A recent editorial in the Peoples daily, ran a piece on the Chinese view of India-Pakistan relations, something it hasn’t done too often. At a time, when China’s soft power in the region is being questioned, the editorial seeks to comment on the people’s view of India-Pakistan anti-terrorism efforts, saying that although the talks didn’t really show results, they are “important steps towards mutual political trust”.The editorial concludes with ‘The efforts for peace once again prove that dialogue is the sole path to resolving differences between counties. India and Pakistan’ steps on this road are not big yet; but they are moving, in a positive direction.’
Is this a precursor to China’s bid to dominate the region, and usurp America’s role as Asia’s policeman?
As Bill Emmott in his book on Asia’s power struggle between China, Japan and India – ‘Rivals: How the Power Struggle between China, India and Japan Will Shape Our Next Decade’, says “Economics may have shaped the Asia of today but politics are forging its tomorrow”. At a time when Pakistan is being shunned by America over terrorism links, it seeks comfort in China – a close political ally, India on the other hand who has strong links with America and who America uses to keep a check on its neighbors is a happy to be independent. While Japan’s role in the region has waned, its also interesting to see the emergence of Russia.
