Express View on India-China ties: Riding on hope

Source– The post is based on the article “Express View on India-China ties: Riding on hope” published in the “The Indian Express” on 31st July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Bilateral groupings and agreements

Relevance: Bilateral relationship between India and China

News- The Chinese President Xi Jinping might visit Delhi in September for the G20 summit.

Why are some strategic experts optimistic over the Xi visit?

Xi’ presence in Delhi is an opportunity to end the current stalemate in bilateral relations that began with China’s aggression in Ladakh in the summer of 2020.

There was a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Wang Yi, in Johannesburg on the margins of a BRICS forum.

A Chinese statement issued after the meeting referred to the “Bali Consensus” between Modi and Xi on the need to “stabilize bilateral relations”.

Why are the prospects of resolving the stalemate in the relationship during Xi’s visit weak?

There was not much interaction between Modi and Xi at the G20 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, last November.

The Modi government has consistently emphasized that a return to normalcy in bilateral relations will not occur until Beijing restores peace and tranquillity along the border.

In contrast, Chinese officials have urged India to set aside the border issue and focus on cooperating in other domains. However, Delhi has maintained its stance that the condition of the border reflects the overall state of the relationship

China is reluctant to address the territorial disputes with its neighbouring countries, such as Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, and India.

Despite this, Xi’s diplomatic representatives try to present a positive outlook on the discussions with these neighbours and assert progress, even when there is none

Recently, Beijing issued “stapled visas” to Indian athletes from Arunachal Pradesh participating in World University Games in Chengdu, China. Beijing uses the stapled visas to assert its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

Territorial sovereignty is the major cause of multiple disputes between Delhi and Beijing. The PLA’s aggressive behaviour on the disputed border has undermined the efforts to manage these issues.