Amid the ongoing border row with China in eastern Ladakh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has suggested that Indian firms should use a 'national security filter' while dealing with the neighbouring country and should rely more on sourcing from domestic manufacturers.
Jaishankar, however, clarified that his suggestion did not mean to say that nothing at all can be sourced from China, while stressing at the same time that Indian businesses should mind national security sensitivities.
"Where China is concerned, we will still encourage people in this country- manufacture in India, source in India, procure from India," Jaishankar said during an interactive session at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event.
He further said "We have not completely and utterly prohibited people working with China but frankly, we would much rather you work with Indian companies if there is an Indian option available to you. That I think is good for our national security, we hope you think that it is good for your own business in the long term."
Speaking with reference to the ongoing border row, Jaishankar drew home the point that it would not be logical to deal with 'somebody who has just barged into one's drawing room and is trying to make a mess of their house fencing.'
"There is a common sense proposition there," he said.
Jaishankar further pointed out concerns regarding the 'weaponisation' of economic activity saying "They (with reference to China) have actually allowed for the weaponisation of virtually any form of economic activity. We have seen how both exports and imports, access to raw materials or even stability of tourism has been utilised to exert political pressure".
Jaishankar further emphasised it is about something more than the usual business.
"Because trust and reliability have become so important, foreign policy is today charged with creating the comfort levels between governments to make that happen. This is especially so in terms of de-risking supply sources and enhancing collaboration in sensitive, critical and emerging technologies," he said.
The External Affairs Minister noted that there was a need to align India's economic priorities with strategic interests.
"An economy with India's prospects also has to look at accessing global resources more seriously if we are to fuel our growth," he said.
Jaishankar went on to point out that India's old friend Russia is now 'turning eastwards', hence fresh economic opportunities are emerging.
"The spike in our trade and the new areas of cooperation should not be regarded as a temporary phenomenon", the former Foreign Secretary of India said.
