New Delhi shouldn't let business ties be held hostage by ultra-nationalism

Although Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indian counterpart announced on Friday that a consensus had been reached on reducing the border tensions between the two countries after their talks in Moscow, some Indian media outlets continue to speculate on the tensions by fomenting nationalism, jingoism and populism.

Underlying this irresponsible fanning of irrational hysteria by the media is the targeting of Chinese apps, companies and imports by the Narendra Modi administration. The government's campaign against everything Chinese is providing the Indian media with the gasoline they are using to fuel the flames of ultra-nationalism, indicating that New Delhi will need to demonstrate it is willing to act in good faith to materialize the aforementioned consensus if public sentiment is to be taken off the boil.

The question is which party's interests New Delhi is trying to serve by intentionally expanding the tensions from limited border areas to trade and economic cooperation.