Will India ever be able to slay the chinese dragon?

By Ayush Kumar

(Image source: Twitter/hkbhkese)

Our countrymen today live amidst falling incomes, rising inflation and then the huge chinese

invasion into our markets. It's a sad truth that Indian patriotism only surfaces on national

holidays and when border tensions aggravate. However, the Indian market has never witnessed patriotism when it comes to sale and purchase of goods. Indian market is inordinately a price sensitive market- lower prices implies customer attraction and retention as well. While this article is written some of you might be using a Chinese product in some direct/indirect way. Isn't it vague? Here, insinuation is done to your smartphone and others' as well. Even if it’s an iPhone, some of the key components are still being manufactured in China. Then, as one steers to the budget segment, Chinese companies have nearly a monopoly in this branch. With a humongous 73% of market share, where Xiaomi stand-alone owns 30% of Indian smartphone market, the pragmatic picture is evident to every Indian. (Reference counterpointresearch.com )

Smartphones are one such example where the ground reality is cited. In the real picture, India's reliance on China would take a painfully long time to fade away. India should be proud of its pharmaceutical sector because it has performed exceptionally well in recent

years but remains an underdog. We saw it shine during the pandemic, when India was asked to export Hydroxychloroquine. Here lies a big catch, better said a painful reliance on China again.

To manufacture medicines, India imports almost 70% of API(active pharmaceutical ingredient) from China, which is crucial to manufacture medicines.

Well, then arises a simple question. Even after paying import duties, tariffs and numerous

charges, why are Chinese products so affordable ? The foundation of China being a

manufacturing hub was set by Den Xiaoping right after he came to power, in 1978. Rest is

history. At present, as well considering- China is one of the key suppliers for the global

economy. India lies on the other hand. Our service sector is magnificent and one of the finest in the world.

But the goal of superpower 2020 cannot be attained without introducing reforms in our Industrial sector. In fact, our country still craves for a long lost Industrial revolution. With the economy falling, incomes contracting and the ground reality being incontrovertible, boycotting China won’t hurt China the way it might hurt India.

Make in India, Buy from India, vocal for local can only become a verisimilitude when Indian

manufacturers are exposed to competition and efficiency. Maruti Suzuki clearly states being

competitive is our only way out to taper Chinese Influence from Indian market.

Emotions surely hold value, but they can never feed hunger and alleviate poverty. Structured

actions from state and implementation by people is a recipe to overhaul the economy. Without reforms in the Industrial sector, India won’t be able to curb China and it’s indirect influence in economy.

Thus, when we wish to see our country in strength, we also need to plan about taking steps to strengthen it. With measures as strong as curbing out 59 Chinese apps in India, our citizens have participated now and been a part of it. Our collective efforts can surely take us steps ahead too, as we together shift our dependence, create better alternatives, strengthen our country from the core and see our country flood with swadeshi.