‘In long run, China is greater threat than Pakistan’

Rajya Sabha MP and veteran journalist Arun Shourie has said that though threat from Pakistan is an “immediate reality”, in the long run China will pose a greater security threat to India.

“China has an absolutely clear view about India. It views India as a potential nuisance and as one of the claws of the US. Our response has been primarily that of denial,” Shourie said this on Saturday at an interactive session held in the city by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking at the seminar titled, “Are we Safe? Threats to India’s Security,” Shourie narrated in detail China’s aggressive policy by forming close military ties with India’s neighbours.

Beijing has fully militarised Tibet, has established a military pact with Bangladesh and has completely colonised Burma, he said.

Speaking about growing Chinese involvement in African economy, Shourie said that the communist country has set up the economic zones in Africa, not merely out of business interests but to acquire influence. “China is redefining warfare,” Shourie added.

Speaking about the lack of strategic thinking in India, Shourie said: “We don’t realise that the world is watching us. How far have we gone to protect the Olympic torch? There were 20,000 security personnel posted for one kilometre of the torch run, government offices were closed, the Parliament was quarantined. It shows how nervous India was.”

On the issue of terrorism supported by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, the Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that the number of terror incidents has gone down in the state “since Pakistan is busy with its own internal problems.” Over the growing threat from Naxalism that has affected large parts of the country, Shourie said that the country lacks ideas on dealing with Naxalism and insurgencies that dominate 35 per cent of all the districts in the country.

“We don’t want to face the facts. Of the 600 districts in the country, 169 have been affected by the Left wing violence. It does not register on us. We don’t have instruments of state to deal with Naxalites or organised violence in the country,” he said.