Editorial

Editorial: Unknown Chinese Idea

With temperatures riding high on both sides for over a fortnight, we may find the sudden amicable approach adopted by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao that ‘differences shouldn’t impede growth of bilateral relations’ quite soothing and this consensus reached an achievement. Exclusion of Arunchal Pradesh border dispute and the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Tawang in November in the meeting of the two leaders held on the margins of ASEAN summit indicates that China has, for the time being, recoiled its relentlessness on two issues shown not very long ago and the two countries will give go-ahead to other matter of bilateral importance, putting a stop to all apprehensions about Indian and China confronting each other in near future. It also, at the same time, makes less reliable the theory that China wants to egg on India for a war that it can easily win and finish off the border dispute for once and all. But is that all we should make of the meeting?

Was Jiabao hinting at a Beijing’s idea of solving border dispute between the two countries? A loud Chinese noise followed by a sudden, calm admission by its PM of coveting each-other’s territory fit in this context best? And it’s where Obama administration’s attempt to please Beijing, adopting a very balanced policy in the region fit best.

Earlier this month, when, breaking previous traditions, no meeting took place between US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama on his visit to America, Obama was strongly criticized, both at home and abroad, for avoiding meeting with the Dalai to appease China, the county which presently supports US economy. Going by the latest American policies, Obama administration is trying to strikes a diplomatic balance with different countries of the region. Pakistan is its treasured ally, India a strategic friend; it doesn’t annoy China for the sake of the Dalai. China’s issuing visas to Kashmiris on separate paper sheets, its opposition to PM’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh during elections and to the Dalai’s proposed visit to Tawang was seen in that light, occupying the space that the US could. Have circumstances changed overnight?

Jiabao’s statement that the two countries fought a border war (Arunachal border) in 1962 and still claim each-other’s territory may be an insight into the matter. What he meant by ‘each-other’s territory’? It’s a statement admitting Chinese occupation of Indian territory and Indian occupation of Chinese territory. Which piece of land does Beijing regard as Chinese territory and which as Indian? Chinese Google shows Arunachal as its part. Clearly, Jiabao means that Arunachal is Indian occupation of China. What about Chinese occupation of India? Was he referring to a part of Kashmir gifted to it by Pakistan? Was he hinting at a Beijing’s idea of solving border dispute between the two countries?  A loud Chinese noise followed by a sudden, calm admission by its PM of coveting each-other’s territory fit in this context best? And it’s where Obama administration’s attempt to please Beijing, adopting a very balanced policy in the region fit best.

With above questions crashing our mind, it’s not difficult to comprehend what Jiabao meant when he said: “We want to have a healthy and steady relationship with India.”

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