Lan Jianxue, Director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies,
reacted to India's successful test of the 5000kms range Agni-V ICBM. In an article in the Global Times
(October 30) he warned against India being carried away by the US and West and getting into an arms race
with China. He also claimed that "Many Indian people have complaints toward their government on various
issues, and many contradictions can be seen at home. For example, the daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases
are still as high as more than 10,000. The epidemic continues to severely impact India's economy, and the
Modi government appears to lack an effective approach to deal with it. Furthermore, a yearlong series of
ongoing protests by farmers against the Indian government has also stepped up. Against this backdrop, the
Modi administration is eager to find a new external hotspot issue to divert domestic attention. This has been
one of the Modi administration's old tricks, which China has got used to". He added "The root of the ChinaIndia tensions over the recent two years lies in the series of provocative practices by the Indian government
on its borders with China. The incitement by Indian and Western media outlets have also played a big role,
adding fire to the tensions between China and India. In the face of increased nationalist sentiment and the
fanning of flames from the West, the Modi government seems to lack a clear strategy on how to deal with the
tensions with China. If the Modi government could remain sober, it should stay away from the incitement from
the West and the mounting populist mind-set, and those asking it to resort to military actions to deal with the
border tensions with China."
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