India, July 14 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's strong message to Beijing from Ladakh some days ago and the global support he has garnered for calling out China's belligerence marks a much-awaited change in India's approach to the coercive tactics of this troublesome neighbour. China's attempt to re-draw the boundaries in the Galwan Valley last month is only the latest in a long list of such incursions it has resorted to. While the brave soldiers of the Indian Army challenged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) men at the site, one has not seen similar assertiveness among Indian politicians, especially in the past.

This is something that is going on from the days of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who seemed to have some totally...