The Hindu : Defence report softens outlook on China

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 31, 2003

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National

Defence report softens outlook on China

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 30. The annual report of the Defence Ministry, which has been delayed to revise its observations on China in view of the rapid improvement in bilateral ties, has reaffirmed New Delhi's endeavour to seek a long-term and stable relationship with Beijing.

The report, however, pointed out that the fact that every major Indian city was within the reach of Chinese missiles could not be "ignored". Moreover, the asymmetry in terms of nuclear forces was pronouncedly in favour of China and was likely to get more accentuated as it responded to counter the U.S. missile defence programme. It also took note of China's "close defence relationship" with Pakistan which "takes a further edge in view of the latter's known belligerence and hostility to India and its acquisition of nuclear tests''.

Released just before the visit of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to Beijing and a month after the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, interfaced with the top Chinese leadership during his trip in April, the report played down the threat perception by drawing attention to the "important developments marking the progress of India-China relations in 2002-03".

It said the progress in Sino-Indian ties were marked by completion of the process of exchange of maps of the middle sector on the Line of Actual Control, activation of Sino-Indian dialogue on mechanism to counter terrorism and approval of tourist destination status to New Delhi.

India had also commenced cooperation with the armed forces of China. Naval ships of both the countries had been exchanging visits and some of India's mid-level officers were undergoing courses in Chinese institutions.

But the report was vitriolic towards Pakistan whose "polity has been repeatedly hijacked by the military who have a vested interest in tension with India as it strengthens its pre-eminence in the Pakistani power structure".

Acknowledging the "temporary crackdown" on extremists by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, it felt that "Pakistan has not lived up to its much publicised promises to the international community to cease cross- border terrorism". However, there was room for reconciliation provided Islamabad eradicated cross-border terrorism, the report added.

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