Monday, March 9, 2009

Relation between India and China after the 70s

China and India, the two major world powers of tomorrow, have a complicated history of relations. Today, even as an emerging superpower, the Chinese has high respect for India’s soft power in fields related to information technology, pharmaceuticals, education and entertainment. Even though tensions over Tibet exist, India cannot deny the fact that it has benefited from the peace, security and economic growth in China in the 80s and 90s. After all, “no casual Indian visitor to China fails to be affected by the goodwill shown to him or her.” This essay will focus on the major conflicts that have taken place after the 1970s.

In the last two decades, the Chinese government has been focusing on economic development, reunifying the motherland, and opposing hegemonies. In 1982, Deng Xiaoping stabilized internal politics after the death of Mao Zedong with a series of reforms. This age was soon known in China as the reform era. Deng believed that if a country was economically stable, then the country would automatically be politically and socially successful. By increasing its economic performance, and the world’s dependence on Chinese economy, China has made sure that it has made allies with major world powers, most importantly the United States. As part of the various reforms, 1989 saw the normalization of relations between China and the Soviet Union, two countries with a history of ugly conflicts. With China on an upward journey towards becoming a superpower, India grew more jealous of China’s success in molding its speedy economic growth with a strong international status. India soon began to see China as an economic threat more than a military threat. Also, because of China’s “dense relationship” with superpowers, India was scared that China would not attach priority to its relationship with India, or worse, would not respect it. With all the allies China has and with India’s history of not choosing sides in external conflicts, India’s fear is that China will decide to use its influence against India. Being more suspicious of China’s success, Indians feel that the “utilization of external circumstances to benefit domestic, social and economic growth was China’s consistent strategy from the 80s.”

In 1998, India launched a series of nuclear weapon tests. One of the major reasons cited for running these tests was the fear that China was going to use its nuclear weapon capability and assist Pakistan in a war against India. Around that time statements were released by top officials claiming that China was not only a threat or rival but also an enemy. China took offense to the reasons India gave to justify the nuclear weapon tests and this led to conflicts that only ended after leaders of both countries affirmed that neither country viewed the other as a threat.

In the past decade, India has been trying very hard to become a permanent member of the UN. Using its status as “the world's largest democracy, and the second most populous country”, India has made it clear that it deserves a permanent position in the UN. By supplying a large amount of troops for UN–mandated peace-keeping missions, India has also proved that it is committed to accomplish the goals of the UN, and will contribute significantly to the international community. To achieve its goal, India has to get support from Russia, US, UK, Japan and China and in 2004, Germany, Japan, Brazil and India made a pact saying they would support each other’s claim to permanent membership in UN’s Security Council. In 2006, Relations between China and India progressed positively when Hu Jintao (President) and Wen Jiabao (Premier) voiced their support for India playing a bigger role internationally. After a visit to India that year, Tang Jiaxuan (Foreign Minister) released a statement saying that China would “not be an obstacle for India in its bid for permanent membership in the UN’s Security Council.”. China, however, made it clear that it did not support Japan’s request for permanent membership in the Security Council. Up to now however, nothing much has happened in terms of resolving the situation. Because China is a permanent member of the UN, members of the Security Council will support China always. Thus, giving the Chinese a clear advantage in terms of allies.

A long term conflict that is yet to be resolved is the issue over the border between China and India. Claiming 1/6th of pre-independence Kashmir- the Aksai Chin area and the state of Arunachal Pradesh, China had, two decades ago, refused to compromise on the issue. China also refused to adhere to the boundaries set by the Line of Actual Control (LAC). India, desperate to reach a consensus, tried their best to come up with a deal that would be acceptable in China’s eyes. However, after a crisis over the Sumdorong valley in 1987, India lost hope. It did not think a deal would ever be made that would resolve the conflict. However, the next year, the prime minister of India at that time, Rajiv Gandhi, paid a visit to China. After a period of long talks, the 1993 and 1996 talks took place. These talks proposed “peace, tranquility and confidence building measures.1[1]” Even though these talks did not end in a solved border dispute, it did open the way for more talks and stronger ties between the two Asian giants. In 2000, the first exchange of maps took place and since then a series of talks has taken place. Both China and India realize that the conflict needs to be solved before tensions on both sides lead to worse relations. Recently, in Jan 2008, just few days before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was scheduled for a visit to China, the Chinese “protested Indian movements into Sikkim” by sending troops into Indian territories and disturbing the peace.

After the Tibetan protesters in Lhasa led a demonstration, Sino- Indian relations have become more strained. In 1959, India gave the Dalai Lama, leader of Tibetans, and his followers, refuge in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, and permission to form a “government-in-exile” there. Since then, India has enjoyed popularity in its move to help refugees, and the tourism that Tibetan culture lures. However, with recent clashes between the Chinese and the Tibetans, India was put in a sticky situation. It was caught “between maintaining good relations with China, its powerful neighbor, and allowing the Dalai Lama and his followers, who are based here, to keep their cause alive.” By making sure that the Tibetan settlement was not brought up during talks between Manmohan Singh and Hu Jintao, India and China have managed to maintain good relations with each other.

Other conflicts between China and India have created obstacles in maintaining good relations between the two future superpowers. One such conflict is the one over river water. The Tibetan plateau is the source of most major rivers in Asia. China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia, Pakistan, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam depend on freshwater from the Tibetan Plateau for their livelihood. In India, of all the major rivers, the only one that does not begin in the Tibetan plateau is the Ganges. Recently however, reports said that China was planning to build dams and divert the water to rice/paddy fields in China. This caused uproar among other nations and threatened to become a full-fledged dispute, however, these plans were not carried out and peace was held by a thin line.

To make sure that India maintains good relations with other superpowers; India cannot afford to ruin relations with China. The Chinese have managed to form close allies with the US and other European countries and so gaining an automatic advantage against India, should a conflict arise. Because of this focus on economic progress and international reputation, China has a future of power. India needs to be wary of the dangers of such a powerful neighbor, and at the same time protect those who take refuge in India.


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