China agreed with India to step up bilateral defence cooperation ranging from joint military exercise to high level exchanges in order to enhance border security and overcome miscalculations between the two countries along the 4007 Km long Line of Actual Control. This obviously referred to frequent frictions between India and China over parts of Arunachal Pradesh which Beijing considers disputed territory. India’s Defence Minister A.K.Antony has been invited to visit China next year, the first such visit since 2006. The meeting between A.K. Antony and his Chinese counterpart, General Liang Gunglie in New Delhi showed the decision of the two countries to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
There are of course glitches. The border problem between India and China has been vexing since 1962. Secondly, the Beijing-Islamabad military nexus provides a serious obstacle. India is also reluctant to become a lynchpin in re-balancing the formidable US naval forces towards the Asia-Pacific region. It is against third party intervention in the contentious South China Sea. China for its part is at the moment very exercised about the impending change in its leadership. In spite of all this, the decision to resume joint military exercises is a healthy development. The present secret goings-on between China and Pakistan may become less of a threat with Pakistan’s internal instability and clashes in Afghanistan. Of course, economic collaboration between the two Asian giants is of paramount importance overshadowing military ties. It should be India’s primary objective to reduce its trade deficit with China.
