India 'jealous' of China's growing clout: State media

BEIJING: Days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, the state-run media here today said India was "jealous" of China's growing influence in Asia and charged it with instigating "small" neighbours for a "gang fight" against this country.

"India jitters at the sight of China gaining prestige in Asia, in particular, in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and takes China's ever-growing regional influence in recent years as a strategic encirclement to target and contain India," Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on its website.

Written in response to an article, "Asia's Giants Colliding at Sea?", by former Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, it said India is living under "delusion" that China was out to encircle it.

The Xinhua commentary came nearly a week after Singh and Wen met in Bali on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit and agreed that there was enough space and areas for the two Asian giants to work together.

Their meeting on November 18 took place against the backdrop of the South China Sea row. Apparently referring to India's 'Look East' policy consolidating its ties with Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Japan, the commentary said New Delhi is resorting to "instigate" China's neighbours to contain its influence.

China had sought "a win-win model when it developed economic and trade relations with its neighbours, including India," it said.