Vantage | China's economic smear campaign against India

In the realm of global economic dynamics, it's not uncommon for nations to be perceived as neighbours, sharing in each other's successes and challenges. However, when a neighbour, particularly one as influential as China, starts exhibiting unwarranted behaviour, it raises eyebrows. Recently, China has taken an unusual interest in India's economic growth, akin to a bad neighbour criticising the new car purchased by their next-door counterpart.Arrest of Chinese nationals and China's official responseLast week, Indian authorities arrested two Chinese nationals employed by Vivo, a prominent Chinese mobile giant, accusing its Indian unit of money laundering. In response, China's official stance, as articulated by Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, emphasised the need for a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in India."We urge the Indian side to fully understand the mutually beneficial and win-win nature of China-India economic and trade cooperation, and to provide a fair, just, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in India," said Mao.This is the expected diplomatic response, but it's the unofficial narrative that reveals China's true sentiments.China's unofficial response and Global Times' roleThe Global Times, a Chinese news website with close ties to the government, has been actively fuelling a campaign against India's investment landscape. Labelling India as the "graveyard for foreign firms", Global Times has published a series of hit pieces that not only criticise India's economic policies but also indulge in baseless accusations. The articles lack substantiated claims and rely on unnamed sources, raising questions about their credibility.One of the most striking aspects of China's criticism is its audacity to accuse India of robbing achievements. This is particularly ironic given China's history of intellectual property theft, as highlighted by numerous instances of state-backed hackers stealing trillions of dollars' worth of intellectual property from multinational companies worldwide. China's lack of evidence and its own questionable practices undermine the credibility of its accusations against India.India's stance and China's insecurityContrary to China's claims, India's decisions, such as the ban on TikTok in 2020, were independent actions taken before Western countries contemplated similar measures. Furthermore, China has faced accusations of money laundering globally, as highlighted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This context reveals that the charges against Vivo are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern.The root of China's smear campaign against India lies in the contrasting economic fortunes of the two nations. While China's economy has stumbled due to internal factors and a stringent crackdown by President Xi Jinping, India has emerged as a star performer, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting a significant growth rate. China's attempt to disparage India's economic success is a clear indication of its inability to accept a new player on the global economic stage.In the grand theatre of international relations, China's attempts to undermine India's economic growth appear to be more rooted in insecurity than genuine concern. By scrutinising China's arguments, it becomes evident that their criticisms lack substance and serve as a smokescreen to divert attention from their own economic challenges. As India continues to surge ahead, it's essential to recognise and counter such smear campaigns, urging nations to focus on cooperation rather than baseless accusations.Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.