Wuhan, November 15, 2010
India tells China: Kashmir is to us what Tibet, Taiwan are to you
Siddharth Varadarajan
Drawing a dramatic parallel between the territorial red lines of both countries, India on Sunday told China that just as New Delhi had been sensitive to its concerns over the Tibet Autonomous Region and Taiwan, Beijing too should be mindful of Indian sensitivities on Jammu and Kashmir.
The comparison – which is intended to drive home the depth of Indian concerns over recent Chinese attempts to question the country's sovereignty in Kashmir — was made by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in his meeting with China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the Russia-India-China trilateral meeting here.
This is the first time India has drawn this parallel directly, Indian officials told The Hindu.
Briefing reporters about the meeting, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the two Ministers reviewed the state of bilateral relations, which Mr. Yang described as being in “very good shape.” As India-China relations grew, Mr. Krishna said, there was a need for both sides to be sensitive to each other's core concerns. “In that context,” said Ms. Rao, “[the External Affairs Minister] spoke of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed the hope that China would be sensitive to J&K just as we have been to the Tibet Autonomous Region and Taiwan.”
According to Ms. Rao, Mr. Yang said in response that China always believed the problem of Jammu and Kashmir could only be resolved through dialogue and negotiations between India and Pakistan and that there has been no change in its policy.
The Chinese Minister also said Beijing wanted to expand the political content of the relationship between the two countries. “He said both countries should see each other's growth as an opportunity and not a challenge.”
India has been objecting to the Chinese policy of issuing ‘stapled' visas to Kashmiri-domicile Indian citizens. New Delhi suspended defence exchanges with Beijing in August after an Indian general from Kashmir was denied a proper visa to travel to China on an official visit.
On the question of a permanent seat for India on a reformed UN Security Council – a question Mr. Krishna raised in a general way without reference to President Barack Obama's recent announcement – Mr. Yang said he acknowledged there had been a fundamental change in the international situation and that consultations were needed on the question of UN reform. He added that China was willing to continue and increase its consultations with India and others on this question, a stand Ms. Rao described as “incrementally speaking, a positive development.”
But she quickly added: “To say that they have given full-scale endorsement would be inaccurate.”
Also on Sunday, Mr. Krishna held bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and attended a working dinner of the RIC trilateral.
Ms. Rao said Mr. Lavrov strongly supported India's prospective membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and urged the country to work closely together with Russia and others for promoting security and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
The RIC Foreign Ministers also strongly endorsed the idea of a trilateral discussion on the situation in Afghanistan and agreed that the BRIC forum, which links the three with Brazil, be expanded to include South Africa by the time of the next summit.
Also present at Mr. Krishna's meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister was Duan Yunlin, vice governor of Hubei province. Mr. Duan spoke of Hubei's economic relations with India and described his own involvement in promoting business links with Bangalore and Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Krishna said he hoped India-China bilateral trade would cross the target of $ 60 billion but urged the Chinese side to do more to ensure a better balance.
Keywords: India-China ties, Tibet Autonomous Region, Kashmir dispute
Related
NEWS
India takes ‘anti-U.S. edge' off trilateral with Russia, China
Steady progress in border talks: Menon
Trading one hyphen for another
India, China to carry forward ties
TOPICS
diplomacy
India-China
Comments:
Better late than never. India finally comes out of the cocoon to face the world squarely. Instead of skirting hard but inconvenient facts, let Indian leaders tell China that their deliberate twisting of Kashmir question will have repercussions. Once India starts this confident move, China and others will sit up and listen. India should prepare to face any consequences. It is a question of national unity, integrity and sovereignty.
from: Balarajan P.
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 03:33 IST
This is the only way India can handle this issue with China. If we stay quite and do not object the Chinese will keep on putting pressure on us. With China now in territorial dispute with Japan, Vietnam and Korea we should certainly raise the issue of Taiwan and Tibet if they do not change their stance on Kashmir and Arunachal.
from: Vijay
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 03:58 IST
Dear Sir,
India is once again wrong. Tibet has been an independent Country for ages. Taiwan too in many ways has got its own history. These countries cannot be equated with Kashmir. If Indian politicians do not know Indian history or the Asian history it is better they keep their ignorance to themselves.
from: Surendra Sharma
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 06:22 IST
This is a good parallel, and a shift in the traditional attitude of Indian diplomacy.
We should have added that India has the same preoccupations concerning Arunachal-Pradesh.
We have to defend our interests as China is doing.
from: MAYOURA Sougoumar
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 06:51 IST
Only if India is economically and militarily strong and united in its resolve to be a country that is equally advanced technologically with the best countries of the world, it wont be able to prevent neighboring countries from interfering in its affairs. India's citizenry must know what it takes to achieve this. It can't practice a freewheeling type of democracy but has to be one that is disciplined and institution based. The leaders have to be dedicated to the country's cause and need to have a national vision.
from: Mani Raman
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 08:26 IST
Why is India so petrified whenever China calls the shots. India should instead be assertive with a fiery punch and let them know that India need not be told what to do. India should not have made reference to Kashmir on the same note as Tibet and Taiwan, as Kashmir is an integral part of India while Tibet and Taiwan are not rightfully China's.
from: Kumar Menon
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 08:57 IST
Its good to see India defining its "Core Interests" and these include J&K (why stop at that include Gilgit and Baltistan too). As for China they have a defined policy to covertly contain India diplomatically where-ever they consider they have weakness, and overtly exert pressure where they consider they are strong. So, India should be extremely skeptical about any future possibility of its bonhomie with China, especially PRC. We should not foster any business or other relationship with China, until they first become a true democracy.
from: Amol
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 09:41 IST
It is good that our minisiter put the J&K in a lanaguage that is familiar to China.
from: s subramanyan
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 10:25 IST
I am surprised that India boldly compared Kashmir to Tibet and Taiwan. I have always wondered why India is not putting forward this point to the Chinese. Way to go, Mr Krishna!
from: Rajan
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 10:45 IST
India must never let its guard down.
from: kautiliya
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 10:57 IST
China is accepting the international change in India's favour and also eyeing on Indian market but at least India can't blindly put faith on it because of Pakistan's intimacy with China and some disputed issue like Tawang, Laddakh, Tibet and visa to be resolve first.
from: susheel pal
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 12:37 IST
Sir,
At last India called spade a spade. India has always been soft state and even did not react strongly enough whenever there was direct interference by China in India's internal affairs. With increased international clout, India is managing its reactions more vehemently than ever before.
from: Mantha Adithya
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 13:55 IST
I am from Arunachal Pradesh, near Tawang area. What J & K is for India, its wrong to compare with Tawang. The real fact is that Tawang or Tibet south never ever had any historical relations with any Indian civilizations. J&K is totally a different issue. Indian citizens are blind to see the reality. if India doesn't settle its border issue soon, the administration system will get over-stretched upto Tibet-south or Arunachal Ppradesh and will be difficult to handle. Is there a way for Indians to differentiate a Chinese citizen of China or a Chinese citizen of India! Too much land area coverage at the cost of tax-payers money and that too with poor administration. the question is whether india wants to be a prosperous country with superpower status or a superpower with lots of imbalances. we should not forget British empire was over stretched at point of time.
from: tanang
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 16:37 IST
But hasn't India weakened its case by comparing J and K with Taiwan and Tibet? Taiwan is accepted as a sovereign country by many nations around the world while Tibet, even may be for nomenclature purposes, is an autonomous region within region. And J&K does not fit either of two bills at the moment.
from: Inayat
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 17:14 IST
Now that we have openly equated Kashmir with Tibet, what stand will we take when there is worldwide pressure on China to grant freedom to Tibet? Will we allow similar concerns reg Kashmir to be voiced? Because surely the Kashmir-Tibet analogy made today by Mr.Krishna will still hold?
from: Rohan Nair
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 18:15 IST
India should compare Kashmir only to Taiwan and not to Tibet. Taiwan was once a part of China, but Tibet never was; it was invaded and annexed.
from: S. Ramaswamy
Posted on: Nov 15, 2010 at 20:48 IST
Many historians and politicians will disagree with Ms Rao's comments as being inaccurate and exposes India to opinions on other internal matters. Historically India was made up princely states that acceded to the union and hence India is united states of Indian states. This being the case, Kashmir is part of the Indian union and hence no more discussions.Tibet is unauthorized occupation by China whereas Kashmir acceded to India per signature of Maharaja Hari Singh ji; therefore Ms Rao is incorrect in drawing parallel to this. Keeping Kashmir in discussions at every level with so many countries and seeking reassurance from them reinforces the inaccurate mindset.
from: Mahendra
Posted on: Nov 16, 2010 at 01:45 IST
Amazing to see the Congress govt is able to standup to China in drawing the comparison mentioned in this article. Governments headed by Congress has never been assertive when it comes to international issues like Kashmir - wavering in its position.
from: Venkat
Posted on: Nov 16, 2010 at 02:36 IST
I do not agree with what India asserted to China. Jammu and Kashmir are India's integral part, but Tibet and Taiwan are not of China. India made a huge mistake by drawing these parallels.
from: Argumentative Indian
Posted on: Nov 16, 2010 at 03:13 IST
There are two ways of dealing with an issue. The way China, Israel etc. do i.e. Decide the policy internally and put the entire might of the nation and see it through OR the way India does i.e. "how will China react", "how will the US react". I am reminded of Hanuman in the Ramayana where, because of a curse he does not remember his own powers and when someone reminds him he leapfrogs to Lanka accross the oceans.India is under a curse that of a corrupt self serving polity and the day the people of the country remember their power of free will that will be the day India turns over a new leaf with her neighbours.
from: Akhilesh Pai
Posted on: Nov 16, 2010 at 03:36 IST
Now the Congress party has once again undermined India and equated Tibet, a neighbouring country with whom we have historical ties which historically was never ever a part of China with Kashmir which has always been part of the Indian civilization since time immemorial. Mr. S.M. Krishna ought to have equated Kashmir with Shaanxi or Shanxi in the extreme north western frontier area of China. But here, we have petty, ignorant local politicians who must have never in their lives heard the name Aksai Chin or least concerned about the place until they were overnight catapulted to become the Defense Minister or Foreign Minister, all because of all together extraneous reasons!
from: P.V. Ravi Chandran
Posted on: Nov 16, 2010 at 16:47 IST
Kashmir comparison should have been with Xinjiang - a province that used to be called Eastern Turkestan. Like Kashmir, Xinjiang is majority Moslem. And recent turbulence in Xinjiang is similar to the ones in Kashmir - both underpinned due religuous majorities being used as the basis for carving out from India and China respectively.
from: Sinhapore.J.
Posted on: Nov 16, 2010 at 17:41 IST
In my opinion, the parallels drawn are reasonable. The comment was just to tell China to keep off of Kashmir, that the sentiments involved were similar regardless of historical notions. It was more of a strong message saying "If you can taunt us over Kashmir, we can and will do the same thing to you over Tibet and Taiwan". I see it as the first of many diplomatic steps that it would take by India to say "Alright! That's enough! Know your place, and maybe we can co-exist in an awkward peace". The comment made by the minister in no way restricts India from pushing for Tibetan independence or recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign state in future.
from: Sid
Posted on: Dec 13, 2010 at 17:36 IST
I think many of the readers comments are misplaced. The very fact that India compared JK to China seems in their eyes a weak India. The comparison is how China feels about Tibet and Taiwan and How India recognizes this, it does not say if India believes Taiwan or Tibet is part of China. I think these nuances matter. At least I see civility and common sense instead of false sense of nationalism.
from: Kannan
Posted on: Dec 13, 2010 at 20:11 IST
China's goal is, with better relations with India it can expand its trade to the infinite level aggressively without giving up any of its old policies about India. This has to be rejected and India should limit its relations on all areas including trade until there is clear evidence of mutual respect and understanding of its core values. Otherwise Chinese, intoxicated with newly acquired wealth, would try to subdue any and all its neighbors.
from: CDA
Posted on: Dec 13, 2010 at 22:45 IST
No comments:
Post a Comment