The Spratly Islands was a disputed territory between China and the Philippines. However,being the larger neighbour and a super power the Philippines had to acquiesce though the excuse trotted out by the Chinese bordered on self empathy (sensitivity to another's feelings as if they were one's own), they said they needed these islands for relocating their farmers. However, and subsequent events has blown the lid of the Chinese claim,they moved in their military and recent satellite images have beamed the construction of an airstrip obviously to support their military presence and not for their farmers. China’s appetite for other’s territory is as voracious as the multi billion dollar scams involving senior party officials that conclude manage to build it to newsrooms around the world, the prevalence of scams haunting President Xi. Ordinarily the Spratly Islands dispute should have been referred to ITLOS under UNCLOS the international arbitration body, and but China as is its practise would have none of it,it was sheer might at play only they used deceit to usurp. [In comparison India & Bangladesh referred a island in the Bay of Bengal to ITLOS the award going in favour of Bangladesh and accepted by India.] China has now extended a heavy olive branch with lots and lots of [obviously with heavy conditions] goodies to Pakistan, considering that the United States of America has partially vacated this space after maintaining a huge footprint in Pakistan to counter the Soviets for more than sixty years. In fact for America, or Pakistan offering its territory unconditionally immediately after it became independent by breaking absent from India in 1947 was heaven sent even as the Americans were getting prepared for a round of tough negotiations. Since then Pakistan has increasingly become a vassal state of Uncle Sam and as the country spiralled downwards the dependence was totally overt,the spoiler in this relations being the double crossing trademark of the Pakistani establishment which the Americans were very late to cotton onto. China is happily filling this void aware that a feeble state is easy meat and Pakistan’s double crossing no match for the Chinese guile for expanding its footprint – but how wise is this from China’s long term economic outlook? Unlike America which is an open democracy with its usual checks and balances, China is mired in opacity that public policy is decided by a few and not well thought of or discussed and debated and history is replete with instances where colonial and super powers have spread so far and wide stretching resources so THIN leading to an final collapse. The erstwhile Soviet Union is a classic case and after the Iraq war and many other such interventions by USA it has managed to drill a huge gap in its budget that the American establishment has realized the futility of such an exercise. Is China following on the same beaten track? Besides the Chinese economy is slowing down very quickly and there are unconfirmed reports that growth has actually tanked to the 3.5 – 4 % band. Furthermore it is reported that China has added nearly $14 trillion [could be more considering its record on transparency] to its existing debt in the last seven years making it heavily indebted and it is one of the few countries that spends more on its internal security than its defence budget, or clearly underlining the fact that China faces a bigger threat from within. This low growth rate which could be the norm coupled with China’s attempts to bolster its geographical spread could lead to an unravelling of China’s economic might in the next ten years that many are predicting.
In contrast India’s somnolence as far as territorial appetite is concerned is touted across international platforms by Indian leaders. This of course does earn India brownie points and does not stretch its limited resources. However,there are many analysts who are now arguing the need for India to be more proactive vis-a-vis Pakistan China plans in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, since this is a disputed territory in India Pakistan relations, and as the Chinese presence and plans of encircling India,which seems to be on China’s drawing boards, is taken to its logical conclusion would be very threatening for a sub-continent of continuing and uninterrupted democracy like India considering that China would find to its advantage to utilize Pakistan as a proxy to needle India, and in fact some believe it already does so. For Pakistan the choices of friends are very limited,even the Saudi Arabias and other favourable ME countries are having moment thoughts on Pakistan’s ability to deliver, particularly after the recent Yemen NO from the Pakistani establishment leading to a rare public censure from the UAE, and the options are extremely limited even it means selling out for some immediate gain,never intellect the future fallout.
IN THE SHORT TERM CHINESE EXPANSIONISM COULD BENEFIT CHINA but in the LONG RUN there is NO DOUBT with a SLOWING ECONOMY ITS RESOURCES ARE GOING TO STRETCHED POINTING TOWARDS A POTENTIAL INTERNAL STRESS. INDIA on the other hand could be CHALLENGED in the SHORT TERM but in the LONGER TERM with a GROWING ECONOMY and DECISIVE LEADERSHIP could see a STRONGER INDIA ACTING as a DETERRENT to a MARAUDING and EXPANSIONIST CHINA with the SUPPORT of JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, and USA and other China THREATENED COUNTRIES.
Source: cnn.com