Defence Minister A.K. Antony has concluded his four-day visit to Beijing where he had talks with high dignitaries of that country. The visit of the Defence Minister has come after a gap of seven years. Its significance is that it took place after the April incursion of Chinese troops in Despang Valley. But notwithstanding that ugly incident, which however was resolved amicably, there seems a new and welcome phase of Sino-Indian relations likely to emerge soon. In a joint statement issued after the conclusion of the visit, it is said that the two countries have developed consensus on the question of moving towards Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA). Actually what has bedeviled relations between the two countries in the past is the border dispute. According to experts the border between India and China drawn by the previous colonial power in India and usually called McMahan Line was not acceptable to China. She has been claiming some areas that are on our side of the line. But China staked her claim to the disputed areas only after the British had left and the Indian Government in post-independence period cannot be accused as defaulter. This has been an irritant in relations between the two countries.
The good news is that the Defence Minister is convinced that his talks in Beijing have been fruitful and these will bring positive result. The consensus between the two high-powered delegations was that peace and tranquility have to be maintained on the borders. According to reports available, there has been real forward movement on the issue of making the borders trouble free. A joint statement issued after Antony’s meetings with Premier Li Keqiang, his counterpart Gen Chang Wanquan and State councilor Yang Jiechi, said peace and tranquility on the border were important guarantor for the growth of bilateral cooperation. It implies that both sides will desist from changing the existing position on the border while talks between the leadership on both sides continues to arrive at Border Defence Cooperation Agreement. This certainly is a new and healthy development of relationship between the two countries. It is a time consuming process in the sense that so far 16 meetings have taken place between the special representatives of two countries who are assigned the duty of conducting talks on border resolution matters. Defence Minister Antony is right in saying that the contemplated border agreement cannot happen overnight. All of its dimensions are to be discussed and made clear before any agreement can be signed.
It has to be understood that so far there was no positive and meaningful attempt or mechanism between the two countries to address their border disputes. With any untoward happening, the two sides would move in and depute representatives, military as well as civilians, to discuss and resolve the matter. But now it has been formally agreed that in case of any mishap the working agreement and protocols dealing with the maintenance of peace and tranquility will come into force and that process will be further strengthened. During the acrimonious incident of Despang Valley it had come to notice that the Chinese found Indian border infrastructure development a direct affront to them. Reflecting on this issue, Defence Minster Antony said that all aspects of the matter including that of infrastructure building were discussed.
Signing of Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), if it happens in near future, will be a landmark achievement for both the countries. This will mean putting a final seal to the border dispute that has bedeviled relationship between the two countries for last six decades. As has been hinted at, the only issue between the two countries is of border and that too has been primarily because of China not having accepted the McMahan Line. Any border agreement with India will obviously supersede the McMahan Line and thus the existing irritant between the two countries will be resolved once for all. We shall have to appreciate the statesmanship of the two governments that are engaged in building peace and tranquility in the region. There is vast scope of expanding relationship between India and China, two most powerful countries of the Asian Continent.
Defence Minister Antony has rightly stated that there has to be a new and practical realization of ground situation in both the countries. In all probability, this realization on the part of China might have come with the new leadership in that country now holding the reins of power. Premier Li after he was sworn in as the new President of China made his first visit to India and said that he had purposefully chosen India to be the first foreign country he would like to visit. This new thinking in Chinese leadership had to be responded with equal warm gesture. The harsh reality is that the two countries have to live in peace and tranquility if they mean to play constructive role in the region and the world.
In final analysis we feel our Defence Minister has played positive and constructive role in taking Sino-Indian bilateral talks forward. The process of moving towards a border agreement is going on with full determination and speed on both sides. That is welcome news for observers of international relations. We hail it and we appreciate the new thinking in both the countries of how the long-standing border issue will be solved once for all. As such nothing should be done that would derail the process as it has entered a critical phase. In order to lend further support to border agreement, the two sides have agreed to resume joint military exercise after a gap of five years. Cooperation between all the three wings of defence has been agreed upon. Delegations from army, navy and air force will be exchanging visits. India and China, both working in cooperation can change regional and international situation to the benefit of the Asian countries. There is vast scope of expanding trade and commerce and ushering in a phase of unprecedented prosperity in entire Asian Continent.
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