‘No longer tolerating red eyes, Bharat now strategic power’: Rajnath in London

Rajanth Singh highlighted that the Global Times columnist wrote that Beijing now accepts that India cannot be ignored at the global level.

London: Minister of Defence Rajant Singh responded on Wednesday (local time) to a recently published post article in the Chinese controlled by the state Global timeswhere I was praisedIndia’s growth story and its increasing global status. He stated that Beijing’s perspective towards New Delhi has changed drastically as Bharat has emerged as one ‘strategic power’. “A columnist for the Global Times, which is in some ways a mouthpiece for China, published an article headlined ‘What I see about the Bharat story in India’. This article is a resounding confirmation of the changing Chinese perspective on India. It appears that the Chinese government has come to accept that our economic and foreign policies, as well as our changing strategic interests, have helped Bharat emerge as a major global economic player and a strategic power. We do not see anyone as our enemy, but the world is aware that the relationship between India and China is currently under strain. However, we want to maintain good ties with all our neighbors and countries around the world,” ANI quoted Singh as saying.

The Defense Minister, in his speech at the community reception at India House in London, further highlighted that the columnist wrote that Beijing now accepts that India cannot be ignored at the global level.

“The writer also noted that the Chinese government now accepts that whether you like Bharat or not, our image and rising global position can be ignored for longer. Previously, when trade imbalances were discussed, India relied on Beijing to minimize trade imbalances between the two countries. However, that trend is no longer in vogue,” the defense minister added.

Rajnath on India’s rising global position and the standoff with Chinese troops in Galwan

Speaking about the rising global position of the country and the courage shown by the Indian Army during the standoff with Chinese troops in Galwan, he said: “I believe that the courage shown by our jaw during the standoff with Chinese troops in Galwan (valley in Arunachal Pradesh) helped change Beijing’s perspective on Bharat. We are no longer a weak country in the eyes of the world. We are a rising world power. Ab aisa nhi hai ki Bharat ko ankh dikha ke jo chahe so nikal jaye (No longer can someone show us a red eye and get away with it).

Global Times article on India

Recently, the Global Times published an article applauding India’s economic policies and diplomatic achievements in recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The column was titled ‘Bharat Narrative’.
According to the article, New Delhi’s strategic thinking in “foreign policy has evolved toward a great power strategy.”

Notably, the op-ed in the Global Times was written by the director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University (Shanghai), Zhang Jiadong. The article highlighted New Delhi’s ‘remarkable achievements’ in various fields and sectors in the past four years. It further underlined India’s robust economic growth, improvements in urban governance and a shift in attitudes towards international relations, especially with China.

“For example, when discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian representatives used to focus mainly on China’s measures to reduce the trade imbalance. But now they are putting more emphasis on India’s export potential,” Jiadong wrote.

The writer also praised New Delhi’s proactive approach in promoting a ‘Bharat narrative’ and highlighted India’s strategic confidence.
“Politically and culturally, India has moved from emphasizing its democratic consensus with the West to emphasizing the ‘Indian characteristic’ of democratic politics. Currently, there is even more emphasis on the Indian origins of democratic politics,” he added.

It is noteworthy that the Global Times article praising India’s growth and strategies is a rare incident. The article’s recognition of India’s progress and Prime Minister Modi’s strategic vision showed the growing recognition of New Delhi’s growing global influence and the implications of its assertive stance on the international landscape.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Singh visited British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London.

Singh arrived in Britain on Monday evening. The ongoing visit is the first by a sitting Indian Defense Minister to Britain in 23 years.

Singh is accompanied by a high-level Defense Ministry delegation comprising senior officials from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the agency’s headquarters, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense Production.

(With ANI inputs)