News Analysis: China Study Centres

By Kartik Lokhande

“Basically its work is academically and professionally oriented with the rigor and sophistication of public or cultural diplomacy,” reads the ‘Mission and Objective page of the website of China Study Center-Nepal. And, this is exactly the reason why Indian agencies have, from time to time, expressed their concerns over mushrooming of China Study Centres especially in Nepal in the areas too close to border with India.

For those still not finding the connecting dot between these study centres and Chinese interests vis-à-vis India, the above-mentioned statement of objective should be read again. The very use of expression ‘public or cultural diplomacy’ should concern not only security agencies but also every Indian citizen. For, it assumes deeper meaning when used in the context of strengthening of China and Nepal relations.

Of course, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is not the first to express the concern over mushrooming of China Study Centres along Indian border in Nepal. In 2009 and 2012, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and border security agencies had pointed out the growth in numbers of China Study Centres. Then, as India had adopted a policy of keeping mum out of fear of China and keeping under wraps any such observations, the then Government tried not to make the matter public. Till some years ago, the number of China Study Centres was five then 11 then 22. Now, as SSB has pointed out in its latest report, the number has grown up to four dozen, that is, 48. From 22 in 2012 to 48 in 2014, the growth in number of China Study Centres is more than double.

This is indeed a cause of concern for India. As has been the case, these study centres are a well-conceived and implemented part of the Chinese design to increase its influence in countries surrounding India, treated as the biggest rival of China. As Nepal shares a long and relatively free border with India, and the ideological space of Nepalese mind open to Maoism especially in past decade, China has obviously concentrated its efforts of ‘public or cultural diplomacy’ through these study centres in Nepal.

The activities of these study centres may appear to be study of China, but they are more directed towards indoctrination of Nepalese intellectuals in a manner as to further the ‘result-oriented’ approach of China. There were reports that these study centres were being used to gather information, in other words ‘spying’, on Indian activities. Further, these have close links with around 50 Chinese firms that have set up bases in Nepal. According to an old report of Indian Intelligence agencies, many of these firms have been set up by former officials of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China. These study centres are also believed to have been associated with radio stations that China has been promoting in Nepal, apparently to increase its influence on Nepalese mind and reducing that of India.

Indian security agencies also suspected that China Study Centres in Nepal are being used as instruments to further the Chinese idea of ‘two centenary goals’. Chinese President Mr Xi Jinping shed some light on this concept during his recent remarks. According to Xinhua, Mr Jinping had said, “Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), people of all ethnic groups in China are making concerted efforts to realize the two “centenary goals” (to complete the building of a society of initial prosperity in all respects when the CPC celebrates its centenary in 2021 and turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious when New China marks its centennial in 2049) and the Chinese dream of the great renewal of the Chinese nation.”

As China perceives India as a threat to its regional dominance efforts, it has started planting study centres along Indian border. Already, China has been pinning its ‘string of pearls’ through enhancement of ‘military-diplomatic-economic’ ties with countries surrounding India. Funding the monasteries especially in border areas of India and Bhutan is another facet of the grand Chinese strategy. And, China minces no words when it comes to disclosing its ambition.

Mr Jinping quoted a line from a Chinese poem, “The green lotus leaves stretch to the horizon and the lotus flowers look incredibly red in the sunshine.” In diplomacy, it means that while the China (Lotus) will bloom as a country, its green leaves (strengthening of military might, cultural diplomacy, enhanced economic and political co-operation with other countries in the region) will spread, to facilitate its rise.

The issue of China Study Centres in Nepal needs to be understood in this light. Indian Government under Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi appears to be in the know of things vis-à-vis Chinese strategy. Still, it needs to firmly formulate its objectives on the lines of what the legendary Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had once observed about China, “In my judgement, therefore, the situation is one in which we cannot afford either to be complacent or to be vacillating. We must have a clear idea of what we wish to achieve and also of the methods by which we should achieve it. Any faltering or lack of decisiveness in formulating our objectives or in pursuing our policy to attain those objectives is bound to weaken us and increase the threats which are so evident.” 

(Published in The Hitavada, Opinon Page, on December 30, 2014)