A viable Sino-Indian relationship has to be based on the two countries’ strategic concerns
AN effort to explain the international and regional aspirations of China on the basis of a week-long visit to that country would be contextually relevant only if one rounds off the discussion with an assessment of Sino-Indian relations. Observing China라이브 바카라 foreign policy orientations and its strategic postures, three clear trends are discernible.
First, China desires a peaceful and stable neighbourhood, as it considers this essential for carrying forward its economic modernisation and national consolidation programmes and projects. China does not seem to be interested in the foreign policy activities of a cosmetically multilateral nature. Secondly, China wishes to emerge as a major influence in Asian affairs in the 21st century. The focus of attention in China라이브 바카라 foreign policy is the Asia-Pacific region. Thirdly, China gives high priority to structuring an equilibrium in its relations with the US, Russia, Japan and ASEAN in that order of priority. I must mention in parenthesis that though India appears on their foreign policy radar screen as a large and important neighbour, they do not see it as too influential a strategic or economic factor in Asian developments. Our attitudes and policies towards China are to be fashioned in this overall context.
Beijing라이브 바카라 approach is that India and China should have a good working relationship and India should not become the base for any separatist activities in Tibet. The Chinese do not see the need for any special equation between them and India at present on strategic or security matters or as a galvanising factor in Asian resurgence.
What then, should be India라이브 바카라 short-term objectives? First of all, we must accept that the Chinese are aware of the limitations and political uncertainties which affect India at present in terms of domestic politics and in terms of India라이브 바카라 relations with its immediate neighbours, four of which also happen to be China라이브 바카라 neighbours (Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan). Besides, we must ensure that Tibetan ethno-religious politics do not affect our interests in terms of maintaining stability in our relations with China.
Sino-Indian discussions on the boundary question are progressing slowly. But signals from China continue to confirm the approach towards Sino-Indian relations fashioned by Deng Xiaoping and Rajiv Gandhi in 1988 when they agreed that while the boundary issue should be addressed gradually, China and India should expand their bilateral relations in other fields. Though there are undercurrents of concern in India about China라이브 바카라 military and defence technology assistance to Pakistan (including the supply of nuclear wherewithal and missiles) and China라이브 바카라 growing defence supply and political equations with Myanmar, India라이브 바카라 approach should be to structure a stable relationship with China while remaining alert about China creating any geo-strategic worries for India.
There is a larger Asian dimension to Sino-Indian equations as they would evolve. China and India together constitute nearly three-fourths of Asia라이브 바카라 population. Together, their territories cover 50 per cent of continental Asia. The internal stability and economic well-being of the peoples of these two countries—or the absence of this stability and economic well-being—inevitably impacts on the interests and concerns not only of other Asian countries, but also on the concerns and interests of the international community in general.
How China and India individually, or together, will influence Asian developments depends on the manner in which they tackle the problems and challenge, both internal and external, which they face today. Besides, there is a shared vision that India and China should have ties with other Asian countries governed by the principles of equality and mutual benefit. Both countries are opposed to great power domination and hegemonistic tendencies in international relations.
Overcoming external threats to their security and survival, apart from facing internal challenges, has been the parallel concern of both countries, which are surrounded by a number of smaller neighbours. There라이브 바카라 no other region in the world where two nation-states, because of their geographical size, demographic majority and resources, find themselves in an asymmetrical equation with their neighbours. This leads to anxieties and apprehensive perceptions on the part of other Asian countries about China and India.
At the formal and declaratory levels of interaction, China and India have generally behaved in a non-intrusive and non-expansionist manner. The only exceptions have been developments in and policies of other Asian countries posing a threat to their territorial integrity, stability and security. Realism demands that China and India take note of the apprehensions and negative perceptions that their neighbours have about them regardless of whether these apprehensions and perceptions are unjustified.
There are reports that President Jiang Zemin will visit India some time between November 1996 and January 1997. His visit is relevant and of undoubted significance, as the complex undercurrents of political and socio-economic impulses outlined above have to be tackled by the Chinese and Indian leaderships with vision and realism and because the manner in which they meet this obligation will have far-reaching ramifications for the Asian region.