Combining cooperation with competition

Combining cooperation with competition

News

1.A two day informal summit between Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President took place in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in April 2018, has to be seen in the wider development in the backdrop of Indo-Pacific region

Important facts

2.India and China are able to manage their differences as both of them need to concentrate on their economic development.
3.New Delhi would do well in areas of same ideas, while not compromising on its border security.

Issues Between India and China

a)One Belt One Road (OBOR)

• India has not joined the China led OBOR initiative or the Belt and Road initiative (BRI), due to its own concerns about violation of its sovereignty via
• CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) in J & K.
  India firmly believes that connectivity initiative must be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance,rule of law, openness, transparency, and equity.
• The development must be in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity.

b) .Doklam issue
China had started construction of Road in Doklam region of Bhutan (territory claimed by China) to which India had objected, leading to tensions between them..

• Both countries pulled back their troops before Indian PM travelled to China for BRICS Summit in September 2017.
• Doklam crisis resolved but Chinese troops are still patrolling on the Sino-Indian border as China tests both Indian defence and its resolve.
  
  c) Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
• India is worried about China’s so-called “String of Pearls” strategy under which it has already helped in constructing port and port facilities at Gwadar in Pakistan, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Chittagong in Bangladesh and Kyaukpyu in Myanmar.

Setting up of Chinese base in Djibouti has further aggravated the Indian concerns in IOR.

(d) Trade between India and China

• India comes under a huge trade deficit with China. •In 2017 total trade between India and China reached to a historic high of $84.44 billion, and increased Up to $51.75billion in China favour.
  

Outcome of Wuhan summit

• Strategic guidance issued to respective militaries to strengthen communication and effectiveness in management of border affairs
  
• China also announced that, it  would decrease tariffs on 28 medicines including cancer drugs from India, however this  will take time in implementation.

(e) Other concerns

China is also increasing its  presence in Gulf region and in Africa. The Gulf region is home to a huge Indian Diaspora and India has always had upper hand in this region.

• India had also shown its displeasure on growing chinese presence in IOR at the Shangri-La Dialogue, 2018 in Singapore.
• India has also advocated for  equal access as a right under International Law to all countries in South China Sea, where various countries are in direct contention with China over territorial issues.
• Additionally, China’s ‘all weather friendship’ with Pakistan is worrisome for India, especially as it has been alleged to supply nuclear weapons and missiles to Pakistan.
• China has also repeatedly blocked India’s bid for membership to NSG.

4. Steps taken by India

• India has resumed Quadrilateral initiative (Military exercise of India, Australia, Japan, US), which was cancelled in 2007, because of China’s protests against it.
• The setting up of a tri-services command by India in the A & N Islands gives it an unmatched reach in the region.

5. Way forward

• India needs to develop coherent policy to deal with China’s growing presence in its immediate neighbourhood.
• India should use multilateral forums like the BRICS and AIIB (where both of them are members) as a tool to resolve crisis. .
  On the border issue too, India needs to have a Standard Operating Procedure for future.