Sridhar Kumaraswam
The Asian Age
September 9, 2014
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj sent a firm and stern message from a “strong” government to China, saying that Beijing should reciprocate and appreciate India’s sensitivities on Arunachal Pradesh especially since India has always appreciated Chinese sensitivities on Taiwan and Tibet and that China should also believe in a “One India policy” just as India believes in a One China policy. Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark in Japan on “expansionism” was not aimed at China, Ms Swaraj expressed confidence that the outcome of the Chinese President’s visit would be “substantial and solid”. She also said the relationship between India and China comprised both “cooperation and competition”.
“When China’s foreign minister came, we gave them a message (that) we (India) believe in a One-China policy. You should believe in a One-India policy. … When they (the Chinese) raise the issue of Tibet and Taiwan, we appreciate their sensitivities. We also want that they should appreciate our sensitivities regarding Arunachal Pradesh,” Ms. Swaraj said.
Ms Swaraj made it clear that India had done some plain-speak to China, Pakistan and even the United States in the first 100 days of the Modi government. Saying that a “strong” Government would be speaking to US President Barack Obama during Prime Minister Modi’s forthcoming visit to the US, she said that India had recently raised the snooping controversy with Washington, saying, “You (the US) call us friends and you spy on us?”
On China, by linking the issue of Arunachal Pradesh to that of Taiwan and Tibet, India seems to be turning the heat on Beijing and insisting on reciprocity at a time when China continues to insist that Arunachal — which it refers to as South Tibet — belongs to it. While China does not accept Arunachal as part of India, New Delhi accepts Tibet and Taiwan as parts of China. Incidentally, Beijing has no control over Taiwan which it regards as a renegade province.
Ms Swaraj’s statement could fuel speculation on whether a possibility exists that India could ever re-think its “One-China policy” and revisit its stand that Taiwan and Tibet are part of China in case the Chinese remain aggressive on the issue of Arunachal Pradesh. “We have a very good relationship with China. I must articulate that our relationship is that of cooperation and competition. But when Prime Minister Modi met President Xi in Fortaleza (Brazil), they had a very good equation. I think the outcome of this visit will be substantial and solid,” said the minister who was presenting a report card on 100 days in office.
Asked about whether the Prime Minister had meant China when he spoke about “expansionism” during the recent visit to Japan, Ms Swaraj said, “He (the Prime Minister) never referred to any country … he spoke about 18th century expansionism.” Incidentally, Ms. Swaraj also said India was going to host the Indo-Africa Summit where all 51 African countries had been invited. This comes at a time when China is increasing its presence in Africa and making heavy financial investments there.
Speaking at her first “formal (media) conference” since taking over office and spelling out the foreign policy initiatives taken during the first 100 days of the Modi Government, Ms.Swaraj said the Government had been “proactive, sensitive and strong”. A booklet titled “fast-track diplomacy”featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi prominently on the cover—was also released on the occasion.
