International Relations: India/China Relations

India-China relations are rife with instances of one-sided concessions in neogtiations going back all the way.Indian Prime Minister Modi made two important points about the border issue to Chinese President Xi Jinping,as he disclosed in his remarks during the breifing with Chinese President.One clarification of the Line of Control-LAC and other for early resolution of the underlying boundary question.That ambiguity would hopefully have been resolved by now in follow-up discussions that would presumably have probed the Chinese side for a response.If none had been forthcoming of its own.Any Chinese attempt to confine the matter to a business-as-usual mode.Either way,the matter would in that case need to be taken up again more forcefully,and escalated to higher,back to the highest,levels,if need be,since it obviously is good for health of relationship in the future.The concern of the Indian Prime minister Modi to Chinese President Xi about the incongruity of Chumar-like incidents on the India/China border occuring cheek by jowl with professions of friendly intent is integrally linked to the objective of earliest possible clarification of the LAC.It is task that should take no time at all,since it simply involves describing on paper where both sides actually are on the ground,which is therefore has naturally to be conveyed to the Chinese in no uncertain terms,whatever it takes.The boundary question itself,neogtiations can be expected to pick up pace in the future now,with the nomination of the National Security Adviser as the special envoy on the Indian side recently.The Chinese envoy to the Indian side on the state of play in their crucial first,sizing up,encounter will be even more revealing of their readiness to accommodate Indian Prime Minister Modi's demarche to President XI than in case of the LAC,which is after all,a secondary matter subsidiary to that of alignment of the boundary.The progress made in the 17th rounds held so far,always made much of by the Chinese side,will,of course,be presented as the starting point,and operative framework,for the future but the Indian side will do well to cast a cold eye on it all while formulating its preferred approach for the future.

The basics of India-China border are well known: there is adequate room for reconciling the strategic concerns of both countries,reasonably defined,since they happen to lie in different sectors-western sector-while a key link road to the restless frontier province of Xinjiiang passes through the Aksai Chin area claimed by India but not populated or of any use to it in real terms for the Chinese sector and Eastern sector with many sensitivities in Sikkim and the North-Eastern region for India,though included by China in its claims somewhat fancifully.This is the repeated Chinese package deal offers,involving mutual recognition of these realities on an as is where is basis offered .The demands for Chinese goods having shrunk in the West,China is now focusing on Asian markets.China has also transformed itself from a world major manufacturer within China into a world major manufacturer worldwide.While China gets an outlet for investment in India,this initiative also enables to China to reach out Indian states,a policy China has been following for quite some time.Chinese companies making huge investments in India.China is also to be redirected its labour-intensive industry from China to India.Related to agreement with India,Chinese commitment to invest $20 billion in India belying earlier hope for $100 investment.The curtailment of Chinese commitment was a great disappointment.May be Beijing wanted to convey its own desire of India's tough stance on the border stand-off and India's freedom of navigation during Indian President Pranab visit to Vietnam and Vitenam's offer to India to explore th hydrocarbon in the South China sea,and India is cosying up to Japan.

Recognising the need for maritime dialogue,the two sides decided to hold the first round maritime cooperation dialogue within 2014 to exchange views on maritime affairs and security,including anti-piracy,freedom of navigation and cooperation between maritime agencies of both the countries.Hard-nosed economic considerations are the main drivers of the Chinese initiative like Bangladesh-China-Myanmar-BCIM economic corridorand the Maritime Silk Route initiatives.On the whole,the complex India-China relations are undergoing a churning process.The rise of a strong nationalist party leader Narendra Modi,who is determined to give a big push to India's economy through infrastructure development projected to the tune of 1 trillion US dollar ,skill development and manufacturing Make in India brand to establish India on the global fora against China.Relations between two countries are based on hard facts of national interest,but chemistry between two leaders will always matter.Beijing,or for that matter President XI cannot harbour any doubt about indian Prime minister Modi's political and personal intents.India only stands to gain by friendly towards its northern neighbour,not otherwise.India not willing to pick up a quarrel with China

New Delhi - 21st December,2014

ANIL KUMAR UPADHYAYA