DNA Edit: Hypocrisy, Chinese style

A wily, two-faced neighbour, China has, unsurprisingly, shown her true colours by blocking the consensus on listing Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar as an internationally designated terrorist at the UN. Hours later, it tries to make a hollow, conciliatory gesture, expressing readiness to work with India on improving bilateral ties. For the fourth time, Beijing has declined the proposal of India, the US and a host of other nations regarding Azhar, the diabolical mind behind the Pathankot attack. Had China played ball, the UN move would have translated into a freeze on Azhar’s financial assets and an international travel ban.

However, Beijing’s shameless bidding of Pakistan, with whom it now enjoys close financial ties, primarily due to the Belt and Road Initiative, doesn’t reflect its own stand on Muslims within the country. There are reports of increased crackdowns and censures in the Muslim-dominated Xinjiang province where burqas, veils and “abnormal” beards are banned and the ethnic Uyghur population is forced to watch state television. Why then this hypocrisy, and at what cost? Beijing is indulging in a dangerous game since it wants to maintain a charming equation with Pakistan to protect its financial and political interests. Little does it know that by protecting fundamentalists like Azhar and turning a blind eye to Pakistan’s terror infrastructure, it is unwittingly exposing itself to jihadi attacks.

If history is any indication, China is likely to suffer the same fate as that of the US, which had once armed the Afghan Talibans to fight the Russian occupation. It’s akin to nurturing Dr Frankenstein’s monster. India’s sharp response to China’s patronage — double standards and selective approaches will only undermine the international community’s resolve to combat terrorism — illustrates this phenomenon. Right after the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s stern message to Islamabad during his India visit, China had declared that Pakistan has made positive efforts for counter-terrorism and made great sacrifices.

Earlier, after paying lip service to counter terrorism in the BRICS summit, Beijing did a volte-face to assuage the sentiments of its ally. These deliberate flip-flops are part of an insidious design to create an imbalance in the subcontinent that would enable China to exert its hegemony. Being marginalised in the global community, Beijing has only a handful of friends to count on, which makes it imperative to warm up to Islamabad. India should work doubly hard to generate an even stronger global opinion against Pakistan’s terror exports behind China’s protective shield. By veritably cornering both countries and persuading the US to impose harsh sanctions on Pakistan, New Delhi can claim to have attained its desired objective. It has been proven beyond doubt now that India’s existing policy is incapable of producing conducive outcomes. China will continue to protect Azhar if only to spite India and the US.