China not jealous about India's Mars mission success: Chinese daily

China is not jealous about the success of India's Mars mission and, on the contrary, the Chinese people have many reasons to be happy about it, a leading English daily of China said Thursday, with a not so subtle reminder that the country boasts "much more advanced technological, economic and social development than India does".

"Apparently, China will not feel jealous of Mangalyaan entering Mars orbit," the Global Times, published by the well known People's Daily group said in an editorial headlined "India's Mars success boosts space research".

"Chinese people understand that they boast much more advanced technological, economic and social development than India does," it said.

Referring to China's first Mars exploratory probe, Yinghuo-1, that went missing one year after its launch in 2011, it said: "There is rhetoric on India's internet that the success of Mangalyaan is pouring salt into China's wounds, which, however, is too serious and strong a characterisation."

According to the editorial, the "Chinese people have myriad reasons to feel delighted at the success of the Mangalyaan probe along with the Indian people".

"If a country that is relatively backward in scientific research is able to send a probe to Mars, it is highly possible that Yinghuo-2 may succeed in the future."

Stating that no country can claim to be a leader in every arena, it said "India has proved this point in its competition with China".

"When poor nations participate in the space race, they are often sneered at by others and criticised domestically as well," the editorial commented.

"India sees itself as a major power that is supposed to do something 'irrelevant with people's interests' in the eyes of populists. A small country can be composed of schools, hospitals, restaurants and washrooms, while a big one must possess much more advanced technology such as satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, as well as constantly seek technological breakthroughs."

According to the newspaper, the Chinese people must reflect on India's space endeavour in the light of its prevailing social conditions.

"China's space programme and the relevance to its social development level were subjected to intensive Western public scrutiny, but the West takes China's competitiveness in space seriously now. India reminds us of the importance of taking the first step," it said.

Mangalyaan's success brings China more affirmation than a sense of competition, the daily stated.