High-level talks with China must

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s recent visit to India provided the two countries with an opportunity to clear the air over a string of issues that put bilateral relations under severe strain in recent months. This was the first high-level interaction between the two countries since the Chinese blocked India’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), a move that triggered enormous disquiet in Delhi. In April, China had blocked India’s bid to get the United Nations to include the Pakistan-backed and based Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Maulana Masood Azhar in a blacklist of terrorists with links to the al-Qaeda. In both cases, it was its close relationship with Pakistan that had determined China’s decision. Understandably, this irked India.

Adding to the strain in relations were China’s aerial and overland transgressions of the Line of Control at Uttarakhand in early July.

Wang’s visit did not resolve differences between the two sides or even result in a narrowing of the gap in their positions. Indeed, explaining China’s decisions with regard to Azhar and blocking India’s entry to the NSG were not the aim of Wang’s visit or an item on the talks agenda. The Chinese foreign minister’s focus was on securing India’s cooperation in the upcoming G-20, East Asia and BRICS summits.

India did well to raise the NSG and Azhar issues with Wang. At a minimum, this would have given the Chinese the official picture of the impact Beijing’s decisions had on Delhi. An important outcome of Wang’s visit was the decision of the two sides to set up dialogue mechanisms on the nuclear issue and bilateral relations. India must ensure that these mechanisms are active and address its concerns as it has more to gain from them than does Beijing; the latter being keen to brush under the carpet the NSG and Azhar issues.

China is reportedly keen on getting India’s support in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute. Reports in the Chinese media suggest that Beijing may be open to backing India’s NSG member-ship in return for Delhi’s support to China’s claims in the SCS dispute. Is this a deal that interests India? Delhi needs to clearly think this through.

What are its interests in the South China Sea? Would membership in the NSG add to India’s nuclear security or is this more of a prestige issue? Will India’s nuclear programme be undermined if India remains out of this club? Wang’s visit is the first of several high-level interactions between India and China in the coming months. India must use these interactions to have its concerns addressed. There is nothing to be gained from using the media to pressure the Chinese.