(People’s Daily Online)
January 22, 2013
Key Words: China-India relations; India; China; strategic containment; military interaction; New Delhi
Realted Reading:
>> New thinking needed in China-India relations
China and India will hold the first joint military drill since the past five years.
All of the observers knew that the symbolic meaning of the military drill is more far-reaching than the actual meaning. However, in the face of the lobbying of Japan and the United States in New Delhi, India’s unexpected action and the military inter action with China sparked discussions of the public. What is the China policy of India, the emerging arms buyer of the United States, the key chain of Japan’s “Arc of Freedom and Prosperity” and the largest territorial dispute object of China? Will it be on the same side with Japan and the United States, or sincerely tolerate the simultaneous rise of China and India?
Regarding the China-India relations, many Chinese media organizations are very interested in the question- Will India be courted or forced by the United States and Japan to join them to contain China? In fact, it is likely to be a false proposition.
As a major regional and even world power full of sense of pride, India has an independent foreign policy. It never thinks itself the client state of other countries.Instead, it has always been proud of its independent foreign policy. India had taken the “Arc of Freedom and Prosperity” proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso in a detached way, neither opposing nor supporting it. The reason is very simple: India did not agree with the foreign strategy of Taro Aso and was reluctant to be a stepping stone of Japan. Therefore, the diplomatic strategy of Shinzo Abe certainly will not reach a result much better than that of Taro Aso who visited India five years ago.
Although India will not be a client state of other countries and go against China, it does not mean that India has a friendly and constructive policy toward China. India also has a good reason to adopt the policy of containing China. There are considerable structural disputes between China and India on safety including the territorial disputes,the issues of Tibet, Pakistan and Indian Ocean and even the difference about the adjustment of the world political and economic order. These disputes cannot be solved fundamentally through a slight friendliness and interaction in diplomatic or military circles.
After all, India decides the policy toward China for itself. It will neither go against China under the instigation of other countries nor intentionally avoid going against China for not being criticized for lack of independence.
China should know where the crux of China-India relationship is, and realize that it is the core issue of China and India and is irrelevant to other countries. Only when the both sides have a full understanding of each other, China and India can go beyond the symbolic meaning and improve the bilateral relations.
Read the Chinese version: 印度会参与对华战略遏制吗？; Source: People’s Daily Overseas Edition; Author: Ye Hailin
