Delineate the elements of soft power between India and China. Discuss how they could play a convincing role in smoothening the relationship between the two.
Delineate the elements of soft power between India and China. Discuss how they could play a convincing role in smoothening the relationship between the two.
Elements of Soft power which binds India and China:
- Buddhism, especially the Mahayana form of Buddhism, has a significant following in China, especially in the Tibet region.
- Nalanda University, the ancient buddhist university located in Bihar was revived before 5 years with significant funding from Chinese government
- Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing were the Chinese Buddhist monks who visited ancient Nalanda university to gain insights on Buddhism.
- The Pallavas who ruled north Tamilnadu region had significant trade and political connections with their contemporary Chinese rulers.
- Chinese Radio International broadcasts their programmes via Indian languages like Hindu, Urdu and Tamil.
- Tourism and people to people interaction - Around 4 lakh people from both sides visit each other's countries.
Tourism and people to people interaction - a game changer
- Of the many elements of soft power that binds India and China, the tourism and the resultant people to people interaction is so significant. As this might lead to increased commercial connections between the two people.
- Increased commercial connections between the people in turn could augment the political harmony between the two nations.
- Even though India and China currently have an annual bilateral trade ranging between $80-$90 billion trade, it is purely on the basis of the general buyer-seller equation.
- The same bilateral trade could improve both quantitatively as well as qualitatively if there is increased people to people interaction between the two countries.
- Also this organic trade relationship could convince the Chinese political establishment to refrain from creating border tensions with India. Because any turmoil in India could negatively impact the Chinese trade prospects.
Conclusion:
- Thus the soft power connections between the countries could bring greater results if tapped diligently.
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