THE Chinese are said to be inscrutable and the boundary dispute between India and China remains unsettled for years. 17 rounds of talks had already been held since 2003 and the 18th round is just over. But even the maps of the disputed Actual Line of Control have not yet been exchanged between the two countries. Hardly anyone hoped for a breakthrough or a time frame to emerge from the last round of talks. The special representatives of the two countries merely resolved to maintain peace on the border. That is of course some comfort. A flare-up cast a shadow over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first visit to India last year. Peace on the border is an imperative for regional stability. But the boundary dispute fractures it from time to time.
It seems that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping are keen on pulling out the thorns in the snow. Modi is due to be in China in May, his first visit to the neighbouring giant as Prime Minister. The 18th round of talks in Delhi may have cleared the decks for the Beijing summit. New areas of cooperation and engagement are being explored. A new pilgrimage route to Kailas and Mansarovar through Sikkim seems to be a token gesture. But there has been a distinct thaw. The border dispute rooted in history impinges on India’s security concerns. India is not the only country seeking amity with China. The new US ambassador to Delhi Rahul Verma has said that his country’s friendship with India is not targeted against China. China and Japan will have talks after a gap of four years. Arunanchal Pradesh still remains very much a part of India despite Chinese claims to the territory. The economy matters more than occasional hostilities across the Line of Actual Control. India has already been assured Chinese aid to the tune of $20 billions.
