Omkar Dattatray
There are strained relations between the two Asian giants, China and India and after the recent boarder crisis and physical clashes between the armies of the two countries, China has shown change in its behavior to India. The dragon now talks of cooperation between the two countries and wants to work together and have friendship with India. China seems to be on its toes so for as its stand with India is concerned. The marked and significant change in the attitude and behavior of China towards our country seems to be the result of the Indian diplomacy and it can be said that China’s change in its behavior viz a viz India is the win of Indian diplomacy and it is the good augury for the normalization of the relations between the two countries. The dragon and its president Xi Jinping has realized that this is not the India of 1962 but the India of 2022 and Modi’s India which cannot succumb to pressure tactics and so she has now been on her knees. The Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi Male Han has said that China wants to work with India and this statement of her foreign minister is significant because it will begin the normalization of the relations between China and India and so this in practice will be the first step towards the normalization of the relations between the two countries. Earlier India, china lashed out at each other as the talks reached bitter deadlock but now after the recent physical clashes between the two armies after the attempt of the Chinese troops there seems to be a thaw between the relations between the two countries as the China wants to engage with India and work with it so that the tension will not escalate and the situation will remain normal on the line of actual control. There is a marked shift in the attitude of China towards India and it augurs well for the bilateral relations between the two countries. There is utmost need that the two neighbors should build on the present optimistic and positive signs has given by Chinese leaders and it will be in the interests of the two countries. Chinese foreign minister has given a very positive and encouraging statement which can go a long way to cement the relations between the countries concerned. Therefore the two neighboring countries of India and China should work together and in close cooperation to build cordial relations so that an era of goodwill and trust can be made possible. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has said that China is ready to work with India through steady and sound growth of relations. The Chinese minister said this while addressing reporters on China’s relations with India.Wang Yi stated,” China and India have maintained communication through diplomatic and military to military channels and both countries are committed to upholding stability in the border areas. We stand ready to work with India in the direction towards steady and sound growth of China ,India relations.” In fact this statement came in the backdrop of December 9 standoff between India-Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Twang sector. This statement of the Chinese foreign minister shows that there is a paradigm shift in the behavior and attitude of C Chinese leadership and it is a good augury fot the normalization of the relations between the two countries which are reeling in strained relations. This change in Chinese attitude towards India is perhaps the effect of the growing clout of India in the international sphere and this has resulted in the change in the behavior of China towards India after the December faceoff in Twang sector. Modi’s diplomacy and his thrust towards the bilateral ties and his strong leadership has a favorable impact on China and its leaders are now talking of working with India for steady and stable India-China relations. The fact that India has taken the mantle of presidentship of G20 and her assuming of the world leadership has forced China to change its attitude towards India and this is no insignificant development for normalization of China-India relations. There is some commonality in the culture of the two Asian neighbors and from ancient time there have been cordial relations between India and China but in the twenty century the relations between the two countries nosedived because the borders between these countries are not clearly marked and there are differing perceptions so for as the long border between the two countries is concerned.
The relations between the two countries had plummeted so low and were strained in 2020 June due to the worst clashes in Galwan valley of eastern Ladakh and it resulted on the human casualties between the two armies and the border tensions continued for two years despite of the military to military talks. Now the situation was not so tense but the CLA transgressed into our side in Twang sector of Arunachal Pradesh and it resulted into physical and ma to man to man clashes between the two armies.
However Indian troops were successful in making the Chinese troops to retreat to their side of the Line of actual control. But after this border tension and face off between the two countries, Chinese leadership showed abrupt change in its behavior towards India and this encouraging change can be attributed to the growing stature of India because of the sound and strong diplomacy and the consistent foreign policy of India towards China. India wants bilateral relations with China and our foreign policy is directed towards it.
The tensions, conflicts and wars have no place in 21st century as this century is of cooperation and not division. Moreover world and China-India has common challenges and problems like terrorism, global warming and climate change as well as other common issues which can be fought in cooperation and therefore the two countries of China and India should sink differences and work closely to find solution of these problems and also need to reduce the border tensions for the good of the two nations. Thus there is need for the engagement between India and China not only at borders but at the level of the political leadership.
There is also a need to build normal political relations between the two countries after the December faceoff the two countries agreed to maintain the security and stability on the ground in western sector. The MEA statement said the two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest. There is a discernable shift in Chinese political leadership towards India but we should be vigilant and cautious as one does not know if the present change in attitude of China towards India is real or a trick of our cleaver neighbour. In the end we should also give a positive response to Chinese current attitudinal change towards India and try sincerely to build the cordial relations between the two nations while remaining cautious. In fact Dragon has come on toes so for its attitude towards India is concerned and it seems to be because of the strong diplomatic and international leadership of Modi as well as his strong foreign policy towards China.
(The author is a columnist,
social and KP activist).