Chinese govt think-tank accuses PM Narendra Modi of 'playing little tricks'

BEIJING: China has begun hardening its stand towards India days ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit between May 14 and 16. An expert with a government think-tank even accused the state guest of “playing little tricks“.

Worried about Modi drawing over 40,000 followers on Weibo, China's Twitter, significant efforts are on to influence public opinion against him, observers say . There's a sudden rush of comments on Weibo reminding the PM about the territorial dispute between the two countries.

“There's strong public sentiment about the Aru nachal issue. The Chinese government is under pressure from the public on this,“ Mao Siewei, former Chinese consul general in Kolkata said. “Modi must take note of the feelings of the Chinese people.“ On his part, Modi made yet another friendship overture over the Chinese social media on Tuesday .

“I had a wonderful interaction with the Chinese media. Several issues were discussed,“ he said. “I highlighted the immense scope for further growth in India-China ties. We should pool our strengths to help developing nations to eradicate poverty .“

“The 21st century will be Asia's. Asia is the land of Buddha. It's Asia's responsibility to ensure this century is the one that delivers freedom from war,“ the PM said. “I was delighted to receive President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad last year, and honoured he's coming to Xi'an to receive me personally“. India has had a taste of China's mood swings when its Army intruded into Indian territory bang in the middle of Xi Jinping's visit last September.

Writing in Beijing-based Global Times, a research fellow with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences advised Modi on where to go and what to say. “Modi should no longer visit the disputed border region in pursuit of his political interests, nor should he deliver any remark infringing on the consensus on bilateral ties,“ Hu Zhiyong wrote on Tuesday .

China, Hu added, was worried about India's close ties with Japan. “Modi has been busy strengthening India's ties with neighbours to compete with China...He has been playing little tricks over border disputes and security issues, hoping to boost his domestic prestige while increasing his leverage in negotiations with China“. These remarks sharply contrasted with statements emerging out of the Chinese foreign ministry and its embassy in New Delhi.

In New Delhi, Chinese ambassador Le Yucheng said: “This visit will enrich the connotation of closer development partnership between the two countries, promote relations to a new level and make new contribution to peace and development in Asia and the world“.