India has come to a crossroads! The U.S. has personally come out to give us certification, and China's warplanes have shot down India's Rafale fighter jets. This is also the first time that the Western world has openly admitted this major fact! According to a Reuters report on May 8, two American officials said intelligence indicated that in the brief air battle that erupted on the 7th between India and Pakistan, at least two Indian aircraft were shot down by Pakistan's J-10C fighters, including at least one French-made "Rafale". Both officials clearly stated that Pakistan's U.S.-made F-16 fighters did not participate in this engagement. It is obvious that with the U.S. openly discussing this fact, it is no longer possible for the Rafale fighter jets to be unscathed. For India, this situation is extremely embarrassing. Now, the Indian government refuses to admit any of its aircraft being shot down, but as they say, paper cannot cover up the fire. Once this incident becomes known domestically, it will undoubtedly deal a significant blow to India's prestige. For India, which has always sought to play both sides, it is now at a crossroads. This crossroads is whether India will deeply reflect and take a long and arduous path towards complete independence or choose to become a lackey of the United States to retaliate and seek advanced equipment from them to restore their reputation. The former is a long road for India. The latter seems easy, but if India chooses this path, it will be a devastating blow to India's confidence. More importantly, if India decides to rely on the U.S., then it will forever lose the qualification to become a great power that acts according to its own interests. And now India must make such a choice. The facts show that for a country to be independent and self-reliant, especially militarily, it must bite the bullet and take the harder road. India looks to China in everything; if there is anything India can learn from China, it may be to work hard, be independent and self-reliant, and develop the economy in a low-key manner. But the facts prove that India lacks our kind of perseverance. Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831619808094346/ Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.