The Hindu : International / India & World : 'Chinese, Indian diplomacy in 1962 was immature'

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Saturday, Aug 07, 2004

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'Chinese, Indian diplomacy in 1962 was immature'

By Amit Baruah

BEIJING, AUG. 6. "Looking back at the China-India border conflict in 1962, one may find that the two countries were both inexperienced in various fields and their diplomacy was immature as they had just won their independence," the former Chinese Ambassador to India, Cheng Ruisheng, has said.

Writing in the May issue of `International Studies', official journal of the China Institute of International Studies, a think-tank funded by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mr. Cheng put the blame on both countries for the border war.

"At different stages, the two countries had been emotional in dealing with their boundary question, which had finally led to the border conflict and consequently a major setback to bilateral relations," he said.

Referring to the steady improvement in bilateral relations, he referred to the meeting between the then External Affairs Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Chinese Vice-Premier, Deng Xiaoping, in February 1979.

"The then Vice-Premier Deng Xioaping told Mr. Vajpayee during their meeting that China and India should seek common ground and shelve differences. The boundary question should be resolved as a package in a fair and reasonable way and in [accordance with] the principle of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation through friendly consultation."

Referring to the eight rounds of talks at the level of Vice-Minister between December 1981 and November 1987, Mr. Cheng said: "When the Indian side sought a clarification on the Chinese side's proposal for a package deal, the Chinese side emphasised that only when the Indian side makes adjustment in the eastern sector would the Chinese side make concession in the western sector."

Reiterating that "mutual understanding and mutual accommodation" was the only way to settle the boundary question between the two nations, the former Ambassador said no breakthrough in the talks had been possible as India did not accept the Chinese proposal at the time.

'A success'

Commenting positively on the confidence-building measures agreed to by the two sides, Mr. Cheng said the June 2003 visit by the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to Beijing had been a great success.

The two sides, he said, made major progress in solving some of the questions left over by history such as Tibet and Sikkim, which had built up the confidence of the two peoples to improve bilateral relations. "It is expected that China-India relations will enter a new period for comprehensive and stable development."

Following the appointment of Special Representatives to discuss the boundary dispute and their first meeting in October 2003, Mr. Cheng referred to Mr. Vajpayee's statement of November 1, 2003, that some realistic decisions had to be taken to solve the border dispute with China.

"At present, some favourable conditions do exist for an ultimate resolution of the boundary question between India and China. The quickened pace of improvement of bilateral relations has created an atmosphere where the two sides could explore means for a final settlement of the boundary question," he said.

However, there were major obstacles in the path of the settlement. "For China, it is difficult to accept the so-called McMahon Line [which is roughly the LAC (Line of Actual Control) in the eastern sector] as the China-India boundary in the eastern sector ... pending its settlement, China does not recognise the McMahon Line. But for the purpose of seeking solution of the China-India boundary question, China will not cross this Line," he said.

The "relatively realistic" position taken by China on the McMahon Line also offered enough room for negotiation when the two sides talk about the final settlement of this sector of the boundary.

"The key is that the Indian side should bear in mind the general situation of the friendship between India and China and take into full account the national feelings of the Chinese people on the question of the McMahon Line by making necessary adjustments in [the] light of history and reality," he said.

According to Mr. Cheng, the signing of agreements on peace and tranquillity along the LAC (1993) and on military confidence-building measures along the LAC (1996) showed that India had taken a "comparatively realistic stance" on the Aksai Chin area in the western sector of the boundary.

"But it may also appear difficult to the Indian side that the Line of Actual Control in the western sector be accepted as the final boundary," Mr. Cheng added.

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