A New Phase in India-China Relations

India-China bilateral relations are showing the signs of improvement.This can be internalised from the statement made by the Chinese Ambassador in India Xu Feihong while speaking at an event organised by the Embassy in New Delhi meant to foster good relations between the youth of two countries.He has underlined that India-China relations are entering a “phase of recovery.” After the border tensions between the two nations in the Ladakh sector, some significant developments have taken place recently that has led to breaking of ice between the two Asian giants. Ambassador Xu has said that the recent Special Representatives (SR) level meeting regarding the border issue and the talks conducted at Foreign Secretary –Vice Minister level has led to new understanding on the boundary issue. It has enabled to rejuvenate the relations between the two neighbours. India-China relations were all time low after the military standoff in the Ladakh Sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).Emphasising the beginning of a new era era between the two countries Ambassador Xu has said,“China-India relations are entering the phase of recovery. We will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year,” He did not stop here but went ahead by saying that a sound and stable China-India relationship meets the expectations of the two peoples and the international community. he advocated the path of consensus must be adopted by the two countries that has been arrived at by the leadership, While respecting the each other’s core interests and at the same time view each others development as an opportunity. Situating the new hope in India-China relations, he said, “The 23rd Special Representatives meeting on the China-India boundary question and vice foreign minister-foreign secretary dialogue were successfully held in Beijing, and reached a series of common understandings on the boundary question and practical cooperation.” Though he has not explained the common understandings but it can be internalised that the diplomatic channels are active and working to normalise the relations that had nosedived.He has rightly observed that the relations between the two neighbours need a boost and in this direction the involvement of the youth is important. In this connection he has underlined that youth exchange and co-operation will provide a broader platform to reboot the ties.India has been advocating the peaceful relations with the neighbour so that development and peace is not halted and the two nations work for the betterment of the people. External Affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar has said that disengagement and de-escalation between India and China is a work in progress. And India has reasons to walk cautiously as the previous experiences has made India wiser. Moreover, Chinese geo-strategic policy of expansion has been the cause of concern not only for India but the world at large. Keeping in view the national security concerns and China’s strategic moves in the Himalayas, India has to tread cautiously without bartering the national interests and territorial integrity. India has concerns and rightly so. The Chinese plan to build a mega dam in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet has made India ponder and decode the Chinese stratagem. How sincere is China to walk on the path of friendship with India, cannot be guessed at this stage. Only time will tell. Nothing is impossible when foreign policy is guided by the intent to good neighbourly relations.