Land of Rising Sino-Indian Tension
15 Oct, 2009 · 2985
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman reviews the rhetoric on Arunachal Pradesh between India and China
It was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who during his two day visit to Arunachal Pradesh in January 2008, referred to it as “our land of the rising sun,” saying in his speech to a rally in Itanagar, “the sun kisses India first in Arunachal Pradesh.” The Chinese government was quick to register its protest with New Delhi over the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Arunachal Pradesh. Incidentally, Manmohan Singh had just returned from a successful visit to Beijing.
The recent official protests by Beijing over Manmohan Singh’s electioneering visit to Arunachal Pradesh therefore should not come as a surprise to New Delhi. Beijing has consistently voiced protests over a host of issues related to Arunachal Pradesh, including the Asian Development Bank loan to India which included some projects in the state and the proposed visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tawang coming November. President Pratibha Patil’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh was also taken up by Beijing with New Delhi, although no official protest was registered.
The question remains as to how Sino-Indian relations, which have for the past two years been tense over the question of territoriality in Arunachal Pradesh, can move ahead towards constructive engagement which otherwise seems to be voiced in regular bilateral meetings. The Special Representative level talks on the boundary question are not providing tangible leads to any possible solution in the near future. The Chinese stand seems to be consistent and clear on the question of Arunachal Pradesh, but it is India that has been diplomatically cautious about its moves in Arunachal Pradesh.
The recent visit by Manmohan Singh was the second visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Arunachal Pradesh in over twelve years, the first being his visit in January 2008. This has been the sign of the diplomatic caution that India seems to be exercising in the matter of Arunachal Pradesh. China continues to time its regular protests to India at will, when some important official visit by either side is due, in order to make the impact more strong. India, on the other hand has not been able to move beyond the regular defence of asserting its sovereign rights over Arunachal Pradesh, in carefully worded and rehearsed official statements.
India should show some urgency and resolve to take the ongoing boundary talks to a higher level that the current Special Representative status. It should work towards expediting talks towards a solution in the near future, as delaying this further could mean additional linkages to the territorial question, which will put in India in a tight spot later. In this period of growing strategic engagement with the world, India can ill afford to let these issues fester and come back to affect it at a later stage, especially when it expects to have robust economic engagement with China. India should diplomatically and creatively neutralize this Arunachal card that China is able to play every now and then, accompanied by the effect Beijing desires.
India should develop Arunachal Pradesh and make its strategic presence felt in the state. The major bottlenecks of connectivity and infrastructural development which is painfully slow in the state must be addressed with urgency. The Trans-Arunachal Highway which was announced by Manmohan Singh during his last visit to the state is still stuck in feasibility studies. The democratic experiment in the state cannot be alone attributed to the state being the sovereign right of India, it has to do a lot more to raise the state out from its developmental deficit visible at present, in spite of huge potential. The huge hydel projects which are being pushed by India, given its huge potential, cannot be the only markers of development in a society which needs more basic amenities in place.
Chinese armed forces are making their presence felt close to the borders with Arunachal Pradesh and in neighbouring Bhutan, where Indian forces are stationed, and there have been some instances of incursions in the region. New Delhi has earmarked funds for development of the region both in terms of connectivity and infrastructure which will bolster military movements and preparedness, but it now really needs to accelerate these programmes to match up Chinese preparations across the border.
The recent strong protests by Beijing are only a precursor to the impending visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang, the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama; and more are sure to follow. India should seize this moment and make the visit of the Dalai Lama a success, and not be jittery about it. It is to be noted that the Tibetan political and spiritual leader is an important player in the Arunachal Pradesh territorial question, as any settlement of the boundary dispute between New Delhi and Beijing should have his blessings in order to be final; as it is Tibet which have historical claims on Arunachal Pradesh, with China merely asserting its claim through its control over Tibet. India should therefore create a purposive platform for future boundary negotiations with China, instead of playing the prolonging game, which will certainly prove counterproductive.
The recent official protests by Beijing over Manmohan Singh’s electioneering visit to Arunachal Pradesh therefore should not come as a surprise to New Delhi. Beijing has consistently voiced protests over a host of issues related to Arunachal Pradesh, including the Asian Development Bank loan to India which included some projects in the state and the proposed visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tawang coming November. President Pratibha Patil’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh was also taken up by Beijing with New Delhi, although no official protest was registered.
The question remains as to how Sino-Indian relations, which have for the past two years been tense over the question of territoriality in Arunachal Pradesh, can move ahead towards constructive engagement which otherwise seems to be voiced in regular bilateral meetings. The Special Representative level talks on the boundary question are not providing tangible leads to any possible solution in the near future. The Chinese stand seems to be consistent and clear on the question of Arunachal Pradesh, but it is India that has been diplomatically cautious about its moves in Arunachal Pradesh.
The recent visit by Manmohan Singh was the second visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Arunachal Pradesh in over twelve years, the first being his visit in January 2008. This has been the sign of the diplomatic caution that India seems to be exercising in the matter of Arunachal Pradesh. China continues to time its regular protests to India at will, when some important official visit by either side is due, in order to make the impact more strong. India, on the other hand has not been able to move beyond the regular defence of asserting its sovereign rights over Arunachal Pradesh, in carefully worded and rehearsed official statements.
India should show some urgency and resolve to take the ongoing boundary talks to a higher level that the current Special Representative status. It should work towards expediting talks towards a solution in the near future, as delaying this further could mean additional linkages to the territorial question, which will put in India in a tight spot later. In this period of growing strategic engagement with the world, India can ill afford to let these issues fester and come back to affect it at a later stage, especially when it expects to have robust economic engagement with China. India should diplomatically and creatively neutralize this Arunachal card that China is able to play every now and then, accompanied by the effect Beijing desires.
India should develop Arunachal Pradesh and make its strategic presence felt in the state. The major bottlenecks of connectivity and infrastructural development which is painfully slow in the state must be addressed with urgency. The Trans-Arunachal Highway which was announced by Manmohan Singh during his last visit to the state is still stuck in feasibility studies. The democratic experiment in the state cannot be alone attributed to the state being the sovereign right of India, it has to do a lot more to raise the state out from its developmental deficit visible at present, in spite of huge potential. The huge hydel projects which are being pushed by India, given its huge potential, cannot be the only markers of development in a society which needs more basic amenities in place.
Chinese armed forces are making their presence felt close to the borders with Arunachal Pradesh and in neighbouring Bhutan, where Indian forces are stationed, and there have been some instances of incursions in the region. New Delhi has earmarked funds for development of the region both in terms of connectivity and infrastructure which will bolster military movements and preparedness, but it now really needs to accelerate these programmes to match up Chinese preparations across the border.
The recent strong protests by Beijing are only a precursor to the impending visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang, the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama; and more are sure to follow. India should seize this moment and make the visit of the Dalai Lama a success, and not be jittery about it. It is to be noted that the Tibetan political and spiritual leader is an important player in the Arunachal Pradesh territorial question, as any settlement of the boundary dispute between New Delhi and Beijing should have his blessings in order to be final; as it is Tibet which have historical claims on Arunachal Pradesh, with China merely asserting its claim through its control over Tibet. India should therefore create a purposive platform for future boundary negotiations with China, instead of playing the prolonging game, which will certainly prove counterproductive.
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