Indian history is replete with short sighted policies which have allowed others to dominate, overwhelm and subjugate us to their will and rule. It started with the Persians & Alexander, continued with the Scythians, Parthians, Kushans, Sassanids, Mughals and last the British.
Over these periods, any one of the Indian rulers have been known to be either neutral, or support, aid and even collaborate with invaders, in order to spite, defeat or subjugate their counterpart. It started with -
Ultimately all of them lost.
Thus it is with bemusement one has to regard the report that the US is worried about computer chips from China getting into its military, because the chips may cripple or degrade systems or even carry ‘Trojan Horses’ to enable a cyber-attack.
While the US is actively pursuing efforts to safeguard against possible future security lapses, comes the news that India has lifted sanctions on import of telecom equipment of Chinese origin; Even though authorities were earlier worried that such telecom equipment could be embedded with spyware – the concern about spyware is now off-the-radar; If some data disappears or appears to have changed overnight in my PC, I worry about a virus or malware infection!
:-(
It would be continuing of short sighted policies by deciding on the price criteria alone (that an equipment is sold to you at 1/3rd the price of Western competitors), over riding the security criteria. Why, the dumping of British textile products and ban on flow of Indian goods within India during British Raj is more appropriate and a startling warning.
But as I’ve pointed out, when have the Jai Chands and Mir Jafars worried about those?
Over these periods, any one of the Indian rulers have been known to be either neutral, or support, aid and even collaborate with invaders, in order to spite, defeat or subjugate their counterpart. It started with -
- King Ambhi or Taxiles,
- Raja Jaichand,
- Ettappan continued the tradition, and
- the epitome was reached with Mir Jafar.
Ultimately all of them lost.
Thus it is with bemusement one has to regard the report that the US is worried about computer chips from China getting into its military, because the chips may cripple or degrade systems or even carry ‘Trojan Horses’ to enable a cyber-attack.
While the US is actively pursuing efforts to safeguard against possible future security lapses, comes the news that India has lifted sanctions on import of telecom equipment of Chinese origin; Even though authorities were earlier worried that such telecom equipment could be embedded with spyware – the concern about spyware is now off-the-radar; If some data disappears or appears to have changed overnight in my PC, I worry about a virus or malware infection!
:-(
It would be continuing of short sighted policies by deciding on the price criteria alone (that an equipment is sold to you at 1/3rd the price of Western competitors), over riding the security criteria. Why, the dumping of British textile products and ban on flow of Indian goods within India during British Raj is more appropriate and a startling warning.
But as I’ve pointed out, when have the Jai Chands and Mir Jafars worried about those?
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