Meanwhile, along with greater trade and investment cooperation, China is also busy expanding its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region and sowing dissension within Asean, for example, by using its money power to persuade Cambodia and Laos to break ranks with the consensus-driven Asean. In brief, it is challenging the established international order and as per President Xi Jinping ready to fight “the bloody battle” to regain its rightful place in the world. China is quite capable of using force upfront, to secure its objectives, unlike most nations, including India, which do so as a last resort.0 government is off to a flying start. Fortunately, blessed with a decisive and visionary leadership, the nation is ready, as never before. This has had a real-time impact. He unveiled a series of domestic initiatives like Swachchh Bharat, Jan Dhan, Ujjwala, Ayushman, Mudra, demonetisation, Make in India and GST that were bold and transformative. However, it is also a fact that in the recent period the comity of nations, having seen through Pakistani perfidy, is beginning to speak out in unison; the Indian response is getting more muscular and the Pakistani economy is in a freefall. The danger of conflict was averted during the Doklam standoff in June-August 2017.China, with which we share a 4,000-km-long undelineated border, resulting in hundreds of incursions annually and occasional standoffs, presents a much bigger long-term challenge.India has entered a phase of unprecedented opportunities and challenges, which would severely test its diplomatic dexterity.The vigorous personal outreach to the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the one hand and Israel on the other, during the last five years by Prime Minister Modi, has yielded good results and would certainly be sustained. This momentum is likely to be sustained. All the same, he accorded primacy to India’s relations with its immediate and extended neighbourhood. In January 2018, all 10 Asean leaders were invited as chief guests at India’s Republic Day celebrations.The Narendra Modi 2. India is seen as a rising and benign power (except by Pakistan). Soon he counted leaders from the East to West — Shinzo Abe of Japan to Barack Obama of the United States — as friends.By inviting the Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) leaders as the guests of honour for his second term swearing-in ceremony on May 30, the Prime Minister has unequivocally reiterated India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. Beijing is indulging in a creeping expansionism all along its sprawling neighbourhood, besides using Pakistan for غير مجاز مي باشد warfare against India. To sustain the Wuhan-spirit, an early followup event in India is quite likely.With the expanding Chinese footprint in both regions — perceived as a mixed blessing — its desire for even closer collaboration with India is quite evident. Bimstec bridges the Saarc and Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) regions, which are vital to India’s strategic, economic, security and cultural interests.