India and China recently concluded a five-day-long joint army exercise named Hand-in-Hand 2007 on Chinese soil. It was for the first time that such an event was held. While the joint exercise only involved 100 soldiers, which is a relatively small number, from either side, its political significance goes much beyond the numbers.

The exercise between the Indian troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and their Chinese counterparts was aimed at increasing trust and confidence between the two sides.  It may be seen as a critical component of the confidence-building measures which have been adopted by the two countries. Better military-to-military ties between the two major Asian countries are necessary to improve security and stability in the region.

The exercise can also be a forerunner of  greater military cooperation between the two sides in future and could pave the way for the two armies to exercise with larger bodies of troops. Their interaction involved joint decision-making and working together in 'live situation training' to neutralise a simulated terrorist enemy.

The  Indian and Chinese navies had conducted a search and rescue exercise in 2003 off the Shanghai coast which paved the way for further military interaction. The Indian Air Force had also for the first time participated in military diplomacy with China over a year ago when its Surya Kiran and Sarang aerobatic teams visited that country for a public performance.

India held a large military exercise with the United States, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal in September and is boosting its naval presence in the area. Therefore a military exercise with the China’s PLA soldiers would serve to balance India's military relations. 

The  military exercise could be perceived as the outcome of several rounds of dialogue between Indian and Chinese military leaders since 1990. It is also a natural complement of the improved political relations between the two countries.

It is welcome as it gives a new dimension to that evolving relationship at a time when US unilateralism and military adventurism is increasingly posing a threat to the security of many countries. Greater military cooperation between India and China is also important in the context of  increasing threat of terrorism which appropriately was the theme of the recently concluded exercise.