The Chief Minister of Kerala and a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Pinarayi Vijayan, has sent "revolutionary greetings" to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his recent re-election for an unprecedented third term as China's President.

Vijayan's tweet, sent on Sunday (12 March), expressed his admiration for China's growing influence in global politics and conveyed his best wishes for a more prosperous China.

The tweet has sparked outrage on social media. Vijayan's message, which comes amidst a tense military standoff between India and China on the Line of Actual Control, has drawn criticism for applauding a leader who is not democratically elected and is considered a dictator.

Many social media users have pointed out that Xi, in all likelihood, signed off on actions taken by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the Line of Actual Control and the recent military clashes between China and India, including the Galwan valley incident, that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and dozens of Chinese troops.

However, when seen with the CPI(M)'s official reaction to the incident in the Galwan Valley, where China's attempt to grab land led to deadly clashes, Vijayan's congratulatory tweet for Xi doesn't look surprising.

The CPI(M)'s first reaction to the clashes in Galwan was not just muted but also stopped short of calling out Chinese aggression.

In a report adopted by the CPI(M) on 26 July, just weeks after the clashes in the Galwan Valley, the party "extended support to the approach and stand adopted by the government of India", but it did not criticise China or the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

If anything, the report went on to praise China for its handling of Covid-19 and called out the US and it's partners, which includes India, for the "containment of China", even citing the restrictions imposed on Chinese compinies like Hwavei for their links with the CCP and the PLA, as an instance of economic containmeent of Beijing.

"In the entire anti-China campaign mounted by the USA now, India is taking a pro-US position.  This has serious implications for India’s  foreign policy, particularly for relations with our neighbours," the CPI(M) said in the same report, insinuating that New Delhi had invited trouble on the border.

"The USA is actively promoting the grouping of US, Australia, Japan, India – referred to as ‘QUAD’ to bring pressure on and to isolate China," it said.

In April 2022, the resolution adopted at the party's 23rd Congress, which mentioned China at least 52 times, read more like a document defending Chinese actions in the country and around the word.

Not only did the party stop short of criticising China and its leadership for the tearing down agreements signed with India for peace and tranquility on the border, it also said that India was "emerging as a steadfast subordinate ally of US imperialism".

"This is having serious consequences for relations with our neighbours and India’s international standing. This is taking place in the background of important global developments that have a direct bearing on the Indian situation today," said the party's report, insinuating, again, that India was responsible for the tensions on the border as it has grown closer to the US.

CPIM's defense of China has been a common thread in its response to the military crisis that has been unfolding on the LAC for over two years now.