Moscow, October 22- From meeting a strategic partner to engaging with a difficult neighbour, the prime minister Manmohan Singh has his task cut out for him as he heads towards Beijing on the second leg of perhaps, his last high profile foreign visit, in this tenure as Prime Minister.
The relations between the two Asian giants may face tactical hiccups along the line of actual control with incursions and ugly face offs between military patrols of the two armies and also the issue of stapled visas for residents of Arunachal Pradesh, but strategically the relationship is seen to be heading north.
Will there be a border defence cooperation agreement (BDCA)? The two countries have been trying to hammer an agreement on new mechanism to avoid tension along the line of actual control and quicker resolution to incidents like the Depsang valley incursion. While there is a mechanism for consultation and cooperation on boundary dispute, the BDCA is expected to put in place new mechanisms to resolve potential issues at tactical level and try to ensure they do not get escalated to South Block.
The BDCA includes proposals like a hotline between commanders at tactical level and up to the level of Corps/army commanders and frequent meetings on ground between relevant formations. Sources have also spoken of proposals of not tailing each other’s patrols and a faster mechanism to address issues like the Depsang incursion.
India is understood to have expressed serious reservations about an earlier Chinese proposal for fixed patrolling schedules of army/ITBP patrols in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh to prevent a face off. “There was a proposal of advance notification of movement of patrols and also a fixed schedule of patrolling in the area to avoid accidental confrontation. However, troops on ground want to retain the initiative of patrolling the area of operation at a place and time of their choosing,” sources told Headlines Today.
But a fixed schedule of talks at tactical level and a hotline between commanders will be among several other issues that will be discussed by the two delegations. Before his departure to Moscow and Beijing, the PM in New Delhi had said: “I have worked closely with Chinese leaders to establish a Strategic and Cooperative Partnership and put in place comprehensive mechanisms for cooperation and dialogue and to address bilateral issues between our two countries. Together, we have reached important consensus on maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border and made preliminary progress towards settlement of the India-China Boundary Question.”
Both India and China are attaching importance to Dr Singh’s China visit. In fact China has termed the ties between New Delhi and Beijing as “strategic partnership.” Dr Singh will have three banquets being held in his honour during his two day long Beijing visit. “Both Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping will be hosting Dr Singh on the same day. The Chinese see this as a rare honour and are equally keen on a positive outcome of the visit,” sources added.
The Indian side is, however, keeping its fingers crossed. China has had a history of springing an unpleasant surprise just before a high profile visit. The recent incident of giving stapled visas to two young archers from Arunachal Pradesh, denying them an opportunity to participate in the archery championship in China left a bitter taste.
India for the first time responded by not going ahead with a liberalised visa regime that China was seeking during the summit level meeting. While India does not see this as tit for tat diplomacy, sources hoped this would send a message that China cannot keep issuing stapled visas and then expect a liberalised visa regime from India for Chinese professionals in the IT and power sectors.
Apart from BDCA and stapled visas the issue of dams and structures on the Brahmputra river are also expected to be taken up during the summit meeting. There are fears that damming the river will adversely affect people in India.
There are several important issues that India and China will discuss. India hopes to get China on board on the crucial issue of Afghanistan post the 2014 US forces draw down. India will reiterate China too faces the threat of extremists and terrorists training in pockets of Pakistan and together India, China and other countries in the region need to operate together to deny safe haven to terrorists in the region.
-Indiatoday
