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India-China Ties: UNEASY NEIGHBOURS OR GROWING PARTNERS?, By Amrita Banerjee, 10 April, 2013 Print E-mail

Round The World

New Delhi, 10 April 2013

India-China Ties

 UNEASY NEIGHBOURS OR GROWING PARTNERS?

By Amrita Banerjee

Research Scholar, School of International Studies, JNU

 

Distant or uneasy neighbours are often used to describe India-China relations as one strives hard to understand the dynamics between the two rising powers that are set to herald an Asian Century. Given the ties are marred by the familiar legacy of Troubled Borders, left behind by the British. These disturbed borders have turned South Asia into a hotbed of politics.

 

Alongside, both nations economies and their defence preparedness have grown at a fast pace over the years, wherein their borders are witnessing an unusual military build-up. Against this background, is the “apparent” peace on the frontiers a guarantee for the future? Or is it a lull before the storm? ‘How are ties between the emerging powers shaping up? Importantly, will the once-in-a-decade leadership change in Beijing alter the equation between the two countries?

 

There were widespread speculations, expectations and apprehensions when President Xi Jinping became China’s new leader. Specially as India did not figure prominently in Beijing’s foreign policy itinerary as China focused primarily on its relations with the US, Japan and Russia. This, many argued was not bad but a reflection of the increasingly stable nature of ties rather than lack of interest. The seriousness of this claim remains to be seen.

 

Pertinently, President Xi, in an interview on the sideline of the recently concluded BRICS Summit in Durban, outlined a “five point proposal’’ to improve ties with India. This offer talked about maintaining strategic communication and keeping ties on the right track, expanding cooperation in infrastructure and mutual investment, strengthening cultural ties, increasing coordination on multilateral affairs and accommodating each other’s core concerns to “properly handle differences”.

 

Indeed, Xi stressed continuity but offered little in way of specifics or new ideas from what his predecessor Hun Junta had stated. Plainly, old wine in a new bottle. Also increasing Chinese footprints in India’s neighbourhood vis-à-vis a possible Sri Lanka-China space cooperation, along-with the ‘String of Pearls’, in no way eases New Delhi’s worries. The Chinese President’s first overseas visit to Russia, India’s time tested friend, has warning bells ringing.

 

Notably, China appears less willing to deal with thorny issues such as scramble for energy in the African continent, share hydrological information about building dams on the Brahmaputra and has maintained mysterious silence on its continuing projects in the disputable PoK region. The recent Chinese approval for three new dams --- Jiexu, Zangmu and Jiacha on the Brahmaputra remains clouded in controversy as adequate information about their height, nature, flow of river water and its effects on the lower riparian States remain to be discussed.

 

Beijing has also challenged New Delhi’s right to drill on an oil concession bloc awarded to it by Vietnam in the South China Sea. These issues alongside the long meandering border dispute remain to be sorted out. With so many irritants and trust deficit can we ever bridge this gap?

 

The Communist Party of China’s, official newspaper, People’s Daily, recently suggested that there are two areas of cooperation where China now sees its main interest with India --- border issue to be “controlled effectively” and an increasing focus on trade and multilateral issues like climate change that will herald “a new chapter” in its ties. India, it said, has become an important destination for Chinese investment with contracts worth $55 billion, particularly in power and telecom sectors.

 

President Xi after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on the BRICS sidelines, made a pitch for boosting military contact to deepen trust between both countries. He called for arriving at a mutually acceptable solution to the border dispute “as soon as possible by accommodating each other’s core concerns” and also called for broadening exchanges between the armed forces which were suspended in 2010 after China refused to host the then head of Army’s Northern Command citing its sensitivities regarding Kashmir.

 

Significantly, China’s change in posture coincides with increasing tensions which Beijing faces with Japan in the South China Sea. As an effort to promote bonhomie, Beijing has assured New Delhi that the dams on River Brahmaputra would be run of river type (ROR), a type of environment friendly hydro-electric generation whereby little or no water storage is provided unlike traditional dams that store enormous quantities of water in reservoirs.

 

Nonetheless, despite China’s assurances, India’s fears about diversion of the Brahmaputra have not been completely assuaged. Thus, New Delhi is deploying high-end technology and spending vast money to keep an eye on water conductor systems and basins adjacent to the Brahmaputra for clues on canals constructions to take the water to China’s North-Western provinces. This would leave India’s North-East thirsty.

 

As a response to New Delhi’s concerns, President Xi agreed on a joint mechanism to monitor dam construction on the controversial Brahmaputra River. Besides, the issue of “stapled visas” has been sorted out by the Chinese. These progressive developments would impact relations positively.

 

New Delhi has responded to this goodwill gesture by assuring Beijing that this would not be used as a tool to contain China in US’s Asia policy and it would not allow any anti-Chinese activities by Tibetans on its soil. Recently, Indian and Chinese varsities signed a first-of-its-kind MoU with Karnataka-based Manipal University, thereby paving the way for closer collaboration on joint research projects.

 

Further, Afghanistan could open a new cooperative chapter in India-China ties since both countries have substantial stakes therein specially investments in mines and oilfields. Also terrorism spilling over from the Afghan boundary could threaten peace and development prospects in both countries. However, Afghanistan would cease to be an opportunity if both start playing the “Pakistan” card against each other.

 

Clearly, conflict and cooperation is the reality of ties between the two countries. That India and China are neighbours is a geo-political reality which can never be negated. Also we cannot change, alter or choose our neighbours. Alas, thanks to the low level of political trust, it is tough for both nations to be forthcoming about their strategic intentions.

 

However, today the scope for cooperation is immense and has the potential to turn the neighbours into emerging partners. Xi’s friendly postures towards India and the appearance of China’s First Lady, Peng Liyuan, present Beijing’s ‘softer and benign side of leadership’.

 

Yet, it is too early to judge things on the surface. As India attempts to understand the new Chinese leadership, the future could unfold interesting things. On her part, New Delhi must be watchful about her priorities so that any engagement with Beijing does not jeopardize her core national interests. ----- INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and  Feature Alliance)

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