New Delhi, March 24: The two
militaries of India and China need to have frank and candid talks to avert
another Doklam-like stand-off, India's Ambasador to Beijing Gautam Bambawale
has said.
Bambawale said the dispute had started because
China had “altered the status quo” in the region and that both sides should
refrain from doing so in future to maintain peace and stability.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in June, Bambawale in an interview with the South China Morning Post said political communication between the two countries had resumed after the Doklam crisis last year, when troops from both nations faced off for more than two months over the dispute.
“Political level communication has come back,” he told the Hong Kong-based newspaper.
“But more importantly, I think we need to have discussions between the two militaries. That has not fully resumed”.
“We would like it to resume as soon as possible,” said Bambawale, who was on a visit to Hong Kong to sign an agreement between the city government and India to prevent people who earn money in both jurisdictions from being taxed twice.
“We already have frank and candid discussions, but I mean we need to be more frank and candid with each other.”
Modi would visit Qingdao in Shandong province on June 9 and 10 for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where he will have bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping.
“There is a very good communication between the leaders, but we need to have better communication down the line,” Bambawale said.
He said a key lesson from last year’s stand-off was that “if anyone changes the status quo, it will lead to a situation like what happened in Doklam”.
“The Chinese military changed the status quo in the Doklam area and therefore India reacted to it.”
“If the Chinese military are going to build a road, then they must tell us that ‘we are going to build a road’,” he said.
“If we do not agree to it then we can reply that, ‘look, you’re changing the status quo. Please don’t do it. This is a very, very sensitive area’.”
Asked about Xi’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, Bambawale said India supported Chinese efforts to improve the infrastructure in the region, but said these should not undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country.
“Unfortunately, there is this thing called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which is called a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, which violates India’s sovereignty and territory integrity. Therefore, we oppose it.”
But Bambawale also stressed that India regards China as a partner rather than a rival, downplaying concerns that China’s expanding presence through ports and infrastructure projects across South Asia posed a threat to India.
“The trade between China and India reached the highest level ever, US$84.5 billion in 2017, even after the Doklam problem,” he said. “We look upon China as a partner in progress and development.”
When asked if India would join Australia, Japan and the US in forming a quadrilateral alliance, he said India would not be party to any pact designed to provide a counterbalance to China.
“I do not see that India is going to be a part of any alliance. India will work with all countries in the world to improve and increase its interests,” he said.
“I don’t think China’s rise creates any concerns in India. In fact, none of the things that India does with any country is aimed at a third country, including China.” UNI
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in June, Bambawale in an interview with the South China Morning Post said political communication between the two countries had resumed after the Doklam crisis last year, when troops from both nations faced off for more than two months over the dispute.
“Political level communication has come back,” he told the Hong Kong-based newspaper.
“But more importantly, I think we need to have discussions between the two militaries. That has not fully resumed”.
“We would like it to resume as soon as possible,” said Bambawale, who was on a visit to Hong Kong to sign an agreement between the city government and India to prevent people who earn money in both jurisdictions from being taxed twice.
“We already have frank and candid discussions, but I mean we need to be more frank and candid with each other.”
Modi would visit Qingdao in Shandong province on June 9 and 10 for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where he will have bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping.
“There is a very good communication between the leaders, but we need to have better communication down the line,” Bambawale said.
He said a key lesson from last year’s stand-off was that “if anyone changes the status quo, it will lead to a situation like what happened in Doklam”.
“The Chinese military changed the status quo in the Doklam area and therefore India reacted to it.”
“If the Chinese military are going to build a road, then they must tell us that ‘we are going to build a road’,” he said.
“If we do not agree to it then we can reply that, ‘look, you’re changing the status quo. Please don’t do it. This is a very, very sensitive area’.”
Asked about Xi’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative, Bambawale said India supported Chinese efforts to improve the infrastructure in the region, but said these should not undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country.
“Unfortunately, there is this thing called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which is called a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, which violates India’s sovereignty and territory integrity. Therefore, we oppose it.”
But Bambawale also stressed that India regards China as a partner rather than a rival, downplaying concerns that China’s expanding presence through ports and infrastructure projects across South Asia posed a threat to India.
“The trade between China and India reached the highest level ever, US$84.5 billion in 2017, even after the Doklam problem,” he said. “We look upon China as a partner in progress and development.”
When asked if India would join Australia, Japan and the US in forming a quadrilateral alliance, he said India would not be party to any pact designed to provide a counterbalance to China.
“I do not see that India is going to be a part of any alliance. India will work with all countries in the world to improve and increase its interests,” he said.
“I don’t think China’s rise creates any concerns in India. In fact, none of the things that India does with any country is aimed at a third country, including China.” UNI
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours