India taking tough line against China: analyst

Beijing, April 10 (IANS) India is an example of countries which take an aggressive line vis-a-vis China thanks to encouragement from the West, a Chinese commentary said Tuesday.

"The so-called 'China Threat' theory chanted by the West has blinded some neighbouring countries into taking a hardline approach against China," the commentary in the Global Times newspaper said.

"India is an example of this," it added.

The commentary quoted the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute as saying that India had become the largest buyer of arms in the region.

This, it said, had triggered "concerns from analysts that it (India) is engaging in an arms race with its northern neighbour (China).

"Now if China's policymakers were to hire a policy advisor from the West, it would most likely receive the suggestion to counter India's hostility by encouraging or even supporting Pakistan to harass India, distracting it from focusing its military on China."

The commentary said the US was no doubt a master of this "art" -- "as it has been turning countries around the world against each other.

"This way, the US has ensured its geopolitical supremacy and benefit from arms sales in the meantime."

In contrast, it said that China had been working hard to help better the relationship between India and Pakistan, "a move that has even been lambasted by some of its own nationals".

"As a developing state itself, China understands how important a peaceful external environment means to India and Pakistan, where living standards still require major improvements.

"Hence, rather than aggravate regional tensions, China has been promoting dialogue and cooperation between the two."

China has hailed improving relations between New Delhi and Islamabad following the visit of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to India.

An opinion piece published by Xinhua news agency Sunday echoed the stand, saying China "is happy to witness continuous improvement of the Pakistan-India ties".

The Global Times commentary said: "This is no hollow diplomatic gesture. China has been committed to peaceful development, including efforts at fostering peace between long-term rivals...

"The West labels China as a threat because it fears the prospect its dominance on world affairs will be over.

"There is no need for profound historical or political knowledge to know where the threat truly lies."