China and Pakistan have a habit of creating an environment of confrontation along the borders when they face internal problems: CM KCR

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday called for Rann Neeti (battle plan) and not Raj Neeti (politics) while dealing with China in the wake of clashes along the India-China border. He urged the Centre to tread cautiously without compromising on matters pertaining to national security and interests.

The Chief Minister, participating in the all-party meeting via video conference called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the Union government should adopt both short-term and long-term strategies to counter China.

“We will stand by the Centre during such times. With stable governance in the country and India’s emergence as an economic powerhouse, China has been resorting to such tactics. We must stand united and support our Armed Forces,” he asserted.

Chandrashekhar Rao, who is also president of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, pointed out that China and Pakistan have the habit of creating an environment of confrontation along the borders when they face internal problems. He said due to its internal problems, China adopted similar strategy and was in conflict with South China’s coastal countries such as Malaysia, Philippines and Japan. “China’s attitude has become very infamous all over the world,” the Chief Minister said.

Chandrashekhar Rao said China’s confrontations with India were not new as similar clashes have been occurring since 1957 on the border issue. He said over 200 soldiers from Indian Armed Forces lost their lives due to the attitude of China including the 1962 war between the two nations. 

“Due to the vast stretch of border extending over thousands of kilometers, such skirmishes have been occurring regularly. China is a threat to India and hence, we must deal with it strategically,” he added.

The TRS president attributed China’s increase confrontation with India to various factors including the new laws enacted for Kashmir to find permanent solutions to long-pending problems in the region. “We have been vocal about Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and declared that Aksai Chin is our territory which was occupied by China. We are also strengthening strategic locations in Galwan Valley. All these actions may have forced China to take such drastic measures,” he said.

Stating that India was a peace loving country, Chandrashekhar Rao said there is, however, a limit to its patience as well. He reiterated that the country must defend itself



strongly and wanted the Centre not to compromise on issues concerning national defence and security as well as protect its interest.

“During the Bangladesh war in 1970, Atal Bihari Vajpayee lauded Indira Gandhi as Goddess Durga. We need to adopt such spirit and strongly support the Centre as well as the Prime Minister. The Telangana State government and its people will stand with the Centre at such times,” he declared.

The Chief Minister said while India wants to become ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-sufficient), China wants India to become ‘Anya Nirbhar Bharat’ (to depend on others). With India emerging as one of the strongest economies, he felt that China was unable to tolerate the former’s growth and progress.

“The US is a super power with an economy of $21 trillion, while China is second with a $14 trillion economy. India is marching towards $5 trillion economy along with Japan. China is upset with a stable government and sustained economic growth in India. Hence, it is creating these problems,” he said.

Chandrashekhar Rao said China became unpopular and is being held responsible for the spread of coronavirus. He stated that several multi-national corporations were shifting out of China and were now looking at India for investments. India went up from 142nd position to 63rd position in Ease of Doing Business index of the World Bank. Due to investor-friendly policies being implemented effectively in India, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) are also on the rise, he said.

“From 2014 to 2017, the FDI increased from $36 billion to $61 billion. There is a possibility of further increase in FDIs. Several people are ready to shift their companies from China to Telangana State as well. China is not happy with these developments,” the Chief Minister explained further.

Amid growing demand to ban importing China-manufactured goods in India, Chandrashekhar Rao said any such move would be a hasty decision. He emphasised the need to make efforts to first start manufacturing these goods in India to make them available to the people at reasonable prices. He suggested that India focus on this issue.

He also suggested that India develop strategic partnership with friendly nations. “Join the D10 group as proposed by the UK. Join the Oran alliance. Repel the Huawei Company’s strategy. We have to act with strategy,” he said.