NEW DELHI: the Chinese Internet users gave an “unusual” nickname to Prime Minister Narendra Fashion – “Modi Laoxian” – even as India and China have engaged in a bitter border dispute for the past three years. “Modi Laoxian” means Modi is immortal. In Chinese, Laoxian refers to “an old immortal with strange abilities”.
According to a recent report by a US-based international online news magazine, Chinese netizens think Prime Minister Modi is different – “even more amazing” – than other world leaders. The difference to Laoxian is not only in her dress style and physical appearance, but also in some of her policies from her predecessors, Chinese netizens believe.
According to the article published in The Diplomat, it is not just his appearance or his politics, but the curiosity, astonishment and “perhaps a hint of cynicism” that he evokes in the Chinese people, which is reflected in the word “Laoxian”.
The author of the article goes on to say that it is rare for Chinese netizens to give a nickname to a foreign leader and PM Modi’s nickname stands out above all others. “Obviously he made an impression on Chinese public opinion.”
Still amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, which pits the United States and the West against Russia, according to the article, most Chinese believe that Prime Minister Modi’s India can maintain a balance between the main countries of the world. “Whether it is Russia, the United States or the southern countries, India can maintain friendly relations with all of them, which is very admirable for some Chinese netizens,” reads the article.
The article concludes that on the whole, the Chinese have no ill will towards India except for the border dispute.
The Chinese and Indian armies have been locked in a stalemate since 2020 following the former’s aggressive military actions in eastern Ladakh, breaching agreements to resolve the border dispute.
The two countries held 17 rounds of high-level military commander talks to resolve the impasse.
Not just on the Chinese internet, Prime Minister Modi is well known in China. He even interacted with the Chinese public through his account on the Sina Weibo microblogging site which he opened in 2015 and which had over 2.44 lakh subscribers.
However, he quit Weibo in July 2020 after the Indian government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps following the border skirmish. The Chinese equivalent of TwitterSina Weibo, currently has more than 582 million active users.
Additionally, shortly after first taking charge of the Center in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad, followed by former Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
The Diplomat article adds that the Chinese view of India is very complicated, but generally based on a sense of superiority and self-confidence.
The article also mentions Chinese netizens’ views on having better relations with India than with Pakistan, as they believe that China’s attempts to use its “all-weather ally “Pakistan are “unrealistic” because “the gap between the two South Asian neighbors is widening”. Pakistan has recently been dragged into political and economic collapse.
“The facts of the past nine years have proven that China and India have more room for cooperation. For example, China’s trade with India is worth $115 billion a year, far more than China’s trade with Pakistan, which is around $30 billion. , reads the article.
The article also mentions Chinese apprehension of India’s growing popularity with Western countries, especially the United States, and New Delhi and Beijing being on the same page regarding the Ukraine crisis.
The article further mentions a common debate among Chinese netizens. “Why is India the West’s favourite, while China has become its West’s target. How did India achieve this?”
Well, the answer was that most Chinese, with “a sense of superiority and self-confidence”, felt that India was not developed enough to pose a threat to the West as China is. .
(With agency contributions)
According to a recent report by a US-based international online news magazine, Chinese netizens think Prime Minister Modi is different – “even more amazing” – than other world leaders. The difference to Laoxian is not only in her dress style and physical appearance, but also in some of her policies from her predecessors, Chinese netizens believe.
According to the article published in The Diplomat, it is not just his appearance or his politics, but the curiosity, astonishment and “perhaps a hint of cynicism” that he evokes in the Chinese people, which is reflected in the word “Laoxian”.
The author of the article goes on to say that it is rare for Chinese netizens to give a nickname to a foreign leader and PM Modi’s nickname stands out above all others. “Obviously he made an impression on Chinese public opinion.”
Still amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, which pits the United States and the West against Russia, according to the article, most Chinese believe that Prime Minister Modi’s India can maintain a balance between the main countries of the world. “Whether it is Russia, the United States or the southern countries, India can maintain friendly relations with all of them, which is very admirable for some Chinese netizens,” reads the article.
The article concludes that on the whole, the Chinese have no ill will towards India except for the border dispute.
The Chinese and Indian armies have been locked in a stalemate since 2020 following the former’s aggressive military actions in eastern Ladakh, breaching agreements to resolve the border dispute.
The two countries held 17 rounds of high-level military commander talks to resolve the impasse.
Not just on the Chinese internet, Prime Minister Modi is well known in China. He even interacted with the Chinese public through his account on the Sina Weibo microblogging site which he opened in 2015 and which had over 2.44 lakh subscribers.
However, he quit Weibo in July 2020 after the Indian government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps following the border skirmish. The Chinese equivalent of TwitterSina Weibo, currently has more than 582 million active users.
Additionally, shortly after first taking charge of the Center in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad, followed by former Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
The Diplomat article adds that the Chinese view of India is very complicated, but generally based on a sense of superiority and self-confidence.
The article also mentions Chinese netizens’ views on having better relations with India than with Pakistan, as they believe that China’s attempts to use its “all-weather ally “Pakistan are “unrealistic” because “the gap between the two South Asian neighbors is widening”. Pakistan has recently been dragged into political and economic collapse.
“The facts of the past nine years have proven that China and India have more room for cooperation. For example, China’s trade with India is worth $115 billion a year, far more than China’s trade with Pakistan, which is around $30 billion. , reads the article.
The article also mentions Chinese apprehension of India’s growing popularity with Western countries, especially the United States, and New Delhi and Beijing being on the same page regarding the Ukraine crisis.
The article further mentions a common debate among Chinese netizens. “Why is India the West’s favourite, while China has become its West’s target. How did India achieve this?”
Well, the answer was that most Chinese, with “a sense of superiority and self-confidence”, felt that India was not developed enough to pose a threat to the West as China is. .
(With agency contributions)
