China’s annual defence budget is more than three times that of India ($150 billion to $48 billion). One material manifestation was visible last week when Xi stopped over in Dhaka on his way to the BRICS summit at Goa. If China used ideology to justify its power politics, India has often allowed ideological principles to trump the sensible pursuit of realpolitik. Delhi can respond effectively to Beijing’s challenge only by redoing the equation between power and principle. It could begin by learning from China on how to put the principle of power above the presumed power of principle.

Source: Indian Express October 17, 2016 18:45 UTC