Extreme caution is needed with China
There were recent discussions between Indian and Chinese
officials in Afghanistan.
This is a welcome sign. In Afghanistan, where both China and India see
potential for investment and share concerns over the rise of radicalism and
terrorism, there are many avenues for cooperation. Beijing initiated the
special talks and proposed a “joint
development project”. There was broad agreement on trade and economic ties,
China is no longer opposing India’s Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) membership as a non-signatory to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. In May, a conference (B&RI, or One Belt, One
Road) hosted by President Xi Jinping will bring all of India’s neighbourhood to
Beijing, with the exception of India. India
will not join the B&RI as the $51-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor,
now an integral part of the B&RI initiative, runs through areas of
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
It appears that China is very clear that it does everything
it can do to oppose India. The CPEC is nothing but a road built next to Indian
border so as to enable the Chinese troops to move to support Pakistan in case
of an attack on India. The Pakistani ports are already occupied by the Chinese. India's biggest mistake is that it
continues to kowtow to the Chinese. By havng a tarde deficit of $60 Bn
annually, the Indian government is financing the anti-India movements launched
by China.
India seems to be continuing to grapple with the problem of a
positive and useful Foreign Policy vis-a-vis own developments and long term
needs. India needs to work on own developments to help our own people enter
better prosperity levels. Relationship between India and China has become the
most controversial subject from and this is only due to the interference of
Pakistan. Free and frank
discussions between two countries held umpteen times has brought the leaders of
two countries closer but has left scars in the form of disagreeing views on NSG
and Terrorist Masood. In the end, India is left in a situation where she needs
China’s acceptance of India’s view point on both issues. China’s refuses to
fall in line.
Afghanistan is used as a leverage to improve Indo-China
relations and neglecting our core issues. Till we resolve our mutual mistrust
generated after the 1962 war and surviving today, the relations are less
probable to improve in strategic terms. Our core issue is border dispute which
hampers our relationship in other dimensions like economic cooperation and
people to people contacts. China must realize that no sovereign country will
compromise on settled areas. Just like China cannot compromise on Tibet, india
cannot compromise on Arunachal. Also for a democratic country, politics do not
allow to compromise on territory. Both the countries should accept status quo
on current border and improve relationship on other dimensions of bilateral
ties.
India finds itself in a fix now. Raising the issue of, and
opposing, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through PoK on
international (or multilateral fora) would inevitably internationalize the
Kashmir issue.
Relations between China and India have always been precarious
and very hostile at times. China has no standing in Afghanistan except as an investor to cart away
their natural wealth with absolutely no concern for environmental degradation
(a Chinese practice all over poor Asia, Africa & South America) while India
is a civilizational friend with immense interests in their welfare and
security. The clever Chinese want to piggyback on the rich dividends of
Indo-Afghan friendship having realized that the Pakistanis are considered
mortal enemies by most Afghans. Sidestepping the Chinese stand on NSG or Masood
Azhar would not diminish the setback in relationship which was never good to
start with because of the deep mistrust we have with China. China lacks
credibility because of its words & deeds. Extreme caution is needed with
China.
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