Calls to boycott Chinese goods grow in India amid Doklam row/ENG

2017. augusztus 8/Phayul.com/TibetPress

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By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 8: The tension between Asia’s two biggest economic and military powers growing tense by the day over the standoff in Doklam has prompted certain political outfits and the general public in India to call for the boycott of Chinese made goods.

The call aimed to supposedly choke China off Indian market was proposed in India in response to China’s aggressive postures hinting at military action and even all out war against its neighbor in the south.

Videos of Indian youth taking rounds of shops to appeal for boycott of Chinese goods were circulated on social networking sites. A video shows bulldozer bringing down signboards of Indian shops dealing with Chinese mobile Vivo and Oppo in a city in Maharashtra.

Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),one of India’s Hindu nationalist organizations will kick off their ‘Boycott Chinese goods’ movement beginning tomorrow (Aug. 9) in New Delhi. The organization’s economic wing has said that over a crore people have already pledged to support the movement also adding that 2017 will be observed as the ‘anti-China’ year.

Yoga guru Baba Ram Dev, a strong voice against China who has a cult following in the country also called for the boycott of Chinese made goods. "China is openly supporting the terrorists of Pakistan. We need to give a befitting reply to Pakistan and for this firstly we have to merge Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) with India and secondly every Indian should boycott China made products whether it be mobile, watches, cars, or toys," Ramdev said on Saturday.

Columnist for The Hindu, Paran Balakrishnan writes that there are 400-500 Chinese firms in India today and claims that China has much stake in India’s booming market especially in telecom and pharmacy among others.

The Doklam standoff began almost two months ago when China was confronted by India, Bhutan’s protectorate while Chinese military was constructing strategic metaled road in the disputed Doklam plateau. The completion of the Chinese military project would give them tactical upper hand in what the experts call the “chicken’s neck” region near Siliguri in the event of disharmony with India.