Tuesday, Jan 28, 2003
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2003 |
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By Amit Baruah
Mr. Sinha's direct comments on the Chinese-Pakistan nuclear proliferation link will be of some interest given the fact that New Delhi has rarely expressed public concern on such issues that impinge on India's national security. China has repeatedly denied its Pakistan "link". Mr. Sinha has pointedly expressed concern that the pace of improving bilateral ties had been slow. He, however, debunked the theory that conflict between India and China was inevitable. India neither pursued nor made policy towards China with the view that a conflict was inevitable. India's approach to relations with China would remain forward-looking and infused with optimism. "India's policies will not be based on fear of Chinese power nor envy of China's economic achievements. They will be based on the conviction that a prosperous India is inevitable. So is a strong and prosperous China." Mr. Sinha said that India and China were too large and too strong to be "contained or cowed down by any country, including each other". India sought to develop relations with China on the basis of the principles of Panchsheel, mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns and equality. "Despite the fact that the India-China border spans thousands of kilometres of territory and there exist material differences in perception, the two countries have been successful in maintaining relative peace and tranquillity for over 25 years." India-China relations had diversified and a series of dialogue mechanisms were in place, including on subjects such as counter-terrorism, security issues, policy planning and the boundary question. Also, bilateral trade had grown from $264.8 million in 1991 to 4.3 billion during January-November 2002. Referring to the fear of being swamped by Chinese goods in 2001 when India lifted the last of its quantitative restrictions, he said, "Far from being swamped by imports, India-China trade figures reflect in India's exports and imports." India and China, he claimed, had shown wisdom in advancing their bilateral relations even as contentious issues such as the border dispute were taken up separately. "Economic integration and an overall improvement in relations has not been held hostage to differences over specific issues, however important these issues are. The wisdom of adopting such an approach to India-Pakistan relations is self-evident. I hope our neighbour will not keep its eyes forever shut to this truth." The Minister said the rise of China engaged the attention of scholars the world over. "There have been negative scenarios as well as positive scenarios outlined... Often, the conclusions drawn reflect personal convictions of the scholars concerned. In general, academics of the realist school tend to see China as a potential hegemon in Asia — a country which seeks to throw the United States out of the region... Liberal scholars, on the other hand, see China as a positive force within Asia..." "The rise of India is similarly an issue which has attracted academic debate. There are many who see the emergence of India on the world stage as part of an inevitable and inexorable process of history," Mr. Sinha said.
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