Chinmaya R. Garekhan is right. Different countries cherish different perceptions covering a wide variety of interests in the fields of “defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty, enhance the economic and social well-being of the people, promote opportunities for profitable trading relations with other countries and exploit the ‘soft power’ through propagation of the cultural assets” (Article by Chinmaya R. Garekhan titled “On Pursuing Independent Foreign Policy” published in The Hindu dated 12-9-2009). Nobody will contradict him on these counts.
This is not to elaborate on his writings as that will be most unbecoming of a novice like me in the field of international relations.
But as a world citizen, particularly as an Indian citizen (India- a nation always claiming and boasting about its democratic credentials) I am puzzled and appalled by the adoption of double standards being followed by our nation as also several other nations like USA, Britain, Germany, France, China- a long list indeed in their approach to various countries relatively occupying seats below their levels in various fields like nuclear arsenals, reprocessing and armament technology. Similarly a nation like China, which is claiming to be a fast growing People’s Democratic Republic of China (on what criteria, I am yet to know) keeping a close rapport with Myanmar, a nation under military yoke since decades incarcerating a democratically elected opposition leader Aung San Syuuki for 14 years- can this friendship be justified only because Myanmar remains a fertile ground of resources for the growth of some industries in China? True, interference in other country’s internal matters cannot be condoned. But even that logic does not prevent Hu Jintao from prevailing upon the ruling junta to have a merciful attitude toward Aung San Syuuki. Hu Jintao keeps mum, even now. Not at all surprising. Even its approach towards a ruthless and authoritarian African nations like Sudan is still warm and cordial as these countries generously export oil to China, and that is the reason why Sudan’s ruler Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, who is indicted by International Criminal Court is a great friend of People’s Republic of China. It is pertinent to note here that this tyrant is responsible for massacring millions of Sudanese, internally displacing lakhs of them and forcing them to flee to other countries and set up refugee camps and putting billions to starvation deaths and mal-nourishment.
In a sense, why blame China alone? Our own nation under the great democratic leader Sardar Manmohan Singh dares not confronting Myanmar’s military ruler Than Shew on the issue of restoration of democracy and release of its opposition leader Aung San Syuuki, the sole logic being non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries.
Won’t India interfere in the neighbouring nations of Nepal and Bhutan if such a situation warrants? Especially Nepal where the situation gets more and more volatile with the Maoists turning more and more aggressive day by day? Isn’t Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao’s ongoing visit to that country, a last ditch effort to avert a showdown?
While flexing muscles and trying to prevail upon smaller neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan, India- the largest democracy bends its knees before the “greatest democracy” – USA. Will Barack Obama’s visit to India a non-event like the visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal Madhav Kumar Nepal’s five day visit? Even the visit of Hillary Clinton, American State Secretary to India was a high-profile one, a celebration by media as well as business tycoons including film-stars. And she flew away with what she wanted by persuading India sign on the dotted lines. The End-Use Monitoring Agreement relating to the civil-nuclear deal was only one among them.
While Barack Obama remains on a high pedestal Bhutan’s Jigme Thinley and Nepal’s Madhav Kumar Nepal remain at the lower pedestal. Might is strength in this world. Mahmoud Ahmedi Nejjad type rulers know it better and hence they proceed on their terms. Israel proceeds along (with American blessings) their terms.
Perform or perish- thus we say. But in an era of nuclear arms race who will gain the upper hand? One-upmanship or the race for one-upmanship must go if the human kind have to have a future. Otherwise float about like this amidst mounting tensions, terrorist attacks, famines, unemployment and go on shedding crocodile tears.
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