After the war of 1961, suspicion and mistrust dogged Sino-Indian relations. The baggage has not left the conscience of two nations. Since inter-state diplomatic relations have to be carried on, agreements on commonalities were signed by the two at various times and levels. Of course these were under the shadow of mistrust which did not leave them.
With soured relations with Pakistan, India has usually taken exceptional view of Beijing’s expanding relations with Pakistan particularly in national security area. Beijing never faltered in upholding the pernicious axiom that enemy’s enemy is a friend. That is what made Indian policy planners make dimensional expansion of country’s defence preparedness. Beijing understands that India is reacting to its encirclement policy.
Weeks before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was to proceed on his official tour abroad with India on the first leg, China made a show of its aggressive border policy by sending troops 19 kilometers inside Indian territory in Ladakh’s Dabsang plateau. Political analysts called it sword-rattling exercise so that Indian side raises the border issue, if at all it does, during the meeting of the two Prime Ministers in New Delhi, but only in subdued tone. India’s experience of dealing with China has increased manifold along with her military preparedness to meet any threat from that country. Demonstrating cool and considered diplomatic skill, Indian Prime Minister refused to react with emotion. Not only that, he dispatched his External Affairs Minister to Beijing on May 10 to prepare the ground for fruitful interaction between the two Prime Ministers.
We cannot belittle the eternal truth that in diplomacy there are no permanent friends or foes but only permanent interests. The question is that if those interests impinge upon the rights and interests of the other side, the axiom becomes faulty. A couple of things that have been stated in the joint statement by the two Prime Ministers can be generalized as manifestation of seasoned diplomacy. They will live as good friends and neighbours and will not allow their respective soil to be used against the other and the rhetoric like that is just to respect and maintain recognized standard of protocol. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s response to a desire of ensuring peace and normalcy in relationship has been polite but realistic. How can peace in the region be ensured when the atmosphere is vitiated by border tension? Beijing has not shown any sign of restoring Aksaichin, the part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by her. She had not touched on the issue of 5,000 kilometer square area of Aksaichin ceded by Pakistan to her. She has not made any mention of demilitarizing the Karakorum Highway and committing not to deploy missiles along the Highway that can target Indian cities. Additionally, Beijing has not made any commitment of adhering to status quo along Ladakh and Arunachal Sino-Indian border. Li has not opened the issue of China constructing dams on Brahmaputra which will affect India considerably. These are core issues on the basis of which lasting and trustworthy edifice of friendship can be raised.
However, if there is the new thinking that in view of economic and strategic imperatives of modern world and international relations, India and China with their respective foreign policy catering to national interests, can live as friends and do business that is a practical idea. China’s closeness to Pakistan and India’s closeness to the US have to be recognized and accepted as manifestations of political pragmatism. China has invested in the Gulf countries and has interests in Gawadar seaport. It is a reality. So is India’s friendship with Afghanistan, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and many more South East Asian countries a reality of regional strategy. This has not to be interpreted as an inimical step against each other. If Premier Li Keqiang’s visit has solidified the concept of pragmatic strategy in the region, then the lurking suspicion and animosity should have no space in their relationship.
China is India’s second largest trade partner. Trade and commerce are the governing factors of consolidating bilateral friendship. There is vast scope of enlarging the parameters of bilateral trade. India has been impressing upon Pakistan also that without raking up the so-called core issues between the two countries; it would be useful to concentrate on trade relations because the phenomenon has the potential of removing border disputes to backyard.
In conclusion, the visit of Premier Li has to be taken as a step in right direction. But his non-cryptic demeanor is his style of bearing himself on political playground should never be confused with his political philosophy, which is generally scripted on the basis of strategic environment of a given partner country. Soft talk with Beijing will be a permanent feature of Sino-Indian relationship but the hard talk has to be made sooner or later. We certainly do not subscribe to any sentimental reaction to Chinese indiscreet policy towards us. China is a country that has to be dealt with through astute diplomacy and matured statesmanship. Senior Indian leaders will be visiting Beijing in near future. Defence Minister will be in the vanguard. Matters of substantial importance will come up, and the goodwill shown by Premier Li will come under litmus test.
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