The last two year have seen a considerable widening of differences between Indian and China over issues such as the boundary dispute, the belt and road initiative, Indian membership to the NSG and China’s presence in South Asia and IOR. To discuss the future cooperation between India and China, recent initiative between both the countries was a useful, timely and necessary step because the narrative on the relationship between India and China in the last few years has been increasingly negative. As such it was an important signal of intent by both countries to revive the relationship and better understand area of convergence. Since there was an informal summit, the purpose was not clearly stated and therefore there were no fixed outcome. However, it is possible to provide a broad context to the summit and outline future coop efforts.

India and China are both part of complex international situation that makes it necessary for them to engage with each other. Both countries share a common periphery and are interested in keeping it stable and free from extremism and conflict. But from the Indian point of view, growing Chinese interference in its neighborhood including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives etc has been a cause for concern. While it is unrealistic to expect China to stop asserting its influence in the periphery, it is possible to manage interests and look for Area of Convergence.
The simultaneous rise of India and China within the same geographical space has never been an easy development. Next year, the two countries will embark on a year-long celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation. Hopefully the enhanced exchange between people will strengthen the pathway for an enduring partnership. For mutual and maximum benefit, the Dragon and the Elephant have to be in the same team.
The format of the informal summit between Indian and China can help overcome challenges in the bilateral ties between the two Asian Giants. This mil paper analyses Indo-China Diplomatic relation and make suggestions to improve the relation between two countries.
India and China have had a long history of relations dating back to the pre medieval times. The new world order has had a plethora of converging interests between these two Asian giants. The multipolar world has ensured that there is hegemony in diversity due to these aligning interests. Some of the man common interests between these two countries are socio economic upliftment, unfair trade practices of the developed nation with a greater role in the global economy. Both India and China have taken a hard and united stand on these issues at various world forums.
Climate change and transition towards sustainable energy are other areas of common interests for both the nations. Not only have both the countries taken concrete steps in individual capacity in this regard but are also working in unison in this regard. Both the countries took a united stand during the Paris agreement and spoke in a common voice.
The rise of Muslim extremism and Islamic terrorism has not only affected India but has also become a concern for the Chinese. Therefore, we can see the Chinese playing a major role in the afghan peace process today. This has therefore developed a new area of converging interest in the form of resolution of afghan problem and also strict action against Islamic fundamentalists.
With the rise of china and the new world order china has been gushing to improve ties and solve boundary disputes with most of its neighboring countries. To understand that it can only sustain its rapid economic growth if it has peace and tranquility along the LAC.
Post-cold war India’s perspective on China is indecisive and complex. While ascertaining a positive and realistic view of China, the China threat is still lingering India’s thinking about China. The difference in the perception of the international boundary led to the Chinese invasion of India during 1962. The non-resolution of Aksai Chin and another boundary dispute.
China has also laid claim to 90,000 square km of Arunachal Pradesh feel that by not resolving the boundary dispute he want India to remain under strategic pressure. Burning issue of Doklam made the for both country tense. China’s imposition of centralized state structure provoked a Tibetan national uprising in 1959. This resulted in the exodus of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan prominent religious leader and about 100000 others to India, where they were given sanctuary.
At the start level, china’s start of encirclement vis-à-vis India is increasingly becoming evident in a three-pronged manner- eco, mil and diplomatic. OBOR and CPEC was boycotted by India as it effected the sovereignty. China’s effort to portray itself, as a credible and peaceful neighbor has been unsuccessful in more than one way. Nowhere it is more evident than in the case of water sharing of the Brahmaputra river. The absence of data sharing on the Brahmaputra during and after Doklam standoff and lack of clarity on the intent behind the 1000km long tunnel to transfer water from Yarlung, Tsangpo in Xinjiang betray China’s self declared responsible behavior.
The growing relation between India and USA, china is threatening as its hegemony of Asia giant is at stake. The support of US in many international forum effect the relationship between India and China. The defense development of India with the induction of new eqpt from US has put China at worry. International forum like QUAD and MALABAR has made China to rethink relation with India.
India needs to focus on becoming a new power house as a global hub for export to cash in on US- China trade war. In the major trade standoff between China and US made international firms that have invested in china are examining options to spread their risks and shift some of their existing and new investments to other countries
India must accept and deal with the reality that conflicts and Wars in today’s world will be based and driven by the increasing inter dependence between conventional, nuclear and space war. Testing of ASAT by India and entering into the elite countries of having the tech has affected the relation between India and Chi
India’s Look East policy has made great influence in the east Asian Countries and also made China hesitant to accept Indian role in east Asian regional Integration. India and China are the two most popular countries and fastest growing economies in the world.
Growth in diplomatic and economic influence has increased the significance of their bilateral relationship. The full import of an “informal summit” it is something that few outside hallowed diplomatic circle fully comprehend. Unlike a regular meeting of two heads of govt that usually produce a formal statement and a series of agreement, much of the work in an informal summit rests in the realm of the intangible, 4 results are apparent over a period of time. Most people find it difficult to assess the success of high level meeting. Wuhan spirit of 2018 and latest Mamallapuram “Chennai Connect” has signaled that two Asian Giants wanted to bring back stability and momentum into relations. The fresh strains had started creeping into ties, the attempt of the two leaders was to stress the convergence and give out a positive signal rather than highlight their difference.
Indian and China must ensure that difference does not turn into dispute, but they must address them. China is India one of the largest trading partner and the two countries have also extended their strategic and military relations. Recently the Chinese president and the Indian PM continued their series of informal meetings in the southern Indian city of Chennai. With this the Sino- Indian relations have entered a new phase of sound and stable development since their first informal meeting in Wuhan last year. Under the current international circumstances, the two countries shoulder increasingly important respect in safeguarding global security and promote development.
The next few years are going to be crucial for China and India to realise the national rejuvenation. The measures can therefore be broadly divided at national and mil level. Both the countries need to take a more sympathetic apch to each other’s national ambitions and should seek a soln that is fair, reasonable and acceptable to both sides.
These can therefore be summarized as follows: -Ongoing g US-China trade War made significant
reduction in trade deficit of India with China. However, India’s import from HongKong increased exponentially during the same pd. India trade deficit with china shrunk by $10 billion in 2018-19. In 2018, volume of bilateral trade between the two nations stood at a massive $95.54 billion. Following are some of the “R”proposals
Various high level Economic and trade much should be incorporated in order to enhance trade and commercial relation as well also better balance the trade between two countries. Early negotiation of issues of RCEP, will help India to seek free trade zone among ASEAN member countries, China, Australia and New Zealand.
Easing of Visas for the Businessmen and industry policy of both the countries will help in increasing the Initiative like e-visa policy for Chinese national will help in stringent bilateral trade. Growing bilateral relation. Opening of SEZ by China for Indian IT firm will the IT sector with export of software and import of hardware from China.
This decade has seen a Chinese push for materializing its dream project of BRI and OBOR with large scale investments in previously unknown territories. OBOR and BRI have both had their share of successes and hurdles however India has been steadfast in its opposition of the same as it violates our territorial sanctity. However, the Chinese initiative of a maritime silk route has been seen with optimism in the Indian bureaucratic and political circle. It would not only be a positive step in building our slowed down eco but would also ensure an international integration of countries like never before. However, the issue to induct India into the maritime silk route lacks clarity as also the Chinese strategy of reviving the maritime silk route. Some of the imp proposals are as follows- Definite objectives especially with India should be clearly defined China needs to spell out clear initiatives for India Indian private firms to be included in the programmes advice versa, would surely lead to invaluable FDI flow into the country.
It is important to understand Chinese motivation for improving the situation with India from the perspective of geo-start kaleidoscope. Worsening trade situation with U.S. and the unpredictability if U.S. administration have made the Chinese leadership nervous. An increasingly policy, China has been making outreaches effort to countries in the periphery including Japan, South Korea, Vientnam and Indonesia among others. An attempt to thaw relations with India should also be seen in this context. Internally, Chinese President Xi Jinxing has also been facing problems. He has not managed to implement the market reforms that he had promised in 2013; Chinese society is also less manageable than before in terms of societal state control Obvious negative social media could be indicative of strain on the domestic front. On the economic front, Chinese growth is already decelerating. China used to have the ability to manipulate and control its trade flows, Exchange rates and Capital flows simultaneously. This ability to keep its economy afloat through tight controls, without external repercussions, is slowly unraveling. China has also been facing an increasing backlash, not from just India but other countries in Europe and elsewhere, on the economic unavailability of its investment under the belt and road initiative, with no internal rates of return on these investments, the Chinese economic system is under huge strain to cushion these shocks. Therefore, China has a special interest in pacifying its neighborhood, while it deals with its economic and socio-political issues. India therefore comes central to the solution to this precarious problem. However, we should move cautiously as it is important to learn from history but also not be too pessimistic about the future.