India China Relations

India-China Relations An Agenda for Asian Century

is based on revised updated and edited papers submitted at a two-day national seminar organized by VPM’s Centre for International Studies Regd in March 2006. It is the belief of the organizers that sound bilateral relations can best be promoted, particularly when there are contentious issues among them, based on historic past, by initially focusing on low political but highly people-oriented issues and later moving to resolve nationally emotive high political issues.

In the area of low politics, RK Mishra and DR Arjun Rao discuss economic reforms in China with reference to privatization of public enterprises. Sudha Mohan looks at urbanization in India and China comparatively, while analyzing its impact on these two Asian giants' emergence as major powers and also suggests remedial measures. Avinash Kollhe has taken up a study of Muslims as minorities in India and China.

Though it is easy to see bilateral relations in a bifocal framework, there is always a grey area between low and high politics; and India-China relations are no exception. Within this grey area, PM Kamath in his analysis of Sino-Indian doctrine of No First Use of Nuclear weapons convincingly shows it as a doctrine of peace; therefore, wants two Asian nations to initiate a formal understanding on NGU. Geetha Reddy and Ajay Babu Gangidi see opportunities as well as conflicts in India-China energy initiatives. Raj Kumar Kothari examines regional disparity as a factor in Sino-Indian relations. BN Mehrish finds avenues for the two nations under study to find opportunities to cooperate despite their concerns on various issues like human rights and reforming the UN.

Three authors have discussed issues of high politics that cause conflicts between democratic India and capitalistic-communist China. In his keynote address, Subramanian Swamy postulates a strategic partnership between India and China for economic benefits, global influence, and enhancement of national security. Ramesh Babu analyzes the emerging multipolar world where India and China would play their legitimate roles. E D Souza undertakes in his paper a SWOT analysis of armed forces of India and China. V Balachaderan in his valedictory address reflects on impediments to India and China working together to make the twenty-first century an Asian century. The post-script by the editor reflects on ongoing controversies between India and China, such as the status of Kashmir and military-to-military relations. It is a timely book that should be useful to all those interested in India and China.