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Who Sabotaged Chinese President Xi Jinping's India Visit?
On the 17-19th of September, Xi Jinping, the president of the People’s Republic of China was visiting India: he and new prime minister Narendra Modi were expecting much from the meeting, touted as a breaking point in relationships.
At the end of the day though, the results are lagging from such hopes. $30 billion dollars have been committed by the Chinese delegation. $20 billion of public money would go to a fast train corridor and a new strategic road. $6.8 billion would further be spent on two industrial parks in Gujarat and Maharashtra. 24 Chinese companies would buy products (pharmaceuticals, farming…) for $3.6 billion.
All this was far away from the “over 100 billion dollars” suggested by Mumbai’s Chinese general consul days earlier. China was keen to dwarf the 35 billion dollars committed by Japan two weeks before. China wanted to weaken the appeal of a commercial axis between its Western and Eastern big neighbors which are trying to sidestep China.
Similarly Xi Jinping also wanted to preempt any chance of a defense alliance between those two (and others in Asia, like the Philippines and Vietnam): Xi was letting India dream of a border agreement along the model agreement signed in 2004 by his predecessor Hu Jintao on the Chinese northern boundary, with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Unfortunately during this visit, on this diplomatic field as well, no progress at all was registered. And the atmosphere was so cool, that while Modi was urging China to do something about a border agreement, both leaders ended the talks on separate communiqués… A rather strong way to express to the world their lack of agreement.
The reason for this derailing was the intrusion, on the 18th of September, of 1000 PLA soldiers in Southern Ladakh, one of the two contested regions along the Sino-Indian border. The troops were bringing heavy equipment and claiming to build a “provisional road”. This was known in the end of the afternoon, just an hour before the banquet that Modi had called in the honor of his guest. Therefore, while 1500 Indian soldiers were dispatched on the spot, Modi asked Xi to get his troops away – Xi acquiesced.
Friday the 19th however, the Chinese troops were holding ground. They eventually retreated – but dispatched a small group of 35 men to pitch tents: when this was reported in Delhi, whatever confidence was subsiding in the visiting party evaporated.
Observers were at a loss to explain. The faux pas was deliberate, but to what aim? Xi was losing all what he had come to fetch. Modi as well. Both men’s objectives had been derailed. Who might be those opponents of a Sino-Chinese rapprochement?
Some of them were obviously within the Chinese high command. They might also be in the regime’s political circles, high cadres trying to weaken Xi Jinping. Since his accession to power in October 2012, Xi has started a relentless anti-corruption campaign, that has already felled thousands of heads among cadres, among which dozens at ministerial level.
Opposition could also have been reinforced from the Indian side. An Indian analyst suspects military traders in armament imports, India being now the world number one on this market.
Whoever those behind the curtain, Xi Jinping back in Beijing took two actions, both hinting at his own role as a victim in this “treacherous stroke”, and at his exasperation.
First came the “authorized” rumors of impending elevations for two generals faithful to Xi Jinping: Liu Yuan, and Zhang Youxia, deemed to become vice president of the Central Military Commission and head of the military’s discipline commission. This last organ is taking care of corruption within the PLA, and of dereliction of duty –the misbehavior likely to have occurred in Ladakh during Xi’s Indian visit.
Second, on Sunday the 21st, the commanders of each arm were gathered in Beijing to address “inefficiencies” in the chain of military command. Mainly, they were instructed to ensure that “all PLA forces follow the instructions of President Xi.” This last meeting was followed the day after by a second conference, where the Party Secretary delivered the mission to “develop new types of command”, for more efficiency but also for reliability and faithfulness to the core leader.
Finally, during Xi’s visit, a last incident happened. On one of the public TV channels, an anchor presented the Chinese President as “Eleven Jinping”: she had erroneously read Xi’s name as the roman figure “XI”. She was given the sack. Such a mistake brings to smile. But it also exemplifies the long way ahead, in both countries, to know each other better.
On the 17-19th of September, Xi Jinping, the president of the People’s Republic of China was visiting India: he and new prime minister Narendra Modi were expecting much from the meeting, touted as a breaking point in relationships.
At the end of the day though, the results are lagging from such hopes. $30 billion dollars have been committed by the Chinese delegation. $20 billion of public money would go to a fast train corridor and a new strategic road. $6.8 billion would further be spent on two industrial parks in Gujarat and Maharashtra. 24 Chinese companies would buy products (pharmaceuticals, farming…) for $3.6 billion.
All this was far away from the “over 100 billion dollars” suggested by Mumbai’s Chinese general consul days earlier. China was keen to dwarf the 35 billion dollars committed by Japan two weeks before. China wanted to weaken the appeal of a commercial axis between its Western and Eastern big neighbors which are trying to sidestep China.
Similarly Xi Jinping also wanted to preempt any chance of a defense alliance between those two (and others in Asia, like the Philippines and Vietnam): Xi was letting India dream of a border agreement along the model agreement signed in 2004 by his predecessor Hu Jintao on the Chinese northern boundary, with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Unfortunately during this visit, on this diplomatic field as well, no progress at all was registered. And the atmosphere was so cool, that while Modi was urging China to do something about a border agreement, both leaders ended the talks on separate communiqués… A rather strong way to express to the world their lack of agreement.
The reason for this derailing was the intrusion, on the 18th of September, of 1000 PLA soldiers in Southern Ladakh, one of the two contested regions along the Sino-Indian border. The troops were bringing heavy equipment and claiming to build a “provisional road”. This was known in the end of the afternoon, just an hour before the banquet that Modi had called in the honor of his guest. Therefore, while 1500 Indian soldiers were dispatched on the spot, Modi asked Xi to get his troops away – Xi acquiesced.
Friday the 19th however, the Chinese troops were holding ground. They eventually retreated – but dispatched a small group of 35 men to pitch tents: when this was reported in Delhi, whatever confidence was subsiding in the visiting party evaporated.
Observers were at a loss to explain. The faux pas was deliberate, but to what aim? Xi was losing all what he had come to fetch. Modi as well. Both men’s objectives had been derailed. Who might be those opponents of a Sino-Chinese rapprochement?
Some of them were obviously within the Chinese high command. They might also be in the regime’s political circles, high cadres trying to weaken Xi Jinping. Since his accession to power in October 2012, Xi has started a relentless anti-corruption campaign, that has already felled thousands of heads among cadres, among which dozens at ministerial level.
Opposition could also have been reinforced from the Indian side. An Indian analyst suspects military traders in armament imports, India being now the world number one on this market.
Whoever those behind the curtain, Xi Jinping back in Beijing took two actions, both hinting at his own role as a victim in this “treacherous stroke”, and at his exasperation.
First came the “authorized” rumors of impending elevations for two generals faithful to Xi Jinping: Liu Yuan, and Zhang Youxia, deemed to become vice president of the Central Military Commission and head of the military’s discipline commission. This last organ is taking care of corruption within the PLA, and of dereliction of duty –the misbehavior likely to have occurred in Ladakh during Xi’s Indian visit.
Second, on Sunday the 21st, the commanders of each arm were gathered in Beijing to address “inefficiencies” in the chain of military command. Mainly, they were instructed to ensure that “all PLA forces follow the instructions of President Xi.” This last meeting was followed the day after by a second conference, where the Party Secretary delivered the mission to “develop new types of command”, for more efficiency but also for reliability and faithfulness to the core leader.
Finally, during Xi’s visit, a last incident happened. On one of the public TV channels, an anchor presented the Chinese President as “Eleven Jinping”: she had erroneously read Xi’s name as the roman figure “XI”. She was given the sack. Such a mistake brings to smile. But it also exemplifies the long way ahead, in both countries, to know each other better.
