Sino-Indian ties lack warmth, says Swamy

BEIJING, JULY 1. The former Union Minister, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, has said that though India-China relations have improved recently with assurances from the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, and the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, the bilateral ties lacked the warmth that existed following the visit of the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and the Chinese President, Mr. Jiang Zemin.

``The central unresolved issue is, in Chinese perspective, not the border, but the uncertainty and nagging doubts about India's intentions on Tibet and to a lesser extent even on Taiwan,'' Dr. Swami said on his impressions at the end of his week-long visit and talks with Chinese officials.

The doubts had arisen after the statements of two Cabinet Ministers in the Vajpayee Government, he said particularly referring to the closeness of the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, to pro-Independence activists from Tibet.

The Indian Government appeared to show ``ambivalence'' on Tibet issue, Dr. Swamy said urging for a clear-cut stand and transparency by India on the question of Tibet.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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