The Hindu : From romance to realism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 03, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

From romance to realism

By C. Raja Mohan

SHANGHAI April 2. No, India is not returning to a romantic view of China, the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, insisted in a brief conversation with The Hindu here at the end of his talks with the Chinese leaders last week.

Many skeptical eyebrows have been raised at Mr. Singh's upbeat assessment of future ties with China. India's romantic notions about China in the past had generated political expectations that could not be fulfilled. But India's top diplomat argues that his judgment that a better future awaits Sino-Indian relations is based on realism rather than a renewed romantic approach towards China.

``Professionally, it is a visit of many positives and personally it has been a rewarding experience,'' Mr. Singh said.

Sources in the Indian delegation say, ``more has been achieved in this one visit'' by the Foreign Minister than in the recent engagement between the two countries.

The unveiling of a broad-based dialogue architecture between the two Governments during Mr. Singh's visit comes amidst an apparent reassessment in Beijing of its relations with New Delhi in the more uncertain external strategic environment facing China.

Equally important may be the new recognition in China that it needs to end the imbalance in its relationships with India and Pakistan. Since September 11, China has watched the United States deepen its ties with both New Delhi and Islamabad.

The time had come clearly for Beijing to end the perception of political immobility in Sino-Indian relations.

And New Delhi too has, if only imperceptibly in the last couple of years, has begun to emphasise an approach that is focused on problem-solving and building cooperation wherever possible.

The convergence of these two approaches underlines the success of Mr. Singh's visit to China.

* * *

How realistic is the idea of a defence engagement between India and China? The general disbelief about Sino-Indian defence cooperation is being challenged by Dingli Shen, deputy director of the Centre for American Studies at the Fudan University here.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shen said, ``there is no reason why India and China should not have some bilateral defence engagement''.

As the two largest countries of the world and neighbours, Mr. Shen argued, it was a political imperative that India and China initiate a defence dialogue.

This could, of course, only begin with such small steps as seminars between Beijing's National Defence University and its Indian counterparts on security doctrines, new global scenarios, international terrorism and exchange visits by security experts.

``Regular flow of defence establishment figures between India and China,'' Mr. Shen says, ``could help reduce mistrust and build mutual confidence''.

As he prepares to visit China, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, should be coming with his own list of what the two sides could start their defence dialogue with.

* * *

One of the academicians questioning Mr. Singh after his lecture yesterday at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies came up with an interesting formation.

He was seeking information on the plans of the Indian Government to build major hydro-electric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, a territory that is claimed by China.

But the questioner stumped the Indian delegation by adding the caveat ``your territory'', when asked the Minister about the hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh. Is it a calculated signal or just a slip of the tongue?

* * *

The Chinese are not the only ones that Jaswant Singh has met during his four-day visit to China that concluded today.

In Shanghai, Mr. Singh spent some time with a high-profile American delegation that was in town at the same time!

The delegation from the prestigious Aspen Institute visiting China had some figures intimately familiar with India, including the Jim McDermott who had earlier led the India Caucus in the U.S. Congress and Sen. Paul Sarbanes.

Prof. Roderick Macfarquhar, a leading American Sinologist and member of the Aspen Group apparently facilitated the meeting.

Prof. Macfarquhar of course has many friends in New Delhi. He grew up in India as a child when his father was serving British Government in the Subcontinent.

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