NEW DELHI: the Chinese netizens they gave an “unusual” nickname to Prime Minister Narendra Modi – “Modi Laoxian” – even though India and China have been engaged in a bitter border row for the past three years. “Modi Laoxian” means that Modi is immortal. In Chinese, Laoxian refers to “an immortal elder with some strange abilities”.
According to a recent report in a US-based international online news magazine, Chinese netizens think Prime Minister Modi is different – “even more surprising” – than other world leaders. The difference similar to Laoxian is not only in his dress and physical appearance, but also in some of his policies compared to his predecessors, Chinese netizens think.
According to the article published in The Diplomat, it is not just his appearance or policies, but the curiosity, awe and “perhaps a hint of cynicism” he evokes among 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 foreign leader a nickname and that Prime Minister Modi’s nickname stands out above all others. “He Clearly Impressed Chinese Public Opinion.”
Even in the midst of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, which has pitted the United States and the West against Russia, according to the article, most Chinese believe 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 countries of the Global South, India can maintain friendly ties with all of them, which is very admirable for some Chinese netizens,” the article read.
The article concludes that, overall, the Chinese have no hard feelings towards India, except in relation to the border dispute.
The Chinese and Indian militaries have been engaged in a standoff since 2020 following aggressive military actions by the former in eastern Ladakh, breaching agreements to settle the border dispute.
The two countries have held 17 rounds of talks between senior military commanders to resolve the stalemate.
Not only on the Chinese Internet, Prime Minister Modi is well known in China. Lui has also interacted with Chinese audiences through his account on the Sina Weibo microblogging site which he started in 2015 and has had over 2.44 million followers.
However, he quit Weibo in July 2020 after the Indian government moved to ban 59 Chinese apps following the border skirmish. The Chinese equivalent of ChirpingSina Weibo, currently has over 582 million active users.
Also, soon after taking office at the Center for the first time in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad, followed by former Premier Li Keqiang.
Diplomat’s article adds that Chinese views on India are highly complicated, but generally based on a sense of superiority and self-confidence.
The article also mentions Chinese netizens’ views on having better ties with India than Pakistan, as they believe China’s attempts to use its “all-weather ally” Pakistan are “unrealistic” as the ” gap between the two South Asian neighbors is widening.” Pakistan has been embroiled in both a political and economic meltdown lately.
“The events of the past nine years have shown that China and India have more room for cooperation. For example, China’s trade with India is worth $115 billion a year, much more than China’s trade with Pakistan, which is around 30 billion dollars”. , reads the article.
The article also mentions Chinese apprehension over India’s growing popularity with Western countries, particularly with the United States, and New Delhi and Beijing being on the same page regarding the Ukrainian crisis.
The article also mentions a common debate among Chinese netizens. “Because India is the West’s favorite, while China has become its target of the West. How did India manage 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 as much threat to the West as China is.
(With contributions from agencies)
According to a recent report in a US-based international online news magazine, Chinese netizens think Prime Minister Modi is different – “even more surprising” – than other world leaders. The difference similar to Laoxian is not only in his dress and physical appearance, but also in some of his policies compared to his predecessors, Chinese netizens think.
According to the article published in The Diplomat, it is not just his appearance or policies, but the curiosity, awe and “perhaps a hint of cynicism” he evokes among 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 foreign leader a nickname and that Prime Minister Modi’s nickname stands out above all others. “He Clearly Impressed Chinese Public Opinion.”
Even in the midst of the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, which has pitted the United States and the West against Russia, according to the article, most Chinese believe 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 countries of the Global South, India can maintain friendly ties with all of them, which is very admirable for some Chinese netizens,” the article read.
The article concludes that, overall, the Chinese have no hard feelings towards India, except in relation to the border dispute.
The Chinese and Indian militaries have been engaged in a standoff since 2020 following aggressive military actions by the former in eastern Ladakh, breaching agreements to settle the border dispute.
The two countries have held 17 rounds of talks between senior military commanders to resolve the stalemate.
Not only on the Chinese Internet, Prime Minister Modi is well known in China. Lui has also interacted with Chinese audiences through his account on the Sina Weibo microblogging site which he started in 2015 and has had over 2.44 million followers.
However, he quit Weibo in July 2020 after the Indian government moved to ban 59 Chinese apps following the border skirmish. The Chinese equivalent of ChirpingSina Weibo, currently has over 582 million active users.
Also, soon after taking office at the Center for the first time in 2014, Prime Minister Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in Ahmedabad, followed by former Premier Li Keqiang.
Diplomat’s article adds that Chinese views on India are highly complicated, but generally based on a sense of superiority and self-confidence.
The article also mentions Chinese netizens’ views on having better ties with India than Pakistan, as they believe China’s attempts to use its “all-weather ally” Pakistan are “unrealistic” as the ” gap between the two South Asian neighbors is widening.” Pakistan has been embroiled in both a political and economic meltdown lately.
“The events of the past nine years have shown that China and India have more room for cooperation. For example, China’s trade with India is worth $115 billion a year, much more than China’s trade with Pakistan, which is around 30 billion dollars”. , reads the article.
The article also mentions Chinese apprehension over India’s growing popularity with Western countries, particularly with the United States, and New Delhi and Beijing being on the same page regarding the Ukrainian crisis.
The article also mentions a common debate among Chinese netizens. “Because India is the West’s favorite, while China has become its target of the West. How did India manage 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 as much threat to the West as China is.
(With contributions from agencies)
