Prime Minister Narendra Modi According to an article published in the US-based strategic affairs magazine The Diplomat, despite the India-China border dispute, Chinese netizens are respectfully called ‘Modi Laoxian’ meaning ‘Modi Immortal’, a rare respectful reference to an international leader. . ,
In the article – ‘How is India seen in China?’, Mu Chunshan, a journalist known for analyzing Chinese social media, especially Sina Weibo, (similar to Twitter in China) also said that most Chinese feel Let’s say that under the leadership of Modi, India should maintain balance among the major countries of the world. Sina Weibo has over 582 million active users.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an unusual nickname on the Chinese Internet: Modi Laoxian. Laoxian refers to an elderly immortal with some strange abilities. The nickname implies that Chinese netizens think Modi is different from other leaders—even more surprising.
Mu said they point to both his dress and physical appearance, which are seen as similar to Laoxian, and some of his policies, which differ from India’s previous policies.
On India’s relations with other major countries, he said, whether it is Russia, the United States, or countries of the Global South, India can enjoy friendly relations with all of them, which is “very commendable” for some Chinese citizens. Is.
Mu wrote, “The word ‘Laoxian’ therefore reflects the Chinese people’s complex feeling towards Modi, which is a combination of curiosity, awe and perhaps cynicism.”
“I have been reporting international media for almost 20 years and it is rare for Chinese netizens to give a surname to a foreign leader. Modi’s surname stands above all others. Clearly, he has swayed Chinese public opinion, ” They said.
Apart from hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping and former premier Li Keqiang since coming to power in 2014, Modi also held two rare informal summits with the 69-year-old Xi in Wuhan and later in Mamallapuram near Chennai, leading both Expectations of improvement in relations between the countries grew. Two Asian giants.
Sino-India relations have been strained after aggressive military actions by the Chinese army in eastern Ladakh, violating agreements to resolve the border dispute, led to a nearly three-year-long military standoff.
To resolve the deadlock, 17 rounds of high-level military commanders’ talks have taken place between the two countries.
India says that relations with China cannot be normal until there is peace in the border areas.
Modi is also well known in China as he interacts with the Chinese public through his account on Sina Weibo, which he opened in 2015 and has over 24.4 million followers.
However, he left Weibo in July 2020 after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps to send “a strong message on the border, on the economic front and also on a personal level”, according to BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh. ,
In his article, Mu says that Chinese ideas about India are very complex – but generally based on a sense of superiority and self-confidence.
Importantly, he writes that Chinese netizens consider China’s attempts to use its “all-weather ally”, Pakistan, as “unrealistic” because of the gulf between the two South Asian neighbours. is becoming widespread”, a clear reference to the political and economic recession Pakistan is currently suffering from. “The facts of the past nine years have proved that there is more room for cooperation between China and India. For example, China’s trade with India is worth USD115 billion per year – much higher than China’s trade with Pakistan, which is about USD 30 billion”, Mu wrote.
Of course, China has not forgotten Pakistan. But many Chinese netizens take a realistic view of the two South Asian neighbors. The argument is grim: the idea of using Pakistan to contain India is becoming more unrealistic as the gulf between Pakistan and India widens.
He also writes about Chinese apprehension about India’s growing popularity with Western countries, especially the US and New Delhi’s handling of the Ukraine crisis without disrupting its close ties with Russia and the US. “This is just one example of a widespread belief in China: India is the West’s favourite, while China has become the West’s target. How did India manage this? Why is India’s circle of international friends so wide?” was a question debated by Chinese netizens.
Most Chinese people feel a sense of superiority and self-confidence towards India, and of course, most Chinese people do not want to see India too close to the United States, but they also think that China and India can still cooperate Are. It is said in the article.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)