India and China constitute 36 per cent of the world population and the two countries would be able to control the global affairs if they work in tandem, according to senior BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy.
“Issues like visa, line of Control and Tibet are mere pinpricks which could be addressed if India speaks to China from strength of position,” said Dr Swamy while addressing students and faculty of the Madras Christian College on Monday.
He said the present political leadership in New Delhi has failed miserably in handling the issues between the two countries. “To resolve the issue between India and China, our Govern-ment should have structured its policy based on intentions and capacity. You should understand Indian as well as the Chinese’ intention and capacity,” said Dr Swamy, who was described by a former Chinese Ambassador to India as China’s one and only greatest Indian friend.
Dr Swamy said Dalai lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, should be told in no uncertain terms that Tibet is an integral part of China. “Dalai lama is welcome to stay in India to propagate spirituality but not politics. Two Prime Ministers of India, Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had declared that Tibet is an integral part of China and the subject ends there. The Chinese are afraid whether India would join USA in the eventuality of an uprising in Tibet. It is our responsibility to clear that apprehension from the mind of the Chinese leadership,” said Dr Swamy. To the Tibetan students and research scholars who were present in large numbers to hear him speaking, Dr Swamy said India would never seek their exit from this country. “You are one among us. Do not feel that you are outsiders. You have every right to preach and practice your religion and culture in India,” Dr Swamy said.
He said the line of Control between India and China could be solved by through diplomacy. “The Chinese argue that they would not accept the McMahon line, the borderline between the two countries because it was drawn by the British. But the same Chinese consider as sacrosanct the Mc Mahon line between it and Myanmar which too was drawn by the British,” pointed out Dr Swamy.
He said it was easy to bring the Chinese to the discussion table if they are convinced about the military might of India. “India spends just two per cent of its national income on defence while China spends six per cent. Even a major chunk from the two per cent which India spends on military goes as corruption. This has to be stopped,” he said.