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The Great Wall of Mistrust

India is not a friendly country, says Chinese

India can't compete: China

India is frustrated, says China

India likes to brag, says China

What Chinese think of India

Can the Asian giants grow together?

June 12, 2009 21:45 IST
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Call it a cock-and-bull or a bull-in-a-China-shop story. Whatever, this report is an eye-opener.

Ever wondered what China thinks about India? If a recent poll in China is to be believed, 90 per cent of the Chinese think that India poses the biggest threat to its existence.

The poll was conducted after Global Times -- the newspaper which has reported links with China's Communist Party -- announced that India would dispatch 60,000 troops to the border with China amid 'escalating tension' between the two Asian giants.


Image: A Chinese flag flutters against the backdrop of the Great Wall of China
Photographs: Reuters
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Interestingly, the Global Times report claims, the tension along the disputed border between the two countries has escalated in the last few days after India's military move. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it claimed, said his government would make no concessions to China on territorial disputes.

The report quotes Arunachal Pradesh Pradesh Governor retired General J J Singh as saying, 'The move was intended to meet future security challenges from China.'


Image: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao raise a toast. Picture taken in 2008.
Photographs: Reuters
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About 74 percent people in the poll conducted by a Web site believed China should not maintain friendly relations with India after its 'military provocation.'

More than 65 percent of people believed India's actions were harmful to bilateral ties and it is more harmful to India.

The Global Times says India has long held contradictory views on China.


Image: Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. A file picture.
Photographs: Reuters
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The report adds, 'Another big Asian country, India is frustrated that China's rise has captured much of the world's attention. Proud of its "advanced political system," India feels superior to China. However, it faces a disappointing domestic situation which is unstable compared with China's.'

 


Image: Chinese soldiers put up a flag atop their post at the India-China trade route at Nathu-La Pass
Photographs: Reuters
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India likes to brag about its sustainable development, but worries that it is being left behind by China. China is seen in India as both a potential threat and a competitor to surpass, the report said.


Image: A labourer carries a sandbag for construction at the India-China trade route at Nathu-La
Photographs: Reuters
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But India can't actually compete with China in a number of areas, like international influence, overall national power and economic scale. India apparently has not yet realized this, the Global Times report added.


Image: The Tibetan issue is a major irritant in Sino-indian ties
Photographs: Reuters
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Indian politicians these days seem to think their country would be doing China a huge favor simply by not joining the "ring around China" established by the US and Japan, the report concluded.


Image: India's decision to host Dalai Lama angered China
Photographs: Reuters
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