India-China diplomatic row, defence exchanges put on hold
Adopting an uncharacteristic approach towards Beijing after the Chinese leadership sought to question the status of Jammu and Kashmir and its refusal to grant visa to a serving Army officer, New Delhi on Friday decided to put on hold all defence exchanges with its larger neighbour.
New Delhi’s stand, by far the strongest in recent months, is a reflection of complex Sino-Indian relations which came under stress after the Chinese government declined to issue visa to Lieutenant General B S Jaswal, who heads the Army’s Northern Command. Beijing conveyed to the Indian government that it could not allow a highly decorated officer because his operational aread included Jammu and Kashmir, which it perceives as a disputed area.
After Lt Gen Jaswal was denied visa by Beijing, New Delhi took recourse to reciprocity by denying visa to three officers — of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army — a senior colonel and two captains — who wanted to come for short visits to the National Defence College here and the Army Education Corps Training College and Centre at Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh.
PM-Dalai meet
The Chinese government’s visa denial to Lt Gen Jaswal took place before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s meeting with exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama here earlier this month.
The Indian establishment’s considered action on Friday to freeze defence exchanges with China would remain in force as long as the two countries do not have “a candid discussion to resolve the issue (Beijing’s policy of questioning J&K status).”
New Delhi’s decision was conveyed to Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yang when he met Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale at South Block. Sources, however, said the meeting between Zhang and Bambawale had nothing to do with the row over China’s decision not to allow Lt Gen visit that country.
The latest diplomatic imbroglio came to light soon after Beijing lodged a protest with New Delhi over an August 11 meeting between the Prime Minister the Tibetan leader and almost a month after Lt Gen Jaswal’s visit was called off following the visa denial.
The government, however, maintained that the revered Tibetan leader was an “honoured guest”.
Sources in New Delhi said that India was concerned over the linkages between growing ties between China and Pakistan and Beijing’s repeated attempts to question the status of J&K.
In June, Beijing confirmed that China’s National Nuclear Corporation would build two new nuclear reactors at the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex in Pakistan. China had earlier built two reactors for Pakistan before joining the NSG in 2004. India has since been lobbying with the members of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group to block the Chinese move to step up nuke cooperation with Pakistan.
Since November 2009, India has been persistently protesting Beijing’s policy of issuing “stapled visas” – and not regular visas pasted on passports – to people hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, which is also seen as yet another Chinese means to India’s claim on the state. Beijing, however, continued issuing stapled visas, which New Delhi does not recognise, to people from Jammu and Kashmir.
Strong reaction
But China’s decision to deny visa to Lt Gen Jaswal triggered a strong reaction with highly-laced officials saying that such a move was “unacceptable as it is an issue which is related to the sovereignty of our nation.”
China and India have been conducting exchange visits of high-level officers of their respective armies over the past several years. This year, the General-officer-Commanding, Northern Command, was scheduled to visit China but policy-makers in Beijing reportedly conveyed to New Delhi sometime in mid-July that it would be difficult for it to welcome Lt Gen Jaswal as he heads the Indian Army’s operations in an area which it perceives as disputed.
Though China asked India to nominate another military official for the visit, New Delhi did not do so and sent a strongly-worded demarche to Beijing lodging its protest against the refusal to open its doors to Lt Gen Jaswal.
Noting that India has “an important, multifaceted and complex relationship” with China, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vishnu Prakash said: “While we value our exchanges with China, there must be sensitivity to each others’ concerns.”
DH News Service
