English Vocab

The Dragon Beckons Again

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China should be seen in the context of the flux of global geopolitics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes to China on April 27, against the background of turbulence in global geopolitics and some domestic disquiet about “softening” of India’s China policy.

The international backdrop is worrying in many respects. The face-off between the U.S. (and its allies) and Russia is arguably worse than during the Cold War. They confront each other, through proxy forces, in three active conflict zones — Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan. The recent U.S.-French-British missile strikes in Syria were a stark reminder. It now emerges that prior communication to the Russians had ensured that equipment, personnel and civilians had been evacuated in advance. However, such deconfliction arrangements

seem to be episodic, and there is a lurking (To hide somewhere, usually with the intention to do something bad.) danger that miscalculation or brinkmanship might spark off (To cause or start some violent or energetic activity.) a direct conflict at a local level.

Edgy confrontation

Sanctions — particularly the new U.S. legislation, CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), under which it can impose sanctions on any company which engages with Russia in the defence or energy sector — impart a sharper edge to the confrontation. This weapon was not wielded in anything like this form in the Cold War; its impact could be far more devastating in today’s globalised world. Recent American sanctions on major Russian multinationals, whose stocks are internationally traded, widened the target beyond Russian oligarchs to a larger body of shareholders within and outside Russia.

As the U.S. ratchets up pressure on Russia, it has donned kid gloves in dealing with China, as indicated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tweets. A recent tweet appreciates Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “kind words on tariffs and automobile barriers” and “his enlightenment on intellectual property and technology transfers”.

Trade issues

While India is being asked to address its trade surplus of about $25 billion with the U.S., Mr. Trump asked China (in a tweet last month) to reduce its massive trade surplus of about $375 billion with the U.S. by just $1 billion! He probably meant $100 billion, as has been suggested by his Administration, but it is worth noting that in 2017 alone, the U.S.’s trade imbalance rose by about $28 billion. America’s decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade grouping excluding China, effectively benefited China.

India itself, running a trade deficit of over $50 billion with China, is in difficult negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade grouping that includes China, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Unpredictable U.S.

The unpredictability of U.S. foreign policy is driving even its closest allies to hedgetheir options. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and Mr. Xi are to exchange visits in the near future — a significant breakthrough in relations between two strategic rivals, who were on the verge of a military confrontation about five years ago. Japan (like India) is concerned about China’s assertiveness in its neighbourhood and the geopolitical implications of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Yet, having failed to persuade Mr. Trump (with whom he claims excellent personal chemistry) to rethink U.S. withdrawal from the TPP and uncertain about the consistency of U.S. policy in the region, Mr. Abe sees benefit in sustaining a dialogue with China, whose positive response reflects its own desire to keep in touch with a U.S. ally, in the face of conflicting U.S. signals on trade and security policies.

The sharpening of U.S.-Russia acrimony (Angry and bitter feelings) has complicated India’s relations with both countries. Besides pressure to address the India-U.S. trade imbalance, India has been warned that its defence and energy links with Russia could attract U.S. sanctions under CAATSA — a development which could have a major impact on our defence preparedness. Russia’s intensifying defence cooperation with China and its actions in Afghanistan and with Pakistan are areas on which serious and delicate high-level India-Russia dialogue is being pursued.

Mutual interest in serenity

This is the backdrop to the current “reset” in India-China relations. With a strengthening Russia-China axis and with the U.S. taking its eye off China to deal with Russia, it is prudent for India to maintain a harmonious dialogue with China, even as we deal with the wrinkles in our relations with the other two great powers. China’s motivation in extending the olive branch (To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute) may be similar: to maintain serenity in relations while it deals with its other challenges.

This is not to say that India should not stand firm on its core interests, political, economic or strategic. We cannot overlook Chinese designs in our neighbourhood — from Doklam to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives — or ignore the larger geopolitical threat posed by the land and sea corridors of the BRI. It is just that circumstances may have opened up some space for furthering mutual interests, without compromising on our other interests.

Countries do not publicly admit adverse asymmetries in relations, but their policymakers have to factor them into their policies and actions. Of course, even countries in adverse asymmetric relationships have levers which can and should be used to further their vital interests. In most cases, this is best done through quiet dialogue instead of public airing of differences, which hardens attitudes.

Importance of messaging

It is a valid point that the public messaging on this change in tone of the India-China relationship could have been better. The course of India-China relations in the past couple of years had created a public narrative of bilateral frictions over CPEC, Doklam, our Nuclear Suppliers Group membership and other issues, on which India had to take strong public positions. The transformation in the international environment, creating opportunities for non-confrontational dialogue, could perhaps have been better explained. Foreign policy can be pursued far more effectively when it is supported by public perceptions.

The reality is that India has to maintain a pragmatic Way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones) balance in its relations with the three major powers, remaining conscious of the fact that elements of these relations will be continuously impacted by the dynamic flux of today’s global geopolitics.

The Prime Minister’s visit to China should be seen in this context.

Courtesy- The Hindu (International Relation)

1. Lurk (verb): To hide somewhere, usually with the intention to do something bad.  (घात लगाकर बैठा होना, छिपा होना)

Synonyms: Skulk, Loiter, Hide, Conceal, Sneak, Sidle, Slink, Prowl, Steal

Antonyms: Expose, Reveal, Manifest, Appear

Example: Someone was lurking in the shadows

Related word: Lurk, Lurked (past), Lurked (past participle), Lurks, Lurking

2. Brinkmanship (noun): The activity, especially in politics, of trying to get what you want by saying that if you do not get it, you will do something dangerous. (एक विशेष परिणाम की स्थिति को खराब बनाने का कार्य)

Synonyms:  Manoeuvring, Tactic, Politicking, Strategy

Antonyms: Carefulness, Caution, Precaution, Prudence, Wariness

Example:  The talks have collapsed and both sides have resorted to brinkmanship.

3. Spark off (phrasal verb): To cause or start some violent or energetic activity. (शुरू करना, आरम्भ करना)

Synonyms: Initiate, Actuate, Activate, Trigger, Crank, Catalyze, Incite, Launch

Antonyms: Arrest, Brake, Check, Halt, Jam, Stall, Stop Decelerate, Repress, Suppress

Example:  The assassination sparked off a revolution.

Related- set- off, trigger- off, touch- off

4. Ratchet (something) up (phrasal verb): To increase, or make something increase, repeatedly and by small amounts. (थोड़ी –थोड़ी मात्रा में वृद्धि करना)

Synonyms: Increase, Raise, Soar, Hike, Escalate, Bourgeon, Accumulate 

Antonyms: Ratchet down, Abate, De-escalate, Decline, Taper, Lessen, Wane

Example: The debate should ratchet up awareness of the environmental problems among general public.

5. Treating with Kid gloves (idiom): To treat someone with extra care and gentleness. (देखभाल और विनम्रता के साथ संभालना)

Synonyms: Infantilize, Pamper, Cherish, Cosset, Coddle

Antonyms: Careless, Incautious, Indiscreet, Negligent

Example:  After my nervous breakdown, everyone kept treating me with kid gloves.

 

6. Hedge (verb): To avoid giving a promise or making a clear, direct response or statement. (वचनबद्ध होने से बचना)

Synonyms: Confine, Restrict, Limit, Tergiversate, Pussyfoot, Constrain, Fudge

Antonyms: Absolute, Certainty, Release, Expose, Show, Commit

Example: He worked among the subaltern population.

Relates Word: Hedge, Hedged (past), Hedged (past participle), Hedges, Hedging

7. Acrimony (noun): Angry and bitter feelings. (अप्रियता, कटुता)          

Synonyms: Rancour, Resentment, Ill feeling, Bad blood, Animosity, Hostility, Enmity, Antagonism

Antonyms: Gentleness, Kindliness, Mildness, Goodwill, Civility

Example: There has been acrimony between Sally and John's relatives.

Related word: Acrimonious (adjective), Acrimoniously (adv)

  

8. Extending the olive branch (idiom): To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. (शांति और सुलह का संकेत)  

Synonyms: Conciliation, Compromise, Truce. Peacemaking

Antonyms: Break Up, Estrangement, Conflict 

Example: Whenever I have an argument with my sister it’s always me who has to extend the olive branch.

9. Adverse (adjective): Having a negative or harmful effect on something: (हानिकर, नकारात्मक)

Synonyms: Unfavourable, Disadvantageous, Inauspicious, Unpropitious, Unfortunate, Unlucky, Untimely, Untoward

Antonym:  Beneficial, Good, Helpful, Propitious, Useful, Innocuous, Safe

Example: The match has been cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.

Related word: Adversely (adverb), Adverseness (noun)

10. Pragmatic (adjective): Way of dealing with something is based on practical considerations, rather than theoretical ones. (वास्तविक तरीके से)  

Synonyms: Realistic, Practical philistine, Utilitarian, Commonsensical, Logical, No-nonsense, Rational, Reasonable, Sane, Sensible

Antonym: Idealistic, Visionary, Utopian, Unrealistic, Impractical

Example: He made a pragmatic decision to settle the lawsuit because in the end it would cost more to try it in court.

Related word: Pragmatically (adverb)