New Delhi: Amid heavy criticism by opposition leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday addressed an all-party meet where he claimed that no outsider was inside Indian territory in Ladakh nor had any border post of the Indian Army been captured by outside forces. Besides, he also claimed that the 20 Indian soldiers who had died in the violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops had taught a lesson to those who had dared to look at Mother India before laying down their lives.
While reactions to Modi’s speech varied in the country with many hailing him and many rubbishing his claims, Chinese media took more or less a uniform stand by appreciating his speech. Here is how Modi’s speech was covered in Chinese media – often sponsored and tightly censored by the Communist Party.
“(He) appeared to downplay the clash,” said the Communist Party-run Global Times which suggested that Modi’s remarks would pave the way for de-escalation.
“Nobody has intruded into our border, neither is anybody there now nor have our posts been captured,” influential Global Times quoted Modi as saying. Besides, the tabloid reported that while the PM had given the armed forces full freedom, he had ‘also appeared to downplay the clash’.
“Chinese observers said Modi is trying to respond to the nationalists and hardliners with tough talk, but he understands his country cannot have a further conflict with China so he is also making an effort to cool tensions,” Global Times added.
Quoting Lin Minwang, a professor at Fudan University’s Center for South Asian Studies in Shanghai, the newspaper explained that “Modi’s remarks will be very helpful to ease the tensions because as the Prime Minister of India, he has removed the moral basis for hardliners to further accuse China. When India is in conflict with Pakistan or other neighbours, nationalism might drive New Delhi to take actual operations, but when it comes to China, it is a different story.”
Meanwhile, Wei Dongxu, a military expert, told the paper that Modi’s comment on Indian Army being allowed to take necessary steps was ‘a show of strength for domestic audiences to appease the Indian masses and boost the Indian troops’ morale’.
Another prominent Chinese news publication China Daily in an article Saturday quoted analyst Lan Jianxue from China Institute of International Studies who referred to Modi’s earlier remarks from 2018 saying there were ‘occasional incidents in the border areas due to differing perceptions about the Line of Actual Control’ and both countries had managed to resolve those peacefully. “It is hoped that India will abide by that statement,” Jianxue added speaking to China Daily.