15th Dec, Hindu editorial

This editorial discusses the whole gamut of relationship that India has with China. Also discusses some of the approaches to take the strained relationship forward.

• In 2003 Vajpayee and Jian Zemin appointed Special representatives to accelerate the process of settlement of boundary dispute
• Little did they know that 7 years down the line the dispute would further become a stumbling block in India-china relationship
• The line of actual control may be peaceful but the urgency on both sides to settle the dispute has aggravated the bilateral relations
• The spectacular rise of India and china has exposed them to similar set of challenges like

• Globalization and its imbalances
• Transnational Security threats
• Environmental degradation
• Piracy and maritime security
• Political instability in their neighbourhood

• They now are the engines of growth for the world and Asian economy
• This bestows on them immense responsibility that they need to discharge jointly
• Hence china and India need to refrain from taking assertive strategic positions like what they are doing now

• China : “go it alone” strategy
• India: “tagging along with the US” strategy

• Instead of focusing on disputes, India china need to look out for issues where convergence can be reached at
• Two years ago China started questioning status of J&K by giving stapled visas to J&K residents
• China  has become more aggressive on its claims over Arunachal Pradesh which it refers to  as “Southern Tibet”
• On the Indian side , the irresponsible public statements by military generals and negative campaign by media has widened the trust deficit
• However both countries seem to realize the repercussions of growing mistrust and have taken steps to bridge it. This is reflected in the fact that the special representatives have decided to widen their scope of discussion to political and strategic spheres in an attempt to de-territoralize the relationship
• Terming India and China as rivals is an over-generalization of a complex and textured relationship that encompasses many diverse issues.
• Indian foreign policy can broadly be divided into 3 spheres

• Asia
• South east Asia
• World

• It is in the Asian region that both are at loggerheads
• China –Pakistan nexus is a source of concern for India
• There are fears of Chinese encirclement of India with the growing Chinese presence in India’s neighbourhood
• But at international fora like UNSC, G20 , UNFCCC we have more in common with each other than with any other nation.
• Another pertinent point is China‘s infrastructure projects in different nations shouldn’t be seen as a zero sum game.  These projects have multiplier effects for Indian companies

SOLUTION

• For China  , the priority is to counter the India-US nexus. This is because of China ‘s perception that Indo-US coalition is trying to undermine its influence.
• India needs to make it clear to China  that it seeks to maintain good relationship with both US and China  and that it doesn’t see one as a substitute of another
• India should express its interest to work closely with China  on issues of Asian secuirty
• Most of China‘s energy demand is met through supplies that come through Indian ocean. This provides an opportunity for India, with its strategic location in Indian ocean, to cooperate with China  on maritime issues
• Broadening the spheres of cooperation is the best way to take the relationship forward and to reset the relation

Penned by: Bharath Vaishnov