Victor Zhikai Gao, famous Chinese scholar, analyst and lawyer, has said that India “exists in a parallel universe” and indulges in fantasies while talking to Pakistani journalist Fahd Hussain on his TV show, drawing a flood of angry online reactions from Indian viewers.
Speaking to Hussain, Gao said that India exists in a parallel universe and indulges in fantasies, adding that he hopes the Indian government will be “realistic and pragmatic”.
“They should focus on economic development to make the Indian people happier and more prosperous, rather than engaging in kind of pursuit of pseudo-imperialistic goals, because I truly believe for India, try to play the role of an overlord on the Indian subcontinent is a dead end,” Gao said. “And eventually they will suffer all the consequences, rather than realizing any constructive goals for the benefit of the Indian people”.
The remarks set off a fruit from Indian trolls. Several questioned Gao’s credibility, with one user calling Dr Victor Gao, “the classic CCP mouthpiece”.
Other trolls called Gao a “Chinese stooge” and challenged him to pass the same remarks on an Indian television debate. One user wrote: “His psyops won’t work against India”.
Dr Gao has criticised India numerous times on Indian television channels.
Some reactions veered into broader civilisational arguments, with users invoking the Mughal empire, Alexander the Great and British colonialism to argue that India has outlasted outside forces. One user called it telling that China viewed India as an imperial power, saying it reflected China’s own insecurities.
Not all reactions were hostile. One user questioned why India and China could not simply work together, calling it beneficial for both sides.
