China has long weaponised maps, names and history against Bharat; Delhi is finally learning to return the favour.

By Utpal Kumar | Firstpost | 10 August 2026

Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, in his book How China Sees India, recounts an extraordinary conversation between Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1972.

“India is a highly suspicious country,” Zhou told Kissinger. “It is quite a big country; sometimes it puts on airs of a big country, but sometimes it has an inferiority complex.”

Kissinger had a ready explanation: “It has been governed by foreigners through most of its history.”

“Yes,” Zhou replied, “that might be one of the historical factors.”

Then came the most fascinating — and revealing — recollection. Zhou told Kissinger about a tea party the then Indian Prime Mini...