The Hindu : Indo-U.S. ties not directed against China: Sinha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 23, 2003

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Indo-U.S. ties not directed against China: Sinha

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI NOV. 22. India categorically rejects the notion that New Delhi's relations with Washington should be used as a "counterforce" against China, the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, said today. Such notions were based on outmoded concepts like balance of power, he stressed.

Delivering the Admiral R.D. Katari Memorial Lecture, Mr. Sinha said: "We also debunk the theory that India's `Look East' policy of greater engagement with ASEAN [Association of South-East Asian Nations] is somehow aimed at containing China."

Mr. Sinha claimed that the time had, perhaps, come to deal with some of the outstanding issues between India and China in a "determined manner", without leaving them to the next generation.

"We believe the relationship has reached a level of maturity where we can discuss those [outstanding] issues with a greater sense of urgency. This updated paradigm of our relationship is both desirable and sustainable.

"The initiative on the appointment of Special Representatives [to address the boundary issue] flows from such an assessment. As Prime Minister [Atal Bihari Vajpayee] stated recently, a final resolution of the boundary question is a strategic objective and both countries should be ready to take some pragmatic decisions to achieve it.

"While India and China agree that their differences should not be allowed to affect the overall development of bilateral relations, there is little doubt that a boundary settlement will give a major boost to the relationship. It will also send a powerful signal to the rest of the world that India and China have broken out of the shackles of the past," he said.

Underlining the fact that India had taken a principled position on issues of concern to China such as Tibet and Taiwan, Mr. Sinha was pleased that Beijing had started a process by which Sikkim would cease to be an issue in bilateral relations.

"Some aspects of China's relations with Pakistan, including their nexus in nuclear and missile proliferation, however, continue to cause serious concern in India as they have a direct and negative bearing on our national security environment. We regard China as a friend and we expect friends to show greater sensitivity to our security concerns." Calling for an Asian free trade area, which would include China, ASEAN, Japan and South Korea, Mr. Sinha felt this FTA was within the realm of possibility. "I am also inclined to believe that in the years to come, India and China will be key partners in regional economic arrangements transcending Asia."

India and China need to upgrade their dialogue to address each other's concerns not as adversaries, but as friends, convinced that there is no fundamental contradiction in the basic interests of the two countries, he said.

"The risk of conflict or even divisive rivalry, open or covert, between two of the largest countries in the world, with huge and steadily growing economies, with nuclear weapon capabilities, with geographical contiguity and unresolved territorial issues, is a spectre that should never be allowed to haunt us or affect our search for peace and stability in this world."

The India-China "pragmatic model" of relations, where differences had not been allowed to define ties, could be applied to other situations, including Pakistan, Mr. Sinha said.

"There are probably some in our neighbourhood who seek to play their `China connection' or `China card' to `counter' or even `contain' India. The bankruptcy of this approach is, however, becoming increasingly evident. China cannot objectively be a competitor for India in South Asia."

"That India and China have succeeded in maintaining peace and tranquillity on their borders, and are steadily increasing the lines of communication between them, brings a large measure of stability to the region. We do not and should not judge our relationship with China in the context of our bilateral relations with any other country, whether in the region or outside..."

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