Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India should deal with China cautiously' that was published in Newsband

India should deal with China cautiously

The visit paid by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India was a sign that Beijing is interested in having strong ties with India. He came as a ‘special envoy’ of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is scheduled to visit India later in the year; Premier Li Keqiang was among the first foreign leaders to call the Prime Minister after he assumed office.

China is keen to know about new Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategic and foreign policies. Foreign Minister Wang described India and China as ‘natural partners’, and showed eagerness to solve the sensitive issue of the border dispute.

Now Modi has been an old friend: he visited the country four times as Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi in the past had visited many foreign countries including China in the capacity as Chief Minister of Gujarat. The issues dealt by CM and PM are distinctly different. The domain of talks by a CM with any heads of state of foreign country will be by and large limited. This meeting gave Modi an opportunity to speak limitlessly.

It is clear that Beijing is impressed by Modi’s reputation and the BJP’s definitive electoral victory. Beijing is also eager to shake off its tag as a difficult neighbour. It is significant that the Chinese reach-out to India’s new leadership preceded the U.S.-India-Japan trilateral, which New Delhi is hosting later this month.

Now while balancing the relationship with China, India shouldn't let Japan have any doubt regarding its relations with India. Chances are high that restructuring and re-calibration of Indo-China relations might be perceived as anti-Indo-Japanese good cordial relations which have developed over last few years. While taming the dragons, the Indo-Japanese relations shouldn't be ignored.

Border disputes should be settled amicably. We should also leverage China to put pressure on Pakistan military. Strategic relationship with China is in India's interest. Building up strong economic relationship and solving border disputes is the key.

China has become the manufacturing hub of the world. It is eying India as its market for its manufactured items. With the fast pacing Indian economy and increasing purchasing power of Indians, China has a potential market in India and hence the Chinese foreign Minister Wang struck all the right notes during his visit. Utilizing this brimming bonhomie India should strengthen its strategic infrastructural requirements in the Chinese border areas.

It is found that every time leaders of the two nations meet, it is China which gets more concessions while India is only offered words of solace and future hope by their Chinese counterparts. Simultaneously, the Chinese have only increased their aggressive military posture all along the border from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. A couple of years back, they even warned an Indian naval ship on the high seas in South China Sea. It cannot be a one way road forever.

While strengthening stronger and deeper ties, India shouldn't forget to safeguard its interest in the border dispute and modernization. China will respect us and we will come to meaningful solution only if we have stronger economy, modernized weaponry and infrastructure. While inviting Chinese investment in India, we should have caution in their actions and deeds.