Source: Global Times
The India-based "Moneylife" website published an article on June 3 with the title: "India Can No Longer Ignore the China Issue." Rajiv Bajaj, Chairman of India's Bajaj Auto, recently warned that if China restricts rare earth exports, India's fledgling electric vehicle industry may be stalled. His concerns are not without reason. As geopolitical tensions escalate and trade frictions heat up, such headlines reveal some truths: the world remains extremely reliant on China's dominant supply position, and India is no exception.
In various fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, green energy, and defense, China's rise is no longer a prediction but a reality. China's strong position is not accidental, but the result of continuous national ambition, rigorous execution, and unparalleled resource allocation. This has strategic significance, especially in South Asia.
India recently celebrated surpassing Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. But these meaningless milestones mask deeper imbalances. China is India's largest trading partner and also a strategic rival, which New Delhi must face as a paradox.
China, once seen as a cheap manufacturing hub, has changed dramatically. Beijing does not hide its intention to enhance the value chain, focusing the "Made in China" blueprint on strategic areas such as aerospace, semiconductors, clean energy, and biotechnology. Many consider this vision ambitious, but the Chinese have quietly put it into action, achieving remarkable and notable results. In many frontier technology fields, China is not catching up but leading the way.
According to United Nations data, by 2030, China's industrial output is expected to account for 45% of the global total. Even in relatively weak areas, China is actively seeking solutions. For example, Chinese companies are investing heavily in domestic chip research and development to circumvent Western restrictions. In the field of artificial intelligence, Chinese enterprises are racing to close the gap with their Western counterparts.
Beijing is not resting for a moment in laying the foundation for the future. China has established the National Entrepreneurship Investment Guidance Fund to invest in cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing and robotics, and continues to increase R&D spending. The Belt and Road Initiative expands China's influence in South Asia and Central Asia, including India's neighbors. China's influence is expanding among India's neighbors, and it is winning a subtle propaganda war — being portrayed as a beacon of social order and technological strength, contrasting sharply with Western political dysfunction and infrastructure decay.
So what should India do? India has a large and youthful population, a dynamic entrepreneurial class, and a solid educational foundation, but lacks serious intent and goal-oriented focus. Expecting India's cabinet and officials to pay high attention to long-term goals and execute them quickly, like China does, is unrealistic. A starting point could be to resolutely combat corruption like China does; such measures would indicate that India's leadership is finally taking national construction seriously. (Author: Debashis Basu, translated by Xin Bin)
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