The ignored dragon!

As the US presidential election 2012 is approaching, the global media is very closely covering each and every aspect of the election. The Indian media is following the same path. Be it national or regional, print or television media, all are keeping a tab like never before. However, this is not a new phenomenon. As the US has massive dominance over the world, it is bound to happen. But global media attention is gradually shifting from the US to China as its activities and strategies are considered no less important than America. But, our media is still to realise the shift and act accordingly.

 

China has not only outplayed America by emerging as a manufacturing giant, it is also on the verge of becoming the next super power of the world. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has already announced that China will be the world's largest economy by 2016. Now the bell is ringing at India's door and the Indian media needs to shift its focus from America and bring into limelight each and every move of China. Not only because it is going to be the next super power but also because it shares its border with India. However, India does not have very good memories with China, mainly because of the Indo-China war of 1962, and the relations have never been very cordial ever since. On the same lines, our media has always talked about the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan but severally ignored Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China. Union Minister of State for Home, Mullappally Ramachandran recently admitted that Chinese troops have crossed over into Indian territory more than 500 times since January, 2010 but it is saddening that the issue was unable to attract the mainstream media.

 

Keeping aside all problematic issues, the rapid growth of China and its story of becoming the manufacturing hub of the world may be a perfect case study for India to revamp its economy and to bring back zeal amongst investors. Even, Chairman Emeritus of Infosys, Narayana Murthy opined that India should learn from China by saying “I meet a lot of chief executives outside India and earlier India was mentioned once every three times China was mentioned. But now, if China is mentioned 30 times, India is not even mentioned once." Moreover, unlike the US, each and every Chinese policy has had a direct impact on India. 

 

There is no doubt that the Indian media is obsessed with the border related issues between both nations. At last, India and China are well aware of their importance to each other. Eventually, the year 2012 has been declared as the year of India-China friendship and cooperation. Indian media should give up its myopic vision and must concentrate on giving China more importance so that Indo-China relationship can be viewed in a different perspective by the common man because it is the responsibility of media to highlight the issues that matter the most. At the same time, our government could work towards one or two such issues.