China has expressed its desire to solve all contentious issues with India permanently. Our neighbour has also indicated that Beijing is no longer interested in keeping the issues under the carpet. China wants all issues between the two countries to be resolved amicably once and for all. Apparently, the good intentions showed by China should be welcomed. But a careful study of what China says and what it does has provoked many observers to question the country’s wish to have good, friendly relations with India. They feel that only sweet rhetoric will not lead Indo-China relations anywhere. If Beijing is really interested in good relations with India, it should mend its ways. Otherwise, tensions between the countries will always prevail and development in this part of the world will be severely hampered.
At present, it seems that China is the only opposing party at various international platforms. Be it the membership in Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) or declaring some individuals as global terrorists, Beijing has always opposed India. Whilst almost every other country was in favour of India joining the NSG, it was China with the support of a handful that is obstructing India’s entry to this elite club. Though China eventually succumbed to pressure from various quarters, for a long time it prevented Pakistan grown terrorist Hafeez Sayeed from being declared as a global terrorist. Moreover, with the help of its booming economy, China is virtually surrounding India by trying to take Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives to its side. Clearly, all these moves are aimed to corner India to such an extent that it does not have any other option but to accept Chinese hegemony. For example, China has no stake in the Indian Ocean. But it has anchored one of its warships in that island nation as it failed to repay the loans which Colombo took from Beijing to construct Hambantota port. China is also interfering in the internal politics of these countries. No one has forgotten that in a midnight coup, China had installed its own man in Maldives. It was the courageous people of that land who dethroned the Chinese appointee in a democratic manner.
Present Chinese leaders have forgotten how India stood beside the country during 40s and 50s. India supported permanent membership of China in United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Since the very beginning, India is perhaps the only country in the world which supported China in Tibet. But in return China never admitted India’s logical and friendly gesture. Beijing is still aggrieved over India’s decision to grant Dalai Lama political asylum. But what was India supposed to do? Would it have been right for New Delhi to hand over the Dalai Lama to China and be ready to read out the Buddhist leader’s obituary? China has never understood the humane side of India and ever since has been trying to make India’s march to peace and prosperity more difficult. It took enmity to a new level by supporting Pakistan in exporting terror to India. It didn’t hesitate to construct roads in Pak-occupied Kashmir (POK) despite India’s repeated plea. So, until and unless China bridges the gap between its deeds and utterings, friendly and healthy relations with India will not be possible.
