Round The World
New Delhi, 12 February 2014
India-China Border Talks
CHALLENGES TO CONSENSUS
BUILDING
By Prof Arvind Kumar
(Dept of Geopolitics & Intl Relations, Manipal Univ)
The last six and half decades of India-China
relationship have seen more of mutual mistrust and suspicion than friendliness
and cordial atmosphere. Such mistrust and suspicion only grew over the years
and both India and China have been
making modest attempts in a number of ways to improve their understanding. The
bilateral border talks are a case in point. Undoubtedly, India-China relations
are expanding and deepening despite several divergences on many pertinent
issues impacting the bilateral relations.
The deepening of relations was reflected when the
two countries established the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership for Peace
and prosperity in 2005 and also signed a Shared Vision for 21st century
in 2008. More recently, both India
and China
have signed the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) in 2013. The BDCA
was nothing new but old wine in new bottle. It was some sort of a reiteration
of India-China Peace and Tranquility agreement signed way back in 1996.
The major challenge confronting the
two nations’ relations has been to build mutual trust and confidence. The trust
deficit created by both the sides has decimated the robustness of bilateral
relationships. The element of trust is an essential component in forging a
sustained cooperation. Somehow, the lack of trust and confidence has created
lot of misunderstanding on a number of issues.
The
Sino-Indian border row remains an irritant. It seems there are no immediate
solutions to it. The creation of a Joint Working Group (JWG) by both India and China
in 1988 ice melting visit of India’s
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to China
had at least seen a beginning in bilateral talks. The mandate of JWG has been
to find a solution to the border row. Its larger objective was to articulate
each other’s concerns and analyse the options available before both the
countries. At the same time, the objective was also to ensure the maintenance
of peace and tranquility across the border during the negotiations process.
Since
the creation of the JWG, 17 rounds of border talks have been held so far both
in Beijing and New Delhi. The more recent one was held in New Delhi this month. But,
unfortunately, nothing concrete has happened in terms of resolving the border
issue. The JWG gave a framework to build the bilateral momentum without any
great significance and impact.
More recently, both India
and China held their 17th
round of border talks in New Delhi
and stressed on peace and tranquility on their 4,000-km disputed boundary. It
was mainly an adherence to the ongoing commitment. Whether Beijing really takes such commitment
seriously has been a part of the debate among the strategic and academic
community. China,
most of the time, seems to be inconsistent in terms of its rhetoric and
actions.
The special representatives of both India and China led by National Security
Adviser of India Shivshankar Menon and Chinese State Councillor and top
diplomat Yang Jiechi deliberated on the boundary question. However, the outcome
has not been made public and hence it is generally believed among the academic
and strategic community that it was a ‘talk for sake of talks’. China still seems to be adamant on its position
of holding its occupation of Indian Territory.
The talks at the special representatives level symbolises only the intent that
both India and China have
agreed to the settlement of the boundary question.
There is no progress made with sincere and genuine
commitment on part of China
to evolve the "framework for resolution of the boundary question".
Such relevant discussion has been lingering for the past eight years. The
challenges mainly lie in the establishment of the bilateral framework. Once, that
is agreed by both sides then only such talks will move forward to resolving the
boundary question.
The other requirement from both sides will also be
to have a bilateral consensus built on the most complex element of demarcating
maps and finally a delineation on the ground. There is no serious move on the
bilateral exchange of maps so that both the countries can state their positions
and then only it will lead to certain useful and significant talks at the level
of special representatives.
The bilateral meetings among the officials of both
the countries were also held mainly to consult and coordinate the probable mechanism
on India-China border affairs. The review and assessment on the recent
developments especially in the Western Sector also could not build the larger
understanding from both sides.
Moreover, India
and China
also elaborated on the additional confidence building measures in addition to
the talks on the boundary question. The need for the early implementation of
the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement inked last year during Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing
was also felt. The meeting of the special representatives was also the first
meeting of senior officials after the visits by their two Prime Ministers to
each other's country.
A number of other issues were discussed at the
bilateral level during the special representatives meeting. Both New Delhi and Beijing discussed
a number of international security issues including Afghanistan, East Asia Summit, counter-terrorism,
disarmament, maritime affairs, trade, finance and climate change. After the
discussion, China,
however, demonstrated its naval exercises again to send signals that it has been
pursuing a rigorous path of acquiring blue water navy.
What
has happened in the past over two-and-half-decades is that both the countries
have been talking routinely not only on border issues but also exploring the
mechanisms by which economic and cultural engagement takes a robust shape and that
the bilateral relationship is given a broader shape.
If
the Centre of gravity is really shifting from the West to East, then it is
quite certain that China and
India
will have to work together and shoulder the responsibility of leading the world
affairs. China would need to
accommodate India’s
interests and vice-versa. The international community seems to be very
cautiously watching the evolving contours and challenges between the two.
China needs to expedite and explore a
mechanism to resolve the border row. If it can settle its border disputes with
10 other countries, it is certain that the border row with India can also
be resolved, provided there is willingness from both sides. India would
require keeping its options open and if the opportunity arises may go for a
quid pro quo and see that national interests remain paramount. The very fact
that both New Delhi and Beijing have agreed to the proposal of
holding Annual Defence Dialogue shows that there will be remarkable progress on
dispelling all the misunderstandings. The foreseeable future in Sino-Indian
relations depends mostly on the behavioural patterns, intent and the
fundamental goals of both sides. ---INFA
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
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