Round The World

New Delhi , 13 April 2010

Krishna’s China Visit

MERE RHETORIC, NO ACTION

By Monish Tourangbam

Research Scholar, School of International Studies, JNU

Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna recently concluded an official visit to China that has been termed successful from both the sides. The high-level trip, as expected, raised a number of vital issues in Sino-Indian relations and managed to keep the competitive nature and unnecessary rhetoric minimal. If expectations are kept low in view of the contentious nature of the relationship between the two neighbours, the visit can be seen to have scored where it intended to tone down differences over touchy issues and capitalize on and showcase the areas of convergence, and advocate the belief that cooperation is inevitable between the two if Asia was to emerge in the international system.

The trip was not expected to bring about any dramatic change in relations but was deemed important enough to keep oiling the wheel of bilateral ties and to cement common areas of interests and restore confidence. One of the highlights of the visit was China and India agreeing to set up a top level mechanism, in an otherwise fractious relationship marred by differences and frequent rhetorical exchanges over the boundary issue, on the Dalai Lama and uneasiness over military preparedness on both sides.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao briefing reporters said that both sides were pleased with the new mechanism connecting the Chinese and Indian Prime Ministers, which could help prevent dangerous flare-ups in future. Similar positive reviews on the visit were given from the Chinese side as well. Premier Wen Jiabao said the relationship had reached a "new phase of mature and stable development." "History shows that friendship between neighbors and common development are in the interests of both countries, of Asia and of the world," he added.

The Indian and the Chinese in their deliberations sought to give out the message that the relationship had to be accounted for in view of its global dimensions and that the nature of this relationship required a far-sighted long-term strategic view. An attempt was made to display the commonality of interests between the two countries on major global issues such as the financial crisis and climate change.

India’s convergence with China on tackling climate change was reviewed favourably by Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh who credited the close cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing at the Copenhagen summit for bringing about a positive change of climate in bilateral relations. Ramesh headed India’s first ministerial delegation to the recent annual Boao Forum for Asia (a Chinese sponsored business forum which has gained prominence since it was established nine years ago).

Of late, he has been explicit in espousing closer India-China relations and opined that “the cooperation between India and China on climate change and environment could become a template for how the two rising neighbours could better leverage their differences and work together globally”. The attendance of a large Indian delegation in the meeting and the election of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Secretary General Amit Mitra to the Board of the Forum perhaps reflect on the importance being accorded to the forum and acceptance of each other’s salience.

As India and China celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, recent developments and cooperation are being seen as a reminder that the neighbours despite the seeming competition have no alternative but to cooperate with each other. New Delhi and Beijing have pledged to increase cooperation and exchanges in the field of education, which is seen to be crucial for enhancement of mutual awareness and understanding. It was also felt that the education sector was underutilized and held great promise necessitating new ventures of the highest level.

Mr. Krishna also deliberated on the issue of the detention of 21 diamond merchants from Gujarat by China on charges of smuggling, emphasizing to the Chinese side that the legal process should be conducted in a transparent manner. While 20 of them have been charged with diamond smuggling, one has been charged with money laundering. Beijing is reported to have promised to continue to provide access to the Indian officials to the detainees.

Taking a more critical look at the proceedings, India and China seem to be hardly moving ahead in matters of crucial security interests, be it the protracted boundary issue or China’s response to India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Rounds and rounds of dialogue have failed to move negotiations on the crucial boundary issue towards any meaningful result, with rhetoric and diplomatic aggressiveness often being the norm.

In an interaction with scholars at the China Institute of International Studies (a government-affiliated think tank), Krishna called on the Chinese government to rethink its opposition to India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and to cooperate more on tackling terror from Pakistan. Apparently, intending to preserve the atmosphere of the visit, Chinese officials just agreed to hold further talks on the issue of India’s aspirations at the United Nations.

The issue was also raised with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Premier Wen Jiabao. Rao told reporters that China reiterated its earlier position on the UNSC, voiced during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China in 2008, that Beijing “understands and supports India's aspirations to play an active role in the U.N. and international affairs.” This is the same position China has held since Wen's visit to India in 2005, indicating China’s diplomatic lip-service policy regarding this issue.

Krishna also brought forth New Delhi’s concern over Beijing stapling visas for residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Though the Chinese side was clearly intimidated about this unacceptable practice, as of now, the issue seems to be undergoing discussions and not much is known as to what the resultant Chinese policy is.

Pertaining to India’s legitimate concerns over China undertaking development projects in the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Chinese side sounded non-committal and vague at best, providing an all-too rehearsed line that the Kashmir dispute was something to be resolved between India and Pakistan in a bilateral and peaceful way.  The Chinese position according to Foreign Secretary Rao was that “what they (China) do in PoK is without prejudice to this position of theirs.”

But keeping in mind the historical contour of India-China ties and the suspicions and insecurity that pervades this relationship, it is best to keep expectations low when these two neighbours talk. Despite the all-too obvious differences and stalled boundary issue that has largely dictated the enmity between the two, there have been some significant breakthroughs in recent time and the two economic giants seems to be gradually understanding the importance of the Sino-Indian relationship in the Asian and global structure.

Clearly, the nature of the discord between these two countries cannot be quick-fixed and as officials have commented, a lot of patience is required. Till then, it will augur well for both the two Asian giants to intensify existing ties and diversify cooperation in areas hitherto underutilised. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)