China’s ambitious 19th National Congress of the Communist Party: What’s at stake

Reuters photo

By

Ratnesh Dwivedi

China is going to hold its 19th National Congress of the Communist Party on October 18, almost the same day as its sweet and sour neighbour India will be celebrating Deepawali, also famous for Chinese crackers being busted during this festive season.

Ratnesh Dwivedi, Tuck’s India Correspondent, interviewed two Indian thought leaders; one from the BJP Party and the other from RSS (Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh). Read what they have to say about this ambitious meeting:

Seshadri Ramanujan Chari is a journalist, politician and strategic and foreign policy analyst. Chari is a veteran swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Chari currently serves on the National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and formerly served as head of the Foreign Affairs Cell. Seshadri Chari is also currently engaged as Director, (International Affairs) Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Director, Forum for Strategic & Security Studies (FSSS), Secretary-General, Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), Non-officio member, Research and Information Systems for developing countries and is also the Director of Chronicle Society of India for Education & Research.

Ratnesh Dwivedi:  What do you think China’s Communist Party will discuss in this very ambitious meeting about India China relation post Doklam?

Seshadri Ramanujan Chari:  I doubt if the Doklam stand-off will ever be discussed in this meeting of the 19th People’s Congress. This is a regular party meeting where broad policy matters are discussed. Most of these issues are in fact discussed in smaller politburo meetings. Doklam appears to be the fallout of the friction between the Army and the political class in China. India took a firm stand and the stand-off was resolved in favour of India. In such circumstances, the political leadership would not like to raise this issue in Congress.

Ratnesh Dwivedi:  Do you think the Communist Party of China will re-elect Xi-Jinping as leader again?

Seshadri Ramanujan Chari:  So far there are no indications to the contrary. XI Jinping is the party head, the Secretary General, Chief of Army and the President, wearing three hats all at the same time. It will be difficult to dislodge him. So there is every chance that he will be re-elected the party chief again.

Ratnesh Dwivedi:  What is the significance of the 19th People’s Congress of Communist Party of China?

Seshadri Ramanujan Chari:  This meeting assumes importance due to many reasons. One is of course the Doklam stand-off not going in favour of China. The US withdrawal from the TPP has altered the trade relationship in this region. The Trump administration’s blow-hot-blow-cold policies towards China has disturbed the trade alliances between China and the US and between China and the EU. China has also come in for strong criticism from some of the South East Asian countries for its hegemonic approach in the region. For these and many other reasons this Congress promises to be a significant and also eventful one.

Ratnesh Dwivedi:  What significant turn can be seen in Sino-India relations after this meeting?

Seshadri Ramanujan Chari:  Due to India’s strong reaction and objection to CPEC, and New Delhi’s rejection to join the OBOR, China seems to have had a major setback though Beijing is not admitting it and probably never will. China does not change policies in a jiffy. Therefore, there will not be any immediate change in the policy towards India. But China is surely wary of the rising clout of India. With New Delhi getting stronger politically and economically, India is the most sought after investment destination. India is also emerging as the manufacturing hub due to ‘Make-in-India‘ and other strategies. Our diplomatic and military superiority and strategy has been proved beyond doubt in the Doklam stand-off. In all likelihood, Beijing will have to start treating India with the respect and re-calibrate their foreign policy in the region.

Sudhanshu Mittal is an Indian politician affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was in the 1979 batch of the St. Xavier’s School, Delhi. He completed his B. Com. from the Sri Ram College of Commerce (1982 batch) and was President of the Delhi University Students Union in 1983.Later, he took admission in the law college but dropped to support his family business.

Ratnesh Dwivedi: What do you think the major outcome will be in China-India relations in the post Doklam scenario after th e19th People’s Congress?

Sudhanshu Mittal:  China and India are both two growing economies in the world and, considering the power dynamics inside China, some significant positive decisions can be taken in bilateral relations between China and India.

Ratnesh Dwivedi:  Many liberal communists believe there may be change in leadership of Xi-Jinping?

Sudhanshu Mittal:  This is absolutely their internal matter but I agree that there are some internal political dynamics which may lead to some changes after the 19th convention.

Ratnesh Dwivedi:  How is India looking at it?

Sudhanshu Mittal:  With Curiosity.

Ratnesh Dwivedi

Ratnesh Dwivedi is a seasoned Academician, Author, Journalist, NASA Certified Educator and Board Member with 15 plus years in teaching and corporate. He has seen changing face of global politics and has written extensively on International Affairs.

He serves on board of a dozen global firms ranging from Mining, Oil & Gas, Electricity, Energy,Cyber Security, Intelligence, Defence and Counter Terrorism having finest people from corporate and Gov on board.

He holds membership with global organizations such as ECREA-Brussels, Mission Essential-Virginia, Global Ethics Network-Wash, American Astronomical Society-Wash, Internet Society-Virginia, CSIS-PONI-Wash, RTDNA-Wash, NSTA-Virginia, EIN News Desk, Bush Center, Texas and Foreign Correspondent Club, Delhi.

He has authored six books. The Story of an Intern is a Reportage, The Cosmic Mask is a Space Fiction. Third and fourth are awarded academic books. His fifth book, US Intelligence and Cost of War talks about USA Military engagements in Middle East .His sixth book on manned and unmanned missions of NASA is in print.

Ratnesh Dwivedi bears the honour of attending several high rated workshops of NASA and is awarded multiple certifications from NASA.

He has set up Radio and TV Stations in India. He is widely published Author in the field of Media and Communication with 34 publications and presentations across globe with 15000 downloads, which itself is a record.

He is Director-India and Professor with Global Institute for IT & Management, New York. He serves as Country Head with Advisors Energy Group NJ and Director with Synergence and Pro Energy Trade based in Chicago, all Energy and Financing companies. He is Manager-SMXP, Australia, a mining firm. He works as Country Head with Orion Global Technologies, UK. He is India Correspondent of Tuck Magazine. He is Institutional Representative with SECINDEF-Israel, an Intelligence agency and Global Representative with Opia and D-Fence, Israel.