India’s National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon is on a visit to China and meeting Premier Li Kequiang and foreign minister Wang Yi, among others. Negotiations are being held on the Indo Chinese boundary issue. It will pave the way for Indian defence minister A. K. Antony’s visit to Beijing in early July. The Chinese foreign ministry has however cautioned against having high hopes about the outcome of the border talks between Menon and Chinese state councilor Yang-Jeichi. The boundary issue, Chinese officials claim, is left over from history and cannot be solved overnight. However, long lasting efforts have been made to solve the issue and a lot of achievements have already been gained. China is apparently looking forward to an acceptable solution leading to a final settlement of all outstanding disputes. The two countries should work together to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas. The boundary issue should not affect overall relations between the two countries, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized. What disturbs India is that Chinese troops had recently entered Indian territory in the Daulat Bag Oldi sector in eastern Ladakh.
The latest incursion was only a part of the continual friction between the two neighbours for decades. The lack of trust started in 1962 when China made a surprise attack on north eastern India. Since then the Line of Actual Control has been a prickly controversial issue and border incidents often mar the seeming amity. While China is critical of the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala, India has been exercised about Chinese troops sometimes breaking the peace in Arunachal Pradesh. Delhi is also not happy about China’s Brahmaputra project and its designs in the South China Sea. But what puts the irritants in the shade is the need for economic ties between the two great Asian powers. Prime Minister Li came to Delhi recently and held out bright prospects. Whatever is achieved by Menon’s visit will be to the mutual benefit of India and China.