Pointing to Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's remark -- in response
to a question about India-Russia relations -- while in Australia on October 10, the Global Times
(October 11) quoted him as saying that India has "really a longstanding relationship with Russia,
a relationship that has certainly served our interest well," and "for multiple decades, Western
countries did not supply weapons to India." He added that "we all in international politics deal
with what we have. We make judgments which are reflective of both our future interest as well
as our current situation." The article said 'As long as a major country adheres to its own strategic
autonomy, it is impossible to remain on the same page with Washington on all issues. There
must be differences. However, Washington does not accept or respect such strategic autonomy.
Worse, it deliberately seeks to contain others' strategic autonomy. Nowadays, the trend of
multi-polarization in the international community is becoming mainstream. And there is an
increasing number of countries are brave enough to say "no" to the US. The US and its Western
allies will keep trying to draw India over to their side. Nevertheless, on many issues including
the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India is sending a signal - if the US and the West continue to cast
a cold eye to other countries' national interests while asking them to take sides, they will end
up in disappointment.'
(Comment: The Chinese official media continues to slant its articles to drive a wedge between
India and the West and disingenuously show that the positions adopted by India and China are
very similar.)
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