China -- Covid unravels economic dimensions of security (Column: Spy's Eye)

and 2018 respectively. A process of well established global companies shifting their operations from China to places outside of that country, has begun in the wake of the Corona crisis and India has made it clear at the policy making levels that it would welcome the enterprises that wanted to move into this country.

At the same time, India also took a decision to centrally scrutinise all portfolio investors from China before giving them clearance to do business here. It may be mentioned, however, that business houses are attuned to taking major decisions only on a rigorous evaluation of the ease of doing business in a country and much will depend, therefore, on the ability of the Indian government to provide the right environ and framework of support to the potential investors. The adverse economic impact of Corona is quite unsettling for China and since that country had taken the Indian market for granted, it would not take kindly to India gaining from this change of business scene at the global level.

In the months following the abolition of Art 370 of the Constitution by India, Pak ISI had stepped up cross-border infiltration of terrorists in J&K. Pakistan has also made troop movements in the Gilgit Baltistan area. The current attempts of China the all weather friend of Pakistan to flex its muscles on LAC in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal could be aimed at disturbing the atmosphere of peace for India. China's implicit message for India is that economic gains alone would not add to India's security. It may be recalled that after the Doklam standoff in 2017, President Xi had given charge of border management directly to the PLA. The Chinese had taken note of the firm resolve of India not to tolerate any highhandedness of the opponent at the border. The response of India to recent acts of hostility by Chinese patrols has to be demonstratively firm so that the memory of Doklam remains in place.

China's brazenness is India-specific but President Xi also knows that he cannot afford to create an escalation or military conflict anywhere in the present times. The response of President Trump in taking cognisance of the Sino-Indian border situation in Ladakh will not go unnoticed by Xi Jinping. India has done the right thing in moving closer to the QUAD for ensuring maritime security of the Indo-Pacific region. China would not miss the point that the Modi regime would not accept any highhandedness of China in the Indian Ocean, much less on the land border.

China apparently wants India to let Pakistan get away with the illicit award of territory in POK to China for CPEC India must stick to its opposition to the act and keep up the work of upgradation of the border infrastructure on our own territory, particularly in Ladakh. Our defence forces have, in their strategic planning, covered the contingency of a coordinated mischief by the Sino-Pak axis on our periphery. India's success against China lies in making a fast recovery from the economic damage that the Corona pandemic had already caused at home and, in particular, becoming a part of the global supply chain in every field of production and service. India should bring out the best in internal governance in the post- lockdown period- taking lessons from the administrative flaws that showed up earlier on that front.

(The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau)

( With inputs from IANS )