Chinese Intrusion or Chinese Confucianism? A Reality Check!

The latest attempt by China to intrude into its neighbour’s territory starkly contrasts with its touted philosophy of Confucianism. Xi Jinping’s fondness for Confucianism does not resonate with China’s actions on the ground. The Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh has been a victim of China’s illicit expansionism and aggression for a long time. The latest attempt bravely foiled by the Indian Army led to injuries on both sides although there were no casualties reported. Chinese build-up of infrastructure including villages and roads on the border smacks a premeditated state-sponsored long-term strategy that should not be oversimplified as just another skirmish and should be dealt with solemnly in word and in deed.

Principles like “Long-Term GoodNeighborliness”, “Friendship and Cooperation”, “non-confrontation and not targeting any third party”, “regional cooperation”, “new contribution to peace and development in the region”, “promoting global peace and development”, “upholding international justice and fairness”, “strong vitality and momentum of cooperation”, “mutual trust”, “mutual benefit”, “equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development” that form a bedrock of Confucius principles and staunchly espoused by Chinese Premier starkly juxtapose with Chinese repeated actions of brute barbarism, attacks and clashes on the Indo-Chines border.

Chinese acts of territorial impropriety severely impede the momentum of associations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and G20 among others to which India is a party and intensify the friction that is growing between China and the rest of the world in the post-COVID-19 era. China can indeed cite and explain the historic interpretations of Confucius looking down from the peaks of Dongshan and Tai mountains and relate them with unity and diversity and a peaceful world but it will surely have a daunting time explaining what principles reverberate from the peak of Arunachal Pradesh.