BackIndia, China should respect each other’s aspirations, while building trust: Jaishankar
New Delhi, Beijing need to give each other sufficient space while steadily finding common ground, says Indian foreign secretary
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New Delhi: India on Friday said New Delhi and Beijing should respect each other’s strong sense of independence and legitimate aspirations while seeking accommodation and building trust.
Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar, while speaking at the India-China think tanks’ forum meeting in New Delhi, said the challenge facing the two countries is to “ensure that shared principles are translated into policies that promote convergence".
Referring to the key areas of divergence between the Asian giants—such as India’s membership of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) that China objects to, efforts by India to include terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar on a UN ban list that China has opposed and China going ahead with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor despite India’s objections, given that it runs through disputed Kashmir that India claims in full—Jaishankar said these situations were “paradoxical because we actually hardly differ when it comes to principles".
“ Given our closer development partnership and commitment to the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China ) group on climate change, we should be supporting each other on implementation of our Paris Agreement commitments. In India’s case, predictable access to civilian nuclear energy technology is key. The broad basing of the nuclear technology control group is also helpful to a more representative international order. Keeping in mind this solidarity of major developing states, it is important that China view this as a developmental aspiration and not give it a political colouring," Jaishankar said.
China was seen as blocking India’s entry into the grouping twice this year despite India stating that its aim is to ensure the development of clean energy—i.e., nuclear power—to fuel its fast growing economy.
On terrorism, Jaishankar said “as diverse and pluralistic societies, we both face threats from fundamentalist terrorism. Yet, we do not seem to be able to cooperate as effectively as we should in some critical international forums dealing with this subject."
The reference was unmistakably to China putting a technical hold on India’s bid to get Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar listed as a terrorist by the United Nations—once in April and, again, in October this year.
Azhar’s group is accused of many terrorist activities in India, including the 13 December attack on the Indian Parliament as well as the 2 January 2016 attack on the Pathankot airbase among others.
“Even on sovereignty, surely, there can be more sensitivity and understanding," Jaishankar said in a reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
“Though we have a commitment to a more democratic world order, our actions in respect of the reform of the UN Security Council are in contrast to our approaches to usher in a more equitable international economic order through reform of the existing multilateral institutions and our cooperation in creating new institutions such as Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China) Development Bank. These situations are paradoxical because we actually hardly differ when it comes to principles," Jaishankar said.
The reference was again to China’s attempts to circumscribe India, like, for example, keeping it out of a reformed UN Security Council with an increased number of veto wielding members.
Noting that there were few examples in history of the near simultaneous rise of two major powers, that, too, in close proximity, Jaishankar said “rising powers tend to be self-absorbed and do not always synchronize their capabilities, ambitions and diplomacy."
Making a case for India and China to cooperate with each other, Jaishankar said both countries need to “give each other sufficient space while steadily finding common ground".
“ Indeed, if our two countries both see merit in a multi-polar Asia, and recognize that it can be the basis for a more democratic global order as well as for Asia’s own stability, then the excessive emphasis on competition—that is not in the interest of either country—can be laid to rest," he said.
One obstacle “to developing greater common ground is an undue attachment to the concept of balance of power", Jaishankar said, adding, “ While not denying at all that this can be a legitimate consideration in approaching international relations, we should appreciate that a more globalised world actually puts a greater value on shared interests and common endeavours."
“Major powers have to work with each other even if their interests diverge on some issues," he said.
As India and China grow, the two have started “to intersect more, including in comparatively distant areas", Jaishankar said, adding: “At the very least, it is important that we develop an understanding of each other’s presence and activities."
“ Ideally, we could even consider coordinating, where feasible, for larger global good. At a time of change, we should obviously pay great attention to strategic communication. This could help avoid misunderstanding and promote greater trust and cooperation," he said.
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