External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently characterized India’s economic relationship with China as “very unfair and very unbalanced,” highlighting the disparity in market access between the two nations. He noted that while India faces significant barriers to entering the Chinese market, China enjoys considerably better access to the Indian market. Jaishankar made these remarks during an address at the Global Centre for Security Policy in Geneva earlier this September.India’s trade deficit with China continues to expand, with Chinese imports exceeding $100 billion in the fiscal year 2024, while Indian exports to China remained just above $16 billion in the same period. Concurrently, there appears to be a growing sentiment among the Chinese public against engaging in business with India.
This shift raises questions about the underlying reasons and the perspectives being expressed by various segments of the Chinese populace. To gain insight into this sentiment, it is crucial to explore the general perception of India among the Chinese people, particularly as many Indians, including students in China, often find themselves taken aback by the negative representation of India in Chinese media. Social media serves as a valuable lens through which to examine the opinions of the average Chinese citizen.The Chinese viewpoint suggests that India has effectively surrounded and restricted China, aided by Western nations, particularly through its participation in the Quad alliance. Nonetheless, a significant portion of the Chinese populace is wary of India’s growing ties with the United States. They perceive that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is capable of striking a balance among the world’s major powers, including Russia, the United States, and countries in the Global South. Additionally, many Chinese internet users express a sense of envy towards Indians, as they perceive that Indians possess a carefree and optimistic outlook on life, in stark contrast to the more critical and discontented demeanor often observed among the Chinese.