, Britain and France. Yet, China used double-edged sword, it supported theresolution to strengthen its political significance in the international forumand attempted to ease tension with India as well at the time when Pakistan andIndia have reached to all time low relations after Pulwama attack.
India has come very close to Trump administration, Israelseems the catalyst for this bonhomie. During elections in Israel recently,Trump supported Binyamin Netanyahu for his anti-Palestine policy to give himedge over his opponents and that worked well despite the corruption againsthim. Likewise, Azhar’s listing might help Modi to regain ground which he seemedto lose due to his failed economic initiatives. And, no wonder we will witnessModi and Netanyahu doing something big to support Trump to win another term inUS elections.
China will neveraccept independent Kashmir which it sees biggest threat to its own integritydue to turmoil in Tibet and its Muslim belt. And, any political or armedstruggle has no significance for it.
Kashmir should work on peaceful movement to demand its rightswhich to my understanding no country involved historically or geographicallywould let it happen. Instead, they will all try to equate it with the terrorismso to keep brow beating each other at the cost of Kashmiri lives…….
Anybody pinning hope on China lives in fool’s paradise.Support for Masood Azhar was just a mere stance that has no relevance forKashmir movement.