BEIJING: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reverentially referred to as ‘Modi Laoxian’ which means ‘Modi the immortal’ by Chinese netizens, a uncommon respectful reference to a world chief, however the bitter India-China border row, in keeping with an article revealed within the US-based strategic affairs journal The Diplomat. In the article – ‘How is India seen in China?’, Mu Chunshan, a journalist identified for analysing Chinese social media, particularly Sina Weibo, (akin to Twitter in China), additionally mentioned that the majority Chinese really feel that India led by Modi can preserve a steadiness amongst main nations on the earth. Sina Weibo has over 582 million lively customers.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an unusual nickname on the Chinese internet: Modi Laoxian. Laoxian refers to an elderly immortal with some weird abilities. The nickname implies that Chinese netizens think Modi is different, even more amazing than other leaders,” he mentioned.
They level to each his gown and bodily look, seen as Laoxian-like, and a few of his insurance policies, that are totally different from India’s earlier ones, Mu mentioned.
On India’s relations with different main nations, he mentioned, whether or not it’s Russia, the United States, or Global South nations, India can get pleasure from pleasant ties with all of them, which is “very admirable” to some Chinese netizens.
“So the word ‘Laoxian’ reflects the complex sentiment of Chinese people toward Modi, combining curiosity, astonishment, and perhaps a dash of cynicism,” Mu wrote.
“I have been doing international media reports for nearly 20 years and it is rare for Chinese netizens to give a nickname to a foreign leader. Modi’s nickname stands out above all others. Clearly, he has made an impression on Chinese public opinion,” he mentioned.
Besides internet hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and former Premier Li Keqiang, since he got here to energy in 2014, Modi additionally held two uncommon casual summits with Xi, 69, in Wuhan and later in Mamallapuram close to Chennai, which raised expectations of enchancment within the relations between the 2 Asian giants.
The Sino-Indian relations hit the underside following aggressive navy actions by the Chinese navy in jap Ladakh violating the agreements to resolve the border dispute resulting in a virtually three-year-long navy standoff.
The two nations have held 17 rounds of high-level navy commanders’ talks to resolve the standoff.
India has been sustaining that ties with China can’t be regular until there may be peace within the border areas.
Modi can be well-known in China as he interacted with the Chinese public by way of his account on Sina Weibo which he opened in 2015 and had over 2.44 lakh followers.
However, he give up Weibo in July 2020 after the Indian authorities moved to ban 59 Chinese Apps to ship a ‘sturdy message on the border, on the financial entrance and at a private degree too,’ in keeping with BJP basic secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh.
In his article, Mu says Chinese views of India are very difficult however usually primarily based on a way of superiority and self-confidence.
Significantly, he writes that the Chinese netizens imagine China’s makes an attempt to make use of its ‘all-weather ally’, Pakistan as ‘unrealistic’ because the hole between the 2 South Asian neighbours is ‘getting wider’, an obvious reference to the political and financial meltdown Pakistan is presently experiencing.
“The information over the previous 9 years have proved that China and India have extra room for cooperation. For instance, China’s commerce with India is price USD115 billion a yr ‘excess of China’s commerce with Pakistan, which sits at round USD 30 billion’, Mu wrote.
“Of course, China has not forgotten Pakistan. But many Chinese netizens have a realistic view of the two South Asian neighbours. The argument is very sober: The idea of using Pakistan to restrain India is becoming more unrealistic because the gap between Pakistan and India is getting wider,” he mentioned.
He additionally writes about Chinese apprehension about India’s rising recognition with western nations, particularly with the US and New Delhi’s dealing with of the Ukraine disaster with out disrupting its shut ties with Russia and America.
“This is only one instance of a widespread notion in China: India is the favorite of the West, whereas China has turn out to be the goal of the West. How did India handle this? Why is India’s circle of worldwide buddies so massive?- was the query debated by the Chinese netizens.
Most Chinese individuals really feel a way of superiority and self-confidence vis-a-vis India and naturally, most Chinese individuals do not prefer to see India get too near the United States, however in addition they assume China and India can nonetheless cooperate, the article mentioned.
