Shashank Mattoo
Shashank Mattoo

@MattooShashank

18 Tweets 2 reads Mar 04, 2023
India has learned how to outplay China's diplomats
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ and ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ compete over:
-Disputed boundary and Line of Actual Control
-Influence in S. Asia
-Terrorism & ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ
-Indo-Pacific
3 diplomatic duels over 25 yrs show how ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ can outplay ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‘‡(1/18)
(From @VGokhale59's "The Long Game")
(2/18)
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ has some key negotiating tactics
1. Win negotiations before they begin (do your homework)
2. Use silence (buy time & delay)
3. Let someone else do the fighting (hide behind others & avoid unpopular stands)
4. Use "no" (frustrate opponents into compromise)
(3/18)
5. It ain't over till it's over (Delay defeat & extract compromises
6. Play your opponent (use flattery, anger, theatrics to achieve goals)
I've covered ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's tactics fully in this thread๐Ÿ‘‡
(4/18)
The game is up though
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ has seen through ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's tactics
Three duels between ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ&๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ demonstrate this:
1. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's quest to end sanctions post Pokhran (1998)
2. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's push to get waiver from Nuclear Suppliers Group (2008)
3. Listing Masood Azhar of JeM as a terrorist (2019)
(5/18)
Negotiation 1: Pokhran 1998
After ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ declared itself a nuclear weapons state w. Pokhran tests,๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ goal was:
- Cramp ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's nuclear development
- Align w. ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ & West to punish & isolate ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ for weapons test
- Establish ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's reputation as "responsible" state
(6/18)
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ used Tactic 3 (Let others do the fighting)
Hid behind ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ & UNSC to:
- Slap econ sanctions on ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
- Use Permanent 5 members to push restrictions on ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's nuclear program
- Push dialogue on Kashmir w. ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ
- Hold Summit on S. Asia with ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ to boost rep. as "responsible" pwr
(7/18)
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ pushed back
-Lobbied ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ govt. through Talbott-Singh talks to gain acceptance of nuclear program
-Once ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ was on board, reached out to UK, France & Japan to break coalition against ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
- Once coalition was broken, ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ knew ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ would have to accept nukes on ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's terms
(8/18)
Gokhale: The trick lies in separating ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ from the pack, 'isolating' them & keeping a steady course even if ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณuses..intimidation..to put pressure. If ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's self interest is exposed, will look for way out
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ used this to restore normal ties with ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ within a year of Pokhran
(9/18)
Negotiation 2: ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ duel over NSG waiver
- After news of ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ nuclear deal broke, ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ tried to stop ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ from getting NSG waiver through:
Tactic 2 (Use silence) - ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ masked its opposition to waiver for ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ by making vague statements. Did not want to hurt ties w. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ & ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
(10/18)
Tactic 3 (Let others fight): Lobbied to block ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Gokhale: ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ worked on small E'pean states to stoke fears about๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ intentions on non-proliferation..hoped that๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ camp followers to revolt against ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ deal. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ raised fears of nuclear use by irresponsible ctries.
(11/18)
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ&๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ fought back by:
-Reducing concern among neutral ctries by not officially recognising ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ as nuclear state
-Accomodating amendments by NSG
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ&๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ensured ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ was alone
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ Amb in ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ was told that if ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ didnโ€™t shift position, ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ties would be affected
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ folded
(12/18)
Negotiation 3: UNSC Listing of Masood Azhar
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ waged a decade long diplomatic battle with ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ to list Azhar, founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed
Despite ample evidence of Azhar's terror links, ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ blocked ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ efforts to list him b'cuz of relationship w.๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ
(13/18)
-Initially, ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ used Tactic 2 (Silence) to delay Azhar's listing, asked for more time to consider listing
-๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ then used Tactic 4 (Use "no"). Repeated its position asking for concrete proof & more discussion for a decade hoping ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ would give up
(14/18)
- Once ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ realised it was alone in opposing Azhar listing, used Tactic 5 (It ain't over till it's over)
Gokhale reveals that ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ offered to reconsider its block if ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ agreed not to list more๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ based terrorists
Even though ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ knew it had lost, tried to get concessions
(15/18)
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's tactics in this duel were the most effective
- Isolated ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ in UNSC by convincing other ctries to list Azhar
- Repeatedly raised Azhar issue w/o giving up over a decade
-Refused to accept ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's offer of Azhar listing in exchange for no more ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ terrorists
(16/18)
-๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ exploited ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's weakness: desire to maintain image & be seen as responsible pwr
By blocking listing,๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ risked image by fighting alone for a terrorist. ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ correctly guessed that image cost would be too high for ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ threatened to call๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ out publicly
(17/18)
Great example:
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ&๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ planned UNSC vote on Azhar listing. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ threatened to use veto
However, ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ&๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ called ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ's bluff & knew that ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ would suffer image damage if it used veto for a terrorist
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ knew the game was up & gave in. Azhar was listed a terrorist in May 2019
(18/18)
I've said it once and I'll say it again
@VGokhale59's "The Long Game" is a must-read if you'd like to understand how ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ negotiates with ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ

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