Acknowledging that the relations between India and China are complicated, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Friday said that despite all this, India expected China to be appreciative of its interests, especially when they are not in conflict with those of Beijing. In this regard, the FS mentioned sanctioning of terrorist leaders and organisations and India’s aspirations for NSG membership as some things that should not emerge as an issue of contention between the two nations. He added India and China should approach each other with strategic maturity.
Speaking at the East West Centre Conference on the topic “South Asia looking East”, the FS said India’s relationship with China is not a zero-sum game and the ties for the last three decades are much stronger than many assume.
“From a situation of limited contacts and content, India-China relations have today transitioned out of their state of abnormalcy. We must give due credit to the efforts of successive Governments on both sides who have ensured peace and tranquillity on the border, even as negotiations on its settlement continue. Difficult problems, some of them pertaining to sovereignty, have not been side-stepped. No less significant is the ability of the two nations to work together at global forums on developmental issues,” the FS said.
He underlined the initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi Government to address the challenges in the ties and strengthening them in. In this regard he mentioned Chinese investments, establishment of industrial parks, collaboration in railways and a liberal visa regime as some positive developments.
“Displaying mutual sensitivity to each other’s concerns is necessary in that context. There is an expectation in India that a partner like China would be appreciative of India’s interests, especially when they are not in conflict with those of China. Combating terrorism is one such area and sanctioning of well-known terrorist leaders and organisations should not emerge as an issue of difference. Nor should reservations on developmental issues, such as India’s predictable access to international cooperation and investments in the field of civil nuclear energy. It is imperative for the future of Asia, and indeed the world, that the two nations approach each other with strategic maturity,” Jaishankar said while referring to China blocking India’s bid to get a UN ban on Pakistan-based terrorist and JeM chief Masood Azhar as well as Beijing scuttling India’s entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.