The Asian Independent 16 Oct to 31 Oct 2019
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
8 <strong>16</strong>-10-<strong>2019</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>31</strong>-10-<strong>2019</strong> ASIA<br />
www.theasianindependent.co.uk<br />
International diplomacy, corporate<br />
diplomacy, and economic diplomacy,<br />
public diplomacy need special experts<br />
who can envision a strong & stable<br />
future for a country in the forthcoming<br />
centuries. International relationship<br />
largely rests on trade & commerce.<br />
Cross (2007) argues that diplomacy<br />
is a process that individuals<br />
engage in. It is a known fact that<br />
International diplomacy is quid pro<br />
quo, not a carte blanche. In a globalized<br />
world, developing or developed<br />
nations have <strong>to</strong> engage in trade &<br />
commerce. <strong>The</strong> diplomacy is not submissive<br />
as pursued so far by Modi. A<br />
leader has <strong>to</strong> watch & protect the<br />
interest of the country despite economic<br />
& political turmoil, turbulences<br />
in the world.<br />
<strong>The</strong> general populace of India<br />
understand international diplomacy<br />
only through the prism of Indo-Pak<br />
relationship but there is a need <strong>to</strong><br />
evaluate the current situation of India<br />
under Modi`s international diplomacy.<br />
Some of the disturbing facts &<br />
data show a dismal picture.<br />
India has strong consumer market<br />
of 130 million people. During UPA II<br />
government, the developed countries<br />
like the US, UK, China, Russia &<br />
Japan were focusing on Indian huge<br />
market for selling their wide-ranging<br />
products As per India – China trade<br />
relationship 2018 published by PHD<br />
chamber, Delhi Chapter which shows<br />
Chinese products in the India market<br />
has entered profoundly from 2001 <strong>to</strong><br />
20<strong>16</strong>. But under Modi`s diplomacy,<br />
multi-national companies are exploring<br />
options in other emerging<br />
economies. <strong>The</strong> reason behind shifting<br />
is well known in the political circle.<br />
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urged<br />
Indian citizens <strong>to</strong> abandon the tendency<br />
of buying Chinese goods. <strong>The</strong><br />
Swadeshi Jagran Manch(SJM), the<br />
economic wing of the Sangh Parivar<br />
went one step further <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p an ‘invasion<br />
of merchandise from overseas’.<br />
This political stand by the RSS and its<br />
affiliated Hindu organizations have<br />
undermined the trust of the multinational<br />
companies & hurt the Indian<br />
economy <strong>to</strong> a larger extent.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no doubt that Prime<br />
Minister of India, Narendra Modi has<br />
enormous state-level administrative &<br />
political experience. But Modi has no<br />
experience in international diplomacy.<br />
He lacks a vision of ‘Value Creation’<br />
in the pursuit of mutual benefits.<br />
Integrative negotiations should be the<br />
mantra of diplomacy. Bargaining<br />
leverage misses the bus in several of<br />
the Modi`s diplomatic attempts. Modi<br />
is unable <strong>to</strong> understand the national<br />
interest of the country. Modi is unable<br />
<strong>to</strong> understand who can be a better<br />
strategic partner in bilateral & multilateral<br />
relationships.<br />
His speech at the United Nation<br />
exudes no enthusiasm & earnestness<br />
from world global leaders expect the<br />
President of America, Donald Trump.<br />
Experts in the field of international<br />
diplomacy wittily sneer at Modi`s<br />
international diplomacy. Had Donald<br />
Trump has been sanguine about<br />
India`s huge consumer market his<br />
commerce secretary Wilbur Ross,<br />
would not have put up many ‘ifs &<br />
buts’ <strong>to</strong> India for a trade agreement.<br />
Hugs & red carpet welcome in the<br />
USA during Howdy Modi stand no<br />
chance of getting sustainable business<br />
from US President Donald Trump.<br />
Modi`s diplomacy failed when Trump<br />
has succeeded in selling US oil <strong>to</strong><br />
India. <strong>The</strong> statics shows that Indian<br />
India`s leadership<br />
failed in international<br />
DIPLOMACY<br />
imported expensive US oil 48 million<br />
barrels in 2018. Here, Modi hugely<br />
comprised of the national interest and<br />
s<strong>to</strong>oped <strong>to</strong> the pressure of the US.<br />
Modi looks like a complete follower<br />
of Donald Trump.<br />
A few years back, India was<br />
importing oil from Iran with less price<br />
and without shipping charges &<br />
extending credit period. <strong>The</strong> prices of<br />
essential commodities rose with the<br />
import of US expensive oil. Another<br />
bad news for India is that Trump is<br />
planning <strong>to</strong> scuttle the Indian economy<br />
through Countering America`s<br />
Adversaries through Sanctions Act<br />
(CAATSA). Donald Trump`s attention<br />
is <strong>to</strong> suppress India under US sanctions<br />
and heavy Tariffs. It is unfortunate<br />
that Modi is unable <strong>to</strong> understand<br />
the vile tricks of Donald Trump.<br />
After abrogation of 370 & 35A,<br />
Modi and Shah are not tired <strong>to</strong> tell the<br />
world that the valley of Kashmir will<br />
develop and economic opportunities<br />
will come in the future. Although<br />
Modi has been telling at the world<br />
forum that his step in abrogating 370<br />
& 35A is welcomed by the international<br />
community. <strong>The</strong> inordinate<br />
delay in res<strong>to</strong>ring normalcy in the valley<br />
has attracted the attention of the<br />
world leaders <strong>to</strong> oppose India`s stand<br />
in the valley. Malaysian Prime<br />
Minister Mahathir Mohamad said,<br />
‘India invaded and occupied Kashmir’<br />
at the UN General Assembly.<br />
Similarly, President of Turkey Recep<br />
Tayyip Erdogan, said, ‘residents of<br />
Jammu & Kashmir are ‘virtually<br />
under blockade with 8 million people’.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>to</strong>ne of language by both world<br />
leaders at the UN General Assembly is<br />
definitely obnoxious. Malaysia &<br />
Turkey are Islamic countries and<br />
Muslims in these two countries &<br />
respective Prime Ministers feel that<br />
their Muslim brothers & sisters in<br />
India are mercilessly killed under the<br />
nose of the Modi government. Human<br />
Rights Report <strong>2019</strong> illustrates that 36<br />
Muslims are killed between 2015-<br />
2018. Mob violence by extremist<br />
Hindu groups affiliated with the ruling<br />
BJP against minority community especially<br />
Muslims continued. Such<br />
heinous acts against the members of<br />
the religious communities certainly<br />
engender hate & anger in the hearts of<br />
Muslims. <strong>The</strong> British government has<br />
always sided with Pakistan. From all<br />
these intrigues on behalf of the<br />
Pakistan government, old and new<br />
allies are joining hands with Pakistan<br />
against India. <strong>The</strong> platform of the<br />
United Nations Security Council<br />
(UNSC) is aggressively used by world<br />
leaders against India.<br />
Modi`s diplomacy<br />
failed in bilateral relations<br />
with Nepal. Pakistan &<br />
Nepal international borders<br />
are very sensitive in<br />
terms of infiltration of terrorists<br />
in<strong>to</strong> India. India`s<br />
influence is declining in<br />
Nepal since the day the<br />
Chinese government has<br />
pumped $ 8 billion in<br />
investment in Nepal. No<br />
doubt, China is aggressively trying <strong>to</strong><br />
establish economic connectivity with<br />
Nepal & Pakistan in the region.<br />
India`s huge investment in<br />
Afghanistan did not yield the desired<br />
results. A recent quadrilateral talk<br />
held between US, Russia, Pakistan &<br />
China and no invitation <strong>to</strong> India has<br />
certainly raised eyebrows in the<br />
Indian establishment. In this scenario,<br />
Pakistan is getting closer <strong>to</strong> the US,<br />
China, Russia than India. <strong>The</strong> efforts<br />
by anti-India world leaders <strong>to</strong> circumvent<br />
India seems <strong>to</strong> gain ground <strong>to</strong> a<br />
– Dr. Rahul Kumar, Ph.D.<br />
larger extent.<br />
India still lags behind the technologically<br />
advanced nations of the<br />
world. Wobbly progress under ‘Make<br />
in India’ initiative & marginal hike in<br />
<strong>2019</strong> budget allocation for Science &<br />
Technology further added woes <strong>to</strong><br />
making indigenous arms & defense<br />
products locally. ‘Make in India’ initiative<br />
aim is <strong>to</strong> invite the private sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
<strong>to</strong> boost up manufacturing of<br />
indigenous defense products. But this<br />
is not happening. In IDSA occasional<br />
Paper No. 48, Captain Vinay Kaushal,<br />
a defense expert, tells a depressing<br />
s<strong>to</strong>ry of ‘Make in India’ initiative.<br />
Kaushal explains, ‘Ministry of<br />
Defense(MoD) accorded acceptance<br />
of necessity (AoN) for 145 proposals<br />
worth Rs 3,99,800 crore approximately,<br />
out of which 103 proposals worth<br />
Rs 2,46,400 crore approximately<br />
have been approved<br />
under “Buy (Indian-<br />
Indigenously Designed,<br />
Developed<br />
and<br />
Manufactured [IDDM])”,<br />
“Buy (Indian)”, “Buy and<br />
Make (Indian)” <strong>The</strong> policy<br />
intent was followed up by the<br />
MoD with the requisite<br />
action. For example, in the<br />
period 2014-15 <strong>to</strong> 20<strong>16</strong>-17,<br />
23 “Make” categories of capital<br />
acquisition.17 However, the momentum<br />
built up appears <strong>to</strong> be dissipating<br />
because the MoD has not been in a<br />
position <strong>to</strong> sign any major contract<br />
with the private sec<strong>to</strong>r as the meager<br />
budget allocations available are just<br />
about enough for paying for the<br />
“committed liabilities”.<br />
In the same vein, S.<br />
Chandrasekhar states that ‘an analysis<br />
of R& D expenditure in India shows<br />
that funding for technology in specific<br />
sec<strong>to</strong>rs is not in consonance with<br />
the size of domestic & global market’.<br />
Slow-release of funds for the purpose<br />
of scientific projects has further circumscribed<br />
the speedy output of the<br />
scientists in India. India cannot match<br />
the technology superiority unless<br />
reforms <strong>to</strong> promote the scientists are<br />
made.<br />
India has been of the world`s <strong>to</strong>p<br />
import importers spending billions of<br />
dollars annually. India is also facing<br />
tremendous price escalation in<br />
procuring submarines due <strong>to</strong> red tapism,<br />
bureaucratic lethargy & indecisiveness.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Scorpene submarines<br />
programme called Project -75(P-75I)<br />
earlier at the cost of Rs. 50,000 crores<br />
are running late over five years behind<br />
schedule. This delay has escalated<br />
additional cost <strong>to</strong> the tune of Rs 25,<br />
700 crores.<br />
36 Rafale aircraft delivery <strong>to</strong> India<br />
is getting delayed day by day. Rafale is<br />
a highly sophisticated & costly aircraft<br />
and needs a proper hanger. Contrac<strong>to</strong>rs<br />
Builder Association of India (BAI)<br />
<strong>to</strong>ld that the construction of hangers <strong>to</strong><br />
house the two squadrons of Rafale aircraft<br />
comes <strong>to</strong> a standstill due <strong>to</strong> a<br />
shortage of funds. Group Captain<br />
Vinay Kaushal(Retd) a distinguished<br />
fellow at the Institute of Defense<br />
Studies, New Delhi raises a question,<br />
‘Are these 36 aircraft enough <strong>to</strong> sustain<br />
two squadrons over 40 years?<br />
For arms & defense equipments<br />
producing countries like the US,<br />
Russia, Britain & China, India<br />
remains a milch cow. A huge budget is<br />
earmarked for procurement of foreign<br />
arms and defense products.<br />
Inducement is as big in the procurement<br />
as not a single government could<br />
save skin without blemish. Modi<br />
speaking at the Aero show in February<br />
2015, he said that defense manufacturing<br />
was ‘at the heart of the ‘Make<br />
in India’ in Indian programme” and<br />
that the country should aim <strong>to</strong> manufacture<br />
70 percent of military equipment<br />
domestically in the next five<br />
years. Four years have already passed<br />
by talking loudly but no visible<br />
progress in indigenous defense manufacturing<br />
is seen. Today, the armed<br />
forces in India have all imported aircrafts,<br />
tanks & odd combat vessels.<br />
Modi`s philosophical theories are<br />
nothing but a vain chimera.<br />
After analyzing the worst condition<br />
of the economy and missteps taken by<br />
the Modi government one can safely<br />
conclude that Modi`s leadership in<br />
international diplomacy has failed<br />
miserably. Modi has the right <strong>to</strong> dream<br />
of making India a $5 trillion economy<br />
in 2024. But before MOON is offered,<br />
Modi must focus on three strategies <strong>to</strong><br />
save further stultification of the country<br />
(1) focus on the domestic market<br />
(2) reduce maximum import (3) dominate<br />
in technology. <strong>The</strong> sooner it is<br />
followed the better will be for the economic<br />
health of the country.<br />
– Dr. Rahul Kumar, Ph.D.<br />
Dr. Rahul Kumar, Ph.D. Jawaharlal<br />
Nehru University, Delhi. India. He is an<br />
independent researcher and senior<br />
media columnist. He is working currently<br />
with the “<strong>The</strong> <strong>Asian</strong> <strong>Independent</strong><br />
UK” newspaper as a Bureau Chief.<br />
His book on “Elderly Punjabis in<br />
Indian Diaspora” traces trajec<strong>to</strong>ries of<br />
Elderly Punjabi migration <strong>to</strong> U.K. He is<br />
a member of the Edi<strong>to</strong>rial Committee of<br />
Global Research Forum for Diaspora<br />
and Transnationalism (GRFDT) New<br />
Delhi. India. <strong>The</strong> views expressed by<br />
the author in this article are personal<br />
and does not necessarily reflect the official<br />
policy of the paper.