Instead of the comfortable, understated confidence of seasoned diplomats and leaders, statements from the government and ruling party show a prickliness about criticism that is reminiscent of China’s confrontational approach to foreign affairs.
The films’ action and plot aren’t groundbreaking. Since Xi Jinping’s authoritarian consolidation and centralization of power, Chinese diplomats use “Wolf Warrior diplomacy” to be belligerent. Attacks on China are met with strong words, often citing western hypocrisy and imperialism. The howl of the wolf warrior praises China’s foreign policy and political economy and portrays any criticism of China as interference in its internal affairs, an attack on its civilisational history, and a plot by foreign powers unable to stomach a rival in Asia. This insecurity is most evident in state and party-controlled media like Global Times and China Daily, which criticise foreign governments, media outlets, and individuals. Change the dates and a few words in the headlines for context, and they could be recent statements by prominent Indian government officials and ruling party spokespersons.
The Income Tax department “surveyed” BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai. People may think journalists’ computers and phones were searched for tax irregularities rather than a recent documentary. Social media companies were ordered to remove India: The Modi Question despite its non-release in India.
A party spokesperson called the BBC “corrupt” and “anti-national” while searching the offices. Even in an age of ED summons, IT surveys, and NIA investigations, the ruling party or government rarely comments on an ongoing investigation beyond “let the law take its course” or “no one is above the Constitution and penal code” statements. Remember, the BBC is the British state broadcaster, funded by the people, not the government. Definitely biassed. It doesn’t threaten the world’s largest and most diversified democracy either. Paradoxically, the ruling party invoked Indira Gandhi’s BBC ban as rationale this time.
George Soros’ liberal philanthropist words followed the BBC scandal. During the Munich Security Conference last week, 92-year-old Soros said the Adani-Hindenburg scandal will “seriously undermine Modi’s grasp on India’s federal government and open the door to fight for much-needed institutional reforms.” Albeit naïve, I predict a democratic renaissance in India.”
The administration reacted quickly and strongly. Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, said, “A foreign power at the hub of which is a man named George Soros has announced that he will hurt India’s democratic framework. He has declared Prime Minister Narendra Modi his major target.”
“I may take the perspective that the individual in question, Mr Soros, is an old, affluent, opinionated person, sitting in New York, who still feels that his opinions should influence how the entire world works,” said Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. I would stop at old, rich, and opinionated. He’s old, rich, opinionated, and dangerous.”
Soros’ Open Society Foundations work in politics worldwide. But, the public and personal attack from some of the government’s most prominent and vocal figures against the supposed “foreign hand” suggests a prickliness about criticism that is more like Wolf Warriors than seasoned diplomats and leaders. In 2019, Jaishankar refused to speak with a US Congressional Committee because Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal had proposed a Kashmir resolution in Congress.
Sadly, this form of engagement with international actors—or journalists and media houses—is a feature of New India and Xi’s China. The latter’s leader has abandoned Deng Xiaoping’s “hide your might, bide your time” maxim. China under Xi believes it should lead the globe due to its military and economic strength. The uneasiness over criticism and strong diplomatic language are about telling the international community that China is now at the head of the table and that a “rules-based order” that doesn’t allow for Beijing’s exceptionalism—as it does for the US—will not stand.
Economically, India lags China. Yet, its size and increasing economy provide it bargaining power: Western capitals rarely criticised the BJP’s activities. India is a strategic buffer against an assertive China for the West and Japan. This may make it easy to deploy our Wolf Warriors without repercussions.
Two considerations: First, India’s democracy and openness attract Westerners. The Chinese strategy of fighting narratives over every documentary or comment may be counterproductive in this regard.
Second, and probably more importantly, a confident culture and polity should not feel compelled to be decent and open to criticism. Disturbingly, a ruling party treats criticism as an attack on the nation. After all, autocracy and democracy are about more than GDP and what each can get away with. Should be.
