The clash of civilizations is imminent.
We have had instances in the past when a dominant power felt threatened by a rising one and tried to curb its advances by all means.
The Anglo-Dutch Wars, the British invasion of Afghanistan to thwart the efforts of Russia to establish a forward base, World Wars, the legendary clashes between Athens and Sparta in Ancient Greece and the ensuing game of one-upmanship between USA and China — the common theme among all these cases is the respective positions of the parties involved.
The US-China dispute is not about the economic gains only. It is rooted in the cultural, political, and philosophical differences. One celebrates the liberty and freedom of an individual but the other demands an unwavering love for the country and its institutions.
It may be beneficial for us to evaluate our relationship with China from this angle as well. The future looks bright for India and this might upset the applecart.
Suggestions of the boycott may not be a workable solution. Such hurried emotional reactions do not stick, and it is the long-term policy and planning which will bear any fruit.
China has already started to work on its vision 2050 plan which was unveiled in 2017.
The need of the hour is to think in decades and plan for centuries.