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        Communism, in itself, is a danger. And when it joins hands with slant-eyed cunning it represents a peril beyond the ken of normal thinking. The Chinese embody this and their continuous double-dealing with India reflect the problem. Its continuos illegal occupation of Tibet, and its ability to keep the world bodies and civil societies focussed elsewhere is a triumph of its diversionary tactics. As India's foreign policy initiatives are almost taken up by its fixation with Pakistan, the machinations of Chinese are pushed to a disturbing sideline. That India can ill-afford to take the Dragons lightly has been proven ever since Zhou Enlai thrust a knife on India's back with one hand even while proffering the other in friendship. The 1962 aggression on India is a major slap on the face of all those who cry out for normal relationships with them. The problem for Indian foreign policy makers is that there is a large-section of unthinking and blinkered Communists here who are forever sold out to the Chinese. Quite dangerously, the Communists have a hand in the handles of power at the Centre now. This precludes any scope for a strong rebuttal for periodic Chinese misadventures vis-a-vis India. Last year, the visiting Chinese ambassador Sun Yuxi made the most provocative of comments on Arunachal Pradesh. The gist of his over-the-top observation was that Arunachal was part of China. New Delhi should have strongly hit back and showed that the Dragons were merely breathing fire with incendiary intentions.

        Having done nothing on that occasion (a few vacuous protestations amount to just ant bites), New Delhi again finds itself in a sorry pickle now. Beijing has refused to grant visa to an IAS officer from Arunachal Pradesh citing that he is a citizen of China by virtue of being from the State. This clearly reflects China's grand designs on Arunachal. It is no secret that China sees India as its major competitor. Indian software pros and their Chinese counterparts are forever jostling for the same slot in the global market place. The only thing that is keeping the Chinese economy from galloping further is the rise and competition from India.

        China, apparently, is unable to come to terms with the fact that India has much more global acceptance as because it is a democracy. China has opened up its economy and embraced globalisation heartily. Yet, while the winds of change have blown soothingly on many spheres in China, the dragon country continues to reel under a typical violent and totalitarian Communist regime that still does not allow dissent in any form. Crimson is a constant concomitant of any Communist narrative. China is no different. So dealing with such a regime, India has to be doubly strong. New Delhi should be ready for two fights — one on the border and the other on the frontiers of economy. Chinese can be trusted to not play fair. New Delhi should also be careful that its diplomatic gaffes don't spoil its economic edge. The Indian tiger should not crouch against the vaulting dragon.