China places great store on symbolism. The “Shanghai spirit” is often invoked to hail the historic Sino-Russian rapprochement in the mid-1990s, which subsequently blossomed into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a vehicle to carry forward the impulses of their détente.
This analogy would have occurred to India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval when Chinese leader Yang Jiechi, a member of China’s Politburo (who heads the Communist Party’s newly-created Central Leading Group on Foreign Affairs) chose to receive him at Shanghai last week for a meeting that could augur a potential Sino-Indian detente.
Doval and Yang apparently discussed an informal summit meeting between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Word on the grapevine is that Modi may travel to China ahead of his scheduled visit to attend the summit meeting of the SCO in Qingdao on June 8-9.
Indeed, two visits to China by an Indian prime minister within the space of a month would signify a significant breakthrough in high-level India-China dialogue in the entire chronicle of the relationship.
‘Getting over past brawls’
Bilateral exchanges have become increased lately since the path-breaking visit to Beijing in February by India’s Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, an ace “China hand” in India’s diplomatic inventory. The Chinese Communist Party newspaper Global Times wrote last week that Beijing saw Gokhale’s visit as “a full demonstration that New Delhi attaches great importance to its ties with Beijing… (and) indicated that India is resolute in adapting its China policy and getting over the past brawls to open up a new chapter in bilateral ties.”
The commentary, which coincided with Doval’s talks with Yang in Shanghai, noted:
“Sino-Indian relations have presented a rosy development scenario recently, with new achievements in various areas thanks to the concerted effort of both nations. It seems that a new day has dawned for the two countries which were once at odds… The turn in China-India relations came as a result of common endeavor… The Indian government has achieved an important strategic consensus, making institutional preparations to recover its ties with China.
“India’s adjustment of its China policy is a return to its principle of strategic autonomy and the non-alignment policy. The change serves as the start of getting back on the healthy development track of its ties with China. Beijing-New Delhi ties are heading for more mature and stable development.”
Phenomenal transformation
Indeed, the atmosphere has phenomenally transformed. India’s foreign and defense ministers are due to travel to China next week in quick succession. Evidently, Delhi and Beijing are taking the road out of Doklam, where a dangerous seven-week face-off last summer between the two armies left a trail of anxiety.
Western analysts – and their camp followers in India – had been prophesying a showdown in Doklam and whipping up xenophobia in Delhi, but they will be disappointed. A quiet round of consultations in Delhi on April 6 between Gokhale and his visiting Chinese counterpart Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou “agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, carry out mechanism communication, expand practical cooperation and properly handle differences.”
Simply put, the two diplomats agreed on a matrix of constructive engagement to eliminate misperceptions over each side’s intentions. While in Delhi, Kong also called on Doval (in the run-up to the latter’s forthcoming talks with Yang in Shanghai).
For sure, the “sherpas” are hard at work to create the right ambiance for a summit meeting between Modi and Xi. The two countries held a new round of arms control talks in Beijing on April 10 in what the Chinese Ministry called “candid, practical and fruitful” discussions “exchanging in-depth views on issues of common concern including international security, arms control and non-proliferation.”
This confidence-building measure is timely, since apart from the nuclear dimension, the two countries have been beefing up forces on the disputed border.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson acknowledged these positive trends in remarks in Beijing on April 16, saying there has been “new progress” in China’s relations with India following “close interactions” at various levels “under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries.”
Clearly, Beijing has put the imprimatur of Xi on what is unfolding. Spokeswoman Hua Chunying concluded:
“China attaches great importance to its relations with India. We are ready to work with India to follow through on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and stick to the right direction of our bilateral relations. We will further accumulate positive energy and expand new areas for cooperation so as to move forward the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.”
Focus on economic cooperation
The focus of the two leaders is expected to be on stepping up economic cooperation. China views India as the last frontier in a bleak world scenario characterized by protectionism and anti-globalization. As for India, it places store on China as a potential driver of growth for its economy, especially job creation, which could be crucial to Modi’s prospects of winning a renewed mandate in the 2019 poll.
India’s hardline policies toward China have proved barren. Modi’s better instinct all along was to tap into China’s growth for galvanizing the Indian economy. Ironically, China, too, had placed high hopes on Modi’s rise, having known him and appreciated his realism and sense of priorities toward economic growth and development.
The present turnaround underscores that Modi has marginalized the hardliners in the Indian camp, and more importantly, secured a green light from powerful Hindu nationalist forces who mentor the government. Modi has astutely weighed that regional and international politics demand a strengthening of India’s strategic autonomy.
Great! More cooperation in Asia is essential to end US bullying of Asian countries. The primary focus seems to be economy cooperation, later maybe China can become a mediator to resolve the Kashmir issues that is a great burden for both India and Pakistan. There is substancial benefits for India and China with increased cooperation. It could soften the tensions between India and Pakistan too.
Pakistan seem to be in favour of terminate their relations with the US. Instead Pakistan want to seek increased friendship with China and Saudi Arabia. US has been an unpredictable ally for Pakistan and once again betrayed Pakistan. Now the US blame Pakistan for the US failures in Afghanistan. An unbelievable insult to Pakistan who has lost tens of thousands of lives helping the US war on "terror".
If Pakistan stop the US supply lines through Pakistan, it is likely the US must cut is losses and evacuate their soldiers, and the US Afghan proxy government. This will stabilize the region and reduce terrorism.
It is better for China to co-operate with India rather than enter into confrontatation.
Lol, if only BJP, and indian government in general can be trusted. Let’s see if the so called change of heart will even last to 2019 election…
By the way, what are those 1100 indian war planes doing at Chinese border past week, show Chinese friendship through war simulations?
RSS has a change of heart, so Chinese now is going to give it money to buy war machines to counter China? Fat chance.
Joe: What weed are you smoking, you moron?
It often seems like Bhadrakumar is the only sane Indian in the foreign policy front — the rare astute, pragmatic thinker. One can only hope he is right, but I wouldn’t bet on it. India is too capricious and seems to have a chip on its back from the 1962 loss. The swing in populist mood from their election cycles will not help either. And sorry to say, but Indians seem so desperate to win approval of the white man that it’s frankly embarassing.
India does not have 1100 warplanes.
It is only India bending forward and accomodating China. China on her part has increased force levels in Chumbi Valley, started construcing a road into Bhutan further East of Dokalam away from Indian deployment. China has not relented on NSG, or on the issue of designating Maulana Azhar as global terrorist, or in building CPEC through illegally occupied areas of POK. What are we happy about because Doval was received by Yang; hence the former is happy about it. The border issue is not even being contemplated let alone having any meaningful discussion. A naive India is falling into the Chinese trap. If they are serious about solving the border problem first let them give their claim areas in the Eastern (Arunachal) and Western Sector (Ladakh) of Dispute. Even without China not gving their claim lines; What are the Indian discussing? The new foreign secretary due to his old habits continues to genuflect before China. It is in his deep state.
Don’t bring pakistan into Sino Indian relationship. It is the root cause for the slidedown on their relationship. CPEC, NSG and Masood Azhaar are the reasons the made it difficult for India to reconcile with china. And they still need a lot of diplomatic work to sort these out. Let governments do their job. And India will align with Russia, USA and also China. It is not align with one against other. India has its own priorities.
India has it’s strategic priorities. It dominates India Subcontinent and will work to keep things that way. It will align with USA under quad+2 informal alliance for that and to break Chinese encirclment. It has strategic ties with Russia and Iran and is working with them on INSTC and trade (oil and defence). It is working with Asean on BIMSTEC, ACT East policy. It is working with GCC countries and Israel under Connect West policy. It has AAGC project with Japan, where it is reaching out to Africa via this project. And lastly it will trade with China and is working on dialogue process to sort out difficult divergent views about almost about everything with them. Pakistan is waging proxy war with India and no matter which party rules India, Indian stand against Pakistan will not change.
Ken Nguyen http://malaysiandigest.com/world/733626-1-100-aircraft-participate-in-india-s-war-drills.html. You can also google it from Indian press.
A wishful thinker toward China, but a wishful hawk toward Pakistan. He most likely an opportunitist. Or some one, in Chinese expression, know who is soft, who is strong and kown who to bully.
Ken Nguyen Here you go, If that is not show of "friendship" and "peace", nothing else can:
http://www.defencenews.in/article/Gaganshakti-2018-IAF-displays-might,-air-chief-says-%E2%80%98we%E2%80%99re-shaking-the-heavens%E2%80%99-547668
“We are flying a lot of sorties and dropping a lot of bombs. So in that sense — borrowing a phrase from a Rand monograph — I would say we really are shaking the heavens and splitting the Earth,” Dhanoa said in his first public comments on the exercise in which every wartime drill is being rehearsed.
Yes precisely and please Stick to that stand. Please do that see how your master reacts to that.
Sirji 71 bhulgaye kya. Ya kargil ki sikhasht bhul Gaye kya. July 4 ko pm pakiPaki us jakey withdrawal agreement jeetney ki wajah see Kiya tha Kya? Propaganda chodo and come to real world.
Jo Snow I do read atimes regularly and have read a lot of wishful thinking from Chinese side too. To put it mildly china and India can never be friends but they don’t need to be enemies. Yes 1962 moulds indian thinking and probably forever will till boundary issue is resolved. Having occupying aksai chin and shaksham Calley, china wants more of Indian territory and since 2013 china is encircling India via it’s string of pearls. Every country will do what is in its best interest and aligning with USA under quad helps India. So you can call it wishful thinking or something else, I call it pragmatic multi alignment and hedging ones bets ever so careful.
Now that China has wiped the floor with Modi, where is his pride, quad and grandstanding in the so-called indo-Indo-Pacific? Chai wala and international diplomacy, a new Bollywood blockbuster!
Ken Nguyen And another friendly gesture:
Indian Navy trolls China Navy on Twitter over presence in Indian Ocean
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trolling-on-high-seas-navy-tweets-to-tell-china-it-s-being-watched-in-indian-ocean/story-jWWoFFrC2mCmexRUVoQAwM.html
"In two clever tweets, the Indian Navy on Tuesday sent a subtle but powerful message to the Chinese navy: You are being watched in the Indian Ocean region or IOR."
"The Indian Navy, on its official Twitter handle tweeted, “#MaritimeDomainAwareness @indiannavy extends a warm welcome to the 29th Anti-Piracy Escort Force (APEF) of PLA(N) in Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Happy Hunting.”"
Srinivasa Nanduri Get over yourself. Not one talk about you.
Srinivasa Nanduri
China’s role as Middle Kingdom is to help countries to set aside their differences for mutual benefit. This is in the interests of the people of India and Pakistan who all want a better life.
With the democrapy in India, no agreement will last beyond the Premier term. So why get so excited about it, just business as usual.
Galen Linder some people will never change. We do not need china involvement in into pak issues. It’s better for china to keep out of it.
What floor has china wiped so far. What did India concede so far. So now even talking to China to get a strategic reset in relationship is defeat. No wonder India Pakistan are at each other’s throats. India imports more from china then the other way around. There are number of issues and for china to make BRI a viable option it needs India. Again interdependence is quite evident. Managing differences and co existing is a work of mature nations.
Gujarat happened under Modi watch. RSS is a Hindu nationalist movement, has brahmanical views about Indian society. But has it got to do with current article. It talks of reset in Sino Indian relationship and details are still not their. Writing down about india for the sake of it. Kuch bhi.
China sells more to India then India does with China. If trade shows it hurts chinese more than Indians. India is a consumption driven market unlike China that is export driven get facts right before trolling.
Jo Snow thanks for the clarification. Even if you do, it’s ok, at least you are talking sensibly instead of mere trolling. God bless.
Srinivasa Nanduri he did not deviate from topic. He does not trust BJP/RSS. Nor does China and rest of world.
back in the days when novelist were writing Crash of 79 , Diego Garcia base was set up to counter and contain India and nobody else. It is still the major American base in Indian ocean. In fact in the said novel American warships wiped out the Indians ………..
Ramiz Ahmed , you are having very very poor memory . Have you forgotten that Pakistan got divided in two parts . One part is called as Bangladesh. Another part called as Pakistan is facing the wrath of bravery Baluchis whom Pakistanis killed in cold blood . They want separate Balochistan .Give separate Balochistan and stop killing Baluchi men , women and children .
Diego Garcia naval base of the U.S is for dealing with aggressive and assertive China .Not against India .
US and India have signed an agreement vide which India can use Diego Garcia naval base against enemies of India .
Don’t you read newspapers?
Ramesh . It’s time India gets all sleeper cell in America to go into action .
Sayonara abe san!