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Sino – Indian ties: Sans spirit

Dr. M. V. Kamath

After all the brouhaha and sloganeering like Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai, the three-day visit of China’s President Xi Jinping turned out to be a damp squib. The boundary dispute persists, even when both sides want peace and tranquillity along the border. True, both Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping are more than anxious to correct the situation and be accommodative. Xi Jinping did his level best to sound friendly, calling India “an ancient and magic land, an enchanting and beautiful land” and Modi lavished unheard of hospitality in more than ample measure. Prior to his visit word was going round that China was willing to invest over US $100 billion in India but in the end, it turned out that the amount would not exceed US $20 billion – chicken feed as critics called it, and to be spent over the course of five years.

One thing seems clear; unless the border dispute is amicably resolved, a sense of restraint will continue to prevail in the relationship between the two countries despite a genuine desire to live in harmony. In an article in the media, Xi Jinping stressed on the positive. “We have deepened mutual trust,” “we have forged a aclose friendship by encouraging more people-to-people exchanges,” “with rich experience in infrastructure building and manufacturing, China is ready to contribute to India’s development,” “the combination of China’s energy plus India’s wisdom will release massive potential,” “we need to work together to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful co-existence (Panchsheel)" are some of the points be raised which are commendable. Narendra Modi’s response to it was to say that China and India are “two bodies, one spirit.” Wise words.  But what is the reality?

While India has been working on Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), the border dispute remains unsolved. There is frequent trouble over the 4,056-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC). There are some 14 places on the LAC where India and China’s perception of where it lies differ, giving rise to so-called ‘transgressions’ and ‘incursions’. The Joint Statement issued at the end of Xi’s visit has taken note of this. It says, for instance, that both sides are committed “to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution, proceeding from the overall interest of bilateral relations.” The statement further reaffirmed “the utility and significance of the mechanism of Special Representatives for seeking a political settlement.”

The SR level talks were instituted under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime in 2003 and the two sides have already held 17 rounds of negotiations. How many more rounds of discussions will need to be taken for a final solution acceptable to both sides to be arrived at is anybody’s guess. One can only take satisfaction that arrangements for discussion are there for the time being, and have not been scrapped.

There are other positive developments to be noted in the Joint Statement. One is that the two sides have taken a positive view on defence cooperation and there will be “regular exchange of visits between the Defence Ministries to expand ‘pragmatic cooperation.” It may be remembered that Xi Jinping is, apart from being President, also the chairman of the country’s Central Military Commission and head of China’s armed forces. Yet another positive development is that both sides have decided to launch “working level consultations” between the Department of Atomic Energy on the Indian side and the China Atomic Energy Authority, a year-and-a-half after they first decided to engage in civil nuclear cooperation. But perhaps a more cheering issue is the one dealing with terrorism.

 According to the Joint Statement “both sides reiterated their resolute opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with ‘zero tolerance’, committing themselves to cooperate on counter-terrorism. One presumes that Beijing is fully aware of Pakistani terrorism and jihad. Will Xi Jinping have talks with leaders of the Pakistani Armed Forces? For India, China’s close links with our Pakistani neighbour has long been a matter of concern for India, India’s growing closeness with Vietnam must be a matter of concern for China.

Even as Sino-Indian talks were going on in Delhi, Indo-Vietnam talks were going on in Hanoi with President Pranab Mukherjee leading the Indian team. Seven pacts were signed between the two countries to strengthen and deepen bilateral ties on the basis of a strategic partnership with focus on political, defence and security cooperation. But more importantly – and this is where Beijing must feel genuinely concerned – the two countries asserted that the freedom of navigation in the disputed waters of the resource-rich South China Sea should not be impeded, calling all the parties ‘concerned’ to exercise restraint in this context It is no secret that China has been exerting its influence in these waters which is not taken well by Vietnam and bordering countries like the Philippines and Indonesia.

Among the seven pacts signed, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between the ONGC Videsh Ltd and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group. Beijing has objected to India’s exploration projects in the Vietnamese Oil Blocks. India is right in making friends with China’s neighbour Vietnam, just as China has been making eyes at Colombo. This is part of the political game which China should be aware of and accept graciously.

What China should be happy with is the fact that India has accepted Tibet to be part of the People’s Republic of China in the Joint Statement, while thanking Lhasa for opening a new route to Mansarovar through Nathu La.